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Post to YouTube via API: the YouTube Data API v3, handled for you (2026)

Yes, YouTube has an API to post videos: the YouTube Data API v3 uploads them with videos.insert, Google OAuth and the youtube.upload scope, and a Google Cloud project gets 100 uploads a day by default (Google's docs, read Oct 16, 2026). PostWire handles the Google OAuth and the resumable upload — you connect your channel once, then publish a video or a Short with one REST call or one MCP tool. From Claude or another AI agent: YouTube MCP server.

How YouTube posting works

Uploading to YouTube uses the YouTube Data API v3 with Google OAuth (the youtube.upload scope) and a resumable upload. Apps using sensitive scopes go through Google's verification; until verified, uploads are forced to private.

PostWire manages the Google OAuth, token refresh and resumable upload, so you publish a video with a single call.

Honest status

YouTube is live on PostWire. Connect with Google OAuth and PostWire uploads the video in resumable 32MB chunks, with an SEO title, description and tags written for YouTube specifically rather than reused from your other captions.

1. Connect a YouTube account (OAuth)

YouTube uses OAuth, not a password. Your user connects in the dashboard, or you generate the authorization URL via the API:

curl -X POST https://postwire.io/api/oauth/youtube/url \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $POSTWIRE_API_KEY"
# -> { "url": "https://.../oauth/authorize?..." }
# The user opens the URL, approves, and PostWire stores the token (and refreshes it for you).

2. Publish with one REST call

Once connected, posting is a single request. Add more networks by putting more strings in platforms.

curl -X POST https://postwire.io/api/post \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $POSTWIRE_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"platforms":["youtube"],"video_url":"https://cdn.example.com/clip.mp4","title":"My video title","text":"Description here"}'

3. Or let an AI agent post it (MCP)

PostWire ships an MCP server — hosted, or local via npx postwire-mcp, authenticated with your API key. Add it to any MCP client:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "postwire": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "postwire-mcp"],
      "env": { "POSTWIRE_API_KEY": "pw_live_xxx" }
    }
  }
}

Then the agent just calls the tool:

{
  "name": "post_to_social",
  "arguments": { "platforms": ["youtube"], "video_url": "https://cdn.example.com/clip.mp4", "title": "My title", "text": "Description" }
}

Hosted instead of local: add https://postwire.io/api/mcp (OAuth sign-in or an API key). Step by step, with Shorts, privacy and tags: YouTube MCP server. In Claude Code, with one command: upload to YouTube from Claude Code.

YouTube via API: build it yourself vs PostWire

 Direct integrationPostWire
Platform audit / reviewYou apply & maintain itHandled for you
OAuth + token refreshYou build itManaged
AI agent supportBuild your own toolMCP tool out of the box
Other networksOne integration each9 networks, one API

Pricing: per brand (one business, all its networks)

PlanPriceBrands
Free$01 brand · 10 posts/mo · 2 networks per post
Starter$193 brands · 300/mo
Pro$2910 brands · 2,000/mo
Agency$9950 brands
Scale$299200 brands

14-day refund on paid plans. Ten businesses on Ayrshare's Launch plan cost $299/month (pricing page, Sept 26, 2026); on PostWire, $29. See PostWire vs Ayrshare.

Try it against your own YouTube account first. The free plan is one brand that connects all of its networks — 10 posts a month, 2 networks per post — no card, and YouTube included. If it does what you need, Starter is $19/month for three brands and 1,000 posts.
Start free — no card →

FAQ

Does YouTube have an API?
Yes, the YouTube Data API v3. Uploading needs OAuth with the youtube.upload scope and, for a public app, Google's verification review. Access tokens last one hour, so silent refresh is mandatory.
Can I post to YouTube via API?
Yes. The YouTube Data API v3 lets you upload videos to your channel using Google OAuth with the youtube.upload scope. PostWire handles the OAuth, token refresh and resumable upload behind one REST call and one MCP tool.
How many videos can I upload a day with the YouTube API?
By default a Google Cloud project can call videos.insert 100 times a day; each call costs 1 unit of the separate Video Uploads quota (YouTube's own docs, read Oct 16, 2026). Through PostWire you use PostWire's project, so you request no quota yourself; your plan's monthly posts apply instead.
How do I get a PostWire API key?
Sign up free at postwire.io with Google, Apple or your email (no card), open the dashboard and copy your key under API & MCP. Send it as Authorization: Bearer pw_live_… to POST /api/post. AI agents can sign in with OAuth over the MCP server instead of a key.
Does the YouTube API require Google verification?
Yes. The youtube.upload scope is sensitive, so the app goes through Google's OAuth verification. Until verified, uploads are forced to private. PostWire handles this verification for you.
Is YouTube live on PostWire yet?
Yes. YouTube is live on PostWire: Google approved the OAuth verification for the youtube.upload scope in July 2026, so uploads are not forced to private. Bluesky, Telegram, Mastodon and Discord need no review from anyone.
How does an AI agent post to YouTube?
PostWire ships an MCP server (postwire-mcp). The agent calls post_to_social with platforms set to youtube, a video_url, a title and text (description). PostWire performs the resumable upload and returns the video result.
How much does posting to YouTube cost?
Per-brand pricing: Free $0 (1 brand, 10 posts, 2 networks per post), Starter $19 (3 brands), Pro $29 (10), Agency $99 (50), Scale $299 (200). YouTube is live and included on every plan, including Free.