YouTube Channel Scraper

Scrapes public YouTube channel metadata using a simple start_urls input. No API key required. Useful for competitor research, SEO analysis, and editorial planning.

Overview

This Apify actor extracts public data from YouTube channel pages. You provide the channel URLs, and it returns structured metadata. It's built for reliable, proxy-friendly automation on the Apify platform.

Key Features

• No API Key: Uses publicly accessible channel pages.
• Simple Input: Configure runs entirely via the start_urls parameter.
• Stable Output: Maintains consistent input and output schemas for automation stability.
• Proxy Support: Designed to work with Apify Proxy for scraping multiple channels.
• Multiple Export Formats: Results can be downloaded as JSON, CSV, or XLSX.

How to Use

Quick Start on Apify Platform

1. Go to the actor page and click Try for free.
2. In the input, paste the following JSON, replacing the URL with your target channel:
   json { "start_urls": [ { "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@Officialwealthwisdom", "method": "GET" } ] }
3. Run the actor. Once finished, export your dataset from the Storage tab.

API Integration

You can trigger runs via the Apify API using cURL, Python, or any HTTP client.

cURL Example:

curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/dainty_screw~youtube-channel-scraper/runs?token=YOUR_TOKEN" \
-H "content-type: application/json" \
-d '{
  "start_urls":[{
    "url":"https://www.youtube.com/@Officialwealthwisdom",
    "method":"GET"
  }]
}'

Python Example:

import requests

payload = {
    "start_urls": [
        {"url": "https://www.youtube.com/@Officialwealthwisdom", "method": "GET"}
    ]
}
r = requests.post(
    "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/dainty_screw~youtube-channel-scraper/runs?token=YOUR_TOKEN",
    json=payload,
    headers={"content-type": "application/json"}
)
print(r.json())

Input

The actor requires a single input field:

• start_urls (array of objects, required)
  • url (string): The full URL of a YouTube channel (e.g., https://www.youtube.com/@ChannelHandle or https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC...).
  • method (string): Use "GET".

Output

The actor outputs an array of items, each containing metadata for one scraped channel. Typical fields include:
* Channel name, handle, and URL
* Description
* Subscriber, video, and view counts
* Channel avatar and banner image URLs
* Associated links and details

Tips & Troubleshooting

• Rate Limits: Use Apify Proxy when scraping many channels to avoid blocks. Space out repeated requests to the same channel.
• Invalid URL: Ensure the URL points directly to a channel page (using /@handle or /channel/ paths).
• Empty Results: The target channel might be private, restricted, or hidden. Try a different, publicly available channel.

FAQ

Do I need a YouTube API key?
No. The actor scrapes public web pages, so an API key is not required.

Can I scrape playlists or search results?
No. This actor is designed specifically for channel URLs provided via start_urls.