download_audio
Download YouTube audioMP3 with cover art and tags, or M4A with the original AAC stream, no re-encoding. For dubbed videos, pick the track with audioLanguage.
YouTube MCP server
All of YouTube, right inside your AI assistant.
Ask Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor for the MP3, the MP4 or the transcript of any YouTube video and get a ready-to-use link right in the chat. One-click login, nothing to install, and a REST API for your own code.
Works with:
- Claude
- ChatGPT
- Cursor
- VS Code
- Windsurf
- Gemini CLI
MCP sessionmcp.mcptube.com
You: Transcribe the first YouTube video ever and tell me what it’s about:
youtu.be/jNQXAC9IVRwtranscribe_videovia MCPTubeClaude
It’s “Me at the zoo”, the first video ever uploaded to YouTube, back in 2005. In 19 seconds, Jawed stands at the San Diego Zoo and points out that the elephants have really, really long trunks.
Never leave the chat
Your assistant downloads and transcribes for you. No more pasting links into ad-filled converter sites.
Ready to use
MP3 and MP4 with cover art and chapters, transcripts in SRT and plain text to summarize, translate or quote.
Free to start
Try it without an account, sign up for free, and go Pro only when you need more.
Add it to your favorite assistant.
Pick your client and follow the steps. Works without an account. When you need more, your assistant opens the MCPTube login.
Claude
- On claude.ai or in Claude Desktop, open Customize > Connectors.
- Click + Add, then Add custom connector.
- Name it MCPTube, paste the address below and click Add.
Server address
https://mcp.mcptube.com/mcpClaude’s Free plan includes one custom connector.
Want to sign in from the start? Use https://mcp.mcptube.com/mcp?login=1.
ChatGPT
- In ChatGPT, open Plugins, click + and choose Add custom MCP server.
- Name it MCPTube and paste the address below.
- Under authentication, choose OAuth and click Create as a plugin.
Server address
https://mcp.mcptube.com/mcpConnecting your own MCP servers depends on your ChatGPT plan.
Want to sign in from the start? Use https://mcp.mcptube.com/mcp?login=1.
Claude Code
- Run the command below in your terminal.
- It already works without an account. To log in, type /mcp inside Claude Code.
Terminal
claude mcp add --transport http mcptube https://mcp.mcptube.com/mcpWant to sign in from the start? Use https://mcp.mcptube.com/mcp?login=1.
Cursor
- Click Add to Cursor and confirm the install in Cursor.
- It already works without an account. When you need more, Cursor opens the MCPTube login.
~/.cursor/mcp.json
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcptube": {
"url": "https://mcp.mcptube.com/mcp"
}
}
}Rather edit it by hand? Use the ~/.cursor/mcp.json snippet below.
Want to sign in from the start? Use https://mcp.mcptube.com/mcp?login=1.
VS Code
- Click Install in VS Code and confirm the install.
- Use the tools in agent mode in VS Code chat.
.vscode/mcp.json
{
"servers": {
"mcptube": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://mcp.mcptube.com/mcp"
}
}
}Want to sign in from the start? Use https://mcp.mcptube.com/mcp?login=1.
Gemini CLI
- Run the command below in your terminal.
- It already works without an account. To log in, run /mcp auth mcptube in Gemini CLI.
Terminal
gemini mcp add --scope user --transport http mcptube https://mcp.mcptube.com/mcp
Want to sign in from the start? Use https://mcp.mcptube.com/mcp?login=1.
Windsurf
- Open the mcp_config.json file from Windsurf’s MCP settings.
- Paste the snippet below, save, and refresh the server list.
mcp_config.json
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcptube": {
"serverUrl": "https://mcp.mcptube.com/mcp"
}
}
}Want to sign in from the start? Use https://mcp.mcptube.com/mcp?login=1.
Others
- Any MCP client that speaks HTTP works: use the address below.
- If your client can’t log in with OAuth, send an mct_ key in the Authorization header.
Server address
https://mcp.mcptube.com/mcpmcp.json
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcptube": {
"url": "https://mcp.mcptube.com/mcp"
}
}
}Want to sign in from the start? Use https://mcp.mcptube.com/mcp?login=1.
Three tools for YouTube. That’s it.
They take watch, youtu.be, shorts, live, embed and clip links, or just the video ID. Playlists are not supported.
download_video
Download YouTube videoMP4 with cover art, artist and chapters, in the best quality up to maxHeight. H.264 up to 1080p; above that, VP9 or AV1 with no re-encoding. Above your plan’s limit, the video is downgraded and the response tells you why.
transcribe_video
Transcribe YouTube videos with AISRT and plain text. Uses YouTube’s own captions, manual before auto-generated. No captions? The Pro plan transcribes the audio with AI.
A REST API for your own code.
The same three tools over HTTP: send a video URL and get back the file link or the transcript. Built for scripts, automations and CI.
- Authenticate with an mct_ key in the Authorization header.
- Same account and same quota as MCP: one plan covers both.
- OpenAPI 3.1 spec to generate a client in your language.
Transcribe a video
curl https://mcp.mcptube.com/v1/transcribe \ -H "Authorization: Bearer mct_YOUR_KEY" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{"url": "youtu.be/jNQXAC9IVRw", "format": "text"}'
One plan for MCP and the API.
Start without an account, sign up for free when you need more, and go Pro for daily use, unlimited videos and AI transcription.
Anonymous
Free
- Calls per day5 per IP
- Max resolution480p
- Video lengthUp to 30 min
- AI transcriptionNo
- API keysNo
Free
Free
- Calls per day20
- Max resolution720p
- Video lengthUp to 1 h
- AI transcriptionNo
- API keys1
Pro
Recommended$79.99/yr
Works out to $6.67 a month
- Calls per day500
- Max resolutionUnlimited
- Video lengthUnlimited
- AI transcription30 h a month
- API keysUp to 10
Questions before you start
Does it work with my assistant?
It works with any MCP client that speaks HTTP: Claude (claude.ai, Desktop and Code), ChatGPT, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, Gemini CLI and more. If your client has no MCP support, use the REST API with a key.
Do I need an account?
Not to get started: https://mcp.mcptube.com/mcp works without an account, with 5 calls a day counted per IP. When you need more, your assistant opens the MCPTube login. A free account gets you 20 calls a day, videos up to 720p and 1 h, one API key and your usage history.
Is it safe?
You log in on MCPTube itself through OAuth, so your assistant never sees your password. We only store a hash of each API key, files are deleted after 60 minutes and transcripts are never stored. Payments happen on Stripe’s page and we never see your card number.
Do I need an API key?
Not if you use an MCP client: it signs in to your account through the MCPTube login (OAuth) and keeps the access for you. mct_ keys are for scripts, automations and CI: create one in the dashboard and send it in the Authorization header.
What counts as a call?
Each tool use on a video that exists. Invalid URLs, playlists and private, removed or missing videos are refunded and don’t count toward your quota. Plan refusals after the video is found, like a video longer than your limit or AI transcription outside Pro, do count.
How does transcription work?
MCPTube uses YouTube’s own captions, manual before auto-generated, and returns SRT and plain text. If the video has no captions, the Pro plan transcribes the audio with AI, up to 30 hours of audio a month. On other plans, the call is refused.
How long are files available?
Download links are valid for 60 minutes, as shown in expiresAt. After that, the file is deleted from the server. Transcripts come back in the response body and are never stored.
I asked for 1080p on the Free plan. What happens?
You get 720p, the plan’s maximum, and the response includes a planNote explaining the downgrade. The call counts as usual. Pro has no resolution limit: above 1080p the video comes in VP9 or AV1, with no re-encoding.
What if YouTube blocks the server?
The call doesn’t count toward your quota. The server switches IPs on its own and tries again; if it still can’t get through, you get a message asking you to try again in a few minutes.
How can I pay?
With a card, Link, Apple Pay or Google Pay through Stripe, monthly or yearly. The subscription renews automatically and you can cancel anytime from the billing portal.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. In the dashboard, under Plan, open the Stripe billing portal and cancel. You stay on Pro until the end of the period you paid for, then move back to Free. Your keys keep working.
Get started for free.
Add MCPTube to your assistant in a minute. No credit card, nothing to install.