YouTube Transcript Downloader
REMOTE · YOUTUBETRANSCRIPTDOWNLOAD.COM · SCANNED SEP 20
Clean YouTube transcripts for agents: single videos, channels, playlists, plus AI caption cleanup.
Available components
How this component scores in each security and reliability category. Every signal is checked automatically against the live server, and we only credit what we can confirm. How we score → Why this is hard to score →
Endpoint Security80
- The endpoint's TLS certificate is valid, in date, and uses a strong key. View diagnostics → Pass
- No authorisation is required to call this server. Every tool declares its destructiveHint and none is destructive, so open access doesn't expose one. See how to fix → View diagnostics → Partial
- HTTPS is enforced; there's no plaintext access path. View diagnostics → Pass
- The HSTS (Strict-Transport-Security) header is present. View diagnostics → Pass
- DNSSEC check failed: this domain isn't protected by DNSSEC. See how to fix → View diagnostics → Fail
Transport & Reachability100
- Verified streamable-http transport via a live MCP handshake. View diagnostics → Pass
Schema Quality & AI Usability78
- AI-judged instruction clarity (excellent).Pass
- Context-footprint check failed: tool/resource definitions use about 688 tokens (~172/item across 4 items; 4 tools + 0 resources), over budget; trim descriptions and params. See how to fix → Fail
- Usage-examples check failed: none of the tools include examples. See how to fix → Fail
Stability & Change Management100
- No destabilizing schema changes in the last 30 days.Pass
Tool Coverage100
- 100% of tools have a non-trivial description (not blank, and not just the tool's name).Pass
- 100% of tool parameters carry a description.Pass
- Structured output schemas are declared (100% of tools); any adoption earns full credit.Pass
Tool Safety100
- No prompt-injection markers were found in the server instructions, tool names or descriptions we captured.Pass
- We read all 4 captured tool definition(s), and no name or description among them implies an irreversible operation.Pass
- An AI judge read all 4 captured unit(s) of tool text and found none that tries to manipulate the model reading it.Pass
Capabilities100
- Implements a supported MCP spec version (2025-11-25); the latest is 2026-07-28.Pass
How do I install the YouTube Transcript Downloader MCP server?
YouTube Transcript Downloader is a hosted endpoint at https://youtubetranscriptdownload.com/api/mcp, so there is nothing to install locally. Ready-made configuration for Claude, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and 5 more is on this page, copied from each client's own documentation.
remote · youtubetranscriptdownload.com
claude mcp add --transport http com-youtubetranscriptdownload-transcripts 'https://youtubetranscriptdownload.com/api/mcp'
{
"mcpServers": {
"com-youtubetranscriptdownload-transcripts": {
"url": "https://youtubetranscriptdownload.com/api/mcp"
}
}
} {
"servers": {
"com-youtubetranscriptdownload-transcripts": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://youtubetranscriptdownload.com/api/mcp"
}
}
} [mcp_servers.com-youtubetranscriptdownload-transcripts] url = "https://youtubetranscriptdownload.com/api/mcp"
{
"$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
"mcp": {
"com-youtubetranscriptdownload-transcripts": {
"type": "remote",
"url": "https://youtubetranscriptdownload.com/api/mcp",
"enabled": true
}
}
} openclaw mcp add com-youtubetranscriptdownload-transcripts --url 'https://youtubetranscriptdownload.com/api/mcp' --transport streamable-http
mcp_servers:
com-youtubetranscriptdownload-transcripts:
url: "https://youtubetranscriptdownload.com/api/mcp" {
"McpServers": {
"com-youtubetranscriptdownload-transcripts": {
"Transport": "http",
"Url": "https://youtubetranscriptdownload.com/api/mcp"
}
}
} assistant mcp add com-youtubetranscriptdownload-transcripts -t streamable-http -u 'https://youtubetranscriptdownload.com/api/mcp'
{
"mcpServers": {
"com-youtubetranscriptdownload-transcripts": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://youtubetranscriptdownload.com/api/mcp"
}
}
} The mcpServers block is a cross-client convention. Remote transports vary, so check your client's docs.
Every change we have recorded for this component, newest first. Security-relevant changes are always shown. ▲ marks a change for the better, ▼ a change for the worse; unmarked changes are neutral.
- 26 Aug 26 0
- We updated how we score, so this day's move reflects our rubric, not a change to the server See what changed → functional
- 25 Aug 26 +1
- Stability: 0.97 → pass security
- 23 Aug 26 +1
No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 90 to 93. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 27 days of observed history at the previous scan, 28 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.
- 11 Aug 26 0
- We updated how we score, so this day's move reflects our rubric, not a change to the server See what changed → functional
- 31 Jul 26 0
- We updated how we score, so this day's move reflects our rubric, not a change to the server See what changed → functional
- 30 Jul 26 0
- We updated how we score, so this day's move reflects our rubric, not a change to the server See what changed → functional
- 27 Jul 26 0
- We updated how we score, so this day's move reflects our rubric, not a change to the server See what changed → functional
- 26 Jul 26 0
First indexed and scored.
Diagnostic detail from the automated scan of this channel: what the scanner observed at each step, so you can see exactly where a check passed or failed. It is informational only and never changes the trust score.
Captured 20 Sept 2026 · Probed https://youtubetranscriptdownload.com/api/mcp
TLS valid
Negotiated TLS 1.3 with TLS_AES_128_GCM_SHA256 .
| Subject | Issuer | Valid from | Valid until | Key | Signature | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN=youtubetranscriptdownload.com | CN=WE1,O=Google Trust Services,C=US | 3 Aug 2026 | 1 Nov 2026 | ECDSA 256 | ECDSA-SHA256 | effd308ac078942e0ed60841f8d0e692 |
| SANs: youtubetranscriptdownload.com, *.youtubetranscriptdownload.com | ||||||
| CN=WE1,O=Google Trust Services,C=US (CA) | CN=GTS Root R4,O=Google Trust Services LLC,C=US | 13 Dec 2023 | 20 Feb 2029 | ECDSA 256 | ECDSA-SHA384 | 7ff31977972c224a76155d13b6d685e3 |
| CN=GTS Root R4,O=Google Trust Services LLC,C=US (CA) | CN=GlobalSign Root CA,OU=Root CA,O=GlobalSign nv-sa,C=BE | 15 Nov 2023 | 28 Jan 2028 | ECDSA 384 | SHA256-RSA | 7fe530bf331343bedd821610493d8a1b |
Background: What to check on a remote MCP endpoint →
DNSSEC insecure
Validation of youtubetranscriptdownload.com. — Not signed
| Zone | DS | Keys | Algorithms | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| . | trust_anchor | 20326, 38696 | 8, 8 | Verified |
| com. | present | 19718 | 13 | Verified |
| youtubetranscriptdownload.com. | absent | Unsigned (proven) parent-signed NSEC/NSEC3 proves an unsigned delegation |
Authentication No authorisation required
The endpoint answered without asking for a token. Anyone who knows the URL can reach it.
| Result | No authorisation required |
|---|---|
| HTTP status | 200 |
| Header | Value |
|---|---|
| strict-transport-security | max-age=63072000; includeSubDomains |
| x-content-type-options | nosniff |
| x-frame-options | SAMEORIGIN |
| referrer-policy | strict-origin-when-cross-origin |
| permissions-policy | camera=(), microphone=(), geolocation=() |
Background: How OAuth 2.1 works in the 2026 MCP spec →
Transports 2 probes
| Transport | URL | Outcome | Status | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| streamable-http | https://youtubetranscriptdownload.com/api/mcp | Verified | 200 | |
| http (plaintext) | http://youtubetranscriptdownload.com/api/mcp | HTTPS enforced | 308 | https://youtubetranscriptdownload.com/api/mcp |
The tools this component advertises to a client, with an estimated token cost for each. Expand a tool to see its parameters and schema. The per-tool counts are indicative and are not scored directly; the schema's total context footprint is one signal in Schema Quality & AI Usability. A tool's description is untrusted text the model reads on every call, which is what makes this list a security surface and not just an inventory: how tool poisoning works →
get_channel_transcripts Get Channel Transcripts ~183
Get transcripts for a YouTube channel's most recent videos (newest first) as timestamped markdown, one section per video. Use for research across a creator's recent output; for one known video use get_transcript. Read-only; requires an API key. Charges 1 credit per video that returns a transcript, including repeat calls; videos without captions are skipped free. A 10-video call typically costs up to 10 credits, so start with a small limit. Rate limit: 5 requests per 10 seconds.
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| limit | integer | – | Number of most-recent videos to fetch, 1-50 (default 10). Upper bound on the credit charge for this call. |
| url | string | yes | YouTube channel URL or handle (e.g. https://www.youtube.com/@lexfridman or @lexfridman) |
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| channel | string | yes | Channel name |
| creditsRemaining | number | yes | Account balance after this call |
| creditsUsed | number | yes | Credits charged for this call |
| failed | number | yes | Videos skipped without charge (no captions) |
| succeeded | number | yes | Videos that returned a transcript (each charged 1 credit) |
| totalVideos | number | yes | Videos attempted in this call |
| transcripts | string | yes | All transcripts as timestamped markdown, one section per video, divider-separated |
No examples provided.
get_playlist_transcripts Get Playlist Transcripts ~183
Get transcripts for the videos in a YouTube playlist (in playlist order) as timestamped markdown, one section per video. Use for working through a course, series, or curated list; for one known video use get_transcript. Read-only; requires an API key. Charges 1 credit per video that returns a transcript, including repeat calls; videos without captions are skipped free. A 10-video call typically costs up to 10 credits, so start with a small limit. Rate limit: 5 requests per 10 seconds.
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| limit | integer | – | Number of videos to fetch from the start of the playlist, 1-50 (default 10). Upper bound on the credit charge for this call. |
| url | string | yes | YouTube playlist URL (e.g. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxxxxxx) |
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| creditsRemaining | number | yes | Account balance after this call |
| creditsUsed | number | yes | Credits charged for this call |
| failed | number | yes | Videos skipped without charge (no captions) |
| playlist | string | yes | Playlist title |
| succeeded | number | yes | Videos that returned a transcript (each charged 1 credit) |
| totalVideos | number | yes | Videos attempted in this call |
| transcripts | string | yes | All transcripts as timestamped markdown, one section per video, divider-separated |
No examples provided.
get_transcript Get YouTube Transcript ~134
Get the full transcript of a single YouTube video as timestamped markdown. Read-only: fetches existing captions, modifies nothing. Requires an API key; each successful call charges 1 credit, including repeat calls for the same video, so reuse a transcript already in context instead of re-fetching. Videos without captions return an error and cost nothing. Rate limit: 5 requests per 10 seconds.
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| video | string | yes | YouTube video ID (e.g. dQw4w9WgXcQ) or full video URL (youtube.com/watch?v=... or youtu.be/... forms) |
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| creditsRemaining | number | yes | Account balance after this call |
| creditsUsed | number | yes | Credits charged for this call |
| title | string | yes | Video title |
| transcript | string | yes | Full transcript as timestamped markdown |
| videoId | string | yes | YouTube video ID |
No examples provided.
polish_transcript Polish YouTube Transcript ~188
Get a cleaned-up transcript of a YouTube video's auto-generated captions: punctuation and capitalisation restored, filler and false starts removed, paragraphs added, misheard names fixed, faithful to what was said. Use when raw captions are too messy to read or quote; for a plain transcript use get_transcript. Read-only; requires an API key. Each call charges credits by transcript length (about 3 per 1,000 words, minimum 5), including repeat calls, so keep the result in context. Human-uploaded captions (already clean) and transcripts over ~7,000 words return an error without charging. Rate limit: 5 requests per 10 seconds.
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| video | string | yes | YouTube video ID (e.g. dQw4w9WgXcQ) or full video URL (youtube.com/watch?v=... or youtu.be/... forms) |
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| creditsRemaining | number | yes | Account balance after this call |
| creditsUsed | number | yes | Credits charged for this call (scales by length) |
| title | string | yes | Video title |
| transcript | string | yes | Cleaned transcript as timestamped markdown |
| videoId | string | yes | YouTube video ID |
No examples provided.
What is the YouTube Transcript Downloader MCP server?
YouTube Transcript Downloader is an MCP server listed in the public MCP registry as com.youtubetranscriptdownload/transcripts. Clean YouTube transcripts for agents: single videos, channels, playlists, plus AI caption cleanup. This page covers its hosted endpoint (https://youtubetranscriptdownload.com/api/mcp).
Is the YouTube Transcript Downloader MCP server safe to use?
YouTube Transcript Downloader scores 88 out of 100 on VerifyMCP. That is a record of what we were able to check automatically, not an endorsement. The category breakdown on this page shows every signal behind the number, including the ones we could not confirm.
What tools does the YouTube Transcript Downloader MCP server expose?
YouTube Transcript Downloader exposes 4 tools: get_transcript, polish_transcript, get_channel_transcripts, get_playlist_transcripts. Their descriptions and schemas cost roughly 688 tokens of context every time the server is loaded.
Does the YouTube Transcript Downloader MCP server require authentication?
No. We connected to YouTube Transcript Downloader without credentials and it answered, so anything it exposes is reachable by anyone who knows the address.
Is the YouTube Transcript Downloader MCP server still maintained?
YouTube Transcript Downloader is still listed as active in the MCP registry. We last reached this channel on 20 September 2026. Those dates come from our own scans of the registry and the channel itself, not from anything the publisher announced.