# YouTube Scraper — Videos, Channels & Search (`travelmonitorlab/youtube-scraper`) Actor Extract YouTube video data, channel statistics, and search results without the official API. Get views, likes, duration, tags, subscribers, and more. No API key required. - **URL**: https://apify.com/travelmonitorlab/youtube-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Travel Monitor Lab](https://apify.com/travelmonitorlab) (community) - **Categories:** Social media, Marketing, Business - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing Pay per usage This Actor is paid per platform usage. The Actor is free to use, and you only pay for the Apify platform usage, which gets cheaper the higher subscription plan you have. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-usage ## 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 — Videos, Channels & Search Extract YouTube video data, channel statistics, and search results without the official API. No quotas, no limits, no API key required. ### What does it do? | Feature | Description | |---------|-------------| | 🎬 Video scraping | Title, views, likes, duration, description, tags, publish date | | 📺 Channel scraping | Name, subscribers, video count, total views, country, join date | | 🔍 YouTube search | Search any query and get full data for top results | | ⚡ Fast & reliable | No API key needed, no quotas | ### Data Extracted (Videos) | Field | Example | |-------|---------| | Title | "Never Gonna Give You Up" | | Views | 1,500,000,000 | | Likes | 15,000,000 | | Duration | "3:33" | | Publish Date | "2009-10-25" | | Description | "The official video for..." | | Tags | ["music", "rick astley", "80s"] | | Category | "Music" | | Comments | 2,500,000 | | Channel | "Rick Astley" | | Subscribers | "14.2M" | | Thumbnail | HD URL | ### Data Extracted (Channels) | Field | Example | |-------|---------| | Name | "MrBeast" | | Subscribers | "340M" | | Video Count | 850 | | Total Views | 60,000,000,000 | | Country | "US" | | Join Date | "Feb 20, 2012" | | Description | "New videos every..." | | Keywords | ["challenge", "philanthropy"] | ### Input Examples #### Scrape specific videos: ```json { "videoUrls": [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ", "https://youtu.be/jNQXAC9IVRw" ] } ```` #### Scrape channels: ```json { "channelUrls": [ "https://www.youtube.com/@MrBeast", "https://www.youtube.com/@PewDiePie" ] } ``` #### Search YouTube: ```json { "searchQueries": ["best AI tools 2024", "python tutorial"], "maxResults": 5 } ``` ### Use Cases #### Content Research Find trending videos in your niche. Analyze what works (views, engagement, tags). #### Competitor Analysis Track competitor channels — subscribers, upload frequency, view counts. #### SEO & Marketing Extract video tags and descriptions to optimize your own YouTube content. #### Data Journalism Collect video metrics for stories about viral content, misinformation, or trends. ### API Access ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient client = ApifyClient("YOUR_API_TOKEN") run = client.actor("travelmonitorlab/youtube-scraper").call( run_input={"videoUrls": ["https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ"]} ) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(f"{item['title']} - {item.get('viewCount', 0)} views") ``` ### FAQ **Do I need a YouTube API key?** No. This scraper works without any API key or quota. **Can I scrape comments?** Currently, the scraper extracts the comment count but not individual comments. **How many videos can I scrape?** Hundreds per run. Rate limiting is built in to avoid blocks. **Does it work with YouTube Shorts?** Yes! Shorts URLs are automatically detected and scraped. # Actor input Schema ## `videoUrls` (type: `array`): YouTube video URLs or IDs to scrape. Supports youtube.com/watch, youtu.be, and /shorts/ formats. ## `channelUrls` (type: `array`): YouTube channel URLs to scrape. Supports @handle, /channel/, and /c/ formats. ## `searchQueries` (type: `array`): Search YouTube for videos matching these queries. Returns top results with full video data. ## `maxResults` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of results per search query (1-50) ## Actor input object example ```json { "videoUrls": [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ" ], "channelUrls": [], "searchQueries": [], "maxResults": 10 } ``` # 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 = { "videoUrls": [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ" ], "channelUrls": [], "searchQueries": [], "maxResults": 10 }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("travelmonitorlab/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 = { "videoUrls": ["https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ"], "channelUrls": [], "searchQueries": [], "maxResults": 10, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("travelmonitorlab/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 '{ "videoUrls": [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ" ], "channelUrls": [], "searchQueries": [], "maxResults": 10 }' | apify call travelmonitorlab/youtube-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=travelmonitorlab/youtube-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "YouTube Scraper — Videos, Channels & Search", "description": "Extract YouTube video data, channel statistics, and search results without the official API. Get views, likes, duration, tags, subscribers, and more. No API key required.", "version": "1.0", "x-build-id": "eNO6inX0ILLPTjkLL" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/travelmonitorlab~youtube-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-travelmonitorlab-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/travelmonitorlab~youtube-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-travelmonitorlab-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/travelmonitorlab~youtube-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-travelmonitorlab-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", "properties": { "videoUrls": { "title": "Video URLs", "type": "array", "description": "YouTube video URLs or IDs to scrape. Supports youtube.com/watch, youtu.be, and /shorts/ formats.", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "channelUrls": { "title": "Channel URLs", "type": "array", "description": "YouTube channel URLs to scrape. Supports @handle, /channel/, and /c/ formats.", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "searchQueries": { "title": "Search Queries", "type": "array", "description": "Search YouTube for videos matching these queries. Returns top results with full video data.", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "maxResults": { "title": "Max Results per Search", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 50, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of results per search query (1-50)", "default": 10 } } }, "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 } } } } } } } } } } ```