Social Fetch
Get API key
YouTube hub

YouTube Channel API

Resolve a public YouTube channel by handle, channel ID, or URL — subscriber metrics and identity fields in the same envelope as TikTok and Instagram profiles.

GET /v1/youtube/channel

1 credit per successful request.

Try in playgroundFull API docs

About this endpoint

Creator databases, agency rosters, and sponsorship tools usually start with a channel card: who is this, how big is the audience, what does the about text say. Google's YouTube Data API can answer that when you already have a Cloud project, quota, and keys that fit its access model. It is heavier when you only need public enrichment for creators who never authorized your app.

`GET /v1/youtube/channel` accepts `handle`, `channelId`, or `url` as query params. Pass one identifier per request. The response uses the shared Social Fetch envelope — branch on `data.lookupStatus` before you write rows, keep `meta.requestId` for support, and bill from `meta.creditsCharged`. Subscriber counts land in the same metrics object shape as follower totals on other platforms, so cross-network creator scores do not fork on field names.

This route is a single-channel get. For upload lists use `GET /v1/youtube/channels/videos` or `GET /v1/youtube/channels/shorts`. For spoken text on a video, use the transcript route. All of them share one API key with the rest of the YouTube tag.

YouTube Channel API FAQ

How do I look up a YouTube channel via API?

Call GET /v1/youtube/channel with your Social Fetch API key (x-api-key) and one of handle, channelId, or url. Read data.lookupStatus before writing rows. Full parameters and examples are in the API docs.

What identifiers does the YouTube Channel API accept?

A @handle, a channel ID (UC… style), or a public channel URL. Pass one per request — do not combine conflicting identifiers on the same call.

How much does YouTube channel lookup cost?

Pricing is documented on the operation in the API registry (shown on this page). Confirm on every response with meta.creditsCharged — that field is the billing source of truth.

How is this different from the YouTube Data API?

YouTube Data API is Google's official product with its own auth, quotas, and scopes. Social Fetch is a third-party public-data API with credit metering and a unified response shape across platforms. Prefer Google when you need official quotas, uploads, or partner features.

Does a completed lookup always mean the channel was found?

No. HTTP 200 means the request finished. Check data.lookupStatus: found means you got a channel card; not_found means the identifier did not resolve. Persist meta.requestId when you need to debug a miss.

Can I list videos from the same channel on this route?

No. This endpoint returns channel details only. Use GET /v1/youtube/channels/videos for long-form uploads and GET /v1/youtube/channels/shorts for Shorts. Both take handle or channelId.

Do I need a Google Cloud project for this endpoint?

No. You authenticate to Social Fetch with an API key. The route reads public channel data; it does not act on behalf of a logged-in YouTube user.

Other YouTube endpoints