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Cover image for YouTube Innertube API: Extract Data Without Quotas or API Keys
Alex Spinov
Alex Spinov

Posted on • Edited on

YouTube Innertube API: Extract Data Without Quotas or API Keys

#youtube #api #javascript #webdev

YouTube's official Data API has strict quota limits (10,000 units/day). But there's another way.

The Innertube API

YouTube.com itself loads all data through an internal API called Innertube. When you scroll down to load comments, it calls:

POST https://www.youtube.com/youtubei/v1/next
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With a JSON body containing the video ID and a continuation token.

How Comments Are Structured (2025+ Format)

YouTube recently changed their comment data format. Comments are now stored in:

frameworkUpdates.entityBatchUpdate.mutations[].payload.commentEntityPayload
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Each mutation with type commentEntityPayload contains:

  • properties.content.content — comment text
  • properties.authorButtonA11y — author name
  • toolbar.likeCountNotliked — like count
  • properties.publishedTime — relative time
  • toolbar.replyCount — number of replies

Getting the Continuation Token

Fetch the video page, extract ytInitialData from the HTML, then navigate:

contents.twoColumnWatchNextResults.results.results.contents
  → itemSectionRenderer.contents
  → continuationItemRenderer.continuationEndpoint.continuationCommand.token
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Key Benefits vs Official API

Official API Innertube API
API Key Required Not needed
Quota 10K units/day No quota
Rate limit Yes Reasonable use
Comment format Legacy Latest

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