Tutorial · curl
How to scrape YouTube channels with curl (2026)
A curl walkthrough for GET /v1/youtube/channel. Copy the snippet, run it, then read the JSON.
GET /v1/youtube/channel · 1 credit per successful request.
In this tutorial
You'll pull a public YouTube channel and see the fields you get back.
Example job: hydrate YouTube channel cards from ids or handles you already store.
Step 1
Get ready
You need a Social Fetch API key and a working curl environment. New accounts include 100 free credits.
API key. Create a Social Fetch account and copy an API key. New accounts include 100 free credits.
curl setup. Any shell with curl. Export SOCIALFETCH_API_KEY before you run the sample.
When you're done, SOCIALFETCH_API_KEY is set in your shell.
Step 2
Make the request
Copy the curl snippet, keep SOCIALFETCH_API_KEY in the environment, and send GET /v1/youtube/channel with the x-api-key header. Example path: /v1/youtube/channel?handle=%40mkbhd. The sample uses public values for channels.
You should see a JSON body on stdout. Use curl -sS so HTTP errors still print on stderr.
Step 3
Read the response
A JSON body with data (the channels) and meta (creditsCharged, requestId). The sample below is illustrative; field-level docs live on the endpoint page. Credits charge on completed lookups, not transport failures.
Branch on data.lookupStatus when present, then keep meta.requestId if a row looks wrong.
Watch out
this route is the channel card only. Upload lists live on channels/videos and channels/shorts. Passing two conflicting identifiers in one request is a client bug — pick handle, channelId, or URL.
Step 4
You finished
Same path and credits in playground, docs, and production. Pick a next action below.
FAQ
Common questions
Do I need an official YouTube developer account?
No. Social Fetch authenticates with your Social Fetch API key. You call GET /v1/youtube/channel and we handle upstream access. You still need to follow each platform's terms for how you use public data.
What does the youtube channels endpoint return?
A JSON envelope with data (the channels) and meta (creditsCharged, requestId). Shape details and field docs live on the endpoint page and in the OpenAPI docs.
What identifiers does YouTube channel lookup accept?
A @handle, a channel ID (UC… style), or a public channel URL. Pass exactly one per request. This route returns the channel card only — use channels/videos or channels/shorts for upload lists.
Can I list a channel's videos from the YouTube channel lookup response?
No. Channel lookup returns the card (title, subscriberCount, and related fields). For uploads use GET /v1/youtube/channels/videos or GET /v1/youtube/channels/shorts after you have a resolved channel.
How much does a successful request cost?
1 credit per successful request.
Is this okay for production?
Yes. Same production API as the rest of Social Fetch: typed errors, requestId on every response, and credit charges only on completed lookups (not infrastructure failures). New accounts get 100 free credits.
Any curl-specific tips for this request?
Yes. Pass the key with -H "x-api-key: $SOCIALFETCH_API_KEY", and wrap the full URL in double quotes so the shell does not split on & in query strings. Prefer curl -sS so HTTP errors still surface on stderr.
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