How do I install the Youtube API skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add majiayu000/youtube-api in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Youtube API safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Independent scanners report: SkillSpector: PASS, Skill Scanner: PASS. Capability flags: makes network calls, reads secrets. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Youtube API?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Youtube API free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Youtube API?

majiayu000 (@majiayu000) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Youtube API by majiayu000 — Agent Skill

Name: Youtube API
Rating: 4.5 (4 reviews)
Author: majiayu000

Youtube API

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".

majiayu000 Updated Sep 9, 2026 567 repo stars

File contents

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.

node ./scripts/tapi-auth.js register --email USER_EMAIL

→ OTP sent to email. Ask user: "Check your email for a 6-digit verification code."

Step 2 — Verify: Once user provides the OTP:

node ./scripts/tapi-auth.js verify --token TOKEN_FROM_STEP_1 --otp CODE

API key saved to your shell profile and agent config. Ready to use.

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

API Reference

Full OpenAPI spec: transcriptapi.com/openapi.json — consult this for the latest parameters and schemas.

Endpoint Reference

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

Channel endpoints accept channel — an @handle, channel URL, or UC... ID. Playlist endpoints accept playlist — a playlist URL or ID.

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=@handle`	GET	free
`/channel/videos?channel=@handle`	GET	1/page
`/channel/search?channel=@handle&q=Q`	GET	1
`/playlist/videos?playlist=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=@TED" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY"

Latest videos (free):

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

Browse channel uploads (paginated):

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

Parameter Validation

Field	Rule
`channel`	`@handle`, channel URL, or `UC...` ID
`playlist`	Playlist URL or ID (`PL`/`UU`/`LL`/`FL`/`OL` prefix)
`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.

---name: youtube-apidescription: 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".--- # YouTube API YouTube data access via [TranscriptAPI.com](https://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. ```bash node ./scripts/tapi-auth.js register --email USER_EMAIL ``` → OTP sent to email. Ask user: _"Check your email for a 6-digit verification code."_ **Step 2 — Verify:** Once user provides the OTP: ```bash node ./scripts/tapi-auth.js verify --token TOKEN_FROM_STEP_1 --otp CODE ``` > API key saved to your shell profile and agent config. Ready to use. Manual option: [transcriptapi.com/signup](https://transcriptapi.com/signup) → Dashboard → API Keys. ## API Reference Full OpenAPI spec: [transcriptapi.com/openapi.json](https://transcriptapi.com/openapi.json) — consult this for the latest parameters and schemas. ## Endpoint Reference All endpoints: `https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/...` Channel endpoints accept `channel` — an `@handle`, channel URL, or `UC...` ID. Playlist endpoints accept `playlist` — a playlist URL or ID. | 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=@handle` | GET | **free** | | `/channel/videos?channel=@handle` | GET | 1/page | | `/channel/search?channel=@handle&q=Q` | GET | 1 | | `/playlist/videos?playlist=PL_ID` | GET | 1/page | ## Quick Examples **Search videos:** ```bash curl -s "https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/search\ ?q=python+tutorial&type=video&limit=10" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY" ``` **Get transcript:** ```bash 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):** ```bash curl -s "https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/channel/resolve?input=@TED" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY" ``` **Latest videos (free):** ```bash curl -s "https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/channel/latest?channel=@TED" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY" ``` **Browse channel uploads (paginated):** ```bash curl -s "https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/channel/videos?channel=@NASA" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY" # Use continuation token from response for next pages ``` **Browse playlist (paginated):** ```bash curl -s "https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/playlist/videos?playlist=PL_PLAYLIST_ID" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY" ``` ## Parameter Validation | Field | Rule | | -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- | | `channel` | `@handle`, channel URL, or `UC...` ID | | `playlist` | Playlist URL or ID (`PL`/`UU`/`LL`/`FL`/`OL` prefix) | | `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.

Frequently asked questions