8 Best YouTube Summary Chrome Extensions (2026 Review)

The best YouTube summary Chrome extension in 2026 is Eightify for its accuracy and polished interface, though it requires a paid subscription for regular use. For a completely free option, YouTube Summary with ChatGPT & Claude delivers excellent results if you have a ChatGPT account. We tested 8 popular extensions across 30 videos to determine which actually deliver useful summaries.

Quick Comparison: Top 8 YouTube Summary Extensions

*Requires your own ChatGPT account

How We Tested These Extensions

Testing Methodology

We evaluated each extension using:

• Tech tutorials (8 videos)
• Podcasts (6 videos)
• Educational lectures (6 videos)
• News analysis (5 videos)
• Product reviews (5 videos)

Metrics Measured:

• Accuracy: Key points captured vs. human summary (0-100%)
• Speed: Time from click to complete summary
• Free Value: How useful without paying
• User Experience: Installation, interface, reliability

Scoring Criteria

Detailed Extension Reviews

1. Eightify — Best Overall (Paid)

Eightify consistently produced the most accurate summaries in our testing, with a polished interface that integrates seamlessly into YouTube.

Installation:

1. 1.Go to Chrome Web Store
2. 2.Search "Eightify"
3. 3.Click "Add to Chrome"
4. 4.Create free account (required)

How It Works:

• Adds a summary panel to YouTube video pages
• Click "Get Key Insights" for instant summary
• View timestamped key points
• Jump to specific moments

Test Results:

Pricing:

• Free: 3 summaries/week
• Pro: $9.99/month (unlimited)
• Team: $19.99/month

Pros:

• ✅ Highest accuracy in our tests
• ✅ Beautiful, intuitive interface
• ✅ Fast processing
• ✅ Timestamp navigation
• ✅ Multiple languages

Cons:

• ❌ Very limited free tier
• ❌ Requires account creation
• ❌ $9.99/month adds up

2. YouTube Summary with ChatGPT & Claude — Best Free

This extension leverages your existing ChatGPT account to summarize videos, making it effectively free for ChatGPT users.

Installation:

1. 1.Search "YouTube Summary with ChatGPT & Claude" in Chrome Web Store
2. 2.Click "Add to Chrome"
3. 3.Open ChatGPT in a browser tab
4. 4.Navigate to any YouTube video

How It Works:

• Shows transcript panel on YouTube pages
• One click sends transcript to ChatGPT
• Summary appears in ChatGPT tab
• Supports both ChatGPT and Claude

Test Results:

*Uses your own ChatGPT/Claude account

Pricing:

• Extension: Free
• Requirement: ChatGPT account (free or $20/mo Plus)

Pros:

• ✅ Completely free if you have ChatGPT
• ✅ Unlimited summaries
• ✅ Works with GPT-3.5, GPT-4, or Claude
• ✅ Customizable prompts
• ✅ Shows full transcript

Cons:

• ❌ Requires ChatGPT tab open
• ❌ Slower than native extensions
• ❌ Quality depends on ChatGPT availability
• ❌ Two-window workflow

3. Glasp — Best for Social Learning

Glasp combines summarization with social highlighting features, letting you share insights with a community.

Installation:

1. 1.Visit glasp.co or Chrome Web Store
2. 2.Search "Glasp"
3. 3.Click "Add to Chrome"
4. 4.Create account (required)

How It Works:

• Adds Glasp sidebar to YouTube
• Auto-generates transcript and summary
• Highlight key passages
• Share to your public Glasp profile

Test Results:

Pricing:

• Free: All features included
• No paid tier

Pros:

• ✅ Completely free forever
• ✅ Unlimited summaries
• ✅ Social sharing features
• ✅ Highlight and annotate
• ✅ Build a knowledge library

Cons:

• ❌ Lower accuracy than competitors
• ❌ Requires account
• ❌ Public by default (privacy concern)
• ❌ Can be distracting

4. NoteGPT — Best for Note-Takers

NoteGPT integrates summarization with comprehensive note-taking, perfect for building organized knowledge.

Installation:

1. 1.Chrome Web Store → "NoteGPT"
2. 2.Add to Chrome
3. 3.Create account
4. 4.Optional: Connect Notion

How It Works:

• Summarizes YouTube videos with AI
• Creates structured notes automatically
• Generates mind maps
• Syncs with Notion

Test Results:

Pricing:

• Free: 10 summaries/month
• Pro: $9.99/month

Pros:

• ✅ Built-in note organization
• ✅ Mind map generation
• ✅ Notion integration
• ✅ Timestamp linking
• ✅ Good accuracy

Cons:

• ❌ Limited free tier (10/month)
• ❌ Account required
• ❌ Can be overwhelming with features

5. Merlin — Best Multi-Purpose AI Extension

Merlin provides YouTube summaries as part of a broader AI assistant that works across the web.

Installation:

1. 1.Chrome Web Store → "Merlin"
2. 2.Add to Chrome
3. 3.Create account
4. 4.Configure preferences

How It Works:

• Universal AI assistant (not just YouTube)
• Right-click or use shortcut to summarize
• Access GPT-4 for complex queries
• Works on articles, videos, PDFs

Test Results:

Pricing:

• Free: 51 queries/month
• Starter: $19/month (unlimited)
• Teams: Custom pricing

Pros:

• ✅ Multi-purpose AI assistant
• ✅ Good free tier (51/month)
• ✅ GPT-4 access
• ✅ Works everywhere, not just YouTube
• ✅ Solid accuracy

Cons:

• ❌ Not YouTube-specialized
• ❌ Expensive paid tier
• ❌ Interface can be busy

6. MaxAI — Best for Casual Users

MaxAI offers a simple, no-frills YouTube summarization experience with reasonable free limits.

Installation:

1. 1.Chrome Web Store → "MaxAI"
2. 2.Add to Chrome
3. 3.Create account (or use limited guest mode)

How It Works:

• Click MaxAI icon on YouTube pages
• Select "Summarize"
• View bullet-point summary
• Copy or save results

Test Results:

Pricing:

• Free: 10 queries/day
• Plus: $9.99/month
• Pro: $19.99/month

Pros:

• ✅ Reasonable free limit (10/day)
• ✅ Simple interface
• ✅ Works without deep setup
• ✅ Multiple AI models

Cons:

• ❌ Basic features compared to alternatives
• ❌ Generic summaries sometimes
• ❌ Less YouTube-focused

7. Summarize — Simple & Straightforward

Summarize does exactly what its name suggests—nothing more, nothing less.

Installation:

1. 1.Chrome Web Store → "Summarize"
2. 2.Add to Chrome
3. 3.No account required

How It Works:

• Click extension icon on YouTube
• Wait for summary generation
• Read bullet points
• No extra features

Test Results:

Pricing:

• Free: 3/day
• Pro: $4.99/month

Pros:

• ✅ No account required
• ✅ Very simple to use
• ✅ Cheapest paid option
• ✅ Lightweight

Cons:

• ❌ Very limited free tier
• ❌ Fewer features
• ❌ Lower accuracy
• ❌ Slower processing

8. Harpa.ai — Best for Power Users

Harpa.ai is a powerful automation tool that includes YouTube summarization among many features.

Installation:

1. 1.Chrome Web Store → "Harpa.ai"
2. 2.Add to Chrome
3. 3.Create account
4. 4.Configure ChatGPT connection (optional)

How It Works:

• Opens a sidebar on any page
• Type commands or use templates
• "Summarize this video" generates summary
• Automate repetitive tasks

Test Results:

Pricing:

• Free: Limited features
• Pro: $15/month

Pros:

• ✅ Extremely powerful automation
• ✅ Custom commands
• ✅ Works with own API keys
• ✅ Web automation beyond summaries

Cons:

• ❌ Steep learning curve
• ❌ Overkill for just summaries
• ❌ Complex interface
• ❌ Higher price

Best Extension by Use Case

For Students on a Budget

• Free with ChatGPT account
• Unlimited summaries
• Good for lecture videos
• Export to notes easily

For Daily Content Consumers

• Highest accuracy (92%)
• Fast processing
• Worth $9.99/mo for heavy users
• Timestamp navigation

For Researchers & Note-Takers

• Built-in organization
• Mind maps
• Notion sync
• Knowledge building

For Casual Users

• Completely free
• Unlimited summaries
• No payment ever
• Share insights socially

For Developers & Power Users

• Automation capabilities
• Custom workflows
• API access
• Beyond just summaries

Installation & Setup Guide

General Steps (All Extensions)

1. 1.Open Chrome Web Store

- Go to chrome.google.com/webstore

- Or click the puzzle piece icon → "Open Chrome Web Store"

1. 1.Search for Extension

- Type the exact extension name

- Verify it's the official version (check reviews/publisher)

1. 1.Install

- Click "Add to Chrome"

- Confirm permissions

- Wait for installation

1. 1.Pin the Extension

- Click puzzle piece icon in toolbar

- Click pin icon next to extension name

- Extension icon now always visible

1. 1.Create Account (if required)

- Most extensions require a free account

- Use email or Google sign-in

Permissions Extensions Request

All tested extensions request standard, safe permissions.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Extension Not Working on YouTube

Solutions:

1. 1.Refresh the YouTube page
2. 2.Disable and re-enable extension
3. 3.Check for extension updates
4. 4.Clear browser cache
5. 5.Try incognito mode (extensions must be enabled)

Summary Not Generating

Possible Causes:

• Video has no captions/transcript
• Extension server is overloaded
• Free limit exceeded

Solutions:

• Check if video has captions
• Wait and try again
• Switch to alternative extension

Slow Performance

Solutions:

• Close unnecessary tabs
• Disable other extensions temporarily
• Check internet connection
• Switch to faster extension (Eightify/Merlin)

Account/Login Issues

Solutions:

• Log out and log back in
• Clear extension data in chrome://extensions
• Reinstall extension
• Contact extension support

Quick Decision Guide:

• Want free + unlimited? → YouTube Summary with ChatGPT & Claude
• Want highest accuracy? → Eightify ($9.99/mo)
• Want completely free, no ChatGPT? → Glasp
• Want note-taking integration? → NoteGPT

All tested extensions deliver value, but your choice depends on whether you prioritize cost, accuracy, or additional features.

Related Resources:

• Best AI YouTube Video Summarizers (2026)
• How to Summarize YouTube Videos with ChatGPT
• YouTube Video Notes: AI Guide for 2026