YouTube MCP vs Youtube Transcripts
A side-by-side look at the YouTube MCP and Youtube Transcripts MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose YouTube MCP for social media work as a local process; choose Youtube Transcripts for social media over a hosted endpoint. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose YouTube MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Social Media domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
TRANSPORT, PORT, HOST, YT_PROVIDER, YOUTUBE_API_KEY. - You want tools like
content, structuredContent.
Choose Youtube Transcripts when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Social Media domain.
- You prefer a remote HTTP/SSE transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
APIFY_API_TOKEN.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Social Media | Social Media |
| Quality signal | 51/100 · Good | 40/100 · Fair |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Remote HTTP/SSE |
| Auth | Not declared | Not declared |
| Pricing | Not declared | Not declared |
| Required env vars | TRANSPORTPORTHOSTYT_PROVIDERYOUTUBE_API_KEY | APIFY_API_TOKEN |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 0 | 1 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 2 | Not listed |
| Full listing | View YouTube MCP | View Youtube Transcripts |
Tools & capabilities
YouTube MCP tools 2
contentshort human-readable text for chat-style MCP clientsstructuredContentJSON-shaped data for agents that need reliable fields
Youtube Transcripts tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
YouTube MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"youtube-mcp-3": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@granitebps/youtube-mcp"
],
"env": {
"TRANSPORT": "YOUR_TRANSPORT_HERE",
"PORT": "YOUR_PORT_HERE",
"HOST": "YOUR_HOST_HERE",
"YT_PROVIDER": "YOUR_YT_PROVIDER_HERE",
"YOUTUBE_API_KEY": "YOUR_YOUTUBE_API_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Youtube Transcripts
{
"mcpServers": {
"youtube-transcripts-2": {
"url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=actors,docs,johnvc/YoutubeTranscripts"
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
YouTube MCP is categorized under Social Media and uses a local stdio subprocess. Youtube Transcripts belongs to Social Media and uses a remote HTTP/SSE transport. Pick YouTube MCP for social media work and Youtube Transcripts for social media.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.
YouTube MCP has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Youtube Transcripts has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add youtube-mcp-3 and youtube-transcripts-2 as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, YouTube MCP has a quality signal of 51/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. Youtube Transcripts has 40/100 (Fair) with 2 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars.