# Cheap YouTube Video Scraper — Search, Channels & Playlists (`istmobot/youtube-scraper-cheap`) Actor

Low-cost YouTube scraper with the same input and output fields as the most popular one, so you can switch with no code changes. Search terms, channels, playlists, Shorts and videos: views, likes, comments, exact date, duration, description, hashtags and channel stats. $0.80 per 1,000 videos.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/istmobot/youtube-scraper-cheap.md
- **Developed by:** [Istmobot](https://apify.com/istmobot) (community)
- **Categories:** Social media, Videos, Lead generation
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $2.25 / 1,000 videos

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/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
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.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## 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.

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 examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

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`).

# README

## Cheap YouTube Video Scraper — Search, Channels & Playlists

**A cheaper drop-in alternative to the most popular YouTube scraper on Apify, with the same input and output fields.** Paste the input you already use (`searchQueries`, `startUrls`, `maxResults`, `maxResultsShorts`, `maxResultStreams`, `sortVideosBy`, `oldestPostDate`, search filters) and you get records with the same field names (`id`, `title`, `url`, `viewCount`, `likes`, `commentsCount`, `date`, `duration`, `channelName`, `numberOfSubscribers`, `text`, `hashtags`...). Your integrations, Make/Zapier/n8n flows and spreadsheets keep working, and the bill is about **44% smaller** ($2.25 instead of $4 per 1,000 videos).

### Price comparison

| | This Actor | Typical YouTube scraper |
|---|---|---|
| Per 1,000 videos | **$2.25** | $4.00 (free plan) |
| Actor start | $0.001 per run | — |
| Date filter on channels | **free** | extra per video |
| Proxy | included | included |

Pay only for videos in your dataset. Error rows (bad URL, deleted video) are free. 10,000 videos cost $22.50.

### What you get

Give it **search terms** or **YouTube URLs**:

- **Search terms**, with YouTube's own filters: sort by relevance, rating, upload date or views; upload date (last hour, today, week, month, year); length; HD, 4K, subtitles, Creative Commons, live, 360°, VR180, HDR, 3D, location, purchased.
- **Channels**: `https://www.youtube.com/@mkbhd`, `/channel/UC...`, `/c/...`, `/user/...`. Regular videos, Shorts and live streams, each with its own limit. Sort by newest, popular or oldest.
- **Channel tabs**: `/@mkbhd/shorts`, `/@mkbhd/videos`, `/@mkbhd/streams`.
- **Playlists**: `https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=...`
- **Single videos and Shorts**: `watch?v=`, `youtu.be/`, `/shorts/`, `/live/`.
- **Search results URLs**: `https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=...` (keeps its `sp` filters).

Every video comes with exact stats, not the rounded numbers of the list pages:

```json
{
  "title": "Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up (Official Video) (4K Remaster)",
  "id": "dQw4w9WgXcQ",
  "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ",
  "viewCount": 1831534497,
  "date": "2009-10-25T06:57:33.000Z",
  "duration": "00:03:33",
  "type": "video",
  "thumbnailUrl": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dQw4w9WgXcQ/maxresdefault.jpg",
  "input": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ",
  "fromYTUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ",
  "order": 0,
  "channelName": "Rick Astley",
  "channelUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/@RickAstleyYT",
  "channelUsername": "RickAstleyYT",
  "channelId": "UCuAXFkgsw1L7xaCfnd5JJOw",
  "numberOfSubscribers": 4550000,
  "isChannelVerified": true,
  "likes": 19491617,
  "commentsCount": 2400000,
  "commentsTurnedOff": false,
  "text": "The official video for “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley...",
  "descriptionLinks": [{ "url": "https://linktr.ee/rickastleynever", "text": "https://linktr.ee/rickastleynever" }],
  "hashtags": ["#RickAstley", "#NeverGonnaGiveYouUp", "#WheneverYouNeedSomebody", "#OfficialMusicVideo"],
  "keywords": ["rick astley", "Never Gonna Give You Up", "..."],
  "category": "Music",
  "isMembersOnly": false,
  "isUnlisted": false,
  "isFamilySafe": true
}
```

Rows from channel URLs also carry `channelDescription`, `channelAvatarUrl` and `channelTotalVideos`.

### Input

| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
| `searchQueries` | Search terms. Ignored when `startUrls` is set. |
| `startUrls` | Video, Shorts, channel, channel tab, playlist or search results URLs. Plain strings or `{ "url": ... }`. |
| `maxResults` | Videos per search term, playlist, or regular videos per channel. Default 10. |
| `maxResultsShorts` | Shorts per channel. Default 0. |
| `maxResultStreams` | Live streams per channel. Default 0. |
| `sortVideosBy` | Channel order: `NEWEST`, `POPULAR`, `OLDEST`. |
| `oldestPostDate` | `2025-01-31` or an age like `7 days`, `12 hours`. |
| `sortingOrder`, `dateFilter`, `videoType`, `lengthFilter`, `isHD`, `hasSubtitles`, `hasCC`, `is3D`, `isLive`, `isBought`, `is4K`, `is360`, `hasLocation`, `isHDR`, `isVR180` | YouTube search filters. |

Example:

```json
{
  "startUrls": [{ "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@mkbhd" }],
  "maxResults": 50,
  "maxResultsShorts": 20,
  "oldestPostDate": "30 days"
}
```

### What is not included

Titles and descriptions stay in the video's original language; YouTube's English auto-translation goes to `translatedTitle` / `translatedText`. Channel scrapes include the "About" data (`channelJoinedDate`, `channelLocation`, `channelTotalViews`, `channelBannerUrl`, `channelDescriptionLinks`, `aboutChannelInfo`). To keep the price low, this Actor does not do subtitles, AI transcription or AI summaries (`subtitles`, `transcriptionUrl`, `aiVideoDescription`, `aiVideoSummary` and `isMonetized` are always `null`). Need subtitles? Use [YouTube Transcript Scraper](https://apify.com/istmobot/youtube-transcript-scraper) on the video URLs from this dataset.

### FAQ

**Do I need a YouTube API key?** No. No key, no quota, no login.

**Why are comments counts rounded?** YouTube itself shows comment counts rounded ("2.4M"). Likes and views are exact.

**Is it legal?** It collects public data only. Do not scrape personal data without a legal basis, and respect YouTube's terms.

**Something broke?** Open an issue on the Issues tab with the run link. YouTube changes often and fixes are quick.

# Actor input Schema

## `searchQueries` (type: `array`):

Search YouTube just like in its search bar. Ignored when Start URLs are given.

## `maxResults` (type: `integer`):

Limit for each search term, playlist and search URL. For a channel it limits regular videos. 0 skips regular videos.

## `maxResultsShorts` (type: `integer`):

Shorts to scrape from each channel URL. 0 = none.

## `maxResultStreams` (type: `integer`):

Live streams to scrape from each channel URL. 0 = none.

## `startUrls` (type: `array`):

YouTube video, Shorts, channel (@handle, /channel/UC..., /c/, /user/, or a /videos, /shorts, /streams tab), playlist or search results URLs. When given, search terms are ignored.

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

Order of channel videos: newest, most popular or oldest first (the buttons on top of a channel's Videos, Shorts and Live tabs).

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

Skip videos older than this date (e.g. 2025-01-31) or this age (e.g. "7 days"; "1 day" = today only). On channels this forces newest first and stops at the first older video.

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

YouTube search sort order.

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

YouTube search upload date filter.

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

Videos or movies.

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

YouTube search duration filter.

## `isHD` (type: `boolean`):

Will apply the HD filter for search

## `hasSubtitles` (type: `boolean`):

Will apply the Subtitles/CC filter for search

## `hasCC` (type: `boolean`):

Will apply the Creative Commons filter for search

## `is3D` (type: `boolean`):

Will apply the 3D filter for search

## `isLive` (type: `boolean`):

Will apply the Live filter for search

## `isBought` (type: `boolean`):

Will apply the Purchased filter for search

## `is4K` (type: `boolean`):

Will apply the 4K filter for search

## `is360` (type: `boolean`):

Will apply the 360 degrees filter for search

## `hasLocation` (type: `boolean`):

Will apply the Location filter for search

## `isHDR` (type: `boolean`):

Will apply the HDR filter for search

## `isVR180` (type: `boolean`):

Will apply the VR180 filter for search

## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`):

YouTube blocks datacenter IPs, so residential proxy is the default. The Actor switches to a fresh IP when a request is blocked.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "searchQueries": [
    "web scraping"
  ],
  "maxResults": 10,
  "maxResultsShorts": 0,
  "maxResultStreams": 0,
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true,
    "apifyProxyGroups": [
      "RESIDENTIAL"
    ]
  }
}
```

# Actor output Schema

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

No description

# 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 = {
    "searchQueries": [
        "web scraping"
    ],
    "maxResults": 10,
    "proxyConfiguration": {
        "useApifyProxy": true,
        "apifyProxyGroups": [
            "RESIDENTIAL"
        ]
    }
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("istmobot/youtube-scraper-cheap").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 = {
    "searchQueries": ["web scraping"],
    "maxResults": 10,
    "proxyConfiguration": {
        "useApifyProxy": True,
        "apifyProxyGroups": ["RESIDENTIAL"],
    },
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("istmobot/youtube-scraper-cheap").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 '{
  "searchQueries": [
    "web scraping"
  ],
  "maxResults": 10,
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true,
    "apifyProxyGroups": [
      "RESIDENTIAL"
    ]
  }
}' |
apify call istmobot/youtube-scraper-cheap --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

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

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/ch0GQdGj0u6AdPPfw/builds/G6ZKZ6Af140LHliQP/openapi.json