YouTube MCP Server
YouTube video data, channel metrics, and transcripts for AI model integration.
Data last scanned today · Reviewed yesterday
Overview
The YouTube MCP Server allows AI models to programmatically interface with YouTube by providing access to metadata, search functionality, and transcript retrieval. It exposes 10 distinct tools that enable users to extract detailed video info, browse playlist contents, and perform granular searches across channels and creators. Built in TypeScript, the server facilitates deeper integration with video content. Users can leverage tools like `transcripts_getTranscript` to feed video content into LLMs or use advanced search filters within `channels_findCreators` to identify specific creator demographics.
Our verdict
This server carries a high-risk score of 28/100 due to a total lack of authentication mechanisms, meaning any entity with access to the configuration can execute these tools. Furthermore, it operates without a read-only mode and lacks official vendor maintenance. Given these security gaps, this tool is recommended only for experimental or non-sensitive environments where data privacy is not a primary concern.
- Supports 10 distinct tools for YouTube data interaction
- Small footprint with only 4 direct dependencies
- Actively maintained with recent commits
- Lacks any form of authentication for configuration access
- Provides no read-only mode for safety
- Community-maintained rather than supported by Google
Setup
{
"mcpServers": {
"youtube-mcp-server": {
"args": [
"-y",
"zubeid-youtube-mcp-server"
],
"command": "npx"
}
}
}Paste into ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json (Windows), then restart Claude Desktop. Some servers require API keys or tokens as environment variables — check the project's README and add an "env" object if needed.
- No read-only mode — running this grants full read/write access.
- No built-in authentication — anyone with access to this config can invoke every tool it exposes.
Tools
| Tool | Description | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| videos_getVideo | Get detailed information about a YouTube video | low |
| videos_searchVideos | Search for videos on YouTube | low |
| transcripts_getTranscript | Get the transcript of a YouTube video | low |
| channels_getChannel | Get information about a YouTube channel | low |
| channels_getChannels | Get information about multiple YouTube channels | low |
| channels_searchChannels | Search for YouTube channels by handle, name, or query | low |
| channels_findCreators | Find creator channels from video mentions with channel-size and activity filters | low |
| channels_listVideos | Get videos from a specific channel | low |
| playlists_getPlaylist | Get information about a YouTube playlist | low |
| playlists_getPlaylistItems | Get videos in a YouTube playlist | low |
Compatibility
| Client | Local | Docker | Remote | Read-only |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Desktop | ||||
| Cursor | ||||
| VS Code | ||||
| Windsurf | ||||
| ChatGPT |
Frequently asked questions
›Can I filter video search results based on channel activity?
Yes, the videos_searchVideos tool supports filters for channel subscriber counts and the date of their latest upload.
›How do I specify the language for video transcripts?
You can provide a specific language code when using the transcripts_getTranscript tool; otherwise, it defaults to the YOUTUBE_TRANSCRIPT_LANG environment variable or English.
›Does the server provide contact information for channels?
The channels_getChannel tool returns normalized metadata, which includes found email addresses and contact links.
›Can I filter results to only include creator channels?
Yes, several tools including videos_searchVideos, channels_searchChannels, and channels_findCreators support a creatorOnly parameter that uses a heuristic classification.
›How can I discover channels based on specific video topics?
The channels_findCreators tool allows you to search for creator channels based on topics or video mentions, with additional filters for channel size and recent activity.
Alternatives
Changelog
- Fix
- Fix
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