# YouTube Comments Scraper 💬 (`scriptbase/youtube-comments-scraper`) Actor

💬 Export YouTube comments to JSON, CSV or Excel. Get comment text, author, likes, reply count and publish date for any video. Paginated, no login, no YouTube API key or quota.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/scriptbase/youtube-comments-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [Scriptbase](https://apify.com/scriptbase) (community)
- **Categories:** Agents, Automation, Social media
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $10.00 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event and usage. You are charged both the fixed price for specific events and for Apify platform usage.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
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/docs.md):

```bash
npm install apify-client
```

In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.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/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 Comments Scraper

Export YouTube comments to JSON, CSV or Excel. Give it a video URL, get back every comment with its author, like count, reply count and publish date — no login, no YouTube Data API key, no quota.

The official YouTube Data API caps you at 10,000 units a day and needs a Google Cloud project and an OAuth screen. This actor needs a URL.

### What it does

Reads the comment thread of one YouTube video and writes one dataset row per comment. It pages through the thread until it hits your `maxItems` limit or the comments run out, whichever comes first.

Works on regular videos, Shorts and past live streams. Any URL form YouTube accepts is fine: `youtube.com/watch?v=…`, `youtu.be/…`, `youtube.com/shorts/…`.

### Input

| Field | Type | Required | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `url` | string | yes | — | YouTube video URL |
| `maxItems` | integer | no | 100 | Stop after this many comments |

```json
{ "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ", "maxItems": 500 }
````

`maxItems` is your cost ceiling — you are charged per comment delivered, so setting it caps spend before the run starts.

### Output

One row per comment.

```json
{
  "id": "UgxKREWxIgDrGsvcMbV4AaABAg",
  "text": "Still a banger in 2026",
  "author": { "name": "Jane Doe", "id": "UC38IQsAvIsxxjztdMZQtwHA", "avatarUrl": "https://yt3.ggpht.com/…", "verified": false },
  "likeCount": 1284,
  "replyCount": 12,
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-04T11:22:00.000Z",
  "publishedAtConfidence": "parsed"
}
```

| Field | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| `id` | string | Platform comment id |
| `text` | string | Comment body |
| `author.name` | string | Display name |
| `author.id` | string | Channel id, when the source reports one |
| `author.avatarUrl` | string | Profile image URL |
| `author.verified` | boolean | Verified badge |
| `likeCount` | integer | Likes |
| `replyCount` | integer | Replies to this comment |
| `publishedAt` | string | ISO 8601 |
| `publishedAtConfidence` | string | `exact` | `parsed` | `unknown` |

#### About `publishedAtConfidence`

YouTube renders ages as relative text — "2 weeks ago" — rather than timestamps. When that is all a source gives us, the date is computed from it and marked `parsed`. `exact` means a real timestamp arrived. `unknown` means neither did, and `publishedAt` is absent.

Most scrapers present a computed date as if it were exact. This one tells you which it is, so you can judge whether it is precise enough for your analysis.

### What it does not do

- **Replies are not expanded.** You get top-level comments and each one's `replyCount`. The replies themselves are a separate fetch.
- **No search or filtering.** Comments come back in the source's order; filter downstream.
- **One video per run.** For many videos, run once per URL — failures stay isolated and costs stay attributable.
- **Comments must be public.** A video with comments disabled returns zero rows and *succeeds*. That is a real answer, not an error.

### Pricing

Charged per comment delivered. A run returning 250 comments bills 250. Failed runs deliver nothing and charge nothing. The per-comment price is on this actor's Store page.

### Errors

| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| `BAD_REQUEST` | Input missing, malformed, or not a URL this actor serves |
| `NOT_FOUND` | The target is private, removed, or does not exist |
| `UNSUPPORTED_OPERATION` | The URL resolved to a platform this actor does not serve |
| `UPSTREAM_FAILED` | Every upstream source failed — retry shortly |
| `RATE_LIMITED` | Too many requests; back off and retry |
| `TIMEOUT` | The source took longer than the actor's budget |
| `UNAUTHORIZED` | The actor's API credentials are invalid — contact the author |
| `INSUFFICIENT_CREDITS` | The account behind this actor is out of credits — contact the author |
| `INTERNAL_ERROR` | Unexpected failure |

`UNAUTHORIZED` and `INSUFFICIENT_CREDITS` are on us, not you. If you see either, the actor is misconfigured on our side.

### How it works

Comments are fetched through two independent upstream sources. If the first returns nothing usable, the second is tried automatically inside the same run — no double charge, no retry on your side.

Comment threads are always fetched live, never served from a cache.

### FAQ

**Do I need a YouTube API key?** No. No key, no OAuth, no Google Cloud project.

**Does this consume YouTube Data API quota?** No. It does not use the official API, so your daily quota is untouched.

**Can I get replies to a comment?** Not from this actor. `replyCount` tells you how many exist.

**Why did I get fewer comments than `maxItems`?** The video ran out first. That is a normal successful run.

**Can I scrape comments from a private or age-restricted video?** No. Those return `NOT_FOUND`.

# Actor input Schema

## `url` (type: `string`):

URL of the YouTube video whose comments you want.

## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):

Stop after this many results. Charged per result delivered, so this caps the run's cost.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ",
  "maxItems": 25
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `overview` (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 = {
    "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ",
    "maxItems": 25
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("scriptbase/youtube-comments-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 '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ",
    "maxItems": 25,
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("scriptbase/youtube-comments-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 '{
  "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ",
  "maxItems": 25
}' |
apify call scriptbase/youtube-comments-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "mcp-remote",
                "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=scriptbase/youtube-comments-scraper",
                "--header",
                "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR_API_TOKEN>"
            ]
        }
    }
}

```

## OpenAPI specification

```json
{
    "openapi": "3.0.1",
    "info": {
        "title": "YouTube Comments Scraper 💬",
        "description": "💬 Export YouTube comments to JSON, CSV or Excel. Get comment text, author, likes, reply count and publish date for any video. Paginated, no login, no YouTube API key or quota.",
        "version": "0.1",
        "x-build-id": "AG34oh31l1Oc4QK9n"
    },
    "servers": [
        {
            "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2"
        }
    ],
    "paths": {
        "/acts/scriptbase~youtube-comments-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": {
            "post": {
                "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-scriptbase-youtube-comments-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": {
                                "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                "parameters": [
                    {
                        "name": "token",
                        "in": "query",
                        "required": true,
                        "schema": {
                            "type": "string"
                        },
                        "description": "Enter your Apify token here"
                    }
                ],
                "responses": {
                    "200": {
                        "description": "OK"
                    }
                }
            }
        },
        "/acts/scriptbase~youtube-comments-scraper/runs": {
            "post": {
                "operationId": "runs-sync-scriptbase-youtube-comments-scraper",
                "x-openai-isConsequential": false,
                "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.",
                "tags": [
                    "Run Actor"
                ],
                "requestBody": {
                    "required": true,
                    "content": {
                        "application/json": {
                            "schema": {
                                "$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": {
                                    "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema"
                                }
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
        },
        "/acts/scriptbase~youtube-comments-scraper/run-sync": {
            "post": {
                "operationId": "run-sync-scriptbase-youtube-comments-scraper",
                "x-openai-isConsequential": false,
                "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.",
                "tags": [
                    "Run Actor"
                ],
                "requestBody": {
                    "required": true,
                    "content": {
                        "application/json": {
                            "schema": {
                                "$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": [
                    "url"
                ],
                "properties": {
                    "url": {
                        "title": "YouTube Video URL",
                        "type": "string",
                        "description": "URL of the YouTube video whose comments you want."
                    },
                    "maxItems": {
                        "title": "Maximum results",
                        "minimum": 1,
                        "type": "integer",
                        "description": "Stop after this many results. Charged per result delivered, so this caps the run's cost.",
                        "default": 100
                    }
                }
            },
            "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
                                    }
                                }
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    }
}
```