Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about BrightClips
General Questions
What is BrightClips?
BrightClips is an AI-powered tool that analyzes YouTube videos and extracts key insights. Think of it as "Wikipedia for YouTube Learning" - we turn hours of video content into minutes of structured, digestible takeaways. Perfect for students, researchers, and anyone who wants to learn faster.
How does it work?
Simply paste any YouTube URL into BrightClips. Our AI analyzes the video transcript and extracts key segments with timestamps. You get:
- Smart Segments: AI-generated chapters with timestamps and summaries
- Key Terms: Important vocabulary extracted from the video
- Notes: Add text, voice, or drawing highlights
- Ask AI: Chat with AI about the video content
- Flashcards & Quizzes: Study tools with spaced repetition
- Share & Export: Share via link/QR code, or export to PDF
Which videos work with BrightClips?
BrightClips works with any YouTube video that has:
- Transcripts/captions available (auto-generated or manual)
- Reasonable length (under 60 minutes for English, under 40 minutes for non-English)
- Educational or informational content (works best with lectures, tutorials, talks)
Videos without transcripts or music videos won't work since there's no text to analyze.
Account & Subscription
Do I need an account to use BrightClips?
You can browse and view already-analyzed videos without an account. However, to analyze new videos, add notes, use Ask AI, or access flashcards and quizzes, you'll need to sign in with your Google account. Creating an account is free and takes just a few seconds.
What's the difference between Free, Trial, and Pro?
| Feature | Free | Trial | Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video Analysis | 5/month | 25 total | 50/month |
| Highlights per Video | 5 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| AI Chat Messages | 50/month | 250 total | 500/month |
| Flashcards | View only | Full access | Full access |
| Quizzes | View only | Full access | Full access |
| PDF Export | English only | All languages | All languages |
How does the 14-day trial work?
New users automatically get a 14-day trial with Pro-level features. During your trial:
- You get a fixed pool of credits (25 analyses, 250 AI messages)
- Full access to flashcards, quizzes, and PDF export
- Priority queue for video processing
- No credit card required
When your trial ends, you'll automatically move to the Free tier unless you upgrade to Pro.
What happens when my trial ends?
Your account reverts to the Free tier. You keep all your notes and can still view analyzed videos, but you'll have reduced limits for new analyses and AI chat. Your flashcard and quiz progress is saved - you just can't track new reviews until you upgrade.
How do I upgrade to Pro?
Go to your Account page and click "Upgrade to Pro". We accept all major credit cards through our secure payment provider. You can cancel anytime, and your Pro benefits continue until the end of your billing period.
Notes & Highlights
How do I add notes to a video?
While watching a video, click the "Add Highlight" button or use the note panel. You can create three types of notes:
- Text Notes: Type your thoughts or summaries
- Voice Notes: Record audio memos (great for hands-free note-taking)
- Drawing Notes: Sketch diagrams or annotate concepts
Each note is automatically timestamped to the current video position.
Are my notes private?
Yes! Your notes are completely private and only visible to you. When you share a video link, others see the AI-generated analysis but not your personal notes. Only you can see, edit, or delete your highlights.
What's the highlight limit for free users?
Free users can add up to 5 highlights per video. This includes any combination of text, voice, and drawing notes. Trial and Pro users have unlimited highlights.
Do notes sync across devices?
Yes! As long as you're signed in with the same account, your notes sync automatically across all your devices. Add a note on your laptop and see it on your phone instantly.
Ask AI
How does Ask AI work?
Ask AI is a chat interface that lets you ask questions about the video content. The AI has access to the full transcript and analysis, so it can provide detailed answers with specific timestamps. Click any timestamp in the response to jump to that moment in the video.
What can I ask about a video?
You can ask anything related to the video content:
- "What are the main points discussed?"
- "When does the speaker explain [topic]?"
- "Can you explain the concept of [X]?"
- "What examples does the video give for [Y]?"
- "Compare A and B from the video"
Why can't the AI answer about visuals?
The AI only has access to the video transcript (what's spoken), not the visual content. So it can't describe diagrams, slides, or demonstrations shown on screen. For visual content, you'll need to watch the video directly.
Are there limits on AI messages?
Yes. Free users get 50 messages/month, Trial users get 250 total during their trial, and Pro users get 500 messages/month. Each question you send counts as one message.
Flashcards & Quizzes
How do flashcards work?
BrightClips automatically generates flashcards from video content. Each card has a question on the front and the answer on the back. After revealing the answer, you rate how well you knew it (Again, Hard, Good, Easy). The system uses spaced repetition to show cards at optimal intervals for long-term retention.
What is spaced repetition?
Spaced repetition is a scientifically-proven learning technique that shows you information at increasing intervals. Cards you know well appear less frequently, while difficult cards appear more often. Studies show this can improve retention by 200-300% compared to traditional studying.
How do quizzes work?
Quizzes test your understanding with multiple-choice questions generated from the video. You get instant feedback after each answer, with explanations and timestamps to review the relevant section. Your progress is tracked so you can see improvement over time.
Can free users use flashcards and quizzes?
Free users can view flashcards and quiz questions, but can't track progress or use spaced repetition. Think of it as a preview - you see the content but don't get the full learning features. Upgrade to Trial or Pro to unlock progress tracking and spaced repetition.
Sharing & Export
How do I share a video analysis?
Click the Share button on any analyzed video. You can copy the link directly or generate a QR code for easy mobile sharing. The link takes people directly to the BrightClips analysis page where they can see all segments, key terms, and AI-generated content.
Can I share a specific segment?
Yes! When viewing a segment in Reading mode, the URL updates to include the segment number (e.g., /video/abc123/en?segment=3). Share this URL and recipients will land directly on that specific segment.
What's included in the PDF export?
The PDF includes:
- Video title, channel, and link
- All segments with timestamps and summaries
- Key points for each segment
- Key terms with definitions
- Your text highlights (voice/drawing notes not included)
Why do non-English PDFs require Pro?
Non-English languages (especially those with non-Latin scripts like Hindi, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic) require server-side rendering for proper font support and formatting. English PDFs are generated client-side (in your browser) and are available to all users.
Technical & Limitations
How accurate is the AI analysis?
BrightClips uses advanced AI to analyze videos, but AI-generated content may contain inaccuracies. You should:
- Verify important information by watching the original video
- Treat timestamps as approximate (may vary by a few seconds)
- Use takeaways as study aids, not authoritative sources
Why did I get a "transcript too large" error?
This happens when a video's transcript exceeds our AI's processing limits. Factors that affect transcript size:
- Video length: Longer videos = more text
- Speaking pace: Fast talkers generate more transcript
- Language: Non-English languages use more AI tokens
Guidelines: Videos under 60 minutes (English) or 40 minutes (non-English) typically work fine.
What if a video has no transcript?
BrightClips requires videos to have transcripts or captions. If a video doesn't have them, we can't analyze it. Most educational content on YouTube has auto-generated captions, but music videos, vlogs without speech, or private videos may not work.
Does BrightClips support non-English videos?
Yes! BrightClips supports 95+ languages with automatic detection. The AI analyzes videos in their original language, and you can request an English translation with one click.
What happens to analyzed videos?
Once we analyze a video, the results are saved permanently. Anyone who analyzes the same video gets instant results from our cache. Like Wikipedia, analyzed videos become part of a shared learning resource.
Troubleshooting
My video is stuck in "Processing"
Video processing usually takes 20-30 seconds. If it's been longer:
- Check queue position: During busy times, you may be in a queue
- Refresh the page: Sometimes the status doesn't update automatically
- Try again later: If it fails, wait a few minutes and retry
Pro users get priority processing and skip the queue.
Timestamps don't seem accurate
AI-generated timestamps are approximate and may be off by a few seconds. This can happen because the AI works with transcript text, not the actual video timeline. Use timestamps as starting points and adjust as needed.
Translation isn't appearing
If you requested a translation but don't see it:
- Check the language toggle - make sure you've selected the translated language
- Translation takes 10-20 seconds to generate
- Some very long videos may fail to translate
I can't find a video I analyzed before
Currently, BrightClips doesn't have a personal history feature. Try searching for the video title or channel name on the home page. If the video was analyzed, it should appear in search results.
Mobile Experience
Does BrightClips work on mobile?
Yes! BrightClips is fully responsive and works great on phones and tablets. The interface adapts to smaller screens with a bottom sheet for segments and touch-friendly controls.
Is there a mobile app?
Not yet, but you can add BrightClips to your home screen for an app-like experience. On iOS, tap Share → "Add to Home Screen". On Android, tap the menu → "Add to Home Screen" or "Install App".
Privacy & Data
What data do you collect?
We collect minimal data needed to provide the service:
- Account info: Email and name from Google sign-in
- Your notes: Stored securely and only visible to you
- Usage data: Which features you use (for improving the product)
We don't sell your data or track your YouTube viewing habits outside of BrightClips.
Can I delete my account and data?
Yes. Go to your Account page and select "Delete Account". This permanently removes your account, notes, and usage history. Note that video analyses you contributed remain in our public database (like Wikipedia edits).
Can I export my notes?
You can export your notes as part of the PDF export feature. Text highlights are included in the PDF. We're working on a dedicated notes export feature for a future update.
Is this legal? What about copyright?
Yes, this is legal. BrightClips operates similarly to search engines and educational tools:
- We analyze publicly available YouTube transcripts (not video files)
- We don't host or copy video content
- Our AI generates original analysis (transformative use)
- Users still watch videos on YouTube (drives traffic to creators)
Still Have Questions?
Can't find what you're looking for? Check out our detailed guides or start analyzing videos to see how it works!