How to download a YouTube video
GET request to /v1/youtube/video-download with your input. You get clean JSON back in seconds for 3 credits per call — no OAuth, scraping or platform SDKs. Get a direct, watermark-free download URL for any public YouTube video.How to download a YouTube video (step by step)
- 1
Get a free API key
Create a free Captapi account (100 credits, no card) and generate an API key from the dashboard.
- 2
Call the YouTube Video Download API
Send an authenticated GET request to /v1/youtube/video-download with your input. No OAuth, no scraping setup.
- 3
Read the JSON response
Parse the clean JSON response. Results are cached for 24 hours, so repeat calls are free.
Code example
curl "https://api.captapi.com/v1/youtube/video-download?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DdQw4w9WgXcQ" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer capt_live_..."What the response looks like
{
"success": true,
"cached": false,
"creditsUsed": 3,
"data": {
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ",
"videoId": "dQw4w9WgXcQ",
"title": "Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up (Official Video) (4K Remaster)",
"downloadUrl": "https://redirector.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?expire=1780528831&ei=X2IgarCNLOr8hcIPnuXbiAM&ip=176.1.246.128&id=o-AG_lVxCVaHvYI9lDk180R3BoOKqKjRkUaqnZTJbP9kvr&itag=18&source=youtube&requiressl=yes&xpc=EgVo2aDSNQ%3D%3D&cps=1095&met=1780507231%2C&mh=7c&mm=31%2C29&mn=sn-uxax4vopj5qx-q0n6%2Csn-4g5e6nzl&ms=au%2Crdu&mv=m&mvi=2&pl=17&rms=au%2Cau&initcwndbps=1625000&bui=AbKmrwreOh8mNFNSDXLvy25c33bjwEZlFoy3RWKnKiApeTaLd2OEteyXvReffbMe0wxbBILpNSvKRVfL&spc=96Xrv47N7KGfxJhI2cuqr1n7cStE ...",
"formats": [
{
"itag": 18,
"url": "https://redirector.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?expire=1780528831&ei=X2IgarCNLOr8hcIPnuXbiAM&ip=176.1.246.128&id=o-AG_lVxCVaHvYI9lDk180R3BoOKqKjRkUaqnZTJbP9kvr&itag=18&source=youtube&requiressl=yes&xpc=EgVo2aDSNQ%3D%3D&cps=1095&met=1780507231%2C&mh=7c&mm=31%2C29&mn=sn-uxax4vopj5qx-q0n6%2Csn-4g5e6nzl&ms=au%2Crdu&mv=m&mvi=2&pl=17&rms=au%2Cau&initcwndbps=1625000&bui=AbKmrwreOh8mNFNSDXLvy25c33bjwEZlFoy3RWKnKiApeTaLd2OEteyXvReffbMe0wxbBILpNSvKRVfL&spc=96Xrv47N7KGfxJhI2cuqr1n7cStE ...",
"mimeType": "video/mp4; codecs=\"avc1.42001E, mp4a.40.2\"",
"bitrate": 444226,
"width": 640,
"height": 360,
"lastModified": "1766960953317159",
"quality": "medium",
"fps": 25,
"qualityLabel": "360p",
"projectionType": "RECTANGULAR",
"audioQuality": "AUDIO_QUALITY_LOW",
"approxDurationMs": "213089",
"audioSampleRate": "44100",
"audioChannels": 2,
"qualityOrdinal": "QUALITY_ORDINAL_360P"
}
],
"expiresAt": null
}
}Request parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| url | string | Yes | Public YouTube video URL, e.g. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ID. |
Frequently asked questions
What does the YouTube Video Download API do?
The YouTube Video Download API lets you get a direct, no-watermark download URL from a public YouTube video using one GET request to /v1/youtube/video-download. It returns clean JSON — no OAuth or scraping setup required.
How many credits does the YouTube Video Download API cost?
Each successful call costs 3 credits. Responses are cached for 24 hours, and cached results cost 0 credits. Failed or empty results are never charged.
Do I need a YouTube API key or OAuth?
No. A single Captapi key works across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. We handle proxies, rate limits, retries, and authentication for you.
Are the downloads watermark-free?
Yes — the YouTube Video Download API returns a direct, watermark-free media URL where the platform allows it, along with available quality variants.
Is the YouTube Video Download API suitable for production use?
Yes. It is a stable REST endpoint with predictable JSON, automatic retries, and a shared 24-hour cache. Use it for RAG pipelines, analytics, monitoring, and content automation.
Ready to download a YouTube video?
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Get your free API key