# YouTube Channel, Video, Shorts & Comments Scraper | Lens (`cocoa_cherry/lens-social-youtube`) Actor

Scrape YouTube channels, videos, Shorts, comments, transcripts, playlists, and search. Billed via Apify Store (pay per result).

- **URL**: https://apify.com/cocoa\_cherry/lens-social-youtube.md
- **Developed by:** [Hans Dekker](https://apify.com/cocoa_cherry) (community)
- **Categories:** Social media, Automation
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 0.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $20.00 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

## YouTube Channel, Video, Shorts & Comments Scraper | Lens

Scrape YouTube channels, videos, Shorts, comments, transcripts, playlists, and search. Billed via Apify Store (pay per result).

Scrape YouTube channels, videos, Shorts, comments, transcripts, playlists, and search. Billed via Apify Store (pay per result).

Apify Store Actor powered by Lens Social API. Select an endpoint, fill the required query params for that endpoint, and results land in the default dataset.

**Billed via Apify** (pay per result) — no Lens account or API key required.

### Bulk

Pass `handles` (profile-style endpoints) or `urls` (tweet/post/page endpoints) — up to **1000** items per run. One dataset row (and PPE charge) per successful item. Failures are listed in the `OUTPUT` summary and are not charged. Optional `concurrency` (default 5).

### Endpoints (16)

- `/v1/youtube/channel` — Channel Details
- `/v1/youtube/channel-videos` — Channel Videos
- `/v1/youtube/channel/community-posts` — Channel Community Posts
- `/v1/youtube/channel/lives` — Channel Lives
- `/v1/youtube/channel/playlists` — Channel Playlists
- `/v1/youtube/channel/shorts` — Channel Shorts
- `/v1/youtube/community-post` — Community Post Details
- `/v1/youtube/playlist` — Playlist
- `/v1/youtube/search` — Search
- `/v1/youtube/search/hashtag` — Search by Hashtag
- `/v1/youtube/shorts/trending` — Trending Shorts
- `/v1/youtube/video` — Video/Short Details
- `/v1/youtube/video/comment/replies` — Comment Replies
- `/v1/youtube/video/comments` — Comments
- `/v1/youtube/video/sponsors` — Video Sponsors
- `/v1/youtube/video/transcript` — Transcript

### Docs

https://docs.lens.ly/api/social/youtube

### Local layout

This Actor lives under `marketplace/apify/wave-4/` and shares helpers from `marketplace/apify/shared/`.

# Actor input Schema

## `endpoint` (type: `string`):

Which Youtube social endpoint to call.

## `url` (type: `string`):

YouTube channel URL. Can pass a channelId, handle or url. Used by 6 endpoints — required only for some (see endpoint docs).

## `handle` (type: `string`):

YouTube channel handle. Can pass a channelId, handle or url. Used by 6 endpoints — required only for some (see endpoint docs).

## `query` (type: `string`):

Search query. Used by /v1/youtube/search.

## `hashtag` (type: `string`):

Hashtag to search for. Used by /v1/youtube/search/hashtag.

## `region` (type: `string`):

2 letter country code of the country to put the proxy in. Used by /v1/youtube/search.

## `language` (type: `string`):

Preferred response language (mapped to Accept-Language header; not guaranteed due to YouTube localization behavior). 2 letter language code, ie 'en', 'es', 'fr' etc. Used by 3 endpoints — required only for some (see endpoint docs).

## `sort` (type: `string`):

Sort by latest or popular. Used by 2 endpoints — required only for some (see endpoint docs).

## `cache_max_age` (type: `string`):

If we have a response in the cache that is this many days old or newer, return the cached response (0 credits, with "cached": true and a "cached\_at" timestamp). Otherwise, scrape a live result (1 credit). [See the Caching page for details.](https://docs.scrapecreators.com/caching). Used by 3 endpoints — required only for some (see endpoint docs).

## `channelId` (type: `string`):

YouTube channel ID. Can pass a channelId, handle or url. Used by 6 endpoints — required only for some (see endpoint docs).

## `continuationToken` (type: `string`):

Continuation token to get more videos. Get 'continuationToken' from previous response. Used by 9 endpoints — required only for some (see endpoint docs).

## `duration` (type: `string`):

Duration of the video. Only applies to videos (not shorts). Used by /v1/youtube/search.

## `includeExtras` (type: `string`):

This will get you the like + comment count and the description. To get the full details of the video, use the /v1/youtube/video endpoint. Honestly, if you use this param, the error rate is higher. We might deprecate this param in the future. Used by 2 endpoints — required only for some (see endpoint docs).

## `is_paid_promotions` (type: `string`):

Set to 'true' to search YouTube's public paid product placement / sponsorship / endorsement search surface. This returns normal YouTube videos where the creator declared paid promotion. Cannot be combined with filter, uploadDate, sortBy, type, duration, or includeExtras. Used by /v1/youtube/channel-videos.

## `order` (type: `string`):

Order of comments. Used by /v1/youtube/video/comments.

## `playlist_id` (type: `string`):

The ID of the YouTube playlist. In the YouTube URL it will be the 'list' parameter. Used by /v1/youtube/playlist.

## `sortBy` (type: `string`):

Sort by. Used by /v1/youtube/search.

## `type` (type: `string`):

Type of content to search for. Used by 2 endpoints — required only for some (see endpoint docs).

## `uploadDate` (type: `string`):

Upload date. Used by /v1/youtube/search.

## `handles` (type: `array`):

Bulk mode: up to 1000 handles for handle-based endpoints (e.g. profile). One dataset row per handle. Overrides singular Handle when set. Newline/comma-separated strings also accepted via API.

## `urls` (type: `array`):

Bulk mode: up to 1000 URLs for url-based endpoints (e.g. tweet, community). One dataset row per URL. Overrides singular Url when set.

## `concurrency` (type: `integer`):

Parallel Lens calls during bulk runs (1–20, default 5).

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "endpoint": "/v1/youtube/channel",
  "handle": "NASA",
  "concurrency": 5
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

Dataset items from this run.

## `summary` (type: `string`):

JSON summary in the key-value store OUTPUT key.

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "endpoint": "/v1/youtube/channel",
    "handle": "NASA"
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("cocoa_cherry/lens-social-youtube").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "endpoint": "/v1/youtube/channel",
    "handle": "NASA",
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("cocoa_cherry/lens-social-youtube").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "endpoint": "/v1/youtube/channel",
  "handle": "NASA"
}' |
apify call cocoa_cherry/lens-social-youtube --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,cocoa_cherry/lens-social-youtube"
        }
    }
}

```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/SOOzLbnZPSWCqKzEF/builds/dh3Z1Ko6Z01RdJeed/openapi.json