How we tested these extensions
To put together this comparison, we installed each extension on a clean Chrome browser and summarized the same 45-minute video (a TEDx talk in French about productivity) with each one. This allowed us to objectively compare the quality, speed, and level of detail of the generated summaries.
We evaluated each extension based on five criteria:
- Speed: How long does it take to get a full summary? Some extensions generate a preview in 5 seconds, while others take up to 30 seconds for a detailed result.
- Summary quality: Is the summary faithful to the content? Does it cover the key points without fabricating information? Are facts, figures, and names accurately transcribed?
- Pricing and free tier: How generous is the free offering? How much does the premium subscription cost? Is the value-for-money justified?
- Privacy: What permissions does the extension request? Do you need to create an account? What data is collected?
- Ease of use: Does the extension integrate well into YouTube? Is the interface intuitive, even for non-technical users?
Each extension was tested in its latest version available on the Chrome Web Store as of April 2026. Prices shown are those displayed at the time of testing and may vary.
Quick comparison table
Before diving into the details of each extension, here is a high-level overview to quickly compare features, pricing, and ratings.
| Extension | Price | AI Chat | Languages | CWS Rating | Specialty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EnBref | Free (15/mo) → €4.99 | ✓ | 4 | 5/5 | Summaries + French chat |
| Eightify | 3 free → ~$4.99 | ✗ | 40+ | 4.1/5 | Quick summaries |
| Glasp | Free → $10-30 | ✗ | 12+ | 4.5/5 | Highlighting + community |
| HARPA AI | Free (limited) → $13-21 | ✓ | 10+ | 4.7/5 | Web automation |
| TubeOnAI | $10 → $20/mo | ✓ | 30+ | 4.3/5 | Audio summaries |
| NoteGPT | Free (limited) → $9.99-29 | ✓ | 60+ | 3.1/5 | Notes + mind maps |
| YT Summary (Glasp) | Free | ✗ | All | 4.2/5 | Transcript → ChatGPT |
1. EnBref — The most complete for French speakers
EnBref is a Chrome extension built specifically to summarize YouTube videos using artificial intelligence. Unlike most competitors, it was designed for French speakers from the ground up, which shows in the quality of its French summaries.
What truly sets EnBref apart is its interactive AI chat. After getting a summary, you can ask questions about the video in natural language. The AI responds with precise excerpts and clickable timestamps that take you directly to the relevant passage in the YouTube player. It is a radically different way to consume video content: instead of manually searching for a passage, you ask and the AI takes you there.
The interface integrates directly into YouTube's sidebar, with a native dark mode that matches YouTube's theme. No pop-up window, no extra tab: everything happens on the same page.
Strengths
- AI chat with clickable timestamps
- 15 free summaries per month (renewable)
- Native dark mode integrated into YouTube
- No account required to get started
- 5 summary modes (key points, full, actionable, business, technical)
- Shareable summaries via link
- Very competitive pricing: €4.99/month for Pro
Weaknesses
- No mobile app (Chrome only)
- 4 supported languages (FR, EN, ES, DE)
- AI chat reserved for Pro subscribers
The best choice for French speakers who want to summarize AND interact with YouTube videos. The free tier is the most generous on the market, and the AI chat is a real competitive advantage that you won't find with established players like Eightify.
2. Eightify — The most well-known
Eightify is probably the most well-known YouTube AI extension. Launched among the first of its kind, it earned its reputation through impressive speed: a summary in about 5 seconds, before you have even finished reading the video title.
The extension offers a style choice before each summary (key points, actionable, funny, controversial) and supports over 40 languages, making it a logical pick for multilingual users. Eightify also has mobile apps on iOS and Android, a rare advantage in this category.
However, the free tier is extremely limited: only 3 summaries total (not per month — total). After that, you need to subscribe. The other notable absence is an interactive chat: you get a summary, but you cannot ask follow-up questions about the video.
Strengths
- Very fast summaries (~5 seconds)
- 40+ supported languages
- Mobile apps (iOS, Android)
- Clean, easy-to-use interface
- Style choice before each summary
Weaknesses
- No interactive chat with the video
- Only 3 free summaries total
- Account required from installation
- No native dark mode
Eightify is a solid product — fast and simple. But its nearly nonexistent free tier and the lack of chat make it a less attractive choice than EnBref for those who want to go beyond a basic summary.
3. Glasp — The free community option
Glasp is a unique case in this comparison. Originally, it is a social highlighting tool for the web: you highlight passages from articles and share them with a community of readers. YouTube summaries were added later, but they work well.
With over 2 million users, Glasp benefits from an active community. The extension is available on Chrome, Safari, Brave, and other Chromium-based browsers. The free version includes basic video summaries, making it an appealing option for tight budgets.
The downside: YouTube is not Glasp's core focus. The summary interface is less polished than specialized extensions like EnBref or Eightify. There is no built-in chat, no clickable timestamps in summaries, and the quality of French summaries falls short compared to dedicated tools.
Strengths
- Generous free version
- Multi-browser (Chrome, Safari, Brave)
- Community of 2M+ users
- Web highlighting + video summaries combined
- Note export (Notion, Obsidian, Readwise)
Weaknesses
- YouTube is a secondary feature
- No built-in chat with videos
- No clickable timestamps
- Average French summary quality
- Less specialized interface for YouTube
Glasp is ideal if you are looking for an all-in-one productivity tool (highlighting + summaries) and don't want to pay. For a YouTube-focused experience, specialized extensions deliver a better experience.
4. HARPA AI — The Swiss army knife
HARPA AI is far more than a simple YouTube summarizer. It is a full AI assistant for the browser offering over 100 commands: summarize web pages, draft emails, extract data, automate repetitive tasks, and of course, summarize YouTube videos.
With a 4.7/5 rating on the Chrome Web Store, HARPA AI enjoys an excellent reputation. The extension opens in a side panel and lets you chat with any web page or video. YouTube summaries include timestamps and you can ask follow-up questions.
The catch? HARPA is overloaded with features. If you just want to summarize YouTube videos, you will be navigating a complex interface designed for power users. And the price reflects that ambition: $13 to $21 per month, making it one of the most expensive options in this comparison. It is an excellent tool for advanced users, but overkill if your only need is video summaries.
Strengths
- 100+ AI commands (web + YouTube)
- AI chat with pages and videos
- Web task automation
- 4.7/5 CWS rating
- Compatible with multiple AI models (GPT-4, Claude, Gemini)
Weaknesses
- Complex interface, steep learning curve
- Expensive: $13 to $21/mo
- Overkill for YouTube summaries only
- Very limited free tier (requires your own API key)
HARPA AI is the best choice if you want a full AI assistant for your entire browser. But for YouTube video summaries alone, its price and complexity are hard to justify compared to specialized tools like EnBref.
5. TubeOnAI — The audio alternative
TubeOnAI stands out with a unique feature: audio summaries. Instead of reading text, you can listen to the video summary like a mini-podcast. This is especially handy on the go, during commutes, or while working out.
The extension also offers voice chat to interact with the content. You ask your question out loud, and the AI responds with audio. It is an innovative approach that will appeal to users who prefer listening over reading. TubeOnAI supports over 30 languages and has mobile apps on iOS and Android.
The downside: pricing. TubeOnAI starts at $10 per month, but the price doubles to $20 after the first month. It is an aggressive pricing strategy that can catch you off guard. There is no real free tier either: just a limited trial before you need to pull out your credit card.
Strengths
- Audio summaries (listen instead of read)
- Voice chat with videos
- Mobile apps (iOS, Android)
- 30+ supported languages
- Also works with podcasts
Weaknesses
- Price doubles after the 1st month ($10 → $20)
- No real free tier
- Less polished interface than competitors
- Text features lag behind
TubeOnAI is the right choice if you prioritize audio and mobility. But its high price and the doubling after the first month make it a costly option. For text summaries with AI chat, EnBref offers better value for money.
6. NoteGPT — For students
NoteGPT clearly targets students and learners. The extension goes beyond summarizing: it generates visual mind maps, flashcards for review, and lets you take timestamped notes directly within the video.
With support for 60+ languages, it is one of the most versatile extensions in this comparison. NoteGPT also offers an AI chat to ask questions about the content, and the ability to export notes to tools like Notion or Google Docs.
The problem: a 3.1/5 rating on the Chrome Web Store, the lowest in this comparison. Users report frequent bugs, a complex and opaque quota system, and an interface that can be slow at times. The price can also climb high: up to $29 per month for the unlimited plan.
Strengths
- Automatically generated mind maps
- Flashcards for review
- 60+ languages
- Built-in AI chat
- Timestamped notes within the video
- Export to Notion, Google Docs
Weaknesses
- Low CWS rating: 3.1/5
- Complex and opaque quota system
- Frequent bugs reported by users
- High price: up to $29/mo
- Interface can be slow
NoteGPT has the right ideas (mind maps, flashcards), but the execution falls short. If the learning features interest you and you can tolerate some bugs, it is worth considering. Otherwise, EnBref offers a more reliable experience for summaries and chat.
7. YouTube Summary with ChatGPT (Glasp) — The basic option
Developed by the Glasp team, this extension is the most minimalist in our selection. How it works is simple: it extracts the transcript from the YouTube video and sends it directly to ChatGPT to generate a summary. That is it.
The main advantage: it is completely free (provided you have a ChatGPT account). You get the transcript in one click (or use our free YouTube transcript tool), and ChatGPT summarizes it based on your instructions. It is a DIY approach that works, but requires more steps than an integrated solution.
The limitations are obvious. You have to leave YouTube to go to the ChatGPT interface. There are no clickable timestamps, no dark mode, no integration into the YouTube page. Summary quality depends entirely on your ChatGPT prompt and your subscription (free GPT-3.5 vs paid GPT-4). It is more of a stopgap solution than a daily tool.
Strengths
- Completely free
- Very simple to use
- Works in all languages (via ChatGPT)
- One-click copyable transcript
Weaknesses
- Requires a ChatGPT account
- Leaves YouTube for ChatGPT
- No clickable timestamps
- No integration into the YouTube page
- Quality depends on prompt and ChatGPT model
- No built-in chat within YouTube
A decent stopgap if you already have ChatGPT and don't want to pay for anything else. But the experience is far from the comfort of an integrated extension like EnBref that does everything within YouTube, without leaving the page.
Which extension should you choose based on your profile?
Each extension has its strengths. Here are our recommendations based on your situation and needs.
Students
Top pick: EnBref — 15 free summaries/month and AI chat to ask questions about your video courses. Perfect for reviewing without re-watching everything.
Alternative: NoteGPT if you need flashcards and mind maps for memorization, and can tolerate some bugs.
Professionals
Top pick: EnBref — Chat with timestamps is perfect for industry monitoring. Summarize a conference, then ask specific questions without re-watching.
Alternative: HARPA AI if you also need to automate other web tasks (emails, data extraction, scraping).
Content creators
Top pick: EnBref — Analyze videos in your niche in seconds. The "business" mode and AI chat let you identify competitor strategies without watching everything.
Alternative: Glasp if you enjoy the community aspect and sharing notes with other creators.
Zero budget
Top pick: EnBref — 15 free summaries per month, automatically renewed. The most generous free tier for quality summaries.
Alternative: Glasp (unlimited free version but less specialized) or YouTube Summary with ChatGPT (if you already have a ChatGPT account).
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free Chrome extension for YouTube?
Do YouTube AI extensions work with videos in French?
Can you ask questions about a YouTube video using an extension?
Are these extensions safe for privacy?
How much do these extensions cost?
Which extension should I choose for long videos (1h+)?
Ready to try it?
Install EnBref for free and discover why it is the favorite YouTube AI extension for French speakers. 15 summaries per month, AI chat, dark mode — no credit card required.
Install EnBref for free