youtube-api

name	youtube-api
description	YouTube API access without the official API quota hassle — transcripts, search, channels, playlists, and metadata with no Google API key needed. Use when the user needs YouTube data programmatically, wants to avoid Google API quotas, or asks for "youtube api", "get video data", "youtube without api key", "no quota youtube".
homepage	https://transcriptapi.com
metadata	{"moltbot":{"emoji":"⚡","requires":{"env":["TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY"]},"primaryEnv":"TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY"}}

YouTube API

YouTube data access via TranscriptAPI.com — no Google API quota needed.

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.

Endpoint Reference

All endpoints: https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/...

Endpoint	Method	Cost
/transcript?video_url=ID	GET	1
/search?q=QUERY&type=video	GET	1
/channel/resolve?input=@handle	GET	free
/channel/latest?channel_id=UC_ID	GET	free
/channel/videos?channel_id=UC_ID	GET	1/page
/channel/search?channel_id=UC_ID&q=Q	GET	1
/playlist/videos?playlist_id=PL_ID	GET	1/page

Quick Examples

Search videos:

curl -s "https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/search\
?q=python+tutorial&type=video&limit=10" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY"

Get transcript:

curl -s "https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/transcript\
?video_url=dQw4w9WgXcQ&format=text&include_timestamp=true&send_metadata=true" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY"

Resolve channel handle (free):

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

Latest videos (free):

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

Browse channel uploads (paginated):

curl -s "https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/channel/videos?channel_id=UC_CHANNEL_ID" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY"
# Use continuation token from response for next pages

Browse playlist (paginated):

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

Parameter Validation

Field	Rule
channel_id	^UC[a-zA-Z0-9_-]{22}$ (24 chars total)
playlist_id	starts with PL, UU, LL, FL, or OL
q (search)	1-200 chars
limit	1-50
continuation	non-empty string

Why Not Google's API?

	Google YouTube Data API	TranscriptAPI
Quota	10,000 units/day (100 searches)	Credit-based, no daily cap
Setup	OAuth + API key + project	Single API key
Transcripts	Not available	Core feature
Pricing	$0.0015/unit overage	$5/1000 credits

Errors

Code	Meaning	Action
401	Bad API key	Check key
402	No credits	transcriptapi.com/billing
404	Not found	Resource doesn't exist
408	Timeout/retryable	Retry once after 2s
422	Validation error	Check param format
429	Rate limited	Wait, respect Retry-After

Free tier: 100 credits, 300 req/min. Starter ($5/mo): 1,000 credits.