TubeScript
REST API FOR DEVELOPERS

YouTube Transcript API

Extract YouTube transcripts programmatically. JSON responses with timestamps, metadata, and AI summaries.

# Quick start — get a transcript in one request
curl -X POST https://api.tubescript.cc/v1/transcript \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"url": "https://youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ"}'
API OVERVIEW

Built for developers

The TubeScript API lets you extract transcripts from YouTube videos programmatically. Send a POST request with a YouTube URL, and receive a JSON response containing the full transcript text, individual timestamped segments, video metadata, and an optional AI-generated summary.

The API is designed for building content tools, research platforms, accessibility features, and internal applications that need YouTube transcript data. It handles the complexity of video processing, audio transcription, and text formatting so your code does not have to.

Endpoint reference

POST/v1/transcript

Submit a YouTube URL for transcription. Returns the full transcript with timestamps and metadata.

Request Body

{ "url": "https://youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID", "include_summary": true, "language": "en" }

Response

{ "video": { "id": "dQw4w9WgXcQ", "title": "Video Title", "channel": "Channel Name", "duration": 212, "thumbnail": "https://..." }, "transcript": { "text": "Full transcript text...", "segments": [ { "start": 0.0, "end": 4.2, "text": "First segment text" } ], "word_count": 1847, "language": "en" }, "summary": { "text": "AI-generated summary...", "key_points": [ "Key point with timestamp" ] } }

Code examples

Python
import requests response = requests.post( "https://api.tubescript.cc/v1/transcript", headers={"Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"}, json={ "url": "https://youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ", "include_summary": True } ) data = response.json() print(data["transcript"]["text"])
JavaScript
const response = await fetch( "https://api.tubescript.cc/v1/transcript", { method: "POST", headers: { "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY", "Content-Type": "application/json" }, body: JSON.stringify({ url: "https://youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ", include_summary: true }) } ); const data = await response.json(); console.log(data.transcript.text);
cURL
curl -X POST https://api.tubescript.cc/v1/transcript \ -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{"url": "https://youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ", "include_summary": true}'

Pricing and limits

PlanTeam — $29/month
Daily limit100 requests/day
Max video length4 hours
Response formatJSON
AI summariesIncluded
AuthenticationBearer token
Rate limit resetMidnight UTC
FAQ

API frequently asked questions

01

What format does the API return?

The API returns JSON with the full transcript text, individual segments with timestamps, video metadata (title, channel, duration), and optionally an AI-generated summary.

02

Is there a free tier for the API?

The API is available on the Team plan ($29/month) which includes 100 API requests per day. There is no free API tier, but you can use the web interface for free to test transcript quality before subscribing.

03

What authentication does the API use?

The API uses bearer token authentication. You'll receive an API key when you subscribe to the Team plan. Include it in the Authorization header of each request.

04

What are the rate limits?

The Team plan includes 100 API requests per day. Each request processes one YouTube video. Rate limits reset at midnight UTC. Contact us for custom enterprise limits.

05

Can I use the API for commercial purposes?

Yes. The Team plan license allows commercial use, including building products and internal tools on top of the TubeScript API. You may not resell raw API access to third parties.

06

How long does a request take?

API requests typically complete in 30 to 90 seconds depending on video length. The response includes a polling mechanism for longer videos. We recommend implementing async processing for videos over 30 minutes.

RELATED TOOLS

More ways to get transcripts

YouTube Transcript Generator

Generate full transcripts from any YouTube video with AI-powered accuracy.

Download YouTube Transcript

Download transcripts as TXT or SRT files for offline use.

Free YouTube Transcript

Get 3 free transcripts per day with no account required.

YouTube to Text

Convert any YouTube video into readable, searchable text.

YouTube Video Summarizer

Get AI-powered summaries and key points from any video.

YouTube Subtitle Extractor

Extract subtitle tracks from YouTube videos in multiple formats.

Compare Tools

See how TubeScript compares to other transcript tools.

Start building with the API

Get your API key today with the Team plan. 100 requests per day, JSON responses, and AI summaries included.

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