# YouTube Transcript API: get transcripts as JSON

**Use case:** 

Works like a YouTube transcript API: send video, channel or playlist links and get the transcripts back as JSON in the same request, with timestamps and video details. No YouTube API key and no quota. Call it from Python, JavaScript, curl or any HTTP client.

## Input

```json
{
  "urls": [
    "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNQXAC9IVRw"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "maxVideosPerChannel": 5,
  "onlyNewVideos": true,
  "includeTimestamps": true,
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true
  }
}
```

## Output

```json
{
  "isNew": {
    "label": "New",
    "format": "boolean"
  },
  "channelName": {
    "label": "Channel",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "title": {
    "label": "Title",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "publishedAt": {
    "label": "Published",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "durationSeconds": {
    "label": "Duration (s)",
    "format": "integer"
  },
  "language": {
    "label": "Language",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "status": {
    "label": "Status",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "transcript": {
    "label": "Transcript",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "url": {
    "label": "URL",
    "format": "string"
  }
}
```

## How it works

### 1. Sign up on Apify or log in

The YouTube Transcript Scraper & New Videos Monitor Actor is ready to run with the inputs already set for "YouTube Transcript API: get transcripts as JSON". [Sign up or log in](https://console.apify.com/create-task-from-example/bnflu8rgXzkwUIbJV) and you'll land in Apify Console with a copy of this exact task.

### 2. Start the "YouTube Transcript API: get transcripts as JSON" task

The YouTube Transcript Scraper & New Videos Monitor Actor will start running based on the input automatically. You can also change all the input fields, like videos, channels or playlists, transcript language, and more, to match your specific use case.

### 3. Receive the "YouTube Transcript API: get transcripts as JSON" output

Monitor the progress in real time. You will be notified as soon as your dataset is complete and ready for review. Each result includes data such as new, channel, title, and more.

### 4. Integrate into your workflow

The final output is delivered in JSON, CSV, or Excel format, ready to be plugged into your workflow. You can also [run the "YouTube Transcript API: get transcripts as JSON" task via API](https://apify.com/babymum7/youtube-transcript-monitor.md).

## FAQ

### Which endpoint returns the transcripts in one request?

POST the transcript API task's input to the run-sync-get-dataset-items endpoint of the Apify API with your token. The response is the list of videos as JSON.

### Do I need a YouTube Data API key?

No. The transcript API task reads the captions YouTube publishes with each video, so you only need an Apify API token and there is no daily quota.

### How much does this task cost to run?

The transcript API task is billed per transcript returned: 0.0015 USD per video, or 1.50 USD per 1,000. Videos without captions are listed for free.

### Can I run it on a schedule or through the API?

Yes. Save the transcript API task to your account, add a schedule in Apify Console, or start it from the Apify API, Make, Zapier or n8n with the same input.

## About this Actor

This example demonstrates how to use [YouTube Transcript Scraper & New Videos Monitor](https://apify.com/babymum7/youtube-transcript-monitor.md) with a specific input configuration. Visit the [Actor detail page](https://apify.com/babymum7/youtube-transcript-monitor.md) to learn more, explore other use cases, and run it yourself.


## How to integrate an Actor?

This Task's input is already configured above. Use it as-is rather than inventing a new one.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For full API examples (JavaScript, Python, CLI, MCP, OpenAPI), see this Task's Actor page: https://apify.com/babymum7/youtube-transcript-monitor.md

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).