Name: YouTube Transcript API: Captions, Video Stats and Channels
Brand: martindata
SKU: api-martindata-youtube-transcript-api
Availability: InStock
Author: API Market

# YouTube Transcript & Video Data API

## Overview

The YouTube Transcript & Video Data API has three endpoints. Video lookup returns metadata and stats for videos (title, channel, views, likes, duration, tags, category, publish date). Transcript extraction returns the captions of videos or whole channels as full text, segments, sentences or timestamped text, in the language you choose, with optional translation. Channel monitor returns the latest videos and Shorts from channels, with filters for date, views and duration.

It is built for AI and RAG pipelines, content repurposing tools, researchers, SEO teams and media monitoring that need YouTube text and stats without a YouTube API key or quota.

## Features

*   **3 endpoints**: video lookup, transcript extraction and channel monitor.
*   **Transcripts**: manual or auto-generated captions, with language preference, fallback and translation.
*   **Output formats**: full text, segments, sentences or timestamped text.
*   **Video stats**: views, likes, duration, tags, category and publish date.
*   **Channel monitor**: latest videos and Shorts with date, view and duration filters.
*   **Rate limit**: 10 requests per second on every plan.

## Use Cases

*   **AI and RAG**: feed video transcripts into summarizers and search indexes.
*   **Content repurposing**: turn videos into blog posts, threads and newsletters.
*   **Media monitoring**: follow channels and pick up new uploads.
*   **Research**: analyse what is said and how videos perform.

## API Documentation

### Base URL

All requests go through the API.market proxy at this base URL:

```
https://prod.api.market/api/v1/martindata/youtube-transcript-api
```

### Authentication

Every request needs your API.market key in the `x-api-market-key` header:

```
x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_KEY
```

Replace `YOUR_API_KEY` with your actual API key.

### Endpoints

#### 1. Look up videos

Returns metadata and statistics for each video URL or ID you send. The response is `{"count": N, "items": [...]}` with one object per result.

**Method:** `POST`

**Endpoint:** `/m/youtube-video-lookup`

**Parameters:**

| Name | In | Description | Type | Required | Default | Max Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `videos` | body | Video URLs (watch, youtu.be, Shorts, embed, live) or 11-character video IDs. One per line. Any number. | array of strings | No | - | - |
| `maxItems` | body | Stop after this many videos (caps the cost of a run). | integer | No | `20` | 100 |
| `includeDescription` | body | Turn off for smaller rows when you only need titles, stats and dates. | boolean | No | - | - |
| `deduplicate` | body | The same video listed twice is looked up and charged once. | boolean | No | - | - |
| `includeFailedRows` | body | Add a row with an error status for private, deleted or invalid inputs (these rows are charged like results). Off: only real videos are returned. | boolean | No | - | - |

**Example Request:**

```bash
curl -X POST 'https://prod.api.market/api/v1/martindata/youtube-transcript-api/m/youtube-video-lookup' \
  -H 'x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_KEY' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{
  "videos": [
    "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ",
    "https://youtu.be/jNQXAC9IVRw"
  ],
  "maxItems": 3,
  "includeDescription": true,
  "deduplicate": true,
  "includeFailedRows": false
}'
```

**Example Response (200 OK):**

```json
{
  "count": 2,
  "items": [
    {
      "category": "Music",
      "channelId": "UCuAXFkgsw1L7xaCfnd5JJOw",
      "channelName": "Rick Astley",
      "channelUrl": "http://www.youtube.com/@RickAstleyYT",
      "description": "The official video for “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley. \n\nNever: The Autobiography 📚 OUT NOW! \nFollow this link to get your copy and listen to Rick’s ‘Never’ playlist ❤️ #RickAstleyNever\nhttp...",
      "duration": "3:33",
      "durationSeconds": 213,
      "input": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ",
      "isFamilySafe": true,
      "isLiveContent": false,
      "isLiveNow": null,
      "likeCount": 19491622,
      "liveEndedAt": null,
      "liveStartedAt": null,
      "publishedAt": "2009-10-25T06:57:33Z",
      "publishedAtPrecision": "second",
      "scrapedAt": "2026-11-01T20:54:30Z",
      "status": "ok",
      "tags": [
        "rick astley",
        "Never Gonna Give You Up"
      ],
      "thumbnailUrl": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/dQw4w9WgXcQ/maxresdefault.webp",
      "title": "Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up (Official Video) (4K Remaster)",
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ",
      "videoId": "dQw4w9WgXcQ",
      "viewCount": 1832811204
    },
    {
      "category": "Film & Animation",
      "channelId": "UC4QobU6STFB0P71PMvOGN5A",
      "channelName": "jawed",
      "channelUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4QobU6STFB0P71PMvOGN5A",
      "description": "Microplastics are accumulating in human brains at an alarming rate\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PT5c1z3LL8\n\n“Nanoplastics and Human Health” with Matthew J Campen, PhD, MSPH\nhttps://www.youtube.com...",
      "duration": "0:19",
      "durationSeconds": 19,
      "input": "https://youtu.be/jNQXAC9IVRw",
      "isFamilySafe": null,
      "isLiveContent": false,
      "isLiveNow": null,
      "likeCount": 20125332,
      "liveEndedAt": null,
      "liveStartedAt": null,
      "publishedAt": "2005-04-24T03:31:52Z",
      "publishedAtPrecision": "second",
      "scrapedAt": "2026-11-01T20:54:32Z",
      "status": "ok",
      "tags": [
        "me at the zoo",
        "jawed karim"
      ],
      "thumbnailUrl": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jNQXAC9IVRw/hqdefault.jpg",
      "title": "Me at the zoo",
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNQXAC9IVRw",
      "videoId": "jNQXAC9IVRw",
      "viewCount": 447470217
    }
  ]
}
```

#### 2. Extract transcripts

Returns the transcript of each video, or of the latest videos of each channel you send, in the format you choose. The response is `{"count": N, "items": [...]}` with one object per result.

**Method:** `POST`

**Endpoint:** `/m/youtube-transcript-bulk-extractor`

**Parameters:**

| Name | In | Description | Type | Required | Default | Max Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `startUrls` | body | One per line: a video URL or ID, a playlist URL, or a channel URL / @handle. Playlists and channels are expanded into their videos. | array of strings | No | - | - |
| `languages` | body | Language codes in order of preference, e.g. en, de, es. The first available one is used. | array of strings | No | - | - |
| `preferManualCaptions` | body | Use captions written by the creator when they exist, and auto-generated ones otherwise. | boolean | No | - | - |
| `fallbackToAnyLanguage` | body | If none of the preferred languages exists, take the first available transcript instead of skipping the video. | boolean | No | - | - |
| `translateTo` | body | Language code to translate every transcript into using YouTube's translation, e.g. en. Leave empty to keep the original language. | string | No | - | - |
| `outputFormat` | body | full = text + segments + sentences. text = plain text only. segments = timed caption fragments. sentences = fragments merged into sentences. timestamped = readable text with [m:ss] marks. | string | No | - | - |
| `maxVideosPerSource` | body | How many of the newest videos to take from each playlist or channel. | integer | No | - | - |
| `maxItems` | body | Hard limit on how many transcripts the run saves (and you pay for). | integer | No | `20` | 100 |

**Example Request:**

```bash
curl -X POST 'https://prod.api.market/api/v1/martindata/youtube-transcript-api/m/youtube-transcript-bulk-extractor' \
  -H 'x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_KEY' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{
  "startUrls": [
    "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ",
    "https://www.youtube.com/@TED"
  ],
  "languages": [
    "en"
  ],
  "preferManualCaptions": true,
  "fallbackToAnyLanguage": true,
  "outputFormat": "full",
  "maxVideosPerSource": 1,
  "maxItems": 3
}'
```

**Example Response (200 OK):**

```json
{
  "count": 2,
  "items": [
    {
      "channelName": "Rick Astley",
      "channelUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/@RickAstleyYT",
      "durationSeconds": null,
      "isAutoGenerated": false,
      "language": "English",
      "languageCode": "en",
      "scrapedAt": "2026-11-01T20:54:43Z",
      "segments": [
        {
          "duration": 1.68,
          "start": 1.36,
          "text": "[♪♪♪]"
        },
        {
          "duration": 3.24,
          "start": 18.64,
          "text": "♪ We're no strangers to love ♪"
        }
      ],
      "sentences": [
        {
          "start": 1.36,
          "text": "[♪♪♪] ♪ We're no strangers to love ♪ ♪ You know the rules and so do I ♪ ♪ A full commitment's what I'm thinking of ♪ ♪ You wouldn't get this from any other guy ♪ ♪ I just wanna tell you how I'm feelin..."
        },
        {
          "start": 60.8,
          "text": "♪ We've known each other for so long ♪ ♪ Your heart's been aching but you're too shy to say it ♪ ♪ Inside we both know what's been going ♪ ♪ We know the game and we're gonna play it ♪ ♪ And if you ask..."
        }
      ],
      "source": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ",
      "text": "[♪♪♪] ♪ We're no strangers to love ♪ ♪ You know the rules and so do I ♪ ♪ A full commitment's what I'm thinking of ♪ ♪ You wouldn't get this from any other guy ♪ ♪ I just wanna tell you how I'm feelin...",
      "title": "Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up (Official Video) (4K Remaster)",
      "transcriptDurationSeconds": 211.3,
      "translatedTo": null,
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ",
      "videoId": "dQw4w9WgXcQ",
      "wordCount": 487
    },
    {
      "channelName": "TED",
      "channelUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUUnT6oDeKwE6v1NGQxug",
      "durationSeconds": 892,
      "isAutoGenerated": false,
      "language": "English",
      "languageCode": "en",
      "scrapedAt": "2026-11-01T20:54:50Z",
      "segments": [
        {
          "duration": 1.96,
          "start": 5.46,
          "text": "I'm sitting with my client."
        },
        {
          "duration": 1.79,
          "start": 7.42,
          "text": "Let's call her Lisa."
        }
      ],
      "sentences": [
        {
          "start": 5.46,
          "text": "I'm sitting with my client."
        },
        {
          "start": 7.42,
          "text": "Let's call her Lisa."
        }
      ],
      "source": "https://www.youtube.com/@TED/videos",
      "text": "I'm sitting with my client. Let's call her Lisa. She looks me straight in the eye and tells me she's ready for a relationship. So I ask what she's looking for in a partner. Someone kind, emotionally a...",
      "title": "Are Your Dealbreakers Sabotaging Your Love Life? | Amy Chan | TED",
      "transcriptDurationSeconds": 889.9,
      "translatedTo": null,
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzNTvqvxswM",
      "videoId": "SzNTvqvxswM",
      "wordCount": 1661
    }
  ]
}
```

#### 3. Monitor channels

Returns the latest videos and Shorts from each channel you send, with stats when `includeDetails` is on. The response is `{"count": N, "items": [...]}` with one object per result.

**Method:** `POST`

**Endpoint:** `/m/youtube-channel-monitor`

**Parameters:**

| Name | In | Description | Type | Required | Default | Max Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `channels` | body | YouTube channels to check: channel URLs, @handles or channel IDs (UC...). One per line, as many as you need. | array of strings | No | - | - |
| `contentTypes` | body | Which channel tabs to read: long videos, Shorts and live streams. | array of strings | No | - | - |
| `firstRunMode` | body | What monitoring mode does the first time it sees a channel: return the latest videos, or only remember them and return new uploads from the next run. | string | No | - | - |
| `maxVideosPerChannel` | body | How many of the newest items to read from each tab of each channel. | integer | No | - | - |
| `publishedWithinDays` | body | Only videos published in the last N days. 0 = any date. | integer | No | - | - |
| `minViews` | body | Skip videos with fewer views. | integer | No | - | - |
| `minDurationSeconds` | body | Skip shorter videos. 0 = no limit. | integer | No | - | - |
| `maxDurationSeconds` | body | Skip longer videos. 0 = no limit. | integer | No | - | - |
| `titleKeywords` | body | Keep only videos whose title contains any of these words (case-insensitive). | array of strings | No | - | - |
| `excludeKeywords` | body | Skip videos whose title contains any of these words. | array of strings | No | - | - |
| `includeUpcoming` | body | Also return scheduled premieres and streams that have not started yet. | boolean | No | - | - |
| `includeDetails` | body | Add exact publish date, likes, exact view count and full description for every video (plus exact time, tags and category when YouTube provides them). Included in the price. | boolean | No | - | - |
| `maxItems` | body | Hard limit on videos saved (and paid for) in one run. | integer | No | `20` | 100 |

**Example Request:**

```bash
curl -X POST 'https://prod.api.market/api/v1/martindata/youtube-transcript-api/m/youtube-channel-monitor' \
  -H 'x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_KEY' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{
  "channels": [
    "https://www.youtube.com/@NASA",
    "@veritasium"
  ],
  "contentTypes": [
    "videos",
    "shorts"
  ],
  "firstRunMode": "return",
  "maxVideosPerChannel": 3,
  "publishedWithinDays": 0,
  "minViews": 0,
  "minDurationSeconds": 0,
  "maxDurationSeconds": 0,
  "includeUpcoming": false,
  "includeDetails": true,
  "maxItems": 3
}'
```

**Example Response (200 OK):**

```json
{
  "count": 3,
  "items": [
    {
      "category": "Science & Technology",
      "channelHandle": "@NASA",
      "channelId": "UCLA_DiR1FfKNvjuUpBHmylQ",
      "channelName": "NASA",
      "channelSubscribers": 15100000,
      "channelUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLA_DiR1FfKNvjuUpBHmylQ",
      "description": "There's a lot of ground to cover when you're building a Moon Base. \n\nFrom robotic rovers exploring the rugged lunar landscape to lunar terrain vehicles carrying Artemis astronauts across the surface,...",
      "duration": "9:17",
      "durationSeconds": 557,
      "isNew": null,
      "likeCount": 11575,
      "liveEndedAt": null,
      "liveStartedAt": null,
      "liveStatus": null,
      "monitorId": null,
      "publishedAt": "2026-10-20T15:02:15Z",
      "publishedAtPrecision": "second",
      "publishedTimeText": "12d ago",
      "scrapedAt": "2026-11-01T20:55:02Z",
      "tags": [],
      "thumbnailUrl": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Zezt6EsG9WE/maxresdefault.jpg",
      "title": "NASA Moon Base: Rovers and Lunar Terrain Vehicles (October 2026 Update)",
      "type": "video",
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zezt6EsG9WE",
      "videoId": "Zezt6EsG9WE",
      "viewCount": 989154
    },
    {
      "category": "Science & Technology",
      "channelHandle": "@NASA",
      "channelId": "UCLA_DiR1FfKNvjuUpBHmylQ",
      "channelName": "NASA",
      "channelSubscribers": 15100000,
      "channelUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLA_DiR1FfKNvjuUpBHmylQ",
      "description": "When a newly discovered asteroid posed a potential risk to Earth, a global planetary defense system was put to the test like never before. \n\nPlanetary Defenders: This Is Not an Exercise tells the stor...",
      "duration": "20:15",
      "durationSeconds": 1215,
      "isNew": null,
      "likeCount": 11797,
      "liveEndedAt": null,
      "liveStartedAt": null,
      "liveStatus": null,
      "monitorId": null,
      "publishedAt": "2026-10-14T15:05:17Z",
      "publishedAtPrecision": "second",
      "publishedTimeText": "2w ago",
      "scrapedAt": "2026-11-01T20:55:02Z",
      "tags": [],
      "thumbnailUrl": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/5b3n-u_0QAI/maxresdefault.webp",
      "title": "Planetary Defenders: This Is Not an Exercise",
      "type": "video",
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5b3n-u_0QAI",
      "videoId": "5b3n-u_0QAI",
      "viewCount": 675095
    }
  ]
}
```

## Status Codes

| Code | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 200 | OK | The request succeeded and the response body holds the result. |
| 400 | Bad Request | The body is not valid JSON or no video, channel or URL was given. |
| 401 | Unauthorized | The `x-api-market-key` header is missing or the key is not valid. |
| 403 | Forbidden | Your key is valid but has no active subscription to this API, or your plan quota is used up. |
| 404 | Not Found | The path does not exist. Check the endpoint path against this page. |
| 429 | Too Many Requests | You sent more than your plan's per-second limit (10 requests per second). Wait and retry, honouring the `Retry-After` header when present. |
| 500 | Internal Server Error | An unexpected error on the provider side. Retry after a short wait. |
| 503 | Service Unavailable | YouTube could not be reached. Retry later. |

## Rate Limits

Each plan has a per-second limit (10 requests per second on every plan) and a monthly call quota shown on the pricing page. Requests over the per-second limit get a 429 response. Throttle your client, back off when you get a 429, and honour the `Retry-After` header when it is present. Each call collects live data, so it can take from a few seconds to about 30 seconds; set your client timeout to at least 60 seconds.

## FAQ

*   **Do I need a YouTube API key?**

    No. No key or quota is needed.

*   **What if a video has no captions in my language?**

    With `fallbackToAnyLanguage: true` you get another available language, and `translateTo` can translate it.

*   **How many results does one call return?**

    Up to `maxItems` results (20 by default, up to 100 per request).

*   **Is the data live?**

    Yes. Each call collects fresh data, and every item carries a `scrapedAt` time.

## Contact Us

If you have any questions or need assistance, you can reach out to us through the embedded chat on the bottom right corner of the page or send an email to hello@magicapi.com.


YouTube transcripts in any language, video stats such as views, likes and tags, and the latest uploads from channels, as JSON with no YouTube API key.

YouTube Transcript API: Captions, Video Stats and Channels