YouTube Summarizer API
Turn any YouTube video into an AI summary with key points, topics, and sentiment.
GET request to /v1/youtube/summarize that responds with clean JSON and costs 3 credits. Pass cache=true for a free 24h cache hit; default is always fresh. Start with 100 free credits — no credit card.What is the YouTube Summarizer API?
The YouTube Summarizer API lets you generate an AI summary with key points and topics for YouTube summarizer with a single REST call. No OAuth, no infrastructure to maintain, and no platform SDKs — send the request, get clean structured JSON back. Pass cache=true to serve from the 24h shared cache (0 credits on hit); default is always fresh.
What you get
- 2–3 paragraph AI summary
- 4–8 bullet key points and detected topics
- Overall sentiment and tone
- Built on the transcript under the hood
Try it
Fill in the parameters below and copy a ready-to-run request, or open the live Playground to run it against your account (no API key paste).
Parameters
curl "https://api.captapi.com/v1/youtube/summarize?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DdQw4w9WgXcQ" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer capt_live_..."
# or: -H "x-api-key: capt_live_..."Edit the parameters and the code updates instantly. Switch languages and hit copy.
Example response
{
"success": true,
"data": {
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ",
"videoId": "dQw4w9WgXcQ",
"title": "Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up (Official Video) (4K Remaster)",
"summary": "The song 'Never Gonna Give You Up' by Rick Astley is a classic pop anthem that emphasizes unwavering commitment and loyalty in a romantic relationship. The lyrics express a deep emotional connection, highlighting the importance of honesty and trust between partners. Astley reassures his loved one that he will always be there for them, promising never to abandon or hurt them, which resonates with listeners on a personal level.\n\nThis iconic track has gained a cultural significance beyond its initial release, becoming a symbol of internet memes and nostalgia. Its catchy melody and memorable chorus have made it a timeless favorite, often associated with themes of love, dedication, and sincerity. The song's upbeat tempo and heartfelt message continue to engage audiences, making it a staple in pop music history.",
"keyPoints": [
"Emphasizes commitment and loyalty in relationships.",
"Highlights the importance of honesty and trust.",
"Reassures loved ones of unwavering support.",
"Cultural icon associated with internet memes.",
"Timeless melody and catchy chorus.",
"Resonates with themes of love and dedication.",
"Continues to engage audiences across generations."
],
"topics": [
"Rick Astley",
"Never Gonna Give You Up",
"Pop Music",
"Commitment",
"Love",
"Nostalgia",
"Internet Memes"
],
"sentiment": "positive"
}
}Billing metadata is returned in response headers: X-Captapi-Credits (credits charged), X-Captapi-Cache (hit or miss), and X-Captapi-Source. Failed requests (4xx/5xx) are never charged. See the full list of error codes in the error reference.
Response structure
A successful call returns success, cached, creditsUsed, and a data object with the following fields:
Top-level fields
urlCanonical URL of the item.videoIdPlatform video ID.titleTitle of the item.summaryAI-generated summary of the content.keyPointsThe most important takeaways.topicsDetected topics and themes.sentimentOverall tone (positive, neutral, negative).
Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| url | string | Yes | Public YouTube video URL, e.g. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ID. Not a TikTok/Instagram/Facebook URL. The URL platform must match this endpoint's platform. Do not pass cross-platform URLs, e.g. YouTube to TikTok, Instagram to Facebook, LinkedIn to X/Twitter, or Pinterest to Rumble. |
| language | string | No | Preferred caption language as an ISO code, e.g. "en". Defaults to auto-detect. |
| cache | boolean | No | Set true to serve from the 24h response cache. Default false — always fetch fresh data. |
Authentication: send your key as Authorization: Bearer capt_live_.... A typical call costs 3 credits. Pass cache=true for a free 24h cache hit; default is always fresh.
How it works
- 1. Sign up — get 100 free credits, no card required.
- 2. Create a key from your dashboard.
- 3. Send one request to
/v1/youtube/summarizeand parse the JSON response.
Use cases
Content Triage
Decide what's worth watching without watching it.
Newsletters & Digests
Auto-generate summaries for roundups and emails.
Research
Condense long videos into key points at scale.
SEO
Generate descriptions and meta content from videos.
Social
Draft captions and posts from video content.
Frequently asked questions
What does the YouTube Summarizer API do?+
The YouTube Summarizer API lets you generate an AI summary with key points and topics from a public YouTube video using one GET request to /v1/youtube/summarize. It returns clean JSON — no OAuth or infrastructure setup required.
How many credits does the YouTube Summarizer API cost?+
Each successful call costs 3 credits. Pass cache=true to serve from the 24h shared cache (0 credits on hit); default is always fresh. Failed or empty results are never charged.
Do I need a YouTube API key or OAuth?+
No. A single Captapi key works across every platform Captapi supports — YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, Reddit, Threads, Bluesky, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Rumble, Spotify, Kwai, and more. We handle proxies, rate limits, retries, and authentication for you.
Which AI model powers the summaries?+
Summaries are generated with GPT-4o-mini for a strong balance of quality, speed, and cost, built on top of the transcript.
Is the YouTube Summarizer API suitable for production use?+
Yes. It is a stable REST endpoint with predictable JSON and automatic retries. Pass cache=true to serve from the 24h shared cache (0 credits on hit); default is always fresh. Use it for analytics, monitoring, and content automation.
More YouTube APIs
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