How to Transcribe a Substack Podcast or Audio Post
Updated 24 Apr 2026 · TranscriptX editorial
Step-by-step
1) Check if the post is public
Open the post in an incognito window. If the audio plays fully, it's public. If you get a paywall cutting off after a sample, it's paid-only.
2) For public posts
Copy the post URL (writer.substack.com/p/slug). Paste on transcriptx.xyz.
3) For paid posts
Sign in, download the MP3 (most Substack audio posts offer download for subscribers). Upload to Drive with Anyone-with-link, paste the Drive URL.
Common things that break
- Paid subscriber-only posts. Paywall, same as Patreon. Download while logged in, re-upload to Drive for our flow.
- "Full subscriber only" comments sections. Substack has tiered paywalls — some posts are free to read but paid to hear audio. Listen-check in incognito before trying to paste.
- Substack removed the post. Writers sometimes remove posts. If gone, it's gone.
- Podcast RSS feed with per-subscriber token. Substack's paid-podcast RSS feeds embed your account token. Technically transcribable, but be aware the URL leaks your subscription.
Related guides
- How to Transcribe an MP3 Podcast File From a Direct URL
- How to Transcribe a Podcast Episode From Spotify (When There’s No YouTube Version)
Try it
3 free transcripts a month, no signup for the first one. Paste your Substack (audio / podcast) link and go. Pricing if you need more.
FAQ
Why not just use the Substack app's own transcript feature?
Substack has started adding auto-transcripts for some podcasts, but quality varies and exports are limited. We give you clean text, SRT, or VTT from the actual audio.
What's the difference between this and the generic MP3-URL guide?
If you have a direct .mp3 URL from a Substack post, the generic <a href="/guides/transcribe-mp3-from-url">MP3 guide</a> works too. This guide covers the post URL path.
Can I transcribe paid Substack content my friend shared?
Only if your friend shared the actual audio file. Shared links usually still require subscription.