Custom connector (OAuth)
YouTube transcripts in Claude
Claude can't open YouTube videos on its own. Add GetYouTubeTranscript as a custom connector and Claude gets tools to read a video's transcript, search YouTube, and list a channel's or playlist's videos, so you can ask about a video by pasting its link.
Set it up
- 1
Open connector settings
In Claude, go to Settings, then Connectors, then Add custom connector.
- 2
Paste the server URL
Name it GetYouTubeTranscript and paste this URL:
https://getyoutubetranscript.com/api/mcp - 3
Sign in
Claude opens a sign-in page. Sign in with Google or email; new accounts get 100 free credits, no card. There is no API key to copy.
- 4
Turn it on in a chat
In a new chat, enable the connector from the tools menu and paste a YouTube link with your question.
What to ask Claude
- Summarize this video in five bullet points with timestamps: <YouTube URL>
- Find three recent talks about vector databases and compare what each one recommends.
- List the last 10 uploads on @veritasium and tell me which ones mention climate.
- Pull the transcripts for the first five videos in this playlist and turn them into study notes: <playlist URL>
Tools Claude gets
| Tool | What it does | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| get_youtube_transcript | Full transcript plus title, author, thumbnail | 1 credit |
| search_youtube | Search videos or channels, paginated | 1 credit |
| get_channel_latest_videos | A channel's metadata and recent uploads | Free |
| search_channel_videos | Search within one channel | 1 credit |
| list_channel_videos | Every video a channel has uploaded | 1 credit |
| list_playlist_videos | Every video in a playlist | 1 credit |
| get_credits | Remaining credit balance for the key | Free |
Good to know
- Custom connectors depend on your Claude plan; check Claude's settings if you don't see the option.
- The connection uses a dedicated key behind the scenes that shows up in your dashboard and draws from the same credit balance.
- The server is hosted, so there is nothing to run locally and no proxy to manage.
- Tools that only read metadata, like a channel's latest uploads and your credit balance, are free.
Links
Questions about Claude
Do I need an API key for Claude?
No. Claude's custom connectors sign in with OAuth, so you approve the connection in your browser and never paste a key.
Does it work in Claude Desktop and the mobile app?
Connectors you add on claude.ai are tied to your account, so they are available wherever you use Claude with that account and plan.
Claude says the tool failed. What should I check?
Open Settings, then Connectors, and reconnect GetYouTubeTranscript; the sign-in may have expired. If one video fails, it may have no captions, which is not charged.
What does it cost?
Each transcript, search or channel page uses one credit from your account, and failed requests are not charged. New accounts get 100 free credits, no card, and paid plans add more credits each month.