YouTube Data API v3 by Google / YouTube

Official API to upload videos and set thumbnails and captions on YouTube channels.

Publishing Service

Website License API docs Pricing On APIs for agents

Price

Free

Default: 10,000 units/day, 100 search.list and 100...

Commercial use

With conditions

YouTube API Services Terms of Service and Developer Policies

Credit the author

—

Agent access

Public API

API key needed

Rules for your agent

- YouTube Data API v3 (Publishing). Official API to upload videos and set thumbnails and captions on YouTube channels. Price: free; commercial use with conditions; shipping inside an app unclear.
  Connect: API docs https://developers.google.com/youtube/v3/docs/videos/insert (API key needed). Limits: videos.insert: 1 unit in the Video Uploads bucket (100 calls/day); thumbnails.set 50 units; captions.insert 400.
  Rule: Get the user's prior express consent before automating uploads.
  Rule: Set status.containsSyntheticMedia for realistic altered or synthetic content.
  Rule: Use exactly one API project per API client; do not circumvent quotas.
  Rule: Publish a privacy policy and show the YouTube ToS warning on the upload screen.
  License: https://developers.google.com/youtube/terms/api-services-terms-of-service (checked 2026-10-10; details: https://agentgid.com/assets/youtube-data-api/)

Paste it into your prompt or AGENTS.md. It is built from the license and API terms below.

License

License	YouTube API Services Terms of Service and Developer Policies
Commercial use	Commercial use with conditions
Credit	—
Inside your app or game	Shipping inside an app unclear
AI training	Not stated
Bots and bulk downloads	Not stated
Rules	Get the user's prior express consent before automating uploads. Set status.containsSyntheticMedia for realistic altered or synthetic content. Use exactly one API project per API client; do not circumvent quotas. Publish a privacy policy and show the YouTube ToS warning on the upload screen.

Connect it to an agent

MCP server	None found
API	API docs · key needed
Limits	videos.insert: 1 unit in the Video Uploads bucket (100 calls/day); thumbnails.set 50 units; captions.insert 400.

Pricing

Free	Default: 10,000 units/day, 100 search.list and 100 videos.insert calls per day.
Paid from	—
Usage price	—
Good to know	YPP: 'inauthentic content' (mass-produced or templated AI videos) is not monetizable. Quota extensions are tied to an audited use case.

Sources

Read on Oct 10, 2026: developers.google.com/youtube/v3/determine_quota_cost, developers.google.com/youtube/v3/docs/videos/insert, developers.google.com/youtube/v3/getting-started, developers.google.com/youtube/v3/revision_history, developers.google.com/youtube/v3/guides/quota_and_complia..., developers.google.com/youtube/terms/developer-policies, developers.google.com/youtube/terms/api-services-terms-of-service, support.google.com/youtube/answer/1311392.

Not confirmed: Conflict: the videos.insert reference says unverified projects are not limited to private uploads, but a 2020 revision entry says they are until an audit; test a real upload first. The quota calculator text still mentions 1600 points.

Not legal advice. Check the license page before you ship.