# YouTube transcript scraper: full text with timestamps

**Use case:** 

Paste one or many YouTube video links and get the transcript of each: full text, timed segments and chapters, together with title, channel, views and likes. Ready for summaries, RAG, subtitles and content repurposing. Example: two tutorial videos.

## Input

```json
{
  "searchQueries": [
    "web scraping tutorial"
  ],
  "startUrls": [
    "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHQlcnubuFI",
    "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7fob_XVsbY"
  ],
  "maxVideos": 20,
  "channelSections": [
    "videos"
  ],
  "maxPosts": 10,
  "mode": "complete",
  "includeTranscripts": true,
  "includeComments": false,
  "maxComments": 20,
  "commentsSort": "top",
  "maxRepliesPerComment": 0,
  "sortBy": "relevance",
  "uploadDate": "any",
  "videoType": "any",
  "duration": "any",
  "onlyNewVideos": false,
  "country": "US",
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true
  }
}
```

## Output

```json
{
  "type": {
    "label": "type",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "title": {
    "label": "title",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "url": {
    "label": "url",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "channelName": {
    "label": "channelName",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "viewCount": {
    "label": "viewCount",
    "format": "integer"
  },
  "likeCount": {
    "label": "likeCount",
    "format": "integer"
  },
  "commentCount": {
    "label": "commentCount",
    "format": "integer"
  },
  "commentsIncluded": {
    "label": "commentsIncluded",
    "format": "integer"
  },
  "duration": {
    "label": "duration",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "publishedAt": {
    "label": "publishedAt",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "category": {
    "label": "category",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "searchQuery": {
    "label": "searchQuery",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "sourceUrl": {
    "label": "sourceUrl",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "thumbnailUrl": {
    "label": "thumbnailUrl",
    "format": "string"
  }
}
```

## How it works

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

The YouTube Scraper | $0.19/1K | Transcripts, Comments, Shorts Actor is ready to run with the inputs already set for "YouTube transcript scraper: full text with timestamps". [Sign up or log in](https://console.apify.com/create-task-from-example/hhcJM0msOdl7yme6E) and you'll land in Apify Console with a copy of this exact task.

### 2. Start the "YouTube transcript scraper: full text with timestamps" task

The YouTube Scraper | $0.19/1K | Transcripts, Comments, Shorts Actor will start running based on the input automatically. You can also change all the input fields, like search keywords, youtube links, and more, to match your specific use case.

### 3. Receive the "YouTube transcript scraper: full text with timestamps" 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 type, title, url, 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 "YouTube transcript scraper: full text with timestamps" task via API](https://apify.com/monkey.d.scraping/youtube-scraper.md).

## FAQ

### How do I get the transcript of a YouTube video?

Replace the example links with your video links and click Start. Each row has transcript.text with the full text and transcript.segments with the start time of every line.

### Can I get transcripts for a whole channel or playlist?

Yes. Paste a channel or playlist link instead of video links and set Max videos; every video comes with its transcript at the same price.

### How much does a transcript cost?

Nothing extra: the transcript is included in the video price, $0.35 per 1,000 videos on the Free plan and down to $0.19 on higher plans.

### Do I need a YouTube API key or a Google account?

No. There is no key, no login and no daily quota. You only need an Apify account; the Free plan is enough to try it.

## About this Actor

This example demonstrates how to use [YouTube Scraper | $0.19/1K | Transcripts, Comments, Shorts](https://apify.com/monkey.d.scraping/youtube-scraper.md) with a specific input configuration. Visit the [Actor detail page](https://apify.com/monkey.d.scraping/youtube-scraper.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/monkey.d.scraping/youtube-scraper.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`).