---

name: youtube-data description: Access YouTube video data — transcripts, metadata, channel info, search, and playlists. A lightweight alternative to Google's YouTube Data API with no quota limits. Use when the user needs structured data from YouTube videos, channels, or playlists without dealing with Google API setup, OAuth, or daily quotas. homepage: https://transcriptapi.com metadata: { "moltbot": { "emoji": "📊", "requires": { "env": ["TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY"] }, "primaryEnv": "TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY", }, }

YouTube Data

YouTube data access via TranscriptAPI.com — lightweight alternative to Google's YouTube Data API.

Setup

If $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY is not set, help the user create an account (100 free credits, no card):

Step 1 — Register: Ask user for their email, generate a secure password.

node ./scripts/tapi-auth.js register --email USER_EMAIL --password SECURE_PASS --json

→ OTP sent to email. Ask user: "Check your email for a 6-digit verification code." ⚠️ SAVE THE PASSWORD — you need it again in Step 2!

Step 2 — Verify: Once user provides the OTP (use SAME password from Step 1):

node ./scripts/tapi-auth.js verify --email USER_EMAIL --password SECURE_PASS --otp CODE --json

→ Returns api_key (starts with sk_).

Step 3 — Save: Store the key (auto-configures agent + shell):

node ./scripts/tapi-auth.js save-key --key API_KEY --json

→ Ready to use. Agent runtime picks up the key automatically.

Manual option: transcriptapi.com/signup → Dashboard → API Keys.

Video Data (transcript + metadata) — 1 credit

curl -s "https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/transcript\
?video_url=VIDEO_URL&format=json&include_timestamp=true&send_metadata=true" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY"

Response:

{
  "video_id": "dQw4w9WgXcQ",
  "language": "en",
  "transcript": [
    { "text": "We're no strangers to love", "start": 18.0, "duration": 3.5 }
  ],
  "metadata": {
    "title": "Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up",
    "author_name": "Rick Astley",
    "author_url": "https://www.youtube.com/@RickAstley",
    "thumbnail_url": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dQw4w9WgXcQ/maxresdefault.jpg"
  }
}

Search Data — 1 credit

curl -s "https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/search?q=QUERY&type=video&limit=20" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY"

Video result fields: videoId, title, channelId, channelTitle, channelHandle, channelVerified, lengthText, viewCountText, publishedTimeText, hasCaptions, thumbnails

Channel result fields (type=channel): channelId, title, handle, url, description, subscriberCount, verified, rssUrl, thumbnails

Channel Data

Resolve handle to ID (free):

curl -s "https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/channel/resolve?input=@mkbhd" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY"

Returns: {"channel_id": "UCBcRF18a7Qf58cCRy5xuWwQ", "resolved_from": "@mkbhd"}

Latest 15 videos with exact stats (free):

curl -s "https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/channel/latest?channel_id=UC_ID" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY"

Returns: channel info, results array with videoId, title, published (ISO), viewCount (exact number), description, thumbnail

All channel videos (paginated, 1 credit/page):

curl -s "https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/channel/videos?channel_id=UC_ID" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY"

Returns 100 videos per page + continuation_token for pagination.

Search within channel (1 credit):

curl -s "https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/channel/search\
?channel_id=UC_ID&q=QUERY&limit=30" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY"

Playlist Data — 1 credit/page

curl -s "https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/playlist/videos?playlist_id=PL_ID" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY"

Returns: results (videos), playlist_info (title, numVideos, ownerName, viewCount), continuation_token, has_more

Credit Costs

Endpoint	Cost	Data returned
transcript	1	Full transcript + metadata
search	1	Video/channel details
channel/resolve	free	Channel ID mapping
channel/latest	free	15 videos + exact stats
channel/videos	1/page	100 videos per page
channel/search	1	Videos matching query
playlist/videos	1/page	100 videos per page

Errors

Code	Action
402	No credits — transcriptapi.com/billing
404	Not found
408	Timeout — retry once
422	Invalid param format

Free tier: 100 credits, 300 req/min.