YouTube API Guide

AI-powered tools that help YouTube creators choose the best thumbnail, nail the hook, and keep viewers watching. Learn when and how to use each endpoint for maximum impact.

Base URLhttps://api.creatornode.io/youtube

What is the YouTube API?

The YouTube API gives you two superpowers that directly impact your video's performance:

Thumbnail Ranking — upload 2–10 thumbnail variants and get a data-driven winner based on six visual quality signals.
Hook Validator — check whether your thumbnail, title, and opening script actually align. Mismatches are the #1 cause of early viewer drop-off.

Both endpoints use AI to analyze your content and return actionable, specific feedback — not generic advice.

🧠 AI-Powered

Vision analysis, face detection, OCR, and semantic matching — all included in every request.

📊 Quantified Results

Numeric scores (0–100), subscores per signal, and confidence levels. No vague opinions — just data.

🎯 Actionable Feedback

Specific recommendations: what's working, what's not, and exactly how to fix it.

🔑 Free Tier

20 requests/day with no API key. Test your workflow before committing.

Endpoints

Click an endpoint to see the full guide — examples, tips & tricks, and limits.

POST/youtube/v1/hook-validator

Hook Validator

Validate YouTube video hooks/intros — cross-validate thumbnail, title, and script for viewer retention.

POST/youtube/v1/thumbnail-ranking

Thumbnail Ranking

AI-powered ranking of 2–10 thumbnail variants by predicted click-through rate.

Credit Costs

📺YouTube APIThumbnail ranking & hook validation

Endpoint	Cost	Extra Items	Includes
`/youtube/v1/hook-validator`	10 credits	—	AI analysis (script + thumbnail)	Full guide →
`/youtube/v1/thumbnail-ranking`	13+ credits	+1 credit per variant above 4	AI analysis (visual scoring)	Full guide →

See the Pricing page for credit packages and tier comparison.

Usage Example

Recommended Workflow

Here's how top creators use both endpoints together for maximum impact:

// Node.js integration example
const headers = {
  'Content-Type': 'application/json',
  'X-API-Key': process.env.CREATORNODE_KEY,
};

// Step 1: Rank thumbnails
const ranking = await fetch('https://api.creatornode.io/youtube/v1/thumbnail-ranking', {
  method: 'POST', headers,
  body: JSON.stringify({
    variants: thumbnails.map(t => ({ id: t.id, imageBase64: t.imageBase64 })),
    title: videoTitle,
  }),
}).then(r => r.json());

const bestThumb = ranking.data.winner;
console.log(`Winner: ${bestThumb.id} (score: ${bestThumb.score})`);

// Step 2: Validate hook with the winning thumbnail
const hook = await fetch('https://api.creatornode.io/youtube/v1/hook-validator', {
  method: 'POST', headers,
  body: JSON.stringify({
    thumbnail: {
      imageBase64: thumbnails.find(t => t.id === bestThumb.id)?.imageBase64,
    },
    title: videoTitle,
    scriptIntro: first90Seconds,
  }),
}).then(r => r.json());

if (hook.validation.riskLevel !== 'low') {
  console.warn(`⚠️ Risk: ${hook.validation.riskLevel}`);
  console.warn(hook.validation.primaryIssue);
  hook.recommendations.forEach(r => console.log(`→ ${r.message}`));
}