Frequently Asked Questions

What does Simple Capture do?

It’s one Chrome extension that captures from any browser tab in four formats: MP3 audio, WebM or MP4 video, transcripts as TXT, Markdown or SRT (from YouTube, from any video player that has captions, and from pages that show a transcript), and PNG screenshots. Same one-button workflow across all four modes. No microphone needed for audio or video.

Is Simple Capture free?

Yes. The free tier covers all four modes with sensible limits: 30-minute audio/video recordings (5 minutes at 320 kbps), transcript extraction, visible-area screenshots plus 3 full-page screenshots a day. An optional Pro upgrade ($39.99 one-time, not a subscription) unlocks 320 kbps audio at any length, MP4 video, SRT subtitle export, unlimited full-page screenshots, and unlimited recording across all four modes. The same license key also activates Pro in every other Simple Capture extension.

What browsers does it work with?

Simple Capture works with Google Chrome and Chromium-based browsers (Edge, Brave, Arc, Opera, Vivaldi). Audio and video require the Tab Capture API, transcripts require content scripts, and full-page screenshots require the Scripting API. It does not work in Firefox or Safari.

Why one extension and also separate ones?

Choice. Simple Capture is for people who want one install and one icon for all four modes. The individual extensions (Simple Audio Capture, Simple Video Capture, Simple Transcript Capture, Simple Screenshot Capture) exist for people who only need one capability and prefer a smaller install. Simple PDF Capture and AI Voice Reader are separate extensions too. Pro for one extension is $14.99. Every AI Voice Reader feature is free, so its only paid option is Pro for everything. Buy whichever fits.

What does Pro for everything include?

Pro for everything is $39.99, one time. One license key activates Pro in every Simple Capture extension: Simple Capture, Simple Audio Capture, Simple Video Capture, Simple Transcript Capture, Simple Screenshot Capture, Simple PDF Capture and AI Voice Reader. Paste the same key into each extension: I have a license key, then Activate.

I already bought Pro for one extension. Can I upgrade?

Yes. Open the extension you bought Pro for: it shows you a lower price for Pro for everything. Your existing key keeps working in the extension you bought it for.

Does video mode download videos from websites?

No. Video mode records what plays in your tab, in real time, and saves it as a WebM file (MP4 with Pro). It does not download video files from websites, and it does not delete or manage files in your Downloads folder.

Can it get the transcript of a course video?

Often, yes. Transcript mode reads the captions a video player already has, including players on course platforms and players embedded from another site. It does not listen to the audio, so the video needs captions. If the player has a CC button, turn captions on, play a few seconds, then capture.

Which language is a transcript in?

Your browser’s language, when the video has captions in it. A YouTube video captioned only in another language comes back in YouTube’s own translation, the same one the player’s Auto-translate shows, and the panel says so. If YouTube cannot translate it, you get the captions in their original language.

Does it access my microphone?

No. Audio and video capture pull directly from the active browser tab using Chrome’s Tab Capture API. Your microphone is never accessed or requested.

Does it work offline?

Yes for capturing. Once installed, recording and screenshots run entirely offline. The only network requests the extension ever makes are: a one-time Pro license validation if you choose to upgrade, and (for transcripts) fetching captions from YouTube’s public API, or re-reading the caption file a video player on the page already loaded, when you capture a transcript.

Where are captures saved?

All four modes save to your default Downloads folder. Filenames include a timestamp and a brand prefix (simple-capture-dot-com-...) so captures from this extension are easy to find.

Is my data sent anywhere?

Capture and encoding happen locally in your browser, and files save straight to your Downloads folder. Transcript mode fetches the captions of the video you are viewing, from YouTube or from the site that hosts the player. Apart from that, the only network activity is a one-time license key validation if you activate Pro. See the Privacy Policy for full details.

Why does Chrome show “This extension is not trusted by Enhanced Safe Browsing”?

If you have Enhanced Safe Browsing enabled in Chrome, you may see a “Proceed with caution” warning when installing. This is normal for newer extensions on the Chrome Web Store. It is not a security issue with the extension itself. Google’s system requires developers to build a track record of compliance over several months before granting “trusted” status. Simple Capture requests only the minimum permissions needed and sends none of your data to us. You can safely click “Continue to install.”

How do I install it?

Install it from the Chrome Web Store. All four capture modes are available immediately.