# YouTube Transcript Scraper (`calm_builder/youtube-transcript-scraper`) Actor

Download transcripts from public YouTube videos in JSON, TXT, or SRT format. Fetch multiple video transcripts in one run, choose preferred languages, and save each transcript file with clear video and language references.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/calm\_builder/youtube-transcript-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [Coder](https://apify.com/calm_builder) (community)
- **Categories:** Automation, Social media, Videos
- **Stats:** 19 total users, 0 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 1 bookmarks
- **User rating**: 5.00 out of 5 stars

## Pricing

from $1.00 / 1,000 saved transcripts

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

## YouTube Transcript Downloader

Download transcripts for public YouTube videos and save them in `JSON`, `TXT`, or `SRT` format.

This Actor is built for users who need clean YouTube transcript exports without collecting extra video data. It accepts multiple video URLs in one run, tries to retrieve the selected transcript languages from YouTube, and saves each transcript file to the run's default Key-Value Store.

### What This Actor Does

- Accepts multiple public YouTube video URLs in one run
- Tries to download transcripts in up to 5 selected languages
- Uses YouTube-supported transcript translation when a selected language is not directly available
- Saves one transcript file per video and language
- Supports `JSON`, `TXT`, and `SRT` export formats
- Returns one dataset item per input URL with a clear result status

### Input

Provide:

- One or more public YouTube video URLs
- Up to 5 preferred transcript languages
- A transcript file format: `JSON`, `TXT`, or `SRT`

### Output

#### Dataset

The dataset contains one item per input URL. Each item includes:

- The original input URL
- The detected video ID when available
- A result status such as `ok`, `unavailable`, `invalid_input`, or `failed`
- Transcript file references for files saved to the Key-Value Store
- A friendly message when transcripts could not be saved

#### Key-Value Store

Transcript files are saved to the run's default Key-Value Store.

Each saved file includes clear metadata in the dataset so you can tell:

- which video it belongs to
- which language it contains
- which format was saved
- which Key-Value Store record key to open or download

### Notes

- This Actor is intended for standard public YouTube video URLs
- Transcript availability depends on the video and YouTube support
- Shorts and live streams may not return transcripts reliably

# Actor input Schema

## `videoUrls` (type: `array`):

Add one public YouTube video URL per row.

## `preferredTranscriptLanguages` (type: `array`):

Select up to 5 preferred transcript languages. The Actor first tries to fetch these languages directly from YouTube, then uses YouTube-supported transcript translation when available.

## `transcriptOutputFormat` (type: `string`):

Choose the file format used when saving transcript files to the run's Key-Value Store.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "videoUrls": [
    "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndAQfTzlVjc",
    "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAnGwRiQ4-4"
  ],
  "preferredTranscriptLanguages": [
    "en"
  ],
  "transcriptOutputFormat": "json"
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `dataset` (type: `string`):

Dataset items in JSON format, including transcript file references and friendly status messages.

## `keyValueStore` (type: `string`):

The run's default Key-Value Store, where transcript files are saved.

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "videoUrls": [
        "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndAQfTzlVjc",
        "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAnGwRiQ4-4"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("calm_builder/youtube-transcript-scraper").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = { "videoUrls": [
        "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndAQfTzlVjc",
        "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAnGwRiQ4-4",
    ] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("calm_builder/youtube-transcript-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "videoUrls": [
    "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndAQfTzlVjc",
    "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAnGwRiQ4-4"
  ]
}' |
apify call calm_builder/youtube-transcript-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,calm_builder/youtube-transcript-scraper"
        }
    }
}

```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/miHJCf57BH6l4PD2H/builds/moYdxw9VyBsWPTmOL/openapi.json