# YouTube Channel Analytics (`miccho27/youtube-channel-analytics`) Actor

Scrape YouTube channel statistics: subscriber count, total views, video count, join date, and full video list with view counts, duration, and publish dates.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/miccho27/youtube-channel-analytics.md
- **Developed by:** [Tatsuya Mizuno](https://apify.com/miccho27) (community)
- **Categories:** Developer tools
- **Features:** Limited permissions
- **Stats:** 65 total users, 2 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 1 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $2.00 / 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 Channel Analytics - Subscriber Count, Views & Video Stats Scraper (No API Key)

Extract YouTube channel statistics and video-level metrics without a YouTube Data API key -- no OAuth, no Google Cloud billing, no quotas. Get subscriber count, total views, video count, join date, and individual video metrics (views, duration, publish date). The best free alternative to Social Blade ($3.99/mo), VidIQ ($7.50/mo), TubeBuddy ($4.99/mo), and YouTube Data API (10,000 units/day limit).

### Who Is This For?

- **YouTubers** -- Track your own channel growth and video performance without third-party dashboards
- **Marketing agencies** -- Pull influencer channel stats for campaign reporting and vetting
- **Brand managers** -- Evaluate potential sponsorship partners by subscriber count, engagement, and content frequency
- **Market researchers** -- Analyze competitor channels and industry trends at scale
- **Data analysts** -- Build YouTube datasets for trend analysis, content strategy, and audience research
- **Investors** -- Due diligence on creator economy startups and influencer-driven businesses

### Features

- Extract subscriber count, total views, video count, join date
- Scrape individual video titles, view counts, duration, publish dates
- Sort videos by newest, most popular, or oldest
- Bulk channel analysis (multiple channels per run)
- Supports @handle, /channel/ID, and /c/name URL formats
- Playwright-based for reliable JavaScript rendering
- No API key or Google Cloud account required
- Export as JSON, CSV, or Excel

### Pricing -- Free to Start

| Tier | Cost | What You Get |
|------|------|-------------|
| **Free trial** | $0 | Apify free tier includes monthly compute credits |
| **Pay per channel** | ~$0.02-0.10/channel | Only pay for actual Apify compute used |
| **vs. Social Blade Pro** | Saves $3.99/mo | No subscription needed |
| **vs. VidIQ Pro** | Saves $7.50/mo | Bulk processing + API access included |
| **vs. YouTube Data API** | No quota limits | No 10,000 units/day cap |

### Quick Start (3 Steps)

1. **Click "Try for free"** on this Actor's page in Apify Store
2. **Paste YouTube channel URLs** (e.g., `https://www.youtube.com/@MrBeast`)
3. **Click "Start"** and get channel stats with video metrics as JSON, CSV, or Excel

### How It Compares to Paid YouTube Analytics Tools

| Feature | This Actor (FREE) | Social Blade ($3.99/mo) | VidIQ ($7.50/mo) | YouTube Data API (Free + quota) |
|---------|-------------------|------------------------|-------------------|-------------------------------|
| Subscriber count | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Total views | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Video-level stats | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Bulk channels | Yes (unlimited) | 1 at a time | Limited | Rate limited (10K units/day) |
| API access | Yes (Apify API) | No | No | Yes |
| Scheduling | Yes (Apify scheduler) | No | No | Manual |
| Historical data | Current snapshot | 30-day history | Limited | Current only |
| No API key needed | Yes | Yes | Browser extension | No (key required) |
| Monthly cost | $0 (pay per run) | $3.99 | $7.50 | Free (quota limited) |

### Input

| Field | Type | Required | Default | Description |
|-------|------|----------|---------|-------------|
| `channelUrls` | string\[] | Yes | - | YouTube channel URLs (@handle, /channel/ID, or /c/name) |
| `includeVideos` | boolean | No | true | Whether to scrape individual video details |
| `maxVideos` | integer | No | 30 | Max videos to collect per channel (1-200) |
| `sortVideos` | string | No | "newest" | Sort: newest, popular, oldest |

#### Example Input -- Single Channel Analysis

```json
{
  "channelUrls": [
    "https://www.youtube.com/@MrBeast"
  ],
  "includeVideos": true,
  "maxVideos": 50,
  "sortVideos": "popular"
}
```

#### Example Input -- Bulk Competitor Analysis

```json
{
  "channelUrls": [
    "https://www.youtube.com/@MrBeast",
    "https://www.youtube.com/@PewDiePie",
    "https://www.youtube.com/@markiplier",
    "https://www.youtube.com/@jacksepticeye"
  ],
  "includeVideos": true,
  "maxVideos": 20,
  "sortVideos": "newest"
}
```

#### Example Input -- Channel Overview Only (No Videos)

```json
{
  "channelUrls": [
    "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX6OQ3DkcsbYNE6H8uQQuVA"
  ],
  "includeVideos": false
}
```

### Output Example -- Channel Data

```json
{
  "success": true,
  "dataType": "channel",
  "channelUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/@MrBeast",
  "channelName": "MrBeast",
  "handle": "@MrBeast",
  "subscriberCount": 358000000,
  "subscriberText": "358M subscribers",
  "totalViews": 62000000000,
  "videoCount": 850,
  "joinDate": "Feb 20, 2012",
  "description": "SUBSCRIBE FOR A COOKIE!",
  "avatarUrl": "https://yt3.googleusercontent.com/...",
  "bannerUrl": "https://yt3.googleusercontent.com/...",
  "scrapedAt": "2026-04-01T12:00:00.000Z"
}
```

### Output Example -- Video Data

```json
{
  "success": true,
  "dataType": "video",
  "channelUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/@MrBeast",
  "channelName": "MrBeast",
  "handle": "@MrBeast",
  "videoTitle": "$1 vs $1,000,000,000 Yacht!",
  "videoUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=...",
  "views": 245000000,
  "viewsText": "245M views",
  "published": "2 months ago",
  "durationSeconds": 952,
  "durationText": "15:52",
  "thumbnailUrl": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/.../hqdefault.jpg",
  "scrapedAt": "2026-04-01T12:00:00.000Z"
}
```

### Output Fields

#### Channel Record

| Field | Type | Description |
|-------|------|-------------|
| `dataType` | string | Always "channel" |
| `channelName` | string | Channel display name |
| `handle` | string | @handle (e.g., @MrBeast) |
| `subscriberCount` | number | Subscriber count (parsed) |
| `totalViews` | number | Lifetime view count |
| `videoCount` | number | Total videos uploaded |
| `joinDate` | string | Channel creation date |
| `description` | string | Channel description |
| `avatarUrl` | string | Profile picture URL |
| `bannerUrl` | string | Banner image URL |

#### Video Record

| Field | Type | Description |
|-------|------|-------------|
| `dataType` | string | Always "video" |
| `videoTitle` | string | Video title |
| `videoUrl` | string | Full video URL |
| `views` | number | View count (parsed) |
| `published` | string | Relative publish date |
| `durationSeconds` | number | Video length in seconds |
| `thumbnailUrl` | string | Thumbnail image URL |

### Real-World Use Cases

#### 1. Influencer Vetting for Sponsorships

Bulk-analyze 50+ influencer channels in minutes. Compare subscriber counts, average views per video, and posting frequency to find the best ROI for your brand deal budget.

#### 2. Competitor Content Strategy Analysis

Sort competitor videos by "popular" to identify their top-performing content. Analyze video lengths, title patterns, and posting frequency to reverse-engineer their strategy.

#### 3. YouTube Niche Research

Scrape 20+ channels in a niche to calculate average subscribers, views, and video frequency. Determine market saturation and opportunity gaps before starting a new channel.

#### 4. Creator Economy Due Diligence

For investors evaluating creator-led businesses, pull verified channel metrics (not self-reported) for subscriber trends, engagement rates, and content consistency.

#### 5. Automated Channel Growth Tracking

Schedule weekly runs via Apify scheduler. Export to Google Sheets or webhook to track your own channel's growth metrics over time without manual checking.

### FAQ

**Q: What YouTube URL formats are supported?**
A: All three formats work: `@handle` (e.g., youtube.com/@MrBeast), `/channel/` (e.g., youtube.com/channel/UCX6OQ3...), and `/c/` (e.g., youtube.com/c/MrBeast).

**Q: Why is the subscriber count approximate?**
A: YouTube only shows abbreviated subscriber counts publicly (e.g., "358M"). The Actor parses these abbreviations to numbers. For exact counts, only the channel owner has access via YouTube Studio.

**Q: Can I get likes and comments for each video?**
A: The current version extracts view counts, duration, and publish dates from the channel's video listing page. Individual video likes/comments require visiting each video page, which is available as a feature enhancement.

**Q: How many channels can I scrape in one run?**
A: No hard limit. Practical limit depends on your Apify compute budget. Each channel takes 30-60 seconds to process (more with video scraping). 50+ channels in a single run is typical.

**Q: Can I schedule this to run automatically?**
A: Yes. Use Apify's built-in scheduler to run daily, weekly, or on any cron schedule. Export to Google Sheets, webhook, or S3 for automated reporting pipelines.

### Pricing

Pay Per Event -- charged per channel processed. Typical cost: $0.02-0.10 per channel (depends on `maxVideos` and Apify compute). Free tier available for testing.

### Tags

youtube, channel-analytics, subscriber-count, video-stats, influencer-research, social-media-scraper, youtube-scraper, content-analysis, creator-economy, social-blade-alternative

# Actor input Schema

## `channelUrls` (type: `array`):

List of YouTube channel URLs to analyze. Supports /c/, /@handle, and /channel/ formats.

## `includeVideos` (type: `boolean`):

When enabled, scrapes the channel's video list with view counts, duration, and publish dates.

## `maxVideos` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of videos to extract per channel (1-200).

## `sortVideos` (type: `string`):

How to sort the video list.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "channelUrls": [
    "https://www.youtube.com/@mkbhd"
  ],
  "includeVideos": true,
  "maxVideos": 30,
  "sortVideos": "newest"
}
```

# 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 = {
    "channelUrls": [
        "https://www.youtube.com/@mkbhd"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("miccho27/youtube-channel-analytics").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 = { "channelUrls": ["https://www.youtube.com/@mkbhd"] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("miccho27/youtube-channel-analytics").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 '{
  "channelUrls": [
    "https://www.youtube.com/@mkbhd"
  ]
}' |
apify call miccho27/youtube-channel-analytics --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,miccho27/youtube-channel-analytics"
        }
    }
}
```

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/m1Uy3ykDcAel4yBr9/builds/lnIIStDwCxrgu81OC/openapi.json