# YouTube Comments (`datasaurus/youtube-comments`) Actor

Scrape YouTube Video and YouTube Shorts Comments and Replies without limits. Fast and Reliable. Extract author details, published date, like count, viewer rating reply count, video details, channel details. Link Comments and Replies via cascading id numbers.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/datasaurus/youtube-comments.md
- **Developed by:** [datasaurus](https://apify.com/datasaurus) (community)
- **Categories:** Social media, Videos, Developer tools
- **Features:** Limited permissions
- **Stats:** 136 total users, 12 monthly users, 98.4% runs succeeded, 5 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

$0.50 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## YouTube Comments Scraper

A powerful tool for extracting YouTube comments, replies, and engagement metrics.

Supply video URLs or IDs, playlists, or channels and receive structured data with comment text, author details, timestamps and thread information. Optional search terms filter comments on those supplied sources; they do not find videos.

Check out our other YouTube scrapers: [YouTube Channels](https://apify.com/datasaurus/youtube-channels) | [YouTube Videos](https://apify.com/datasaurus/youtube-videos)

n8n node: [n8n](https://www.npmjs.com/package/n8n-nodes-youtube-comments-rental)

### Why use this YouTube comments scraper?

- **Keep conversation structure:** top-level comments and replies are separate rows linked by `parentCommentId`, with author, timestamps, likes and video context.
- **Collect across source types:** supply video or Shorts URLs, playlists, or channels. Playlist-derived comments retain the playlist ID, title and position; channel inputs expand the channel's uploads.
- **Control collection size:** cap videos expanded from each playlist or channel, top-level comments per video, and replies per comment independently. Replies are unlimited by default and can be capped when you want a smaller dataset.
- **Filter for the conversation you need:** search comments by terms and choose the result order. The Actor retrieves public comments; moderation status is not an input option.
- **Connect comments to the other Actors:** each record includes video and channel IDs, which join with the outputs of our [Videos](https://apify.com/datasaurus/youtube-videos) and [Channels](https://apify.com/datasaurus/youtube-channels) Actors.

### 🎯 Data extraction

- Comment text in HTML and plain text formats
- Author information and author channel details
- Video and channel information
- Published and last-updated timestamps
- Engagement metrics, including likes and reply counts
- Comment thread information, including parent comment IDs

Available fields depend on the comment and information returned by YouTube.

### 📊 Use cases

- **Content analysis**
- **Audience engagement tracking** — compare likes and reply counts.
- **Social media research** — collect comments for audience and topic research.
- **Community management** — examine conversations and replies.
- **Sentiment analysis** — use comment text to research audience feedback.
- **Market research** — investigate opinions and recurring questions.

### 🚀 Getting started

1. Create or sign in to your Apify account.
2. Add at least one video, Shorts, channel, or playlist URL, handle, or ID to the required `video_urls` list. Playlists and channel uploads are expanded into videos before comment collection. `max_videos` limits expansion for each playlist or channel entry.
3. Run the Actor and collect your data.

### 💳 Pricing

In pay-per-event mode, the Actor charges for result items:

| Event | Price | When it is charged |
| --- | ---: | --- |
| `comment` | $0.0005 per comment | For each comment or reply saved to the default dataset. |

### 📥 Input parameters

```json
{
  "video_urls": [
    "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W001vfAvNvg",
    "https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3VdiAJvpAuA",
    "W001vfAvNvg",
    "3VdiAJvpAuA",
    "https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKIcGubxVu9W6kuWYmJBLEV24z5Owq7r-",
    "PLKIcGubxVu9W6kuWYmJBLEV24z5Owq7r-",
    "@SailingLaVagabonde"
  ],
  "max_videos": 1,
  "max_results": 25,
  "maxRepliesPerComment": 0,
  "order": "relevance",
  "search_terms": ["sailing"]
}
```

`video_urls` is required. `max_videos` (default `1`) limits how many videos are expanded from each playlist or channel entry; each direct video entry counts as one. `max_results` (default `25`) caps top-level comments per video. Replies are additional results, capped independently by `maxRepliesPerComment`; `0` (the default) fetches all available replies.

### 📤 Output Fields

```json
{
  "id": "Ugx_HZFD2Q-sGU-3CdZ4AaABAg",
  "commentHtml": "Hey guys, how do you like the Bonin Islands so far?! 🐋 Download &#39;SeaPeople App&#39; to stay up to date with our journey in real time (it&#39;s FREE!): <a href=\"https://dashboard.seapeopleapp.com/group/8bd5246f-8395-49a4-ba02-94ae5cfa49c8?utm_source=SLV&amp;utm_medium=YT&amp;utm_campaign=Jan+2024+update\">https://dashboard.seapeopleapp.com/group/8bd5246f-8395-49a4-ba02-94ae5cfa49c8?utm_source=SLV&amp;utm_medium=YT&amp;utm_campaign=Jan+2024+update</a>",
  "comment": "Hey guys, how do you like the Bonin Islands so far?! 🐋 Download 'SeaPeople App' to stay up to date with our journey in real time (it's FREE!): https://dashboard.seapeopleapp.com/group/8bd5246f-8395-49a4-ba02-94ae5cfa49c8?utm_source=SLV&utm_medium=YT&utm_campaign=Jan+2024+update",
  "author": "@SailingLaVagabonde",
  "publishedAt": "2025-04-28T19:40:21Z",
  "updatedAt": "2025-04-28T19:40:21Z",
  "likeCount": 155,
  "canRate": true,
  "viewerRating": null,
  "canReply": true,
  "totalReplyCount": 7,
  "isTopLevelComment": "TopLevelComment",
  "parentCommentId": null,
  "authorChannelId": "UCZdQjaSoLjIzFnWsDQOv4ww",
  "authorIsChannelOwner": true,
  "authorChannelUrl": "http://www.youtube.com/@SailingLaVagabonde",
  "authorProfileImageUrl": "https://yt3.ggpht.com/idehYrFJqFfE-LL6offHIhZJlc28vwSd881LKYH-F9vEgtUWTpmDLbiZ08nD6_w_3a89R7hE=s48-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj",
  "videoId": "W001vfAvNvg",
  "videoTitle": "7 days at Sea to find THIS! (Raw, Unfiltered cut)",
  "playlistId": null,
  "playlistTitle": null,
  "playlistPosition": null,
  "channelId": "UCZdQjaSoLjIzFnWsDQOv4ww",
  "channelTitle": "Sailing La Vagabonde"
}
```

### 💡 Key advantages

- Scrape comments and replies from both YouTube videos and YouTube Shorts
- No proxies required
- Preserve comment threading information
- Export results in JSON, CSV or Excel through Apify

### AI agents and integrations

Connect chat clients such as **Claude and ChatGPT** to Apify through the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp) to discover and run eligible Actors.

Structured records let agents work directly with comment text, author details, engagement metrics and thread relationships.

Example requests for an agent configured to use this Actor:

> Collect comments and available replies from this YouTube video.

> Return comment text, authors and like counts from these YouTube Shorts.

For agent frameworks and API-based integrations, see Apify's [AI integration guides](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/ai). MCP availability depends on the Actor's pricing and permissions.

### ✏️ API access

Access through Apify's API and automation features:

- REST API
- SDK integration
- Webhooks
- Automated workflows

For setup and reference documentation, see the [Apify API documentation](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2). For workflow automation, see the [n8n integration guide](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/n8n).

For bugs, additional fields or supported input requests, use the Actor's **Issues** tab.

[Browse all Datasaurus scrapers](https://apify.com/datasaurus).

\*Keywords: YouTube comments, data extraction, API integration, social media analytics, engagement metrics, content analysis

# Actor input Schema

## `video_urls` (type: `array`):

Add video, Shorts, channel, or playlist URLs, handles, or IDs in one list. Examples: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W001vfAvNvg, https://youtube.com/watch?v=W001vfAvNvg, www.youtube.com/shorts/3VdiAJvpAuA, youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKIcGubxVu9W6kuWYmJBLEV24z5Owq7r-, @SailingLaVagabonde, or video ID W001vfAvNvg. Bare playlist IDs with prefixes such as PL, UU, LL, FL, WL, RD, or OLAK5uy\_ are recognized as playlists; handles starting with @ and channel IDs starting with UC are recognized as channels. Channel inputs expand to uploads; playlist inputs expand to their available videos. This field may be empty; without video sources, no comments are collected. search_terms filters comments on supplied videos and does not discover videos.

## `max_videos` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of videos to process for each playlist or channel entry in video_urls. Direct video entries each process one video. Applies independently to every playlist or channel entry.

## `search_terms` (type: `array`):

Filter comments on supplied videos. This searches comment text within each supplied video's comment threads; it does not discover videos. Add each phrase as a list item. You must supply video, playlist, or channel sources in video_urls for comment searches to run. If empty, comments are not filtered by phrase.

## `order` (type: `string`):

Result Order - results appear by relevance (most relvant first) or published date (latest first).

## `max_results` (type: `integer`):

Maximum top-level comments fetched for each video. Replies to those comments are additional results and are separately controlled by maxRepliesPerComment.

## `maxRepliesPerComment` (type: `integer`):

Maximum replies fetched for each top-level comment. Set to 0 to fetch all available replies (the default). When capped, replies follow the order returned by the YouTube Data API.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "video_urls": [
    "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W001vfAvNvg",
    "@SailingLaVagabonde",
    "PLKIcGubxVu9W6kuWYmJBLEV24z5Owq7r-"
  ],
  "max_videos": 1,
  "search_terms": [],
  "max_results": 25,
  "maxRepliesPerComment": 0
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

No description

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "video_urls": [
        "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W001vfAvNvg",
        "@SailingLaVagabonde",
        "PLKIcGubxVu9W6kuWYmJBLEV24z5Owq7r-"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("datasaurus/youtube-comments").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = { "video_urls": [
        "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W001vfAvNvg",
        "@SailingLaVagabonde",
        "PLKIcGubxVu9W6kuWYmJBLEV24z5Owq7r-",
    ] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("datasaurus/youtube-comments").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "video_urls": [
    "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W001vfAvNvg",
    "@SailingLaVagabonde",
    "PLKIcGubxVu9W6kuWYmJBLEV24z5Owq7r-"
  ]
}' |
apify call datasaurus/youtube-comments --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,datasaurus/youtube-comments"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/Dmwhbpqwqy1xWKw4t/builds/1umFFge9Iu8SV4CYj/openapi.json