Free YouTube summarizer with a real weekly quota: not one video then paywall
Users hate “overpriced subscription after summarise just one video” and “3 free then dead.” sum.video keeps 3 summaries a week forever free, with clear Pro pricing.
Chrome Web Store reviews are blunt: “Garbage, you have to pay a overpriced subscription after summarise just one video.” Others hit tiny caps (“only 7 queries” a week) or the dreaded 3 free then dead feeling after an extension teases one result and locks everything.
sum.video takes the other path: free for basic use, no hidden paywall, with numbers you can verify on the pricing page.
What “honest free” looks like here
| Plan | Summaries | Chat | Audio | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 3 / week | 3 / week | No | Free |
| Pro | Unlimited text | Higher weekly chat | 10 / month | $39.90/year or $4.99/month |
Free is forever free at that weekly quota. Pro adds capacity after a 7-day trial: not after your first summarize click.
Why people get burned elsewhere
Common patterns in competitor complaints:
- One free summary, then hard paywall
- Unsubscribe friction and surprise renewals
- Buttons that disappear after updates
- “Highly rated” listings that do not match day-two reality
We cannot fix other products. We can keep our own offer boring and clear: 100% free plan, pay only if you love it.
What you can still do on free
Even at 3 summaries a week you can:
- Test the extension on real videos you care about
- Use timestamps and the transcript tab
- Summarize in your language (17 languages)
- Decide whether Pro is worth it from lived use, not a demo video
One reviewer energy we agree with: “Three free summaries a week is honest.” That is the bar.
When Pro is worth it
Upgrade when you:
- Summarize daily for work or school
- Want listen on the go audio (capped at 10/month so cost stays sane)
- Need more than 3 chats with the video
Annual Pro is $39.90 (~$3.32/mo billed yearly). Monthly is $4.99. Trial first; cancel anytime.
How to start without getting trapped
- Create an account.
- Install the Chrome extension or paste URLs on the site.
- Use your 3 weekly summaries on videos that actually matter.
- Only start the Pro trial if the workflow sticks.
No hidden paywall. If a tool cannot say its free limit in one sentence, treat that as a signal.
See pricing for the live numbers and how it works for the product tour.
Frequently asked questions
How many free summaries do I get?
Logged-in free users get 3 summaries per week and 3 chats per week. The quota resets weekly, it is not a one-time trial of a single video.
What does Pro cost?
Pro is $39.90/year (~$3.32/mo billed annually) or $4.99/month, with a 7-day free trial on the annual plan. Cancel anytime.
What do I get on Pro that free does not include?
Unlimited text summaries and higher chat limits.
Is there a hidden paywall after the first summary?
No. Free remains 3 per week. You only upgrade if you want unlimited text or audio.
Do I need a credit card to try free?
Free weekly quota only needs an account. The 7-day trial on annual Pro is separate, and starts only when you choose it.
Related reading
NoteGPT alternatives for YouTube summaries: prices and limits comparedNoteGPT is an all-in-one AI notes suite with paid plans from $9.99 a month. If you mainly summarize YouTube videos, a focused tool can be cheaper. Here is how the options compare.
YouTube AI summaries are one paragraph and basically useless: here’s a better optionNative YouTube summaries are often “one paragraph and basically useless.” sum.video gives you instant, detailed summaries with insights, timestamps, and a transcript, not just a blurb.
Summarize YouTube without ChatGPT copy-paste (one-click on the watch page)“Stop copying transcripts: one-click summaries.” “Quick setup, no ChatGPT login needed.” sum.video lives on youtube.com/watch so you never paste into another chat box.
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