# YouTube Channel API Beta Returns a public YouTube channel: channel ID, handle, name, description, keywords, avatar, banner, verification badge, country, join date, the links on its About panel with their labels, and its subscriber count with exact video and lifetime view counts. Accepts a handle with or without the @, any channel link with any tab (@handle, /channel/UC…, the legacy /c/, /user/ and root vanity links), or a bare channel ID. [Try it in the playground](https://staging.socialtap.dev/playground/?endpoint=youtube.profile) · [Get 100 free credits](https://staging.socialtap.dev/signup/) - **Price**: From **1 credit** per request - **Request**: `GET /v1/youtube/profile` - **Input**: `handle`, e.g. `@NASA` - **Failed requests**: 0 credits Sources: Platform API → Public page ## Use cases - Track channel growth over time - Vet creators before a sponsorship - Enrich lead lists with a creator's other social links - Resolve a video's channel ID to a full profile ## Good to know - metrics.follower_count is the subscriber count YouTube shows, rounded for display (listed in approximate_fields); null when the channel hides it. Video and view counts are exact; both are null for a channel without public videos. - created_at is the start of the US Pacific day YouTube shows as the join date, in UTC: the channel was created within the following day (listed in approximate_fields). - location is the country the owner set, as YouTube names it; country_code its ISO code. - is_verified is true for the check mark and for an Official Artist Channel's note badge. YouTube's built-in channels (Music, Sports, Gaming, News, Learning, Live, Fashion & Beauty, Shopping) have no badge or banner (null); all but Music have no About panel, so they answer what their header shows. - A bare string is a handle, even one shaped like a video ID: send a channel link or the UC… ID to be unambiguous. Links to youtube.com pages that are not channels answer not_found or invalid_input. - metrics.following_count and metrics.total_like_count are always null and type is unknown: YouTube does not show them. Business email addresses are behind a sign-in and are not returned. - Terminated and unknown channels answer not_found. ## Example request Send a `GET` request with your key in the `x-api-key` header. cURL: ```shell curl -G 'https://staging.socialtap.dev/v1/youtube/profile' \ --data-urlencode 'handle=@NASA' \ -H "x-api-key: $SOCIALTAP_API_KEY" ``` TypeScript: ```typescript const params = new URLSearchParams({ handle: "@NASA", }); const res = await fetch(`https://staging.socialtap.dev/v1/youtube/profile?${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: ```python import os import requests res = requests.get( "https://staging.socialtap.dev/v1/youtube/profile", params={"handle": "@NASA"}, 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: ```go package main import ( "encoding/json" "fmt" "log" "net/http" "net/url" "os" ) func main() { q := url.Values{} q.Set("handle", "@NASA") req, err := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://staging.socialtap.dev/v1/youtube/profile?"+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"]) } ``` ## Parameters | Name | Type | Description | Example | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `handle` required | `string`
max 2,048 chars | YouTube channel: a handle with or without the @ (NASA, @NASA), any channel link (youtube.com/@NASA, youtube.com/channel/UC…, the legacy youtube.com/c/\, youtube.com/user/\ and youtube.com/\ links, with any tab or view after them such as /videos, /playlists, /posts or /about, and m. or music. hosts), a bare UC… channel ID, or c/\, user/\ or vanity/\. Handles are case-insensitive. A bare string is always a handle, even one shaped like a video ID. | `@NASA` | `handle` takes YouTube profile links. A link of another kind or platform fails free with [`invalid_input`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#invalid_input), naming the endpoint that takes it. Parameters not listed here are rejected (with a suggestion for a likely typo), so a misspelled one never silently changes nothing: see [Requests](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/requests/index.md). Every endpoint also accepts [`max_age`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/credits/index.md#param-max_age), [`fields`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/credits/index.md#param-fields). ## Example response A `200` response is `{data, meta}`: `data` is a [profile](https://staging.socialtap.dev/resources/profile/index.md) object, `meta` describes the request ([meta fields](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/index.md#response)). 200 OK: ```json { "data": { "approximate_fields": [ "created_at", "metrics.follower_count" ], "avatar_url": "https://yt3.googleusercontent.com/eIf5fNPcIcj9ig-wZBeq4stFy1lgjWTW1nLT5dYlFkHZprZ03QBiMcbpwNMB6XSBjrSFGtAGQg=s900-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj", "banner_url": "https://yt3.googleusercontent.com/y8Srh-oCcilLvBO8jAPI546m1bn0puA5DIvQiBZ1cSxc_rZfKxKSFlTCtoCQCtB6viUf1NGsaQ=w2560-fcrop64=1,00005a57ffffa5a8-k-c0xffffffff-no-nd-rj", "bio": "NASA's mission is to pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery, and aeronautics research.\n\nTo do that, we have worked around the world—and off it—for more than 60 years, searching for answers to fundamental questions about our place in the universe. We're expl…", "category": null, "country_code": null, "created_at": "2008-06-03T07:00:00Z", "display_name": "NASA", "external_links": [ { "title": "nasa.gov", "url": "https://www.nasa.gov" }, { "title": "X", "url": "https://x.com/nasa" }, { "title": "Facebook", "url": "https://www.facebook.com/NASA" } ], "id": "UCLA_DiR1FfKNvjuUpBHmylQ", "is_private": false, "is_verified": true, "location": null, "metrics": { "follower_count": 15100000, "following_count": null, "post_count": 6194, "total_like_count": null, "total_view_count": 1132473139 }, "platform": "youtube", "platform_specific": { "youtube": { "is_business_email_listed": null, "is_official_artist_channel": false, "is_subscriber_count_hidden": false, "keywords": [ "nasa", "space", "iss" ] } }, "type": "unknown", "unknown_fields": [], "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@NASA", "username": "NASA" }, "meta": { "request_id": "req_3f9c2a7d1e8b4c6a9f0e2d4b6a8c0e1f", "platform": "youtube", "source": "api", "is_cached": false, "credits_charged": 1, "latency_ms": 0, "fetched_at": "2026-10-25T12:00:00Z", "input": { "kind": "profile", "id": "UCLA_DiR1FfKNvjuUpBHmylQ", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@NASA" }, "credits_remaining": 9999, "client_request_id": null, "warnings": [], "mode": "live" } } ``` Long arrays and strings are shortened for display; real responses are complete. ## Response fields `data` follows the shared [Profile schema](https://staging.socialtap.dev/resources/profile/index.md), identical on every platform; fields only YouTube has are under `platform_specific.youtube`. | Field | Type | Description | | --- | --- | --- | | `data.platform` | `string` | Platform ID (tiktok, youtube, …). | | `data.id` | `string` | Platform-native account ID (string; YouTube UC…, Reddit without t2_). | | `data.username` | `string` or `null` | Handle without the @; null when the account has none. | | `data.display_name` | `string` or `null` | Display name, channel title or page name; null when empty or not exposed. | | `data.url` | `string` (uri) | Canonical profile URL. | | `data.type` | `string` | Coarse account kind, as the platform labels it; unknown when it does not (TikTok labels organizations only). New values may be added; treat unknown values as unknown.
One of `person`, `organization`, `community`, `unknown` | | `data.bio` | `string` or `null` | Profile bio, channel description or page about text; null when empty or not exposed. | | `data.avatar_url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Profile picture URL (largest available). Platform CDN URLs can expire within hours. | | `data.banner_url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Header or cover image URL. | | `data.is_verified` | `boolean` or `null` | Platform verification badge; null where the platform has no badge. | | `data.is_private` | `boolean` or `null` | True when the account's posts are not public. | | `data.category` | `string` or `null` | Platform category label (e.g. Musician, Media & Entertainment), as shown; not normalized. Often set only for business or creator accounts. | | `data.external_links` | `object[]` | Links in the bio or channel links; \[\] if none or not exposed. | | `data.external_links[].url` | `string` (uri) | Link target, absolute (https:// is added where the platform stores the link without a scheme). | | `data.external_links[].title` | `string` or `null` | Link label shown by the platform. | | `data.location` | `string` or `null` | Self-declared location text. | | `data.country_code` | `string` or `null` | ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country the platform states for the account. | | `data.created_at` | `string` (date-time) or `null` | Account creation or join date, RFC 3339 UTC (some platforms give only the day: see approximate_fields). | | `data.metrics` | `object` | Counts at fetch time; null = hidden or not exposed, 0 = zero. | | `data.metrics.follower_count` | `integer` or `null` | Followers or subscribers. | | `data.metrics.following_count` | `integer` or `null` | Accounts this profile follows. | | `data.metrics.post_count` | `integer` or `null` | Posts or videos as the platform counts them on the profile (for a private account, posts the caller cannot see). | | `data.metrics.total_like_count` | `integer` or `null` | Likes received across all of the profile's posts (not likes given). | | `data.metrics.total_view_count` | `integer` or `null` | Lifetime views across all of the profile's posts. | | `data.platform_specific` | `object` | Fields only this platform has, under its ID (platform_specific.\); each null when unknown. | | `data.platform_specific.youtube` | `object` or `null` | A YouTube channel's own fields (core/profile_youtube.go). | | `data.platform_specific.youtube.keywords` | `string[]` | The channel's keywords as its owner wrote them, a quoted phrase as one keyword; \[\] when it has none (listed in unknown_fields when the source cannot see them). | | `data.platform_specific.youtube.is_official_artist_channel` | `boolean` or `null` | True for an Official Artist Channel (the note badge after its name), false for any other channel; null when the page shows no badge row (YouTube's built-in channels). | | `data.platform_specific.youtube.is_subscriber_count_hidden` | `boolean` or `null` | True when the channel hides its subscriber count (metrics.follower_count is then null; neither its About panel nor its header shows one), false when YouTube shows it; null when that cannot be told (no About panel or header seen). | | `data.platform_specific.youtube.is_business_email_listed` | `boolean` or `null` | True when the channel lists a business email (shown to signed-in users only; the address is not returned); null otherwise, since YouTube shows nothing for a channel without one. | | `data.approximate_fields` | `string[]` | JSON paths of values rounded by the platform or parsed from display text (e.g. metrics.follower_count). A list path (external_links) means the list may be incomplete. \[\] when all exact. | | `data.unknown_fields` | `string[]` | JSON paths of lists whose \[\] means unknown rather than none (a source that cannot see them); null already means unknown for every other field. \[\] when every list is known. | ## Pricing You pay only for successful requests. The price depends on which source produced the result, reported as `meta.source`; sources are tried cheapest first, in the order Platform API → Public page. | Source | Price per successful request | Per 1,000 requests | | --- | --- | --- | | Any source | 1 credit | $0.75–$1.45 | | meta.source | Source | What it means | | --- | --- | --- | | `api` | Platform API | The platform's public, logged-out API. | | `page` | Public page | Data embedded in the platform's public web page. | Your balance must be at least **1 credit** to start a request; with less, it is refused with [`insufficient_credits`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#insufficient_credits) (HTTP 402) and costs nothing. Only that minimum is set aside when the request starts. `meta.credits_charged` and the `x-credits-charged` header show what you paid. [How credits work](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/credits/index.md) · [Packs](https://staging.socialtap.dev/pricing/index.md) ## Errors Errors cost nothing. Codes marked “Yes, later” under Retry can succeed on a later attempt; the others return the same answer every time. | Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `invalid_input` | 400 | No | The request parameters are missing or malformed, or the URL is not a supported link for this endpoint. | Fix the parameter named in param (the message says how); for a link of the wrong kind, call the endpoint the message names. | | `unauthorized` | 401 | No | The x-api-key header is missing, unknown or revoked (or, on the dashboard's routes, the session cookie is missing or expired). | Send a valid API key in the x-api-key header; without one, get a key at details.signup_url (AI agents: POST details.agent_signup_url). | | `forbidden` | 403 | No | The API key is valid but may not make this request: its account is suspended, its scopes do not include the route, it is waiting for its owner's email confirmation, it is past its expiry, or the request came from an IP its allowlist does not include. A running job stops the same way when its account is suspended or the key that created it is revoked or expires. It is about the key, never the item (a private item is private_or_unavailable, also 403): branch on the code. | Do what details.reason says: if suspended, contact [support](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/index.md); otherwise use a key whose scopes cover the route (details.required_scope), have the owner confirm the emailed link, create a new key, or call from an allowed IP. | | `insufficient_credits` | 402 | No | The account does not have enough credits for this request. | Buy credits (a human pays: details.purchase_url, or details.checkout makes a checkout link), then repeat the request; do not retry automatically. | | `spend_limit_reached` | 402 | No | The API key reached its spend limit for the current period; the account may still have credits. | Wait until details.resets_at or raise the key's spend limit (PATCH /v1/api_keys/{id}); do not retry automatically. | | `rate_limited` | 429 | Yes, later | The account exceeded its runaway-protection ceiling: plans do not limit request rate, but a high per-account safety ceiling stops broken client loops. Support raises it on request. Without an API key (signup, the MCP server's tool listing and find_endpoint), requests are limited per IP address instead. | Wait for the number of seconds in the retry-after header, then retry; ask [support](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/index.md) to raise the ceiling if your sustained traffic needs more (calls without an API key: use one). | | `not_found` | 404 | No | The item does not exist or was deleted. | Check the URL or ID; do not retry. | | `private_or_unavailable` | 403 | No | The item exists but is private, age- or region-gated, or requires a login to view. It shares 403 with forbidden (which is about the key): branch on the code. | Only public items can be fetched; do not retry. | | `upstream_blocked` | 503 | Yes, later | The platform refused every attempt. | Retry later with backoff; failed requests are free. | | `upstream_error` | 502 | Yes, later | The platform failed or returned something unexpected. | Retry with backoff; failed requests are free. | | `overloaded` | 503 | Yes, later | SocialTap was momentarily at capacity and did not start the request: nothing was fetched or charged. | Retry after the number of seconds in the retry-after header; failed requests are free. | | `internal` | 500 | Yes, later | Unexpected SocialTap error. | Retry with backoff; contact [support](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/index.md) with the request_id if it persists. | not_found and private_or_unavailable are item-level: the request was fine, the item can't be returned. ## Test mode A key starting with `st_test_` gets recorded responses, free and the same every time ([test mode](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/test-mode/index.md)). These inputs return their recording; any other input returns the example above. | Input | Answer | | --- | --- | | `cocomelon` | 200 OK | | `UCzuqhhs6NWbgTzMuM09WKDQ` | 200 OK | | `UCrpQ4p1Ql_hG8rKXIKM1MOQ` | 200 OK | | `gaming` | 200 OK | | `UCtFRv9O2AHqOZjjynzrv-xg` | 200 OK | | `live` | 200 OK | | `UC-9-kyTW8ZkZNDHQJ6FgpwQ` | 200 OK | | `news` | 200 OK | | `UCEgdi0XIXXZ-qJOFPf4JSKw` | 200 OK | | `UCX6OQ3DkcsbYNE6H8uQQuVA` | 200 OK | | `nasa` | 200 OK | | `UCzucOGEnILK5cAdUUVCIefg` | 200 OK | | `s` | 200 OK | | `mrbeast` | 200 OK | | `abcd` | 200 OK | | `vdud` | 200 OK | | `ドラえもんチャンネル` | 200 OK | | `pewdiepie` | 200 OK | | `aljazeera` | 200 OK | | `qwerty` | 200 OK | | `UCwZEU0wAwIyZb4x5G_KJp2w` | 200 OK | | `UCF0pVplsI8R5kcAqgtoRqoA` | 403 [`private_or_unavailable`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#private_or_unavailable) | | `tv` | 403 [`private_or_unavailable`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#private_or_unavailable) | | `UCaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa` | 404 [`not_found`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#not_found) | | `rickastleyvevo` | 200 OK | | `hikakintv` | 200 OK | | `dudeperfect` | 200 OK | | `UCvsye7V9psc-APX6wV1twLg` | 404 [`not_found`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#not_found) | Magic inputs: send one of these as `handle` to get that error. | Error | Value | | --- | --- | | [`invalid_input`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#invalid_input) | `socialtap_test_invalid_input` | | [`insufficient_credits`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#insufficient_credits) | `socialtap_test_insufficient_credits` | | [`spend_limit_reached`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#spend_limit_reached) | `socialtap_test_spend_limit_reached` | | [`rate_limited`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#rate_limited) | `socialtap_test_rate_limited` | | [`not_found`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#not_found) | `socialtap_test_not_found` | | [`private_or_unavailable`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#private_or_unavailable) | `socialtap_test_private_or_unavailable` | | [`upstream_blocked`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#upstream_blocked) | `socialtap_test_upstream_blocked` | | [`upstream_error`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#upstream_error) | `socialtap_test_upstream_error` | | [`overloaded`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#overloaded) | `socialtap_test_overloaded` | | [`internal`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#internal) | `socialtap_test_internal` | ## FAQ **How much does the YouTube Channel API cost?** 1 credit, charged only for successful requests. SocialTap credits cost $0.75–$1.45 per 1,000 depending on the pack. **Am I charged for failed requests?** No. Requests that return an error cost 0 credits. Responses served from the cache are free too. Same schema, other platforms ## Profiles everywhere. One parser. [TikTok Profile APIBetaProfile`GET /v1/tiktok/profile`1 credit](https://staging.socialtap.dev/apis/tiktok/profile/index.md) More YouTube ## YouTube API. 3 endpoints, one key. [YouTube Comments APIBetaComment`GET /v1/youtube/comments`1 credit / page](https://staging.socialtap.dev/apis/youtube/comments/index.md) · [YouTube Transcript APIBetaTranscript`GET /v1/youtube/transcript`From 1 credit](https://staging.socialtap.dev/apis/youtube/transcript/index.md) --- [HTML version](https://staging.socialtap.dev/apis/youtube/profile/) · [Docs index for AI agents](https://staging.socialtap.dev/llms.txt) · [All docs in one file](https://staging.socialtap.dev/llms-full.txt)