YouTubeDigest is a free Chrome extension that nails one thing: summarizing YouTube videos with strong export options (PDF, DOCX, TXT). ChatYT does much more — chat, flashcards, multi-video — but is a paid service for active users.
Pick YouTubeDigest if
You want occasional free summaries with PDF/DOCX exports and zero subscription.
Pick ChatYT if
You want chat, flashcards, multi-video, and a complete toolkit beyond summaries.
Quick comparison
| Feature | ChatYT | YouTubeDigest |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 5 credits/month, ongoing | Free with daily limits |
| Paid model | $1/mo + top-up | $4.99 for 40 credits (one-time) |
| Summary formats | Multiple | Article, Bullets, TL;DR, Layered |
| PDF/DOCX/TXT export | PDF (Transcript to PDF) | Yes (all 3) |
| Chat with video | ||
| Multi-Video Chat | ||
| AI Flashcards | ||
| Translation | ||
| Chrome extension | Yes (primary delivery) | |
| Time range selection | Via timestamps | Yes (specific feature) |
Where YouTubeDigest wins
Honest assessment — it's a focused, capable tool.
Truly free for occasional use
YouTubeDigest's free tier is generous for casual users. Pay-per-credit ($4.99 for 40) is useful for occasional heavy weeks without committing to a subscription.
Excellent export formats
Native PDF, DOCX, and TXT export with multiple summary styles (article, bullets, layered bullets with chapters, TL;DR). Strong feature set for note-takers who export everything.
Time range selection
Summarize only a specific portion of a video by selecting time ranges. Useful for long lectures or podcasts where you only care about a 10-minute segment.
Where ChatYT wins
Where ChatYT delivers the broader workflow.
Conversational chat with videos
Ask follow-up questions, dig deeper, get clarifications. YouTubeDigest is one-shot summary — no chat layer to drill into specifics after the fact.
Multi-Video Chat
Compare or query across multiple videos. YouTubeDigest treats each video independently — fine for one-shot summaries, blocking for any research workflow.
AI Flashcards & AI Questions
Active learning features for studying. YouTubeDigest is summary-only — no spaced repetition, no quizzing, no study workflow.
Goal-oriented output
Tell ChatYT what you're using it for, get tailored output. YouTubeDigest output styles are fixed templates — no per-task adaptation.
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | ChatYT | YouTubeDigest |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 5 credits/month, ongoing | Free with daily limits |
| Paid | $1/mo + usage | $4.99 for 40 credits (one-time) |
Who should use which
| User type | Pick |
|---|---|
| Occasional summarizer who exports to PDF/DOCX | YouTubeDigest |
| Want chat with video | ChatYT |
| Student wanting flashcards/quizzes | ChatYT |
| Researcher comparing multiple videos | ChatYT |
| Free user, no subscription appetite | YouTubeDigest |