Developer API

Use the REST API to fetch individual YouTube transcripts synchronously, or submit bulk jobs for full channels and playlists.

Quickstart

Fetch a transcript in three steps:

1. Create an account and go to API keys.
2. Generate a key. It starts with yvt_live_ and is shown exactly once. Store it in your password manager or project secrets.
3. Send a request:

curl -H "Authorization: Bearer yvt_live_..." \
  "https://api.youtubevideotranscript.io/api/v1/transcript/dQw4w9WgXcQ"

You'll get back a JSON object with the transcript array, detected language, and video metadata. See GET /transcript/:id for the full response shape.

Core flows

• Fetch single transcripts in 6 formats: JSON, plain text, SRT, CSV, DOCX, Markdown
• Submit bulk jobs from a channel or playlist URL, poll for progress, download the result as a ZIP
• Resolve any YouTube URL into a video list before submitting
• Check your remaining quota at any time

Endpoints

• GET /api/v1/usage checks quota state.
• GET /api/v1/resolve previews a channel or playlist.
• GET /api/v1/transcript/:videoId fetches one transcript synchronously.
• POST /api/v1/jobs starts the bulk-job lifecycle.

Conventions

• Base URL: https://api.youtubevideotranscript.io/api/v1.
• All endpoints require a Bearer token. See Authentication.
• Errors use a stable envelope: { error: { type, message, details? }, request_id }. See Errors.
• Every response carries X-Request-Id. Log it with failed requests so you can trace them later.
• API and web UI share the same monthly quota. See Quotas & credits.

Next steps

• Authentication: Bearer token, key rotation, lost-key flow
• Quotas & credits: how transcripts are deducted and refunded
• Errors: every error type your client should handle
• Bulk jobs: full async pattern with idempotency and polling