YouTube MCP server
Let Claude, ChatGPT and your coding agent read YouTube: transcripts, search, channels and playlists. It's hosted, so there's nothing to install. Paste one URL into the app and sign in.
https://youtubetranscriptapi.com/mcp
- VS Code
- OpenClaw
Pick your app
ChatGPTAnyone · Sign in · about 3 minA custom plugin that lets ChatGPT read video transcripts, search YouTube and list channel uploads.Setup guide Claude CodeDevelopers · Sign in or API key · about 2 minOne command adds the hosted server; sign in through /mcp or pass an API key as a header.Setup guide CursorDevelopers · Sign in or API key · about 2 minInstall with one link and sign in, or add it to mcp.json with an API key.Setup guide VS CodeDevelopers · Sign in or API key · about 2 minGive Copilot's agent mode YouTube tools: install with one link and sign in, or add a few lines to mcp.json with a key VS Code asks for once.Setup guide n8nAutomation · API key · about 5 minGive an n8n AI Agent the YouTube tools through the MCP Client Tool node.Setup guide WindsurfDevelopers · API key or sign in · about 3 minWindsurf is now called Devin Desktop.Setup guide CodexDevelopers · Sign in or API key · about 2 minOne command adds the hosted server to Codex.Setup guide Gemini CLIDevelopers · Sign in or API key · about 3 minSteps for both of Google's coding agents: Gemini CLI and Antigravity.Setup guide OpenClawDevelopers · API key or sign in · about 4 minAdd one block to openclaw.json and your assistant can read videos, search YouTube and watch channels, from whichever chat app you talk to it in.Setup guide Other appsZed, Cline, Junie, LM Studio, Perplexity, Le Chat, Zapier…Where each one keeps the setting, and whether it signs in or takes a key.See all What your AI can do with it
Seven tools, all read-only. The app picks the right one from your request; you don't have to name them.
| Tool | What it does | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| get_transcript | Read what's said in any public video | 1 credit |
| search_youtube | Search YouTube for videos or channels | 4 credits |
| search_channel | Search one channel's videos for a topic | 1 credit |
| list_channel_videos | List a channel's latest 100 uploads | 20 credits |
| get_latest_videos | See a channel's 15 newest videos | Free |
| resolve_channel | Turn an @handle into a channel ID | Free |
| list_playlist_videos | List the videos in a playlist | 20 credits |
- Failed calls are never charged: a video without captions, a bad link, a timeout.
- A long transcript comes back in parts. Later parts, and reading the same video again within 24 hours, cost nothing.
- Free tools still need a balance of at least 1 credit.
- New accounts get 100 free credits, no card needed. See plans.
How connecting works
- Claude and ChatGPT sign in: the app opens youtubetranscriptapi.com, you sign in or create an account, and approve that app on a consent screen. Each connected app shows up in Dashboard → Connected apps, where one click disconnects it.
- Cursor, VS Code, Claude Code and n8n can sign in the same way or send an API key as a header (
Authorization: Bearer tk_live_…). Revoke a key in Dashboard → API Keys. - Either way, the app uses your credits at the same prices as the REST API, and only for the calls it makes.
Why use a hosted server
Nothing to install
No Python, no Node, no local server to keep running. It works in Claude and ChatGPT on the web, where local servers can't run.
No YouTube blocks to fight
Scripts that fetch captions from your own machine often get rate-limited or IP-blocked by YouTube. We deal with that, so you don't see YouTube's 429 errors.
Failed calls are free
A video without captions, a bad link or a timeout costs nothing. Only successful calls use credits.
100 free credits
Enough for about 100 transcripts, with no card. After that, plans start at $7 a month for 1,000 credits.
Things to ask once it's connected
Summarize this video in five bullet points: <link>
What did the speaker say about pricing, with timestamps? <link>
Find videos from @channel about onboarding and compare what they recommend.
What has @channel posted this week? Summarize each new video in two lines.
Turn this lecture into study notes with headings and a short quiz: <link>
For agents you set up once and reuse, like a video summarizer or a daily digest of new uploads, see the YouTube AI agent recipes.
Good to know
- Channel and playlist listings return the first page only: up to 100 videos.
- Long transcripts come back in parts the app reads one after another. Later parts are free for 24 hours.
- Each key or connected app can make up to 300 requests a minute.
- The tools only read public YouTube data. They can't post, comment or change anything on YouTube or in your account.
Protocol details, tool parameters and error codes are in the MCP reference.
Product names and logos belong to their owners and are shown only to say which apps this works with. OpenAI, ChatGPT, Codex and the OpenAI logo are trademarks of OpenAI. YouTubeTranscriptAPI isn't affiliated with or endorsed by them.
Connect your first app
Pick a guide above, or create your free account now: 100 credits, no card.