YouTube transcript API

Get the full transcript of any public YouTube video by its link or ID: the language, the whole text, and every segment with its start and end time. It is YouTube's detail call with `include=transcript`, 2 credits a video (≈ $0.004–$0.0067); failed calls are free. Call it over HTTP or let your AI call it over MCP.

What you get

One object per video. The video is given by link to the video: a watch, shorts, embed, live or youtu.be link, or by its ID.

The request

curl https://api.socialtoai.com/v1/detail \  -H "Authorization: Bearer $SOCIALTOAI_API_KEY" \  -H "Idempotency-Key: $(uuidgen)" \  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \  -d '{    "platform": "youtube",    "id": "dQw4w9WgXcQ",    "include": "transcript"  }'

import osimport uuidimport requestsresponse = requests.post(    "https://api.socialtoai.com/v1/detail",    headers={        "Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ['SOCIALTOAI_API_KEY']}",        # A new key for each request; the same one again retries it without paying twice.        "Idempotency-Key": str(uuid.uuid4()),    },    json={        "platform": "youtube",        "id": "dQw4w9WgXcQ",        "include": "transcript",    },)print(response.json())

{  "request_id": "req_00000000-0000-4000-8000-000000000001",  "schema_version": "v1",  "fetched_at": "2026-10-12T03:34:28.000Z",  "action": "detail",  "platform": "youtube",  "status": "ok",  "items": [    {      "platform": "youtube",      "id": "…",      "ref": "…",      "approx": [],      "type": "entry",      "entry_type": "transcript",      "title": null,      "url": null,      "rank": null,      "heat": null,      "fields": {        "lang": "en",        "text": "…",        "segments": [          {            "start": 0.4,            "end": 4.24,            "text": "…"          },          {            "start": 2.08,            "end": 6.56,            "text": "…"          }        ]      }    }  ],  "unavailable": [],  "warnings": [],  "applied_params": {    "id": "dQw4w9WgXcQ",    "include": "transcript"  },  "cost_credits": 2,  "billing": {    "cost_credits": 2,    "balance_credits": 98,    "today_spend_credits": 2,    "daily_limit_credits": null,    "daily_remaining_credits": null,    "display": "This call: 2 credits (≈ $0.0067). Balance: 98 credits (≈ $0.33)."  },  "replayed": false}

What YouTube's own API gives

YouTube's Data API downloads caption tracks only for videos the signed-in user may edit, at a quota cost per call; it does not give the transcript of any public video.

In your AI client

Connect SocialToAI once over MCP, then ask in plain words. Your AI makes the call and reads the transcript.

What it costs

2 credits a video: $0.0067 at the first pack, so a thousand videos are $6.67. A failed call costs nothing; estimate a batch with the cost estimator. 100 free credits on sign-up, no card.

FAQ

Can I get the transcript of any public YouTube video?

Yes, by its link or ID, 2 credits a video (≈ $0.004–$0.0067). A call that fails costs nothing.

Does the official YouTube API give transcripts?

Only of videos you may edit: captions download requires permission to edit the video and costs 200 quota units a call.

Do I need a Google Cloud project or a YouTube account?

No. You need one SocialToAI key, or sign-in from your AI client.

Can Claude or ChatGPT fetch YouTube transcripts?

Yes, once SocialToAI is connected over MCP: give it the link and ask for the transcript or a summary.

Last updated: 2026-10-30