# YouTube Video API. Send a video link or ID. Video or short with exact view, like and comment counts. We handle the proxies, blocks and platform changes. [Get API key](https://socialtap.dev/signup/?next=%2Fplayground%2F%3Fendpoint%3Dyoutube.post) ## YouTube Video API at a glance Returns a public YouTube video, short or live stream from its link or ID, with exact view, like and comment counts. It also has the title, description with its hashtags and links, exact publish time, duration, thumbnail, the channel and any collaborating channels, and YouTube's category, tags, chapters and live stream times. Accepts any YouTube video link or a bare video ID. GET `/v1/youtube/post` [Read the API reference](https://socialtap.dev/docs/reference/youtube/post/index.md) - **1 credit** per request, $0.75–$1.97 per 1,000 requests - **22 typed fields** null when unknown - **`url`** is all it needs, e.g. `https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ` - **100 credits** free when you sign up, no card, so you can build before you spend ## Send one request. Get 22 fields back. Copy the request in your language, or hand it to your agent. Sign up for an API key and your first 100 credits are free. `$ npm install socialtap` `url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ` [Open in playground](https://socialtap.dev/playground/?endpoint=youtube.post) cURL: ```shell curl -G 'https://socialtap.dev/v1/youtube/post' \ --data-urlencode 'url=https://youtube.com/shorts/3cWm9B_0_kI?feature=share' \ -H "x-api-key: $SOCIALTAP_API_KEY" ``` TypeScript SDK: ```typescript import { SocialTap } from "socialtap"; const client = new SocialTap(); // apiKey defaults to process.env.SOCIALTAP_API_KEY const res = await client.youtube.post.get({ url: "https://youtube.com/shorts/3cWm9B_0_kI?feature=share" }); console.log(res.data); console.log(res.credits.charged, res.meta.request_id); ``` Node.js (fetch): ```javascript const params = new URLSearchParams({ url: "https://youtube.com/shorts/3cWm9B_0_kI?feature=share", }); const res = await fetch(`https://socialtap.dev/v1/youtube/post?${params}`, { headers: { "x-api-key": process.env.SOCIALTAP_API_KEY ?? "" }, }); const body = await res.json(); if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`${body.error.code}: ${body.error.message}`); const { data, meta } = body; console.log(data, meta.credits_charged); ``` Python (requests): ```python import os import requests res = requests.get( "https://socialtap.dev/v1/youtube/post", params={"url": "https://youtube.com/shorts/3cWm9B_0_kI?feature=share"}, headers={"x-api-key": os.environ["SOCIALTAP_API_KEY"]}, ) body = res.json() if not res.ok: raise RuntimeError(f"{body['error']['code']}: {body['error']['message']}") data, meta = body["data"], body["meta"] print(data, meta["credits_charged"]) ``` Go (net/http): ```go package main import ( "encoding/json" "fmt" "log" "net/http" "net/url" "os" ) func main() { q := url.Values{} q.Set("url", "https://youtube.com/shorts/3cWm9B_0_kI?feature=share") req, err := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://socialtap.dev/v1/youtube/post?"+q.Encode(), nil) if err != nil { log.Fatal(err) } req.Header.Set("x-api-key", os.Getenv("SOCIALTAP_API_KEY")) res, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req) if err != nil { log.Fatal(err) } defer res.Body.Close() var body struct { Data json.RawMessage `json:"data"` Meta map[string]any `json:"meta"` Error *struct { Code string `json:"code"` Message string `json:"message"` } `json:"error"` } if err := json.NewDecoder(res.Body).Decode(&body); err != nil { log.Fatal(err) } if body.Error != nil { log.Fatalf("%s: %s", body.Error.Code, body.Error.Message) } fmt.Println(string(body.Data), body.Meta["credits_charged"]) } ``` 200 OK: ```json { "data": { "approximate_fields": [ "platform_specific.youtube.author_subscriber_count" ], "author": { "avatar_url": "https://yt3.ggpht.com/nxYrc_1_2f77DoBadyxMTmv7ZpRZapHR5jbuYe7PlPd5cIRJxtNNEYyOC0ZsxaDyJJzXrnJiuDE=s176-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj", "display_name": "MrBeast", "id": "UCX6OQ3DkcsbYNE6H8uQQuVA", "is_verified": true, "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@MrBeast", "username": "MrBeast" }, "coauthors": [], "duration_ms": 20000, "hashtags": [], "id": "3cWm9B_0_kI", "is_nsfw": false, "is_pinned": null, "is_sponsored": null, "language": null, "media": [ { "alt_text": null, "duration_ms": 20000, "expires_at": null, "height": null, "thumbnail_url": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3cWm9B_0_kI/maxresdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEoCIAKENAF8quKqQMcGADwAQH4AbYIgAKAD4oCDAgAEAEYRiBlKA8wDw==&rs=AOn4CLD2HeSN5ZikYi7hBi3SC7913d9CWQ", "type": "video", "url": null, "width": null } ], "mentions": [], "metrics": { "comment_count": 37974, "like_count": 13520602, "quote_count": null, "repost_count": null, "save_count": null, "share_count": null, "view_count": 731918538 }, "platform": "youtube", "platform_specific": { "youtube": { "author_subscriber_count": 524000000, "category": "Entertainment", "chapters": [], "description_links": [], "is_age_restricted": false, "is_live_now": false, "is_paywalled": false, "is_unlisted": false, "keywords": [], "live_ended_at": null, "live_started_at": null, "scheduled_start_at": null } }, "platform_type": "short", "published_at": "2024-12-27T19:00:00Z", "text": null, "thumbnail_url": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3cWm9B_0_kI/maxresdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEoCIAKENAF8quKqQMcGADwAQH4AbYIgAKAD4oCDAgAEAEYRiBlKA8wDw==&rs=AOn4CLD2HeSN5ZikYi7hBi3SC7913d9CWQ", "title": "How Many People To Stop Ronaldo?", "type": "video", "unknown_fields": [], "url": "https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3cWm9B_0_kI" }, "meta": { "request_id": "req_3f9c2a7d1e8b4c6a9f0e2d4b6a8c0e1f", "platform": "youtube", "source": "api", "is_cached": false, "credits_charged": 1, "latency_ms": 1193, "fetched_at": "2026-10-25T12:00:00Z", "input": { "kind": "video", "id": "3cWm9B_0_kI", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3cWm9B_0_kI" }, "credits_remaining": 9999, "client_request_id": null, "warnings": [] } } ``` ## One schema on 21 platforms. The [response reference](https://socialtap.dev/docs/reference/youtube/post/index.md#response) lists every field, its type and when it is `null`. [See the full schema](https://socialtap.dev/resources/post/index.md). - ### Null means unknown A field YouTube doesn't show is null, never zero or an empty string, so a real zero always means zero. - ### What it accepts YouTube video, short or live stream URL (watch, youtu.be, shorts, live, embed; m. and music. hosts) or an 11-character video ID. - ### Write one parser YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and 18 more platforms answer in these fields, so the code that reads one reads them all. - **`platform`string**: Platform ID (tiktok, youtube, …). - **`id`string**: Platform-native post ID (string; Instagram shortcode, Reddit with its t3_ prefix). - **`url`string**: Canonical post URL. - **`type`string**: Normalized content shape. New values may be added; treat unknown values as other. - **`platform_type`string**: The platform's own product label, lowercase (reel, short, story, live, tweet, …). - **`title`string**: Headline (YouTube title, Reddit title); null on caption-only platforms. - **`text`string**: Caption, description or body as plain text. - **`language`string**: BCP-47 language of text, when the platform states it. Live data from 33 platforms. [TikTok](https://socialtap.dev/apis/tiktok/index.md) · [Instagram](https://socialtap.dev/apis/instagram/index.md) · [Facebook](https://socialtap.dev/apis/facebook/index.md) · [YouTube](https://socialtap.dev/apis/youtube/index.md) · [Reddit](https://socialtap.dev/apis/reddit/index.md) · [Threads](https://socialtap.dev/apis/threads/index.md) · [Spotify](https://socialtap.dev/apis/spotify/index.md) · [Amazon](https://socialtap.dev/apis/amazon/index.md) · [Apple Music](https://socialtap.dev/apis/applemusic/index.md) · [Pinterest](https://socialtap.dev/apis/pinterest/index.md) · [Rumble](https://socialtap.dev/apis/rumble/index.md) · [X](https://socialtap.dev/apis/x/index.md) · [Bluesky](https://socialtap.dev/apis/bluesky/index.md) · [Twitch](https://socialtap.dev/apis/twitch/index.md) · [LinkedIn](https://socialtap.dev/apis/linkedin/index.md) · [Telegram](https://socialtap.dev/apis/telegram/index.md) · [TikTok Shop](https://socialtap.dev/apis/tiktokshop/index.md) · [Kwai](https://socialtap.dev/apis/kwai/index.md) · [Snapchat](https://socialtap.dev/apis/snapchat/index.md) · [SoundCloud](https://socialtap.dev/apis/soundcloud/index.md) · [Truth Social](https://socialtap.dev/apis/truthsocial/index.md) · [Kick](https://socialtap.dev/apis/kick/index.md) · [Komi](https://socialtap.dev/apis/komi/index.md) · [Lnk.Bio](https://socialtap.dev/apis/linkbio/index.md) · [Linkme](https://socialtap.dev/apis/linkme/index.md) · [Linktree](https://socialtap.dev/apis/linktree/index.md) · [Pillar](https://socialtap.dev/apis/pillar/index.md) · [TikTok Ad Library](https://socialtap.dev/apis/tiktok-ad-library/index.md) · [Facebook Ad Library](https://socialtap.dev/apis/facebook-ad-library/index.md) · [Facebook Events](https://socialtap.dev/apis/facebook-events/index.md) · [Facebook Marketplace](https://socialtap.dev/apis/facebook-marketplace/index.md) · [Google Ads Transparency Center](https://socialtap.dev/apis/google-ads-transparency/index.md) · [LinkedIn Ad Library](https://socialtap.dev/apis/linkedin-ad-library/index.md) ## What teams build with the YouTube Video API. - ### Track views, likes and comments over time - ### Turn video links into titles, channels and thumbnails - ### Monitor competitors' uploads and launches - ### Collect tags, chapters and descriptions for research ## Good to know before you build. - platform_type is short, live (streams and premieres) or video. - Age-restricted and paid videos return their public details. - media\[0\].url is null because YouTube's stream links only work from the IP that requested them. ## 1 credit per request. Failed requests are free. Buy credits once and spend them on any endpoint, on any platform. [Plans and packs](https://socialtap.dev/pricing/index.md) · [How this endpoint is priced](https://socialtap.dev/docs/reference/youtube/post/index.md#pricing) · [How credits work](https://socialtap.dev/docs/credits/index.md) | Source | Price per successful request | Per 1,000 requests | | --- | --- | --- | | Platform API `api` | 1 credit | $0.75–$1.97 | | Public page `page` | 1 credit | $0.75–$1.97 | - Cache hits are free. - Credits from packs and top-ups never expire. - A monthly plan's credits are spent first, and what is left of them ends at each renewal. - Prices exclude tax: sales tax is added at checkout where it applies. - Outside the US, plans and packs are sold to businesses: checkout asks for your VAT, GST or other business tax ID. ## Questions about the YouTube Video API. More in the [API reference](https://socialtap.dev/docs/reference/youtube/post/index.md). **How much does the YouTube Video API cost?** A request costs 1 credit. SocialTap credits cost $0.75–$1.97 per 1,000, depending on the plan or pack. Other platforms ## Posts on 20 more platforms. - [TikTok Post API](https://socialtap.dev/apis/tiktok/post/index.md) (1 credit · `GET /v1/tiktok/post`) - [Instagram Post API](https://socialtap.dev/apis/instagram/post/index.md) (1 credit · `GET /v1/instagram/post`) - [Facebook Post API](https://socialtap.dev/apis/facebook/post/index.md) (1 credit · `GET /v1/facebook/post`) - [Reddit Post API](https://socialtap.dev/apis/reddit/post/index.md) (1 credit · `GET /v1/reddit/post`) - [Threads Post API](https://socialtap.dev/apis/threads/post/index.md) (1 credit · `GET /v1/threads/post`) - [Spotify Track API](https://socialtap.dev/apis/spotify/track/index.md) (1 credit · `GET /v1/spotify/track`) - [Amazon Shop Posts API](https://socialtap.dev/apis/amazon/shop_posts/index.md) (1 credit / page · `GET /v1/amazon/shop_posts`) - [Apple Music Track API](https://socialtap.dev/apis/applemusic/track/index.md) (1 credit · `GET /v1/applemusic/track`) - [Pinterest Pin API](https://socialtap.dev/apis/pinterest/pin/index.md) (1 credit · `GET /v1/pinterest/pin`) - [Rumble Video API](https://socialtap.dev/apis/rumble/post/index.md) (1 credit · `GET /v1/rumble/post`) - [X (Twitter) Post API](https://socialtap.dev/apis/x/post/index.md) (1 credit · `GET /v1/x/post`) - [Bluesky Post API](https://socialtap.dev/apis/bluesky/post/index.md) (1 credit · `GET /v1/bluesky/post`) - [Twitch Video and Clip API](https://socialtap.dev/apis/twitch/video/index.md) (1 credit · `GET /v1/twitch/video`) - [LinkedIn Post API](https://socialtap.dev/apis/linkedin/post/index.md) (1 credit · `GET /v1/linkedin/post`) - [Telegram Post API](https://socialtap.dev/apis/telegram/post/index.md) (1 credit · `GET /v1/telegram/post`) - [Kwai Post API](https://socialtap.dev/apis/kwai/post/index.md) (1 credit · `GET /v1/kwai/post`) - [Snapchat Spotlight API](https://socialtap.dev/apis/snapchat/spotlight/index.md) (1 credit · `GET /v1/snapchat/spotlight`) - [SoundCloud Track API](https://socialtap.dev/apis/soundcloud/track/index.md) (1 credit · `GET /v1/soundcloud/track`) - [Truth Social Post API](https://socialtap.dev/apis/truthsocial/post/index.md) (1 credit · `GET /v1/truthsocial/post`) - [Kick Clip API](https://socialtap.dev/apis/kick/post/index.md) (1 credit · `GET /v1/kick/post`) More YouTube ## YouTube API. 6 endpoints, one key. - [YouTube Channel Videos API](https://socialtap.dev/apis/youtube/posts/index.md) (1 credit / page · `GET /v1/youtube/posts`) - [YouTube Channel API](https://socialtap.dev/apis/youtube/profile/index.md) (1 credit · `GET /v1/youtube/profile`) - [YouTube Comments API](https://socialtap.dev/apis/youtube/comments/index.md) (1 credit / page · `GET /v1/youtube/comments`) - [YouTube Transcript API](https://socialtap.dev/apis/youtube/transcript/index.md) (From 1 credit · `GET /v1/youtube/transcript`) - [YouTube Engagement API](https://socialtap.dev/apis/youtube/engagement/index.md) (1 credit · `GET /v1/youtube/engagement`) ## Try it on a link you already have. Paste it in the playground, or copy the request into your code. 100free credits - No credit card - Failed requests are free - Works on all 218 endpoints [Start for free](https://socialtap.dev/signup/) [Read the docs](https://socialtap.dev/docs/index.md) --- [HTML version](https://socialtap.dev/apis/youtube/post/) · [Docs index for AI agents](https://socialtap.dev/llms.txt) · [All docs in one file](https://socialtap.dev/llms-full.txt)