Synop is a self-hosted, web-based tool for turning YouTube videos, playlists, and channels into summaries and study materials. Its searchable library includes full-text search, a cross-video topic map, and questions across saved material. Study Mode creates flashcards and quizzes, supports spaced-repetition review, and can convert a playlist into an Anki deck. Individual video analysis includes semantic topic clusters, a multi-speaker debate matrix, freshness checks, and bias critique. Users can follow channels so new uploads are automatically summarized into their library. Summaries can be exported as Markdown or PDF, or synced to Obsidian and Notion with generated wiki-links. The project says it supports more than 12 languages and accepts OpenAI-compatible providers, including OpenAI, DeepSeek, Groq, OpenRouter, Gemini, and local Ollama. Notes and summaries are kept in a local SQLite database; there is no Synop server. Setup requires Node.js 18+ and an AI API key. The free plan has no subscription, but provider usage costs depend on the selected AI service. Self-hosters can run it wherever Node.js runs, with optional Postgres for syncing across devices or multi-user use.
Who it is for
Synop suits students, researchers or analysts, and creators or writers who work with YouTube material. It also fits users comfortable setting up a self-hosted tool with Node.js and supplying an AI API key.
What is good
- Searches and maps topics across saved videos.
- Study Mode creates quizzes and flashcards.
- Can convert playlists into Anki decks.
- Summaries sync to Obsidian and Notion.
- Notes and summaries are stored in a local SQLite database.
What to know first
- Setup requires Node.js 18+ and an AI API key.
- Provider usage costs depend on the selected service.
- No Synop server is provided.
Verdict
Synop pairs YouTube summarization with library search, study tools, and exports or note-app syncing. It has no subscription, but setup and AI provider usage require the user to supply the runtime and API key.
Get started with Synop
- Visit the Synop website or prepare a self-hosted installation.
- Install Node.js 18 or later.
- Provide an AI API key for an OpenAI-compatible provider.
- Run Synop wherever Node.js runs, such as a home server, Raspberry Pi, or VPS.
- Optionally configure Postgres for syncing across devices or multi-user use.
What the free plan stops at
The free plan has no subscription, but requires your own AI API key. Usage costs depend on the selected provider.
Questions about Synop
Is Synop free?
Its Free plan costs 0.00 USD per free and has no subscription. You bring an AI API key, and usage costs depend on the chosen provider.
What platforms does Synop support?
Synop is listed as self-hosted and web-based. It can run wherever Node.js runs, including a home server, Raspberry Pi, or VPS.
What can I use as input?
Synop supports YouTube videos, playlists, and channels.
Does Synop have a free trial?
No. The listed free trial is no.
Is Synop open source?
The project is distributed under the MIT License.
Where are summaries and notes stored?
The project says they are stored in a local SQLite database and that there is no Synop server. AI keys are stored in browser local storage and sent to the selected provider per request.
Synop plans and pricing
All plansCompared on AI video summarizers
- Free plan
- Yes
- YouTube support
- Yes
- Transcript output
- Yes
- Chapter generation
- Yes
- Input sources
- YouTube videos, YouTube playlists, YouTube channels
