TranscriptAPI: YouTube Transcript and Search MCP

YouTube Transcript + YouTube Search MCP for AI Agents

The fastest YouTube transcript + YouTube search MCP for AI agents. Try for free.

12 tools: transcripts, video & channel metadata, video search, channel browsing, in-channel search, playlist extraction, and new-upload polling, for Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, VS Code, Claude Code, and 20+ clients.

Powering 15M+ transcripts every month · 500K+ transcripts processed daily · 49ms median response time

Trusted in production by youtubetotranscript.com (~11M/mo) and recapio.com (~2.8M/mo).

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Why TranscriptAPI MCP

Most YouTube MCP servers do one thing: pull a single transcript. TranscriptAPI MCP is a full toolkit: transcripts, video search, channel search, channel browsing, playlist extraction, and free RSS-based upload tracking, all from one remote endpoint, all designed for AI agents.

Quick taste:

Find @NASA's three most-viewed videos about the Moon landing,

get the transcript of each, and write a 5-bullet comparison.

That single prompt uses 3 of our 12 tools (search_youtube, search_channel_videos, get_youtube_transcript) without you writing a line of code.

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🧩 Install as an Agent Plugin · easiest

This repository root is a conformant [Agent Plugins 1.0.0](https://agent-plugins.org/specification) package: the portable format published 2026-08-06 and supported by ChatGPT, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Kiro and VS Code. One install gets you the MCP server and a bundled youtube skill that teaches your agent when to use each tool and how not to waste credits.

plugin.json                    # Agent Plugins 1.0.0 manifest

mcp.json # hosted MCP server, streamable-http, OAuth (no keys) skills/youtube/SKILL.md # when + how to use the 12 tools .cursor-plugin/plugin.json # Cursor plugin manifest, same MCP + skill (+ marketplace.json)

VS Code: Command Palette → Chat: Install Plugin From Source, then paste:

https://github.com/ZeroPointRepo/youtube-mcp

Or register a local clone in settings.json:

"chat.pluginLocations": { "/absolute/path/to/youtube-mcp": true }

Cursor: Customize in the sidebar → find the plugin → Install. For a local clone:

git clone https://github.com/ZeroPointRepo/youtube-mcp ~/.cursor/plugins/local/transcriptapi

Then Developer: Reload Window.

Add to Cursor: MCP server only, no clone. Paste this deeplink into your browser:

cursor://anysphere.cursor-deeplink/mcp/install?name=transcriptapi&config=eyJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3RyYW5zY3JpcHRhcGkuY29tL21jcCJ9

ChatGPT, Codex, GitHub Copilot, Kiro, any other client: point your client's plugin mechanism at this repository, or at a local clone. Agent Plugins 1.0.0 standardizes the *package format*, not installation, so each client owns its own install flow.

30-second example

Summarize this video for me: https://youtu.be/UF8uR6Z6KLc

The agent calls get_youtube_transcript, gets the full timestamped transcript and summarizes it. No API key to configure: the first call opens an OAuth sign-in (free account, 100 credits, no card). Then try:

What has @TED posted in the last month?     → get_channel_latest_videos (free)

Find talks on protein folding, summarize the best three. → search_youtube, then transcripts

There are no credentials in this package: Agent Plugins 1.0.0 forbids embedded secrets, and authorization is client-managed. Verify the package yourself:

curl -sO https://agent-plugins.org/schemas/1.0.0/plugin.schema.json

curl -sO https://agent-plugins.org/schemas/1.0.0/mcp.schema.json npx ajv-cli@5 validate --spec=draft2020 -s plugin.schema.json -d plugin.json npx ajv-cli@5 validate --spec=draft2020 -s mcp.schema.json -d mcp.json

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🛠️ Quick Install

Requirements:

- A TranscriptAPI account (sign up free, first 100 credits free)

- An API key from your dashboard OR use OAuth (Claude, ChatGPT)

Recommended: Add a Rule to Auto-Invoke TranscriptAPI

Add this rule to your AI client so you don't need to explicitly ask for transcripts:

`txt

When I share a YouTube URL, automatically use the TranscriptAPI MCP tool

to fetch the transcript before responding. This applies to any video analysis,

summarization, or question about YouTube content.

`

Install in Cursor (One-Click / Manual)

One-Click Install:

Manual Configuration:

Go to: Settings → Features → MCP → Add New MCP Server

• Name: transcript-api
• Type: SSE (Remote)
• URL: https://transcriptapi.com/mcp

Or edit ~/.cursor/mcp.json:

{

"mcpServers": { "transcript-api": { "url": "https://transcriptapi.com/mcp", "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" } } } }

Install in Claude (Desktop & Web) - Recommended

Claude supports adding MCP servers directly via the "Custom Connector" UI.

Quick Setup:

1. Open Claude Settings (click your profile icon → Settings)
2. Go to Connectors → Add custom connector
3. Enter the following details:

• Name: TranscriptAPI
• URL: https://transcriptapi.com/mcp

1. Click Add, then click Connect to authorize via your browser.
2. (Optional) In the connector settings, change permissions to "Allow unsupervised" for seamless usage.

Full Guide: Claude Integration Guide →

Install in Claude Code (CLI)

claude mcp add --transport http transcript-api https://transcriptapi.com/mcp

Install in ChatGPT

ChatGPT supports OAuth for secure authentication. Enable Developer Mode in ChatGPT settings first.

Quick Setup:

1. In ChatGPT, go to Settings → Connected Apps → Add
2. Enter the MCP Server URL: https://transcriptapi.com/mcp
3. Client ID & Secret are optional:

• Leave them blank to use Dynamic Client Registration (recommended/simpler).
• (Advanced) Or enter Client ID & Secret from your dashboard for static registration.

1. Click Add and authorize via the browser popup.

Full Guide: ChatGPT Integration Guide →

Install in VS Code

Or add this to VS Code user settings (settings.json):

"mcp.servers": {

"transcript-api": { "type": "http", "url": "https://transcriptapi.com/mcp", "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" } } }

Install in OpenAI Agent Builder

OpenAI Agent Builder currently requires API Key authentication (OAuth not yet supported).

1. Create a new Agent
2. Under "Actions" or "Tools", add a new MCP Server
3. URL: https://transcriptapi.com/mcp
4. Auth Type: API Key
5. Paste your API Key from the dashboard

Step-by-Step Guide →

Install in Windsurf

Add to ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json:

{

"mcpServers": { "transcript-api": { "serverUrl": "https://transcriptapi.com/mcp", "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" } } } }

Install in Cline

{

"mcpServers": { "transcript-api": { "url": "https://transcriptapi.com/mcp", "type": "streamableHttp", "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" } } } }

Install in Zed

In Zed settings.json:

{

"context_servers": { "transcript-api": { "source": "remote", "url": "https://transcriptapi.com/mcp", "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" } } } }

Install in Roo Code

{

"mcpServers": { "transcript-api": { "type": "streamable-http", "url": "https://transcriptapi.com/mcp", "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" } } } }

Install in Amp

amp mcp add transcript-api https://transcriptapi.com/mcp --header "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"

Install in Augment Code

In settings.json under augment.advanced:

"aug