# YouTube Transcript Downloader (remote · youtubetranscriptdownload.com)

Clean YouTube transcripts for agents: single videos, channels, playlists, plus AI caption cleanup.

- Trust score: 76/100 (medium)
- Change this week: +7
- Registry status: active
- Liveness: live
- Owner verified: no
- Last scored: 2026-08-03

## Components

- remote · `youtubetranscriptdownload.com`: 76/100 (this document), [markdown](https://verifymcp.io/servers/com-youtubetranscriptdownload-transcripts/api-mcp.md), [page](https://verifymcp.io/servers/com-youtubetranscriptdownload-transcripts/api-mcp)

## Channel facts

- Endpoint: `https://youtubetranscriptdownload.com/api/mcp`
- Transports: `streamable-http`
- Auth: `required`
- Version: `1.0.0`

## Trust breakdown

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. Scores are 0–100 per category. Scoring method: https://verifymcp.io/docs/scoring (what has changed: https://verifymcp.io/docs/scoring/changelog)

Scored 2026-08-03.

- **Endpoint Security**: 80/100
  - The endpoint's TLS certificate is valid, in date, and uses a strong key.
  - No authorisation is required to call this server. Every tool declares its destructiveHint and none is destructive, so open access doesn't expose one.
  - HTTPS is enforced; there's no plaintext access path.
  - The HSTS (Strict-Transport-Security) header is present.
  - DNSSEC check failed: this domain isn't protected by DNSSEC.
- **Transport & Reachability**: 100/100
  - Verified streamable-http transport via a live MCP handshake.
- **Schema Quality & AI Usability**: 75/100
  - AI-judged instruction clarity (excellent).
  - 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.
  - Usage-examples check failed: none of the tools include examples.
- **Stability & Change Management**: 27/100
  - Stability observed for 8 of 30 days with no destabilising changes; credit accrues until the full window elapses.
- **Tool Coverage**: 100/100
  - 100% of tools have a non-trivial description (not blank, and not just the tool's name).
  - 100% of tool parameters carry a description.
  - Structured output schemas are declared (100% of tools); any adoption earns full credit.
- **Capabilities**: 100/100
  - Implements a supported MCP spec version (2025-11-25); the latest is 2026-07-28.

## Install

### Claude

```bash
claude mcp add --transport http com-youtubetranscriptdownload-transcripts https://youtubetranscriptdownload.com/api/mcp
```

### Codex

```toml
[mcp_servers.com-youtubetranscriptdownload-transcripts]
url = "https://youtubetranscriptdownload.com/api/mcp"
```

### opencode

```json
{
  "$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
  "mcp": {
    "com-youtubetranscriptdownload-transcripts": {
      "type": "remote",
      "url": "https://youtubetranscriptdownload.com/api/mcp",
      "enabled": true
    }
  }
}
```

### OpenClaw

```bash
openclaw mcp add com-youtubetranscriptdownload-transcripts --url https://youtubetranscriptdownload.com/api/mcp --transport streamable-http
```

### Hermes

```yaml
mcp_servers:
  com-youtubetranscriptdownload-transcripts:
    url: "https://youtubetranscriptdownload.com/api/mcp"
```

### Other

```json
{
  "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.

## Changelog

Every change recorded for this component, newest first. Days that predate change tracking, or that we cannot explain, say so: "we were watching and nothing happened" and "we were not watching" are different claims.

### 2026-08-03 (score 76, +1)

No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 23 to 27. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 7 days of observed history at the previous scan, 8 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.

### 2026-07-31 (score 75, +4)

- [functional] We updated how we score, so this day's move reflects our rubric, not a change to the server

### 2026-07-30 (score 71, 0)

- [functional] We updated how we score, so this day's move reflects our rubric, not a change to the server

### 2026-07-29 (score 71, +1)

No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 7 to 10. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 2 days of observed history at the previous scan, 3 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.

### 2026-07-28 (score 70, +1)

No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 3 to 7. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 1 days of observed history at the previous scan, 2 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.

### 2026-07-27 (score 69, 0)

- [functional] We updated how we score, so this day's move reflects our rubric, not a change to the server

### 2026-07-26 (score 69)

First indexed and scored.

## MCP tools (4)

### `get_transcript` (~134 tokens)

Get YouTube Transcript

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.

Input parameters:

- `video` (string, required): YouTube video ID (e.g. dQw4w9WgXcQ) or full video URL (youtube.com/watch?v=... or youtu.be/... forms)

Output parameters:

- `creditsRemaining` (number): Account balance after this call
- `creditsUsed` (number): Credits charged for this call
- `title` (string): Video title
- `transcript` (string): Full transcript as timestamped markdown
- `videoId` (string): YouTube video ID

### `polish_transcript` (~188 tokens)

Polish YouTube Transcript

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.

Input parameters:

- `video` (string, required): YouTube video ID (e.g. dQw4w9WgXcQ) or full video URL (youtube.com/watch?v=... or youtu.be/... forms)

Output parameters:

- `creditsRemaining` (number): Account balance after this call
- `creditsUsed` (number): Credits charged for this call (scales by length)
- `title` (string): Video title
- `transcript` (string): Cleaned transcript as timestamped markdown
- `videoId` (string): YouTube video ID

### `get_channel_transcripts` (~183 tokens)

Get Channel Transcripts

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.

Input parameters:

- `limit` (integer): Number of most-recent videos to fetch, 1-50 (default 10). Upper bound on the credit charge for this call.
- `url` (string, required): YouTube channel URL or handle (e.g. https://www.youtube.com/@lexfridman or @lexfridman)

Output parameters:

- `channel` (string): Channel name
- `creditsRemaining` (number): Account balance after this call
- `creditsUsed` (number): Credits charged for this call
- `failed` (number): Videos skipped without charge (no captions)
- `succeeded` (number): Videos that returned a transcript (each charged 1 credit)
- `totalVideos` (number): Videos attempted in this call
- `transcripts` (string): All transcripts as timestamped markdown, one section per video, divider-separated

### `get_playlist_transcripts` (~183 tokens)

Get Playlist Transcripts

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.

Input parameters:

- `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, required): YouTube playlist URL (e.g. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxxxxxx)

Output parameters:

- `creditsRemaining` (number): Account balance after this call
- `creditsUsed` (number): Credits charged for this call
- `failed` (number): Videos skipped without charge (no captions)
- `playlist` (string): Playlist title
- `succeeded` (number): Videos that returned a transcript (each charged 1 credit)
- `totalVideos` (number): Videos attempted in this call
- `transcripts` (string): All transcripts as timestamped markdown, one section per video, divider-separated

## Diagnostics

Captured diagnostic sections: TLS, DNSSEC, Authorisation, Transports. The full working is on the page: https://verifymcp.io/servers/com-youtubetranscriptdownload-transcripts/api-mcp#diagnostics

## Score history

- 2026-08-03: 76
- 2026-08-02: 75
- 2026-08-01: 75
- 2026-07-31: 75
- 2026-07-30: 71
- 2026-07-29: 71
- 2026-07-28: 70
- 2026-07-27: 69
- 2026-07-26: 69

## Links

- Remote endpoint: https://youtubetranscriptdownload.com/api/mcp
- Authorisation metadata: https://youtubetranscriptdownload.com/.well-known/oauth-protected-resource/api/mcp
- Website: https://youtubetranscriptdownload.com/mcp
- Changelog RSS feed: https://verifymcp.io/servers/com-youtubetranscriptdownload-transcripts/api-mcp/changelog.xml
- Changelog JSON feed: https://verifymcp.io/servers/com-youtubetranscriptdownload-transcripts/api-mcp/changelog.json
- HTML version of this page: https://verifymcp.io/servers/com-youtubetranscriptdownload-transcripts/api-mcp