youtube-mcp-server

# YouTube MCP Server by Insightful Pipe

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> **Connect YouTube to AI assistants with MCP: channel analytics plus videos, playlists and comment replies.**

Part of the [Insightful Pipe MCP Server Collection](https://insightfulpipe.com/mcp-servers) — The YouTube MCP server brings YouTube Analytics reports and the YouTube Data API to Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, and other AI assistants to analyze your channel performance, video metrics, and audience insights. On Read & Write connections your assistant can also upload videos, update video details, manage playlists, and reply to and edit comments.

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![YouTube MCP Server](https://insightfulpipe.com/images/youtube-color-icon.svg)

## MCP Server URL

```
https://youtube.insightfulmcp.com/
```

## What is YouTube MCP?

YouTube MCP is a **remote Model Context Protocol server** that provides AI assistants with access to your YouTube channel data. This comprehensive integration allows you to:

- Query video performance using natural language
- Analyze channel growth and subscriber trends
- Get AI-powered content recommendations
- Monitor watch time, views, and engagement
- Upload videos, manage playlists, and reply to comments on Read & Write connections

## Installation

### Claude

1. Copy the MCP Server URL: `https://youtube.insightfulmcp.com/`
2. Open [Claude Connectors Settings](https://claude.ai/settings/connectors)
3. Scroll to the bottom and click **Add custom connector**
4. Paste the URL and click **Add**
5. Click **Connect** and sign in to InsightfulPipe if asked. Claude then lists the connector as connected.

### ChatGPT

Custom MCP servers are added through ChatGPT's **Developer mode**. Availability depends on your ChatGPT plan, and workspace admins may need to allow it.

1. Turn on **Developer mode** in ChatGPT settings
2. Create a new app for a remote MCP server and paste the URL: `https://youtube.insightfulmcp.com/`
3. Sign in to InsightfulPipe if asked. The connection finishes as soon as you are signed in.

See OpenAI's guide: [Developer mode and MCP apps in ChatGPT](https://help.openai.com/en/articles/12584461-developer-mode-and-mcp-apps-in-chatgpt)

### Claude Code

```bash
claude mcp add --transport http youtube https://youtube.insightfulmcp.com/
```

### Cursor

Add the server to `~/.cursor/mcp.json` (all projects) or `.cursor/mcp.json` (one project):

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "youtube": {
      "url": "https://youtube.insightfulmcp.com/"
    }
  }
}
```

When Cursor shows **Needs authentication**, click **Connect** and sign in to InsightfulPipe if asked.

## Available Actions

43 actions: 34 read, 9 write.

### Read Actions (34)

<details>
<summary>Show all 34 read actions</summary>

| Action | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| `channel` | Channel-level performance metrics including views, watch time, subscribers, and engagement |
| `channel_basic` | Channel performance metrics (basic) |
| `channel_cards` | Card interactions (use params to add card dimensions) |
| `channel_combined` | Combined channel metrics |
| `channel_demographics` | Channel metrics by demographic segments (age group and gender) |
| `channel_device_os` | Channel metrics by device/OS (override dimensions) |
| `channel_end_screens` | End screen performance (override dimensions to include end screen types) |
| `channel_playback_location` | Channel metrics by playback location (override dimensions to playbackLocationType) |
| `channel_province` | Channel metrics by province |
| `channel_sharing_service` | Channel metrics by sharing service |
| `channel_traffic_source` | Traffic source metrics (override dimensions for detailed sources) |
| `demographics` | Audience demographics data including age groups and gender breakdown |
| `get_activities` | Lists channel activity events (uploads, likes, favorites, comments, subscriptions) |
| `get_channels` | Get channel information, statistics, and content details |
| `get_channels_topvideos` | Get the most-viewed videos from a specific channel |
| `get_comments` | Get individual comments |
| `get_commentthreads` | Get all comment threads (top-level comments and replies) for a video or channel |
| `get_playlistitems` | Get items within a playlist |
| `get_playlists` | List playlists by channel ID or playlist IDs |
| `get_search` | Search for YouTube videos, channels, and playlists |
| `get_subscriptions` | List subscriptions and subscribers |
| `get_videoabusereportreasons` | Get video abuse report reasons |
| `get_videocategories` | Get video categories for a region |
| `get_videos` | Get video details, statistics, and content information |
| `get_videos_trending` | Get trending/popular videos by region and category |
| `playlist_basic` | Playlist metrics (supply filters/dimensions to target playlists) |
| `playlist_combined` | Combined playlist metrics |
| `playlist_device_os` | Playlist metrics by device/OS (override dimensions) |
| `playlist_playback_location` | Playlist metrics by playback location |
| `playlist_province` | Playlist metrics by province |
| `playlist_traffic_source` | Playlist traffic sources |
| `reports.query` | Custom YouTube Analytics reports query - specify metrics, dimensions, and filters |
| `traffic_sources` | Traffic source data showing where viewers discover your content |
| `video` | Video-level performance metrics including views, watch time, and engagement |

</details>

### Write Actions (9)

| Action | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| `delete_comment` | Delete a comment |
| `insert_comment` | Reply to an existing comment (creates replies, not top-level comments) |
| `insert_playlist` | Create a new playlist |
| `insert_playlistitem` | Add a video to a playlist |
| `update_comment` | Update comment text |
| `update_playlist` | Update playlist metadata |
| `update_playlistitem` | Update a playlist item (position, notes) |
| `update_video` | Update video metadata (title, description, tags, privacy) |
| `upload_video` | Upload and publish a video to the channel (videos.insert, resumable upload) |

## Control What Your AI Can Do

You decide what AI agents can do with each connected account:

- **Turn individual actions on or off** for every connected account, so agents only see the actions you allow.
- **Connect as Read-only or Read & Write.** A read-only connection can only enable read actions.
- **Destructive actions stay off by default.** Actions such as deletes are disabled until an admin enables them.
- **Team access per account.** Restricted team members only use the accounts they are granted, with the read actions enabled on them.

## Usage Examples

### Channel Performance

```
"How is my YouTube channel performing this month?"
```

### Playlist Analysis

```
"Which of my playlists get the most watch time?"
```

### Audience Insights

```
"What demographics make up my YouTube audience?"
```

### Traffic Analysis

```
"Where is my YouTube traffic coming from?"
```

## Why YouTube MCP?

### For YouTubers
- **Performance insights** - Understand what's working
- **Content ideas** - AI-driven topic suggestions
- **Growth tracking** - Monitor channel progress

### For Video Marketers
- **Campaign analysis** - Track video marketing ROI
- **Trend identification** - Stay ahead of content trends

### For Agencies
- **Multi-channel management** - Handle multiple YouTube accounts
- **Automated reporting** - Generate client reports easily
- **Performance benchmarking** - Compare across channels

## Security & Privacy

- **Google OAuth 2.0** - Secure YouTube authentication
- **Read-only connections available** - Connect Read-only and nothing on your channel can change
- **Official YouTube API** - Direct integration with Google's API
- **Data encryption** - Secure data handling

## Pricing

The YouTube MCP server is included in every InsightfulPipe plan, together with all other MCP servers and the CLI. Plans start at $29.99/month, and you can try it for 7 days. See [insightfulpipe.com/pricing](https://insightfulpipe.com/pricing) for current plans.

## Ready-Made Skills and Prompts

- [Youtube Channel Performance Dashboard](https://insightfulpipe.com/marketing-prompts-library/youtube-youtube-channel-performance-dashboard)
- [Youtube Video Performance Analysis](https://insightfulpipe.com/marketing-prompts-library/youtube-youtube-video-performance-analysis)
- [Youtube Audience Demographics Report](https://insightfulpipe.com/marketing-prompts-library/youtube-youtube-audience-demographics-report)

## Explore More MCP Servers by Insightful Pipe

Visit **[insightfulpipe.com/mcp-servers](https://insightfulpipe.com/mcp-servers)** to discover our full collection of MCP servers for marketing and analytics.

### Video & Social MCP Servers
- [TikTok Ads MCP](https://insightfulpipe.com/mcp-servers/tiktok-ads) - Short-form video ads
- [Instagram MCP](https://insightfulpipe.com/mcp-servers/instagram) - Social video analytics
- [Facebook Pages MCP](https://insightfulpipe.com/mcp-servers/facebook-pages) - Facebook video

### Advertising MCP Servers
- [Google Ads MCP](https://insightfulpipe.com/mcp-servers/google-ads) - YouTube advertising
- [Facebook Ads MCP](https://insightfulpipe.com/mcp-servers/facebook-ads) - Meta advertising

**[View All MCP Servers →](https://insightfulpipe.com/mcp-servers)**

## Resources

- [Documentation](https://insightfulpipe.com/docs/connectors-youtube)
- [Video Tutorial](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJNzvjxzI5Xwe__BJJLAelSF0ewO3mEFk)
- [InsightfulPipe Blog](https://insightfulpipe.com/blog)

## Support

- **Documentation**: [i