YouTube · Guide

How to get an AI summary of a YouTube video

TL;DR

To get an AI summary of a YouTube video, sign up for a free Captapi key, then send one GET request to /v1/youtube/summarize with your input. You get clean JSON back in seconds for 4 credits per call — no OAuth, scraping or platform SDKs. Turn any YouTube video into an AI summary with key points, topics, and sentiment.

Get your free API key API reference

How to get an AI summary of a YouTube video (step by step)

1
Get a free API key
Create a free Captapi account (100 credits, no card) and generate an API key from the dashboard.
2
Call the YouTube Summarizer API
Send an authenticated GET request to /v1/youtube/summarize with your input. No OAuth, no scraping setup.
3
Read the JSON response
Parse the clean JSON response. Results are cached for 24 hours, so repeat calls are free.

Code example

curl "https://api.captapi.com/v1/youtube/summarize?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DdQw4w9WgXcQ" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer capt_live_..."

What the response looks like

{
  "success": true,
  "cached": false,
  "creditsUsed": 4,
  "data": {
    "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ",
    "videoId": "dQw4w9WgXcQ",
    "title": null,
    "summary": "The transcript captures the essence of a well-known song that expresses themes of love, commitment, and emotional honesty. The lyrics convey a strong message about loyalty and the importance of being truthful in a relationship. The speaker reassures their partner that they will never betray or abandon them, emphasizing a deep understanding of each other's feelings despite the challenges they face. The repetitive nature of the phrases reinforces the sincerity of the speaker's  ...",
    "keyPoints": [
      "The song emphasizes themes of love and commitment.",
      "The speaker expresses a strong desire for emotional honesty."
    ],
    "topics": [
      "love",
      "commitment"
    ],
    "sentiment": "positive"
  }
}

Request parameters

Name	Type	Required	Description
url	string	Yes	Public YouTube video URL, e.g. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ID.
language	string	No	Preferred caption language as an ISO code, e.g. "en". Defaults to auto-detect.

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 scraping setup required.

How many credits does the YouTube Summarizer API cost?

Each successful call costs 4 credits. Responses are cached for 24 hours, and cached results cost 0 credits. Failed or empty results are never charged.

Do I need a YouTube API key or OAuth?

No. A single Captapi key works across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. 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 video transcript.

Is the YouTube Summarizer API suitable for production use?

Yes. It is a stable REST endpoint with predictable JSON, automatic retries, and a shared 24-hour cache. Use it for RAG pipelines, analytics, monitoring, and content automation.

Ready to get an AI summary of a YouTube video?

Start free with 100 credits — no credit card required.

Get your free API key