Distill
Distill: An inexpensive iPhone app for structured summaries of captioned YouTube videos. Ranked #19 of 25 in AI Video Summarizers by our editors (6.4/10); pricing: Free plan · 7-day trial; best for iPhone users wanting inexpensive YouTube summaries.
At a glance
- Editor score6.4 / 10
- PricingFree plan · 7-day trial
- Best foriPhone users wanting inexpensive YouTube summaries
- Free planYes
- Paid from$29.99/yr
- YouTube supportYes
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Structured summaries with chapters, transcripts, and outlines
- Offline reading, synchronized history, and a saved library
- Pro supports videos up to 2 hours and 40+ languages
Where it doesn't
- Available on iOS rather than across multiple platforms
- YouTube captions are required for summaries
- Does not support uploaded video files
Our verdict on Distill
Distill is an iPhone app and web service that turns captioned YouTube videos into structured, article-style summaries. It is designed for people who want to learn from interviews, podcasts, and educational long-form videos without watching an entire recording. Users can paste YouTube links or share them from YouTube, then read sectioned summaries, follow timestamped chapters, view a full transcript, and watch the video alongside the summary. Post-summary quizzes add a review step for learning-focused use.
Its plan structure suits occasional and regular viewing. Guest access costs $0 per day, requires no account, and includes one summary per day for videos up to 30 minutes, with YouTube captions required. A free account provides three summaries per day after email verification, plus a saved library, history synchronization, Continue Watching, and offline reading for saved summaries. Pro costs $3.99 per month or $29.99 per year and adds unlimited summaries, videos up to 2 hours, summaries in 40+ languages, chapters, transcripts, outlines, and sharing from YouTube or a pasted link.
Distill’s strongest fit is its focused YouTube workflow: link-based input, an inline player, structured reading, transcript access, and offline support work together around long-form video. The trade-off is equally clear. It is limited to iOS, requires available YouTube captions, and does not accept uploaded videos. Choose Distill if your viewing is centered on captioned YouTube content and you want an inexpensive way to scan, study, or revisit it. Choose another tool if you need broader platform coverage, uploaded media support, or summaries for videos without subtitles.
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Distill pricing
All 3 Distill plans and prices →
Distill fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | $29.99/yr |
| YouTube support | Yes |
| Video uploads | No |
| Transcript output | Yes |
| Chapter generation | Yes |
| Maximum video length | 120 min |
| Input sources | YouTube URLs and shared YouTube links |
| Free trial | 7 days |
| Deployment | Mobile |
| Platforms | iOS |
| Support | Email, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan · 7-day trial (source) |
| Website | distill.lol |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Distill
- GlaspA flexible summarizer for YouTube, audio files, PDFs, transcripts, and saved research.8.9
- NoteGPTA flexible video summarizer for heavy YouTube use, batch work, and varied input sources.8.6
- MindgraspA broad AI study workspace that turns videos, lectures, and documents into study aids.8.0
See all Distill alternatives →
Also Ranked In
Distill is ranked in 2 of our directories.
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Featured on iTechGuides
Distill is listed in our AI Video Summarizers directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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