# YouTube Scraper — Channels, Videos & Search (`hichemdev/youtube-scraper`) Actor Scrape YouTube channels, videos, and search results: title, views, likes, duration, publish date, description, and channel stats. No API key. - **URL**: https://apify.com/hichemdev/youtube-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Hichem Ben Moussa](https://apify.com/hichemdev) (community) - **Categories:** Social media, Marketing - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $4.00 / 1,000 results This Actor is paid per event and usage. You are charged both the fixed price for specific events and for Apify platform usage. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. 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. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use 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 Scraper — Channels, Videos & Search **Scrape YouTube without an API key or quota — channel stats, video details (views, likes, duration, publish date), and search results — as clean structured data.** Give it channel handles, video URLs, or search terms and export to CSV, Excel, JSON, or Google Sheets. --- ### ✨ What you get **Per channel** | Field | Example | |---|---| | name / id | MKBHD · UCBJycsmduvYEL83R_U4JriQ | | subscribers | 19.8M | | description, url, avatar | channel metadata | **Per video** | Field | Example | |---|---| | title / id / url | direct watch link | | channel / channelId | uploader | | views / likes | 4,210,880 · 182,300 | | durationSecs / duration | 754 · 12:34 | | publishDate / uploadDate | 2026-06-01 | | description / keywords / category | metadata | | thumbnail | image URL | --- ### 🎯 Who it's for - **Creators & marketers** — benchmark channels and track video performance. - **Agencies** — vet influencers by real view and subscriber numbers. - **Trend & content research** — pull top videos for any topic or niche. - **Analytics & dashboards** — feed structured YouTube data into your reports. --- ### 🚀 How to use it 1. Add any mix of: - **Channels** — `@mkbhd`, a channel URL, or a `UC…` ID (returns channel stats + recent videos). - **Video URLs** — full watch links or video IDs (returns full per-video details). - **Search queries** — returns the matching videos. 2. Set **max videos per channel / search**. 3. Click **Start** and export. The Actor reads YouTube's own embedded page data via a real browser, so results are clean and complete — no login, no API key, no quota. --- ### 📥 Example input ```json { "channels": ["@mkbhd"], "searchQueries": ["mechanical keyboard review"], "videoUrls": ["https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ"], "maxVideos": 30 } ```` *** ### 📤 Example output ```json { "type": "video", "id": "dQw4w9WgXcQ", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ", "title": "Best Keyboards of 2026", "channel": "Marques Brownlee", "channelId": "UCBJycsmduvYEL83R_U4JriQ", "views": 4210880, "likes": 182300, "durationSecs": 754, "publishDate": "2026-06-01", "keywords": ["keyboard", "review"], "thumbnail": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dQw4w9WgXcQ/maxresdefault.jpg" } ``` Export to **CSV, Excel, JSON, XML, or Google Sheets**, or pull via the **Apify API**. *** ### ❓ FAQ **Do I need a YouTube API key?** No — and no quota limits either. It reads YouTube's public page data directly. **How many videos can I get per channel?** It returns the channel's most recent videos up to your limit (the batch YouTube loads on the Videos tab). **Are likes always available?** Views, title, duration, and dates have strong coverage. Like counts are read best-effort from the video page and may be `null` when YouTube hides them. **Is scraping YouTube legal?** It collects publicly visible information. You're responsible for complying with YouTube's terms and applicable laws, and for how you use the data. *** ### 🗺️ Roadmap - Comment scraping per video - Full channel back-catalog (beyond the recent batch) - Playlist scraping - Shorts and live-stream details *** *Built and maintained by [hichemdev](https://apify.com/hichemdev). Found a bug or want a feature? Open an issue on the Actor's **Issues** tab.* # Actor input Schema ## `channels` (type: `array`): YouTube channel handles or URLs, e.g. "@YouTube", "youtube.com/@mkbhd", or a /channel/UC... URL. Returns channel stats plus recent videos. ## `videoUrls` (type: `array`): Optional. Scrape specific videos — full watch URLs or bare video IDs. ## `searchQueries` (type: `array`): Optional. Search YouTube and scrape the matching videos, e.g. "lofi hip hop". ## `maxVideos` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of videos to collect from each channel or search query. ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): Residential proxy is recommended for reliable YouTube access and is included in your Apify plan. ## Actor input object example ```json { "channels": [ "@YouTube" ], "videoUrls": [], "searchQueries": [], "maxVideos": 5, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": [ "RESIDENTIAL" ] } } ``` # 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 '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "channels": [ "@YouTube" ], "videoUrls": [], "searchQueries": [], "maxVideos": 5 }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("hichemdev/youtube-scraper").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 '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "channels": ["@YouTube"], "videoUrls": [], "searchQueries": [], "maxVideos": 5, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("hichemdev/youtube-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "channels": [ "@YouTube" ], "videoUrls": [], "searchQueries": [], "maxVideos": 5 }' | apify call hichemdev/youtube-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=hichemdev/youtube-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "YouTube Scraper — Channels, Videos & Search", "description": "Scrape YouTube channels, videos, and search results: title, views, likes, duration, publish date, description, and channel stats. No API key.", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "f7WiXnNWUoLrC3Lrr" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/hichemdev~youtube-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-hichemdev-youtube-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/hichemdev~youtube-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-hichemdev-youtube-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/hichemdev~youtube-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-hichemdev-youtube-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "channels": { "title": "Channels", "type": "array", "description": "YouTube channel handles or URLs, e.g. \"@YouTube\", \"youtube.com/@mkbhd\", or a /channel/UC... URL. Returns channel stats plus recent videos.", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "videoUrls": { "title": "Video URLs", "type": "array", "description": "Optional. Scrape specific videos — full watch URLs or bare video IDs.", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "searchQueries": { "title": "Search queries", "type": "array", "description": "Optional. Search YouTube and scrape the matching videos, e.g. \"lofi hip hop\".", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "maxVideos": { "title": "Max videos per channel / search", "minimum": 1, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of videos to collect from each channel or search query.", "default": 30 }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy", "type": "object", "description": "Residential proxy is recommended for reliable YouTube access and is included in your Apify plan.", "default": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": [ "RESIDENTIAL" ] } } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```