# YouTube Scraper (`jungle_synthesizer/youtube-scraper`) Actor Scrape YouTube videos, channels, and metadata without an API key. Search by keyword or scrape a full channel's video catalogue. Returns structured records with video ID, title, description, view count, like count, channel, duration, publish date, and thumbnail URLs. - **URL**: https://apify.com/jungle\_synthesizer/youtube-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [BowTiedRaccoon](https://apify.com/jungle_synthesizer) (community) - **Categories:** Social media, Videos - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, NaN bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing Pay per event This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events. Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have. 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.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.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/platform/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 Scrape YouTube videos, channels, and metadata without an API key. Search by keyword or scrape a full channel's video catalogue. Returns structured records with video ID, title, view count, channel, duration, publish date, and thumbnail URLs. ### What it does The actor uses YouTube's InnerTube REST API — the same JSON API used by YouTube's own web client. No API key, no browser rendering, and no proxy needed. Requests run on standard datacenter infrastructure, keeping costs low. Two scraping modes are available: - **Search mode** (`mode: search`) — submit one or more keyword queries and collect matching video results, paginated via InnerTube continuation tokens. - **Channel mode** (`mode: channel`) — supply a channel URL, handle, or bare channel ID and collect all videos from that channel's Videos tab. ### Input | Field | Type | Description | |-------|------|-------------| | `mode` | string | `search` (default) or `channel` | | `queries` | array | Keywords to search for (search mode only) | | `channelUrl` | string | Channel URL, `@handle`, or UC... ID (channel mode only) | | `maxItems` | integer | Maximum videos to return per query / total for channel mode | **Channel URL formats accepted:** - `https://www.youtube.com/@MrBeast` - `https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX6OQ3DkcsbYNE6H8uQQuVA` - Bare ID: `UCX6OQ3DkcsbYNE6H8uQQuVA` ### Output Each record contains: | Field | Type | Description | |-------|------|-------------| | `videoId` | string | YouTube video ID | | `videoUrl` | string | Full watch URL | | `title` | string | Video title | | `description` | string | Description snippet (if shown in search results) | | `channelId` | string | YouTube channel ID (UC...) | | `channelName` | string | Channel display name | | `channelUrl` | string | Channel canonical URL | | `viewCount` | integer | Total view count | | `likeCount` | integer | Like count (null if hidden) | | `commentCount` | integer | Comment count (null if unavailable) | | `durationSeconds` | integer | Duration in seconds | | `publishedAt` | string | Relative publish date (e.g. "1 year ago") | | `thumbnailUrl` | string | Highest-resolution thumbnail URL | | `tags` | string | Comma-separated tag list (if available) | | `isLive` | boolean | Whether the video is a live stream | | `categoryId` | string | Video category name | | `query` | string | The search query or channel URL that produced this record | | `scrapedAt` | string | ISO timestamp when the record was collected | ### Example: search mode ```json { "mode": "search", "queries": ["python tutorial", "javascript crash course"], "maxItems": 50 } ```` ### Example: channel mode ```json { "mode": "channel", "channelUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/@MrBeast", "maxItems": 100 } ``` ### Performance and cost - Memory: 256 MB - Proxy: none required - Approximate throughput: 20 videos per InnerTube page, ~200 ms delay between pages - Pricing: pay-per-result (DATA\_RECORD events) ### Notes - `publishedAt` returns YouTube's relative format ("3 days ago", "1 year ago") rather than an absolute ISO date — the InnerTube browse/search API does not expose absolute timestamps in these endpoints. - `likeCount` and `commentCount` are not available from the InnerTube browse/search endpoints and will always be `null`. - `description` is populated only when YouTube includes a snippet in search results; it is typically `null` in channel mode. - The actor handles YouTube's EU consent mechanism automatically via a session cookie header. # Actor input Schema ## `sp_intended_usage` (type: `string`): Please describe how you plan to use the data extracted by this crawler. ## `sp_improvement_suggestions` (type: `string`): Provide any feedback or suggestions for improvements. ## `sp_contact` (type: `string`): Provide your email address so we can get in touch with you. ## `mode` (type: `string`): Scraping mode: 'search' to find videos by keyword, 'channel' to scrape a channel's videos ## `queries` (type: `array`): List of keywords to search for (used in search mode) ## `channelUrl` (type: `string`): YouTube channel URL (e.g. https://www.youtube.com/@MrBeast or https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX6OQ3DkcsbYNE6H8uQQuVA) or bare channel ID (UCX6OQ3DkcsbYNE6H8uQQuVA). Used in channel mode. ## `maxItems` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of video records to return per query (or total for channel mode) ## Actor input object example ```json { "sp_intended_usage": "Describe your intended use...", "sp_improvement_suggestions": "Share your suggestions here...", "sp_contact": "Share your email here...", "mode": "search", "queries": [ "python tutorial" ], "channelUrl": "UCX6OQ3DkcsbYNE6H8uQQuVA", "maxItems": 5 } ``` # 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 '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "sp_intended_usage": "Describe your intended use...", "sp_improvement_suggestions": "Share your suggestions here...", "sp_contact": "Share your email here...", "mode": "search", "queries": [ "python tutorial" ], "channelUrl": "UCX6OQ3DkcsbYNE6H8uQQuVA", "maxItems": 5 }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("jungle_synthesizer/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 = { "sp_intended_usage": "Describe your intended use...", "sp_improvement_suggestions": "Share your suggestions here...", "sp_contact": "Share your email here...", "mode": "search", "queries": ["python tutorial"], "channelUrl": "UCX6OQ3DkcsbYNE6H8uQQuVA", "maxItems": 5, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("jungle_synthesizer/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 '{ "sp_intended_usage": "Describe your intended use...", "sp_improvement_suggestions": "Share your suggestions here...", "sp_contact": "Share your email here...", "mode": "search", "queries": [ "python tutorial" ], "channelUrl": "UCX6OQ3DkcsbYNE6H8uQQuVA", "maxItems": 5 }' | apify call jungle_synthesizer/youtube-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=jungle_synthesizer/youtube-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "YouTube Scraper", "description": "Scrape YouTube videos, channels, and metadata without an API key. Search by keyword or scrape a full channel's video catalogue. Returns structured records with video ID, title, description, view count, like count, channel, duration, publish date, and thumbnail URLs.", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "vQIHXYPbSmoDWJ0l6" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/jungle_synthesizer~youtube-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-jungle_synthesizer-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/jungle_synthesizer~youtube-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-jungle_synthesizer-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/jungle_synthesizer~youtube-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-jungle_synthesizer-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", "required": [ "maxItems" ], "properties": { "sp_intended_usage": { "title": "What is the intended usage of this data?", "minLength": 1, "type": "string", "description": "Please describe how you plan to use the data extracted by this crawler." }, "sp_improvement_suggestions": { "title": "How can we improve this crawler for you?", "minLength": 1, "type": "string", "description": "Provide any feedback or suggestions for improvements." }, "sp_contact": { "title": "Contact Email", "minLength": 1, "type": "string", "description": "Provide your email address so we can get in touch with you." }, "mode": { "title": "Mode", "enum": [ "search", "channel" ], "type": "string", "description": "Scraping mode: 'search' to find videos by keyword, 'channel' to scrape a channel's videos", "default": "search" }, "queries": { "title": "Search Queries", "type": "array", "description": "List of keywords to search for (used in search mode)", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "channelUrl": { "title": "Channel URL or ID", "type": "string", "description": "YouTube channel URL (e.g. https://www.youtube.com/@MrBeast or https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX6OQ3DkcsbYNE6H8uQQuVA) or bare channel ID (UCX6OQ3DkcsbYNE6H8uQQuVA). Used in channel mode." }, "maxItems": { "title": "Max Items", "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of video records to return per query (or total for channel mode)", "default": 50 } } }, "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 } } } } } } } } } } ```