Last reviewed June 2026
YouTube videos contain valuable information locked in video format. MCP servers can extract transcripts, fetch metadata, and help Claude work with YouTube content. Here are the best options for YouTube integration.
Recommended MCP Servers
YouTube Transcript MCP
kimtaeyoon83/mcp-server-youtube-transcript
Extract transcripts and subtitles from YouTube videos for analysis and summarization.
Key Features
- Fetch video transcripts
- Multiple language support
- Auto-generated captions
- Timestamp extraction
Installation
npx youtube-transcript-mcpThe YouTube Transcript MCP is perfect for extracting video content as text. Get transcripts with timestamps, support for multiple languages, and both manual and auto-generated captions. Essential for video research.
YouTube MCP
jkawamoto/mcp-youtube-transcript
Extract video information, metadata, and content from YouTube videos.
Key Features
- Video metadata extraction
- Channel information
- Playlist support
- Search functionality
Installation
npx youtube-mcpBeyond transcripts, this MCP provides rich video metadata—titles, descriptions, channel info, and view counts. Good for research workflows that need more than just the transcript.
Markdownify MCP
zcaceres/markdownify-mcp
Convert YouTube video transcripts to Markdown along with other file types.
Key Features
- YouTube transcript extraction
- Multi-format conversion
- Markdown output
- All-in-one solution
Installation
pnpm install && pnpm run buildMarkdownify can extract YouTube transcripts as part of its broader document conversion capabilities. If you work with videos alongside PDFs and other documents, this is a convenient all-in-one solution.
Quick Comparison
| MCP | Stars | Best For | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transcript MCP | >360 | Video transcripts | Best transcript quality | Transcripts only |
| YouTube MCP | >270 | Video metadata | Rich data access | Community maintained |
| Markdownify | >2k | Mixed content | All-in-one | More complex setup |
Getting Started
To use YouTube with Claude Code:
For transcripts, install the YouTube Transcript MCP:
npx youtube-transcript-mcpShare a YouTube URL and ask Claude to analyze it.
Example prompt: "Get the transcript of this YouTube video and summarize the main points."
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Which MCP server lets Claude read YouTube transcripts?
The most popular option is kimtaeyoon83/mcp-server-youtube-transcript, which retrieves captions from any YouTube video. Add it with the command 'npx' and args '-y @kimtaeyoon83/mcp-server-youtube-transcript'. Alternatives include jkawamoto/mcp-youtube-transcript, installed via uvx, and zcaceres/markdownify-mcp, which has a youtube-to-markdown tool.
How do I get a YouTube video transcript with Claude?
Install a YouTube transcript MCP server such as kimtaeyoon83/mcp-server-youtube-transcript, then paste the video URL into Claude and ask for the transcript. The server fetches the video's captions, including auto-generated ones, and returns them as text. You can request a specific language with a code like en or ko, with automatic fallback when unavailable.
Can Claude summarize a YouTube video?
Yes, but indirectly. Claude cannot watch video, so it works from the transcript. With a YouTube transcript MCP server connected, share the video URL and ask Claude to get the transcript and summarize the main points. It then produces a summary, key takeaways, or timestamps. Without captions available, summarization is not possible since there is no text to read.
Do YouTube MCP servers need a YouTube API key?
No. Transcript-focused servers like kimtaeyoon83/mcp-server-youtube-transcript fetch publicly available captions directly and require no YouTube Data API key. You only add the install command to your MCP configuration. The main limitations are that videos without captions cannot be transcribed, and Claude analyzes only the text, not the visuals or audio.
