Creator discovery
Search public profiles by niche, topic or brand phrase before qualifying them.
YouTube creator search API
YouTube Channel Search API
Search public YouTube creators or channels by keyword, then use the returned profiles as inputs for profile and posts APIs.
Input: Creator keyword. Returns: a page of results with a cursor for the next, in YouTube's own field names. Price: 1 credit per call; failed reads are free.
GET /v1/youtube/creators/search
See it in action
Try it with a sample keyword.
The snippets use q for the search term. Replace the sample keyword with the phrase your workflow is tracking.
1
Pick a sample input
Start from a valid shape, then replace the sample value with your public target.
Selected coffee creator
Open
2
Preview the request
Use a server-side key and send parameters as query values.
GET
https://api.sourcevine.io/v1/youtube/creators/search curl -G 'https://api.sourcevine.io/v1/youtube/creators/search' \
-H 'Authorization: Bearer sv_live_...' \
--data-urlencode 'q=coffee creator' \
--data-urlencode 'limit=20'const params = new URLSearchParams({
"q": "coffee creator",
"limit": "20",
});
const res = await fetch('https://api.sourcevine.io/v1/youtube/creators/search?' + params, {
headers: { Authorization: 'Bearer sv_live_...' },
});
const body = await res.json();
console.log(body.data);import requests
r = requests.get(
"https://api.sourcevine.io/v1/youtube/creators/search",
params={"q": "coffee creator", "limit": "20"},
headers={"Authorization": "Bearer sv_live_..."},
)
body = r.json()
print(body["data"]) Replays the recorded response. Nothing leaves your browser.
3
Read the response
Every success includes availability, a fetch timestamp and billing context.
GET /v1/youtube/creators/search Not run
Hit Show sample response to see the response.
A real YouTube Channel Search API response, recorded against the public target above.
available 1 credit recorded
{
"data": {
"items": [
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/@CoffeeTheCreator",
"cached": false,
"handle": "CoffeeTheCreator",
"verified": false,
"avatarUrl": null,
"channelId": "UC5LjU7GKfAgKft0zY0nPHTA",
"fetchedAt": "2026-09-02T16:33:00Z",
"viewCount": null,
"videoCount": null,
"channelName": "CoffeeTheCreator",
"cacheAgeSeconds": null,
"sourceTimestamp": null,
"subscriberCount": null
},
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/@CoffeeCreator08",
"cached": false,
"handle": "CoffeeCreator08",
"verified": false,
"avatarUrl": null,
"channelId": "UClawJFpCUjPkkWL4qeYM6fA",
"fetchedAt": "2026-09-02T16:33:00Z",
"viewCount": null,
"videoCount": null,
"channelName": "Coffee Creator ",
"cacheAgeSeconds": null,
"sourceTimestamp": null,
"subscriberCount": null
},
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/@brewedbyanna",
"cached": false,
"handle": "brewedbyanna",
"verified": false,
"avatarUrl": null,
"channelId": "UCdG8NKn8LCC8aDM54xU0S7A",
"fetchedAt": "2026-09-02T16:33:00Z",
"viewCount": null,
"videoCount": null,
"channelName": "Anna | Coffee Creator",
"cacheAgeSeconds": null,
"sourceTimestamp": null,
"subscriberCount": null
}
],
"cached": false,
"fetchedAt": null,
"nextCursor": null,
"cacheAgeSeconds": null
},
"success": true,
"available": true
}Ship it anywhere
Use this API from code, no-code tools, MCP clients and agents.
We build and maintain theseFirst-party surfaces, versioned with the API.
Works anywhere that can make an HTTP requestNo plugin to install, and none to wait for.
Response
Response fields.
Each response includes typed availability, a fetch timestamp, and only the public fields this API promises.
| Field | Type | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| items | array | Public YouTube profiles or channels matching the keyword. |
| items[].url | string | Canonical public profile or channel URL. |
| items[].username | string | Platform handle or channel handle. |
| items[].subscriberCount | integer | null | Public audience count when available. |
| items[].cached | boolean | Matches the page provenance on cached reads. |
| nextCursor | string | null | Pass as cursor to request the next page. |
| fetchedAt | ISO datetime | When Sourcevine read the public page. |
| sourceTimestamp | ISO datetime | null | The platform timestamp when it is available. |
| cached | boolean | True when this answer repeats an identical request made moments earlier. |
| cacheAgeSeconds | integer | Seconds since the reading was taken. |
Request flow
How a request is handled.
- 01 Send a keyword
Send a creator keyword. Sourcevine normalizes the query and returns a cursor page.
- 02 Checked
A missing or empty keyword is refused before any fetch, and not charged.
- 03 Read
The public data is read when you call. An identical request moments earlier is answered again, free.
- 04 Typed availability
Deleted, private and unsupported resources return explicit statuses, so clients can stop retrying facts about the world.
- 05 JSON back
YouTube names stay intact, so your code reads subscriberCount instead of reverse-engineering a generic schema.
fetchedAtcreditsChargedavailable
Every response carries fetchedAt and the platform timestamp, so you know how old a reading is before you act on it. YouTube Channel Search API fits recurring creator search checks in dashboards, spreadsheets, workflows and agents.
Boundaries
What this API does not return.
- No contact or bio fields
Bios, email addresses, phone numbers, postal addresses and messenger handles are outside the response contract.
- No private data
Private accounts, restricted content and unavailable resources return typed availability instead of guessed data.
- No contact enrichment
Creator search returns public profile identity and metrics, not email discovery, bio scraping or audience demographics.
Use cases
Where teams use YouTube Channel Search API.
CRM enrichment
Attach public profile URLs and audience counts to research queues.
Partnership shortlists
Build a first-pass list, then call profile and posts APIs on the accounts that fit.
Agent research
Give an agent a scoped creator-search endpoint rather than open-ended browsing.
Pricing
1 credit per call, and nothing for a failed read.
The response and X-Credits-Charged header tell you what
happened, including when it is zero.
Charged1 credit
- AnsweredThe public data came back.
- Not found or privateThe lookup was made, and that is the answer. The response says which.
- Empty resultThe lookup was made and found nothing to return, such as an account with no posts.
Not charged0 credits
- Failure on our sideA timeout or a read we could not complete.
- Unsupported URLThe wrong kind of URL: refused before any fetch.
- Cache hitAn identical request moments earlier, answered again.
FAQ
Common questions.
What does YouTube Channel Search API return?
Search public YouTube creators or channels by keyword, then use the returned profiles as inputs for profile and posts APIs.
How is it billed?
A call costs 1 credit, including an empty result. Retrieval failures are not charged.
What happens when the resource is private or deleted?
The request returns available=false with a typed availability status. Not-found and private results are charged like any lookup; unsupported URLs and retrieval failures are not.
Does Sourcevine return contact data?
No. Bios, emails, phone numbers, postal addresses and private or restricted content are outside the public response contract.
Do I need to log in to YouTube?
No. Your integration authenticates with a Sourcevine API key. You do not need to supply YouTube credentials or a session.