YouTube Transcript

YouTube Transcript is a youtube transcript api that converts one public YouTube video or Short URL into detected-language text, ordered timestamped segments, source metadata, and an optional translation. It returns one 22-field Dataset item for one successful input.

• One input produces one transcript record. A successful run writes one Dataset item rather than a page that still needs parsing.
• The speech contract is timestamped. transcript contains combined text plus ordered start, end, and text segments.
• Translation is explicit. The optional translate input offers 133 language choices and keeps the translated segments aligned with the original.
• Measured on August 12, 2026. The isolated candidate run completed in 57.939 seconds and wrote one Dataset item.

The smallest successful FREE-tier run has $0.397 in fixed events — one $0.387 Transcript plus one $0.01 Actor Start at the default 1 GB — followed by metered Actor usage.

Why Choose YouTube Transcript

Structured speech, not a document blob. The result separates language, full text, and timestamped segments so a downstream system can quote, search, subtitle, or chunk it without reparsing a formatted file.

One stable 22-field shape. Source metadata and speech output use the same top-level names for this edition and the other transcript editions, which reduces branching in mixed workflows.

Source-aware scope. Turn tutorials, interviews, product demos, and Shorts into searchable notes while retaining the source title and creator context. The accepted link shape is documented by YouTube's official sharing help.

Optional translation with aligned time ranges. Translation is produced after recognition and uses the same segment boundaries, preserving the point in the media that each translated line describes.

Quick Start Guide

The prefilled example is a public URL that completed the one-result lifecycle check.

Step 1: Configure the media

Paste https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rzeW4dbvlQ into video_url. The schema requires video_url; this platform edition intentionally does not expose file upload.

Step 2: Choose a translation target

Leave translate empty for the detected-language transcript only, or select one of the 133 configured targets. Use spanish to reproduce the JSON scenario on this page.

Step 3: Start and collect

Start the Actor, wait for completion, and open the default Dataset. A successful result contains one row with transcript; translation is populated only when a target was requested and completed.

Input Parameters

YouTube Transcript exposes 2 public inputs, and its URL/file requirement follows the exact rule described in the table.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description	Example
video_url	string	Yes	One public media page URL in this Actor's documented scope.	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rzeW4dbvlQ
translate	string	No	Optional target language; the schema exposes 133 choices.	spanish

{
  "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rzeW4dbvlQ",
  "translate": "spanish"
}

Do not send profiles, searches, feeds, playlists, private media, or credential-gated pages in place of the one public media item described by this edition.

Output Data Schema

One successful run writes exactly 22 top-level fields; unavailable source metadata remains null instead of being invented.

Group	Fields
Processing	processor, processed_at, platform
Source identity	title, description, author, author_id, author_url, duration, published_at, thumbnail
Audio and taxonomy	audio_title, audio_artist, categories, tags
Engagement	view_count, like_count, shares_count, dislike_count, comment_count
Speech	transcript, translation

The following item is abbreviated. The real row retains all 22 top-level fields and every recognized segment.

{
  "platform": "YouTube",
  "title": "Source title when available",
  "author": "Source creator when available",
  "duration": 24.4,
  "transcript": {
    "language": "English",
    "text": "Abbreviated recognized speech.",
    "segments": [
      {
        "start": "00:00:00.000",
        "end": "00:00:02.400",
        "text": "Abbreviated recognized speech."
      }
    ]
  },
  "translation": {
    "language": "Spanish",
    "text": "Traducción abreviada.",
    "segments": [
      {
        "start": "00:00:00.000",
        "end": "00:00:02.400",
        "text": "Traducción abreviada."
      }
    ]
  }
}

Dataset rows can be exported through Apify as JSON, CSV, Excel, XML, or RSS; nested speech objects are most convenient in JSON.

Integration Examples

Call agentx/youtube-transcript through the Apify REST API, clients, webhooks, schedules, or MCP with the same input object.

Actor ID

The public Actor ID is:

XfzZmSAG84ODgmr0z

The name form agentx/youtube-transcript resolves to the same Actor and is easier to read in configuration.

HTTP

$curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/XfzZmSAG84ODgmr0z/run-sync-get-dataset-items?token=$APIFY_TOKEN"   -H "Content-Type: application/json"   -d '{"video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rzeW4dbvlQ", "translate": "spanish"}'

Python

from apify_client import ApifyClient

client = ApifyClient("YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN")
run = client.actor("agentx/youtube-transcript").call(run_input={"video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rzeW4dbvlQ", "translate": "spanish"})
items = list(client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items())

JavaScript

import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

const client = new ApifyClient({ token: process.env.APIFY_TOKEN });
const run = await client.actor('agentx/youtube-transcript').call({"video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rzeW4dbvlQ", "translate": "spanish"});
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();

For Make.com or n8n, use an HTTP POST action against Actor ID XfzZmSAG84ODgmr0z, send the same JSON body, then read the default Dataset ID from the completed run. For MCP, follow the official Apify MCP setup and expose agentx/youtube-transcript as an Actor tool.

Pricing

On the FREE tier, one transcript costs $0.387, Actor Start costs $0.01 per GB with a one-event minimum, and the smallest 1 GB run has $0.397 in fixed events plus usage.

Tier	Transcript	Translation	Actor Start	Actor usage
FREE	$0.387	$0.15	$0.01 per GB, minimum one event	$0.00001 per usage event
BRONZE	$0.3741	$0.145	$0.01 per GB, minimum one event	$0.00001 per usage event
SILVER	$0.3612	$0.14	$0.01 per GB, minimum one event	$0.00001 per usage event
GOLD	$0.3483	$0.135	$0.01 per GB, minimum one event	$0.00001 per usage event
PLATINUM	$0.3483	$0.135	$0.01 per GB, minimum one event	$0.00001 per usage event
DIAMOND	$0.3483	$0.135	$0.01 per GB, minimum one event	$0.00001 per usage event

Translation adds $0.15 on the FREE tier only when requested and completed. At the 1 GB default, an original-language result has $0.397 in fixed events; the same result translated to Spanish has $0.547 in fixed events. Metered usage depends on runtime and resources. Prices can change, so confirm the live pricing page before a production batch.

Use Cases

Searchable media review. Search transcript.text, then use the matched segment's start time to revisit the exact moment.

Knowledge ingestion. Split transcript.segments into time-addressable chunks for retrieval systems while retaining title, author, and processor provenance.

Multilingual review. Request translation, compare aligned segment boundaries, and retain the original detected-language text beside it.

Content operations. Turn tutorials, interviews, product demos, and Shorts into searchable notes while retaining the source title and creator context.

Accessibility preparation. Use ordered segments as a drafting aid for subtitles or review notes, with human verification for names, jargon, and noisy audio.

Alternatives

Manual playback and typing is reasonable for a very short one-off clip, but it becomes difficult to repeat, timestamp, schedule, or export consistently.

The source's own transcript or caption feature is preferable when it already exposes the exact authorized text you need. This Actor is useful when the public media is known, the speech must be normalized into one Dataset shape, or optional translation is part of the workflow.

A general file transcription service fits media already stored locally. Choose the universal Video Transcript edition when an authorized upload is the real input; choose this platform edition when the public source URL and source metadata matter.

Choose something else for live capture, account login, private media, speaker diarization, optical character recognition, video search, or legal-rights determination.

Limits and Troubleshooting

• No Dataset row appears. The source page may be private, deleted, region-restricted, silent, or no longer expose downloadable media. Recheck https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rzeW4dbvlQ in a normal browser and retry the unchanged smallest input.
• Metadata is null. A source may expose playable media without publishing every engagement or creator value. Treat null as unavailable, not as zero.
• The transcript contains a mistaken name. Speech recognition can mishear proper nouns, overlapping speakers, music, or noisy audio. Review the relevant timestamp against the source before quoting it.
• Translation is empty. Translation runs only after a transcript exists and is attached only when all translated segments complete. Retry the original-language input first, then add one target.
• A long recording takes longer. Media must be retrieved and speech duration drives recognition work. Use the shortest representative public item for integration testing.

For a reproducible defect, open an Actor Issue with the run ID, exact public URL, requested translation, and the first relevant log message.

Trust and Reliability

The public contract is checkable: the input schema lists every accepted control, the Dataset schema names 22 top-level fields, and the pricing configuration names each billed event and tier.

The isolated scenario https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rzeW4dbvlQ completed in 57.939 seconds on August 12, 2026 and produced one Dataset item. That measurement demonstrates the example path, not a permanent speed guarantee for different media lengths or source conditions.

Apify provides run history, logs, Dataset storage, API access, schedules, webhooks, and secret handling around the Actor. Source-owned titles, counts, thumbnails, and availability can change between runs.

Legal and Compliance

Public or authorized media only. Submit content you may access and process; this Actor does not provide credentials or bypass private visibility.

Source terms still apply. YouTube Transcript is not affiliated with YouTube, and YouTube's official sharing help remains the source for its own sharing or media rules.

Review personal data and copyright. Creator names, spoken personal data, and the media itself may be protected. Apply the law, consent requirements, retention rules, and source terms that govern your use case.

Frequently Asked Questions

get youtube video transcript without an api key?

Yes for a supported public item: you provide the source URL and an Apify token, not a developer key for YouTube. Private or login-gated media remains outside scope.

youtube transcript api pricing?

The FREE-tier transcript event is $0.387, the 1 GB Actor Start is $0.01, and metered usage is separate; optional translation adds $0.15 when it completes.

Does YouTube Transcript return timestamps?

Yes. Each transcript.segments entry includes formatted start, end, and text, and translated segments keep the same order.

Can I upload a media file?

No. This platform edition accepts one public source URL; use the universal Video Transcript Actor for an authorized file upload.

Can I submit multiple URLs in one run?

No. The public schema accepts one media item per run, so a list must be orchestrated as separate Actor runs.

Why are some source fields null?

Different pages expose different metadata. A null value means the source or extractor did not provide that value; it is not a measured zero.

Can I schedule repeated transcription runs?

Yes. Apify schedules can repeat a fixed input, but each execution is a new billed run and source availability or counts may change.

Related AgentX Actors

AgentX publishes a full catalog of Actors; the three closest choices come first, followed by the generated catalog grouped by product area.

Closest to this Actor:

• Video Transcript — a broader multi-platform transcript path
• Video Captions Downloader — an adjacent video workflow with a different output
• Video To Social Post — an adjacent video workflow with a different output

Business and Market Intelligence

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• LinkedIn Profile Lookup — LinkedIn profile records
• Weather Forecast API — forecast and historical weather data

Jobs and Hiring

• All Jobs Scraper — multi-platform job listings
• Bayt Jobs Scraper — Bayt job listings
• Glassdoor Jobs Scraper — Glassdoor job listings
• Indeed Jobs Scraper — Indeed job listings
• JobStreet Company Profile — JobStreet employer records
• Jooble Jobs Scraper — Jooble job listings
• LinkedIn Jobs Scraper — LinkedIn job listings
• Naukri Jobs Scraper — Naukri job listings
• Talent Jobs Scraper — Talent.com job listings
• ZipRecruiter Jobs Scraper — ZipRecruiter job listings

Social Media

• Instagram Creator Scraper — Instagram creator profiles
• Instagram Reels Scraper — Instagram Reels metadata
• Instagram Trending Scraper — Instagram trending content
• Medium Scraper — Medium articles
• Medium Profile Scraper — Medium author profiles
• Reddit Profile Scraper — Reddit user profiles
• Reddit Viral Scraper — Reddit viral posts
• SubReddit Info Scraper — subreddit metadata
• Subreddit Members Scraper — subreddit member lists
• Subreddit Posts Scraper — subreddit post feeds
• Telegram Chat Scraper — Telegram chat messages
• Telegram Info Scraper — Telegram channel metadata
• Telegram Member Adder — Telegram group membership management
• Telegram Member Scraper — Telegram group members
• Telegram Private Group Scraper — private Telegram group data
• TikTok Creator API — TikTok creator profiles
• TikTok User Lookup — TikTok account records
• X Twitter Community API — X community data
• X Twitter Profile Lookup — X profile records
• YouTube Creator Email Scraper — YouTube creator contact data

Video, Transcripts and Downloads

• All Video Scraper — multi-platform video metadata
• Video Transcript — multi-platform transcripts
• Video Captions Downloader — caption files
• Video to Social Post — video repurposed into social copy
• TikTok Transcript — TikTok transcripts
• X Twitter Transcript — X video transcripts
• Facebook Transcript — Facebook video transcripts
• Bilibili Transcript — Bilibili transcripts
• Dailymotion Transcript — Dailymotion transcripts
• Rutube Transcript — Rutube transcripts
• Loom Transcript — Loom transcripts
• Wistia Transcript — Wistia transcripts
• Instagram Reels Downloader — Reels downloads
• Kick Clip Downloader — Kick clip downloads
• Linkedin Video Downloader — LinkedIn video downloads
• Pinterest Video Downloader — Pinterest video downloads
• Reddit Video Downloader — Reddit video downloads
• Snapchat Video Downloader — Snapchat video downloads
• TED Talk Downloader — TED talk downloads
• TikTok Live Downloader — TikTok live downloads
• Twitch VOD Downloader — Twitch VOD downloads
• Zoom Recording Downloader — Zoom recording downloads

E-Commerce and Retail

• All Shopping Scraper — multi-platform product data
• AliExpress Product Scraper — AliExpress products
• Amazon Storefront Scraper — Amazon Brand Store pages
• Bol Product Scraper — Bol.com products
• eBay Seller Leads API — eBay seller records
• Hepsiburada Product Scraper — Hepsiburada products
• Kakaku Product Scraper — Kakaku.com products
• Rakuten Product Scraper — Rakuten products

Classifieds and Automotive

• All Vehicle Scraper — multi-platform vehicle listings
• AutoTrader Vehicle Search — AutoTrader US listings
• AutoTrader UK Vehicle Search — AutoTrader UK listings

Real Estate

• All Property Scraper — multi-platform property listings
• Homes Property Scraper — Homes.com listings
• MagicBricks Property Scraper — MagicBricks listings
• NoBroker Property Scraper — NoBroker listings
• Property24 Property Scraper — Property24 listings
• Realtor Property Scraper — Realtor.com listings
• Zillow Property Scraper — Zillow listings

Support and Community

Ask about YouTube Transcript inputs, transcript fields, and source-specific failures in the AgentX community on Telegram; for a reproducible bug, open an Issue with the run ID and the exact input.

AgentX is an Arcyton brand — arcyton.com.

Last Updated: August 12, 2026