The YouTube Transcript API
Transcript, search, channel, and playlist data as a REST API. 100 free credits, no card required - then $5/mo for 1,000 credits.
Built for more than one video
Most free YouTube transcript tools stop at a single video. This API also searches YouTube, resolves channel handles, and lists channel or playlist videos - all behind one key.
- Transcript extraction for any public video, with language selection
- Full-text YouTube search, paginated
- Channel handle resolution and channel video listing
- Playlist video listing
- A Chrome extension for humans who just want to ask a video a question, on the same account
No OAuth screen, no Google Cloud project, no per-project quota to run out of - see what that costs people with the official API in our YouTube API quota guide.
One request, JSON back
curl "https://getyoutubetranscript.com/api/v1/transcript?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer sk_live_..."
# => { "success": true, "data": { "transcript": "...", "word_count": 1847 } }Simple, credit-based pricing
1 credit = 1 successful request across every endpoint below. Failed requests aren't charged.
Free
$0
no card required
- 100 free credits to try the API
- Full REST API access — transcript, search, and more
- Chrome extension — ask AI questions about any video
- 1 credit = 1 successful request
Monthly
$5.00/mo
Billed $5.00/month
- 1,000 credits per month
- Top-ups at $2.50 per 1,000 credits
- 200 requests/min rate limit
- Full REST API access — transcript, search, and more
- Chrome extension — ask AI questions about any video
- 1 credit = 1 successful request
Annual
$4.50/mo
Billed $54.00/year
- 1,000 credits per month
- Top-ups at $1.50 per 1,000 credits (40% cheaper)
- 300 requests/min rate limit
- Full REST API access — transcript, search, and more
- Chrome extension — ask AI questions about any video
- 1 credit = 1 successful request
Endpoints
Full parameter reference, response shapes, and error codes are in the API docs.
GET /transcript | 1 credit |
GET /search | 1 credit / page |
GET /playlist | 1 credit / page |
GET /resolve | Free |
GET /channel/latest | Free |
GET /channel/search | 1 credit / page |
GET /channel/videos | 1 credit / page |
Ready to try it? 100 free credits, no card required. Get your API key.
YouTube Transcript API FAQ
Is the YouTube Transcript API free?
Yes - 100 free credits on signup, no card required. Paid plans start at $5/mo for 1,000 credits once you need more.
What counts as one credit?
One credit is one successful request, across the transcript, search, channel, and playlist endpoints. A failed request is never charged.
Does it do more than transcripts?
Yes. Besides transcript extraction, it can search YouTube, resolve a channel handle to its channel ID, list a channel's videos, and list a playlist's videos - all with the same API key.
What are the rate limits?
200 requests/minute on the Monthly plan, 300 requests/minute on Annual. Both scale with the same 1,000 monthly credits, plus paid top-ups if you need more before your next renewal.
How is this different from the official YouTube Data API?
There's no Google Cloud project to create, no OAuth consent screen, and no per-project daily quota to run out of mid-project. Sign up, get a key, and start making requests.