YouTube Screenshot API
YouTube video screenshot API — capture frames at any timestamp. Generate thumbnails, previews, and visual summaries programmatically from $0.01/call.
Capture a screenshot from any YouTube video at a given timestamp. Returns a direct image link. Useful for generating thumbnails, preview images, and visual summaries.
Try it live
Fill in the fields and hit Run to see a real response.
{
"ok": true,
"data": {
"link": [
"https://..."
],
"status": "done"
}
}Features
POST a video ID and a timestamp to /v1/youtube/screenshot to capture the exact frame at that moment of the video.
The response returns a link array with a direct image URL plus a status field (e.g. 'done'), so you can embed or download the captured frame immediately.
Pass timestamp as HH:MM:SS (e.g. 00:00:50) to grab a specific second; omit it to capture a default frame.
Use captured frames as custom thumbnails or preview images for video listings and embeds.
Use cases
Thumbnail Generation
Generate custom thumbnails from specific moments in a video.
Visual Summaries
Create visual timelines or storyboards by capturing screenshots at key moments.
Content Moderation
Sample frames from videos for visual content moderation pipelines.
Preview Images
Generate preview images for video listings and embeds on your platform.
Quick start
Copy this snippet and start making calls.
const res = await fetch('https://api.yepapi.com/v1/youtube/screenshot', {
method: 'POST',
headers: {
'x-api-key': 'YOUR_API_KEY',
'Content-Type': 'application/json',
},
body: JSON.stringify({
"id": "dQw4w9WgXcQ",
"timestamp": "00:00:50"
}),
});
const data = await res.json();
console.log(data);The YouTube Screenshot API — capture any frame as an image
The YouTube Screenshot API grabs a still frame from any video at a timestamp you choose. POST id and an optional timestamp (HH:MM:SS, e.g. 00:00:50) to /v1/youtube/screenshot and get back a link array with a direct image URL and a status of 'done'. It's the only endpoint in the suite that returns a visual rather than text or numbers.
At $0.01 per frame it's the building block for custom thumbnails, storyboards, and visual moderation — pull the exact moment you want as an image without downloading and processing the whole video yourself.
What is a YouTube Screenshot API?
A YouTube Screenshot API captures a single frame from a video at a chosen timestamp and returns it as an image. You POST a video ID and a timestamp in HH:MM:SS format (or omit it for a default frame), and the response gives you a direct image link plus a status field. Unlike YouTube's standard thumbnails — which are fixed frames the system picks — this lets you grab any exact moment, like the punchline of a demo or a specific slide in a talk. It's the suite's only image-producing endpoint, turning a precise point in a video into a usable picture.
Build your own thumbnail and storyboard tool
Let creators pick the perfect thumbnail by capturing frames at several candidate timestamps and presenting them to choose from — far better than YouTube's auto-selected stills. Build a storyboard generator that screenshots a video at regular intervals (00:00:30, 00:01:00, ...) to produce a visual timeline of its content. For moderation, sample frames across a video and run them through an image classifier without ever downloading the full file. Pair with the Transcript endpoint to caption each screenshot with what's being said at that exact second.
YouTube Screenshot API pricing — $0.01/call
Each captured frame costs $0.01 and returns a direct image URL ready to embed or download. There's no daily quota. Because each call is one frame, a storyboard of, say, 20 evenly spaced screenshots is 20 cents — predictable and cheap compared to downloading and decoding the video yourself to extract frames. The official Data API offers no frame-capture capability at all, so this fills a genuine gap for visual workflows.
Frame capture as a visual layer for video data
Most of the YouTube suite returns text and numbers; Screenshot adds the visual dimension. That makes it a natural complement: enrich a video catalog built from Video Info with a representative captured frame, give comment-analysis dashboards a visual reference for the videos being discussed, or pair frames with transcript lines for richly illustrated summaries. One $0.01 call turns any timestamp into an image, all on the same YepAPI key as the rest of the suite.
Try the YouTube Screenshot API free
Sign up for $5 in free credit, no card required — 500 frame captures. Grab a few timestamps from any video and inspect the returned image links before building your thumbnail or storyboard tool.
Start making API calls in 30 seconds
$5 free credit on signup. No credit card required. Pay per call.
What developers say
“Switched from SerpAPI and cut our SERP costs by 80%. Same data quality, way simpler billing.”
“One API key for AI models, SERP data, and web scraping. Saved us from managing 4 separate providers.”
“The $5 free credit let us prototype our entire rank tracking feature before committing. No other API does that.”
Frequently asked questions
Capture a screenshot from any YouTube video at a given timestamp. Returns a direct image link. Useful for generating thumbnails, preview images, and visual summaries.
Each API call costs $0.01. No monthly minimums or subscriptions — you only pay for what you use.
Sign up for a free API key, then send a POST request to /v1/youtube/screenshot. Check the code example above for a ready-to-use snippet in JavaScript, cURL, or Python.
YepAPI bundles SEO, AI, and web scraping APIs under one key with no monthly minimums. You get lower per-call pricing, a unified dashboard, and one billing account instead of managing multiple providers.
Ready to integrate?
Get your API key and start making calls in 30 seconds. $5 free credit on signup — no credit card required.
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Comments
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