Build your own Youtube MCP server
Ready for 3.0Ready for 3.0. This template uses no nodes that n8n 3.0 removes. No removed nodes, versions or helpers found. Static check, last run 2026-10-19.
What this workflow does
This AI workflow has 15 nodes and runs when an MCP client calls one of its tools (plus 1 other trigger). It uses only n8n's built-in nodes. It also calls api.apify.com over HTTP.
How it runs
Trigger: When an MCP client calls one of its tools (plus 1 other trigger).
- Operation (Switch): routes items into 3 branches
- Apify Youtube Search (HTTP Request): calls api.apify.com
- Apify Youtube Transcripts (HTTP Request): calls api.apify.com
- Get Usage Metrics (HTTP Request): calls api.apify.com
- Simplify Search Results (Edit Fields (Set)): sets 6 fields: channelName, title, url…
- Simplify Transcript Results (Edit Fields (Set)): sets 3 fields: title, url, transcript
- Get Usage Limits (HTTP Request): calls api.apify.com
- Aggregate: combines items into one
- Aggregate: combines items into one
- Simplify Usage Metrics (Edit Fields (Set)): sets 15 fields: monthlyUsageCycle_startAt, monthlyUsageCycle_endAt, monthlyUsageUsd…
HTTP calls to: api.apify.com
Before you upgrade to n8n 3.0
Nothing in this workflow is removed in n8n 3.0, so it should import and run after the upgrade.
Nodes used (7)
- Execute Workflow Trigger
n8n-nodes-base.executeWorkflowTrigger - Switch
n8n-nodes-base.switch - Call n8n Workflow Tool
@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.toolWorkflow - HTTP Request
n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest - Edit Fields (Set)
n8n-nodes-base.set - Aggregate
n8n-nodes-base.aggregate - MCP Server Trigger
@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.mcpTrigger
From the author
This n8n demonstrates how to build a simple Youtube MCP server to look up videos on Youtube and download their transcripts for research purposes. Youtube videos are a great source of new and updated information on a variety of cutting edge developments but…