YouTube Post Comments Scraper – Community Discussion

Collect public comments from YouTube community posts, with the source post retained on each row. YouTube Post Comments Scraper returns comment text, authors, likes, reply indicators, and the post's available text, channel, images, poll, or shared-content context.

Use it to study audience responses to channel announcements, polls, and image posts. Set a page budget per post and export a comment dataset that keeps the discussion connected to what the channel published.

At a glance	Details
📥 Input	Full YouTube community-post URLs
📤 Output	Comments, author details, public reactions, and source-post context
🔐 Login required	No YouTube credentials or cookies
⚡ Processing	Up to 5 requests concurrently with automatic retries
💾 Delivery	One row per collected comment, including any replies embedded in the returned pages

What the YouTube community post comments scraper extracts 🔎

The Actor follows the public comment collection for each selected community post. Available fields include:

• Comment ID, permalink, text, and published-time label
• Likes, source count labels, reply count, and available parent-comment reference
• Author channel identity, handle, avatar variants, and public account indicators
• Pinned and creator-heart details, comment links, and mentions when exposed
• Source-post text, URL, publication label, channel, reactions, and comment count
• Available source-post images, video references, poll or quiz details, and shared-post context
• Collection position for the comment within the submitted post

How to scrape YouTube community post comments 🚀

1. Add full community-post links to inputList.
2. Set pagesPerInput for the comment-page budget per post.
3. Run the Actor and review comments and failed results.
4. Export the rows or group them by post_id in your analysis.

{
  "inputList": [
    "https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxOoOJQb2h2PnigPD6OnmPvt8Tpbd0wRhP"
  ],
  "pagesPerInput": 2
}

YouTube community post comments data fields and output 📦

Field group	Included data
Comment	ID, URL, text, published-time label, likes, and reply count
Author	Channel identity, handle, URL, avatars, and visible account indicators
Discussion context	Parent reference, reply level, pinned or hearted indicators, links, and mentions
Source post	Post identity, text, author, publication label, reactions, and public comment count
Post attachments	Available images, video references, poll or quiz fields, and supplied shared-post details
Collection	Input, result status, and position within the submitted post

Complete illustrative success item. The content and values below are fictional examples, not a live result:

{
  "input": "https://www.youtube.com/post/UgExampleTrailNotes",
  "status": "success",
  "id": "UgExampleThread01",
  "url": "https://www.youtube.com/post/UgExampleTrailNotes?lc=UgExampleThread01",
  "parent_comment_id": null,
  "text": "Which section has the most shade?",
  "published_text": "1 day ago",
  "likes": 7,
  "likes_text": "7",
  "replies_count": 2,
  "reply_level": 0,
  "is_pinned": false,
  "pinned_text": null,
  "is_hearted": false,
  "hearted_by": null,
  "creator_thumbnail": null,
  "is_liked": null,
  "author.id": "UCaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa",
  "author.name": "Maya Park",
  "author.handle": "@trailjournal",
  "author.url": "https://www.youtube.com/@trailjournal",
  "author.avatar_url": "https://example.com/maya-avatar.jpg",
  "author.avatar_thumbnails.url": [
    "https://example.com/maya-avatar-small.jpg",
    "https://example.com/maya-avatar.jpg"
  ],
  "author.avatar_thumbnails.width": [
    80,
    160
  ],
  "author.avatar_thumbnails.height": [
    80,
    160
  ],
  "author.is_verified": false,
  "author.is_creator": false,
  "author.is_artist": null,
  "author.is_current_user": null,
  "links.text": [],
  "links.url": [],
  "mentions.channel_id": [],
  "mentions.name": [],
  "mentions.url": [],
  "comments_total": 18,
  "post_id": "UgExampleTrailNotes",
  "source_post.id": "UgExampleTrailNotes",
  "source_post.url": "https://www.youtube.com/post/UgExampleTrailNotes",
  "source_post.type": "post",
  "source_post.text": "Two views from our weekend route. Route notes #Hiking",
  "source_post.links.text": [
    "Route notes"
  ],
  "source_post.links.url": [
    "https://example.com/trail"
  ],
  "source_post.mentions.channel_id": [],
  "source_post.mentions.name": [],
  "source_post.mentions.url": [],
  "source_post.published_text": "2 days ago",
  "source_post.is_edited": false,
  "source_post.likes": 42,
  "source_post.likes_text": "42",
  "source_post.comments_count": 18,
  "source_post.comments_text": "18 comments",
  "source_post.is_liked": null,
  "source_post.is_members_only": false,
  "source_post.attachment_type": "images",
  "source_post.image_url": "https://example.com/forest-path.jpg",
  "source_post.images.url": [
    "https://example.com/forest-path.jpg",
    "https://example.com/forest-viewpoint.jpg"
  ],
  "source_post.images.thumbnails.url": [
    [
      "https://example.com/forest-path-small.jpg",
      "https://example.com/forest-path.jpg"
    ],
    [
      "https://example.com/forest-viewpoint-small.jpg",
      "https://example.com/forest-viewpoint.jpg"
    ]
  ],
  "source_post.images.thumbnails.width": [
    [
      640,
      1280
    ],
    [
      640,
      1280
    ]
  ],
  "source_post.images.thumbnails.height": [
    [
      360,
      720
    ],
    [
      360,
      720
    ]
  ],
  "source_post.video.id": null,
  "source_post.video.url": null,
  "source_post.video.type": null,
  "source_post.video.title": null,
  "source_post.video.description": null,
  "source_post.video.thumbnail_url": null,
  "source_post.video.thumbnails.url": null,
  "source_post.video.thumbnails.width": null,
  "source_post.video.thumbnails.height": null,
  "source_post.video.duration_seconds": null,
  "source_post.video.duration_text": null,
  "source_post.video.views": null,
  "source_post.video.views_text": null,
  "source_post.video.published_text": null,
  "source_post.video.badges": null,
  "source_post.video.is_live": null,
  "source_post.video.is_upcoming": null,
  "source_post.video.is_premiere": null,
  "source_post.video.is_members_only": null,
  "source_post.video.stream_status": null,
  "source_post.video.scheduled_start_time": null,
  "source_post.video.accessibility_text": null,
  "source_post.video.author.id": null,
  "source_post.video.author.name": null,
  "source_post.video.author.handle": null,
  "source_post.video.author.url": null,
  "source_post.video.author.avatar_url": null,
  "source_post.video.author.avatar_thumbnails.url": null,
  "source_post.video.author.avatar_thumbnails.width": null,
  "source_post.video.author.avatar_thumbnails.height": null,
  "source_post.video.author.is_verified": null,
  "source_post.poll.choices.text": null,
  "source_post.poll.choices.votes_percent": null,
  "source_post.poll.choices.image_url": null,
  "source_post.poll.choices.thumbnails.url": null,
  "source_post.poll.choices.thumbnails.width": null,
  "source_post.poll.choices.thumbnails.height": null,
  "source_post.poll.choices.is_selected": null,
  "source_post.poll.total_votes": null,
  "source_post.poll.total_votes_text": null,
  "source_post.quiz.question": null,
  "source_post.quiz.choices.text": null,
  "source_post.quiz.choices.is_selected": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.id": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.url": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.type": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.text": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.links.text": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.links.url": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.mentions.channel_id": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.mentions.name": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.mentions.url": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.published_text": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.is_edited": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.likes": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.likes_text": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.comments_count": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.comments_text": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.is_liked": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.is_members_only": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.attachment_type": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.image_url": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.images.url": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.images.thumbnails.url": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.images.thumbnails.width": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.images.thumbnails.height": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.id": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.url": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.type": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.title": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.description": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.thumbnail_url": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.thumbnails.url": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.thumbnails.width": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.thumbnails.height": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.duration_seconds": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.duration_text": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.views": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.views_text": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.published_text": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.badges": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.is_live": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.is_upcoming": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.is_premiere": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.is_members_only": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.stream_status": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.scheduled_start_time": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.accessibility_text": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.author.id": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.author.name": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.author.handle": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.author.url": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.author.avatar_url": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.author.avatar_thumbnails.url": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.author.avatar_thumbnails.width": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.author.avatar_thumbnails.height": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.video.author.is_verified": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.poll.choices.text": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.poll.choices.votes_percent": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.poll.choices.image_url": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.poll.choices.thumbnails.url": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.poll.choices.thumbnails.width": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.poll.choices.thumbnails.height": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.poll.choices.is_selected": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.poll.total_votes": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.poll.total_votes_text": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.quiz.question": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.quiz.choices.text": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.quiz.choices.is_selected": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.author.id": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.author.name": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.author.handle": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.author.url": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.author.avatar_url": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.author.avatar_thumbnails.url": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.author.avatar_thumbnails.width": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.author.avatar_thumbnails.height": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.author.is_verified": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.description_links": null,
  "source_post.shared_post.hashtags": null,
  "source_post.author.id": "UCaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa",
  "source_post.author.name": "Trail Journal",
  "source_post.author.handle": "@trailjournal",
  "source_post.author.url": "https://www.youtube.com/@trailjournal",
  "source_post.author.avatar_url": "https://example.com/trail-avatar.jpg",
  "source_post.author.avatar_thumbnails.url": [
    "https://example.com/trail-avatar-small.jpg",
    "https://example.com/trail-avatar.jpg"
  ],
  "source_post.author.avatar_thumbnails.width": [
    80,
    160
  ],
  "source_post.author.avatar_thumbnails.height": [
    80,
    160
  ],
  "source_post.author.is_verified": false,
  "source_post.description_links": [],
  "source_post.hashtags": [
    "#Hiking"
  ],
  "position": 1,
  "source_post.shared_post.shared_post": null
}

Each comment occupies one row in one table, with the same literal dotted keys in JSON. Source-post fields repeat on each comment to preserve context. Author-avatar, link, mention, and source-media columns align within their groups. Nested thumbnail lists retain the image or choice they belong to; the first outer list describes the first image or choice. Optional attachment types remain null when absent.

Missing optional fields can be null, empty strings, or empty lists. Some flags default to false when no signal is present. A failed row retains input, sets status to failed, and leaves the result-data fields null.

Input requirements and coverage ⚙️

Parameter	Type	Default	Rules
inputList	array of strings	Required	At least one /post/ URL or supported legacy channel /community URL containing an lb post reference. Bare IDs are invalid.
pagesPerInput	integer	1	Minimum 1, with no fixed upper limit. Limits result pages for each input; YouTube controls page size.

Accepted links use /post/POST_ID or a supported legacy channel /community URL with an lb parameter identifying the post. Use the full URL on YouTube; bare post IDs, video links, and a channel's community tab without a post reference are invalid.

The Actor paginates comment pages, including replies already present in those responses. It does not independently open every reply thread. There is no sorting parameter or fixed number of comments per page.

Post attachment fields describe the source post. Their presence does not mean images, videos, or shared posts were separately downloaded or crawled.

Each input has its own collection order and duplicate tracking. Repeated results within that input are skipped; the same result may appear again under another input. Repeated input entries are processed separately.

The page budget counts result pages. Requests needed to open the collection do not consume it. Collection ends at the budget or when YouTube stops providing a usable next page. If collection ends without any results, the Actor saves a failed row for that input. An empty end after saved results does not add a failure.

YouTube community discussion use cases 🎯

Announcement-feedback research

Collect questions and reactions to selected channel announcements while keeping the original message with each comment.

Poll and image-post analysis

Read public discussion alongside the post's available poll choices or images without treating comments as votes.

Community engagement reporting

Compare comment text, likes, reply indicators, and source-post reactions across a defined post sample.

Repeated discussion collection

Use comment and post IDs to compare newly observed responses with earlier datasets in your own workflow.

Pricing and billable comment rows 💰

Check the Actor's Pricing tab for the current charging model and rate.

Under dataset-item pricing, each saved success or failed row can be billable. Automatic retries do not independently create extra rows. Repeated input entries can produce repeated billable results.

Every saved visible reply is a comment result under dataset-item pricing. Source-post images, poll choices, and shared-content fields remain in the comment row and do not create separate dataset items.

YouTube Post Comments Scraper API and integrations 🔌

Use the Actor ID from the API tab as $ACTOR_ID and your Apify token as $APIFY_TOKEN.

curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/$ACTOR_ID/runs?token=$APIFY_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"inputList":["https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxOoOJQb2h2PnigPD6OnmPvt8Tpbd0wRhP"],"pagesPerInput":2}'

This request starts a run. Retrieve the default dataset after completion, or use schedules and webhooks to connect it to a recurring workflow. Export JSON, CSV, or Excel, or send selected fields to Google Sheets, Make, Zapier, or your own application.

Reliability and limits ⚠️

Temporary request failures are retried. Invalid or unavailable targets produce failed rows while other inputs can continue. A later-page failure can add a failed row alongside results already saved for the same input.

A community post may be public while its comments are disabled or inaccessible. Deleted, restricted, or hidden comments may not appear, and public totals can exceed the rows collected.

Published times remain YouTube's text labels. Numeric reactions can come from rounded labels; keep the source text when interpreting counts. Source-post media and optional account indicators depend on the response and may be absent.

Frequently asked questions ❓

Can I use a channel's community tab URL?

Only when a supported legacy URL contains an lb parameter selecting a specific post. Otherwise provide the post's /post/ link.

Does it collect video comments?

Use YouTube Video Comments Scraper for video discussion. This Actor expects community-post links.

Are replies included?

Replies already exposed in the requested comment pages can be saved as rows. The Actor does not separately paginate every hidden reply thread.

Why are video or poll fields null?

Those columns describe optional source-post attachments. An image post can have no video or poll, and the public page may omit optional details.

Does each source-post image become a separate row?

No. Images, thumbnail variants, poll choices, and shared-post details remain inside the comment row.

Will submitting the same post twice duplicate the collection?

Yes. Repeated input entries are processed separately. Remove duplicates before running if that is not wanted.

Support, responsible use, and related actors 🛟

For a reproducible issue, share the run ID, a safe public input, and the field or behavior you expected through the Actor's support channel. Keep tokens and other credentials out of support messages.

Use public content in accordance with applicable privacy, copyright, contractual, and platform requirements.