# Track YouTube video views and likes over time

**Use case:** 

Capture timestamped views and likes for the same YouTube videos. Export two runs as JSON and compare free at https://video-delta.gohuns1234.chatgpt.site/ (files stay in your browser). Replace the two sample URLs. Two successful videos cost $0.004 per run on the Free plan, plus a start fee. Check live pricing and your run limit. No automatic schedule or historical backfill.

## Input

```json
{
  "channels": [
    "@3blue1brown"
  ],
  "urls": [
    "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aircAruvnKk",
    "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHZwWFHWa-w"
  ],
  "maxVideos": 10,
  "contentType": "videos",
  "includeDescription": false,
  "maxConcurrency": 2,
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true,
    "apifyProxyGroups": [
      "RESIDENTIAL"
    ]
  },
  "alwaysUseProxy": false
}
```

## Output

```json
{
  "videoId": {
    "label": "Video ID",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "scrapedAt": {
    "label": "Scraped at",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "title": {
    "label": "Title",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "url": {
    "label": "Video URL",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "viewCount": {
    "label": "Views",
    "format": "number"
  },
  "likeCount": {
    "label": "Likes",
    "format": "number"
  },
  "source": {
    "label": "Found via",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "error": {
    "label": "Error",
    "format": "string"
  }
}
```

## How it works

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

The YouTube Scraper: Channels, Search, Playlists & Shorts Actor is ready to run with the inputs already set for "Track YouTube video views and likes over time". [Sign up or log in](https://console.apify.com/create-task-from-example/KsLsvDdhod9OXBYeu) and you'll land in Apify Console with a copy of this exact task.

### 2. Start the "Track YouTube video views and likes over time" task

The YouTube Scraper: Channels, Search, Playlists & Shorts Actor will start running based on the input automatically. You can also change all the input fields, like channels, playlists or videos, and more, to match your specific use case.

### 3. Receive the "Track YouTube video views and likes over time" 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 video id, scraped at, 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 "Track YouTube video views and likes over time" task via API](https://apify.com/hxckya/youtube-scraper-channels-search-playlists.md).

## About this Actor

This example demonstrates how to use [YouTube Scraper: Channels, Search, Playlists & Shorts](https://apify.com/hxckya/youtube-scraper-channels-search-playlists.md) with a specific input configuration. Visit the [Actor detail page](https://apify.com/hxckya/youtube-scraper-channels-search-playlists.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/hxckya/youtube-scraper-channels-search-playlists.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`).