VidIQ vs TubeBuddy: Which Is The Better YouTube SEO Tool In 2024?

When it comes to affiliate marketing on a budget, creating a YouTube channel is the first thing that comes to mind.

As such, bloggers, influencers, and popular personalities on any social media platform never shy away from creating videos on YouTube.

Actually, the head of YouTube says that every minute, more than 500 hours of videos are uploaded to the website.

This adds up to a whopping 720,000 hours of fresh videos coming in daily.

However, with all that content to compete with, making sure your video stands out and reaches your intended audience is incredibly tough.

Because of this, tools such as apps and browser extensions that help you find the right keywords, improve your YouTube search rankings, and manage your channel effectively are essential.

So, which one of these AI tools is perfect for growing your YouTube channel?

We'll compare two of the leading AI Tools for YouTubers, VidIQ vs. TubeBuddy, and see which one comes out on top.

VidIQ Vs TubeBuddy Overview

• They both offer free versions
• Both allow you to view the best video tags 
• Both have free browser extensions to use

Is YouTube Studio Not Good Enough?

First, you might ask, "What's the problem with YouTube Studio?"

Why should you spend money on another video tool when YouTube provides one for free?

YouTube Studio (once called Creator Studio) is great for handling your channel, tracking and making money from your videos, and connecting with viewers. However, it doesn't offer any tools to help with video search optimization.

For example, being notified about competitor video uploads can be really helpful for seeing what others are up to and spotting popular trends.

But YouTube Studio cannot do this for you.

You also can't look up what keywords to use or make sure your videos are fine-tuned for better reach. You can only have a basic understanding of what type of keywords you are already ranking for or what your viewers are searching for.

They are improving, but it's not 100% there yet.

Then there are the tough rules for earning money and constant changes to the rules on YouTube.

Because of these issues, you need more than just YouTube studio, and content creators have been looking for other options in online discussions.

Let's take a quick look at VidIQ vs TubeBuddy next.

What Is VidIQ?

VidIQ was designed with a focus on keyword and video topic research.

However, it offers many YouTube SEO features, including video title optimization, video tags, and more.

YouTube SEO

VidIQ

4.0

ViqIQ is a youtube SEO tool that gives you access to advanced analytics. This way, we can see how many views our videos have gotten and what kind of audience they attract. With these insights, it'll be more accessible than ever for us to create high-quality content!

Start Your Free Trial

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Key Features of VidIQ

1. YouTube Keyword Research

VidIQ is hands down the best keyword research tool for YouTube.

Its functions are similar to SEMrush or Ahrefs, as you have to type in a term and get key data within seconds.

You even get a list of keyword variations, each keyword's SEO score and search volume, competition score on YouTube, etc.

2. Best Time To Post

This feature is unavailable in any other YouTube tool, despite how important it can be in boosting engagement.

As the name suggests, it shows when most of your subscribers are active so you can upload a YouTube video on the "best time to post" and gain more engagement.

3. VidIQ Analytics

On the VidIQ dashboard, you can view all the YouTube analytics at a glance. You can see the number of views, likes, comments, and subscribers on your account and check where the most views come from.

Although it isn't as easy to navigate as the new YouTube Studio, the in-depth analytics help a lot more in understanding your audience and uploading content accordingly.

4. Embed URLs

With this feature, you can view the sites that have embedded your YouTube videos. Consequently, you can find where you generate more views and focus on promoting your videos on those platforms.

5. Subscriber Analysis

This is another one of the many great features offered by VidIQ only. This tool lets you get a gist of what your subscribers watch when they're not watching your videos.

Of course, this works for only those subscribers who already use the VidIQ Chrome Extension.

While it may not always be useful, you'll be able to know what your audience is interested in and make newer content accordingly.

6. Top Playlists

Creating playlists is essential for YouTube creators as it ensures more engagement on many videos altogether.

So, finding out how one's playlist performs becomes important, too, but not many tools have such a feature.

That's when VidIQ earns an edge over others with its "Top Playlists" feature, wherein you can check the number of views and engagement rate of each playlist.

This way, you'll understand what attracts your viewers and the ideal number of videos for maximum retention.

7. Trending Videos

This feature is included in the VidIQ Google Chrome Extension. You search for a keyword and find the trending videos on the sidebar.

While you can find the most-watched video with a simple search on YouTube, you'll never know whether the video got the views recently or a decade ago.

But with this "Trending Videos" feature, you'll know what's relevant now and make videos accordingly.

8. VidIQ Boost

This paid feature allows you to "boost" a predetermined number of videos each month. The Chrome Extension helps you optimize various aspects of the video, like YouTube titles, thumbnails, video descriptions, and more.

However, like every other SEO tool, you must use your better judgment while selecting suitable keywords for video titles and descriptions.

Although most of the keyword suggestions made by VidIQ are great, sometimes the AI makes no sense, so you must watch out!

9. Competitors

This feature allows you to compare your account to a competitor or multiple competitors. As a result, you can get an idea of how your channel fares in engagement.

This is perfect for viewing other content creators and seeing what works for their channels.

Pricing

1. Basic Plan at $0/month

• Basic email support

• Three daily ideas
• Basic video analysis

2. Pro Plan at $7.50/month

• Email and chat support
• Ten daily ideas
• Bulk YouTube video descriptions

3. Boost Plan at $39/month

• Inline tag recommendations
• 50 daily ideas
• SEO title and description recommendations

4. Boost+ Plan at $415/month

• Priority email and chat support
• Monthly coaching call
• Personalized tips and tricks
• Analytics deep dive

Pros

• Smooth and easy-to-navigate interface
• Certified by YouTube
• Beneficial for understanding competitor analysis
• Multiple features for YouTube optimization
• Includes a free plan for beginners

Cons

• Very limited features in free versions
• Expensive plans

What Is TubeBuddy?

TubeBuddy is yet another YouTube SEO Chrome extension used by many as it is easy and safe to use.

It integrates seamlessly with your YouTube account, allowing you to use its premium features immediately!

Key Features

1. Videolytics

The Videolytics panel is on the right side of your YouTube browser, showing a gist of the video performance. You can also see the tags used by the creator, some important social media statistics, and more.

This feature helps compare your videos/channel to competing videos/channels and keeping yourself motivated to create better YouTube content!

2. Keyword Explorer

This SEO tool is imperative when you're getting started and want to plan your videos.

All you have to do is add any keyword on the Keyword Explorer, and you'll find its SEO score, search volume, and competition. 

Consequently, you'll be able to generate suitable keywords for your channel and rank higher on YouTube. It's another arsenal I keep within my affiliate marketing tools.

3. Suggested Tags

This feature recommends tags for you to use in the description. Moreover, depending on the tags you choose, the software will suggest better, more suitable tags.

4. Translator

Do you want your videos to reach audiences from different countries? Then, this feature is your best bet!

With the Auto Translator, the titles and descriptions of your videos can be automatically translated for the viewers.

As such, your videos will appear as related videos under popular ones among audiences that probably don't even speak your language.

However, you must sign up for the Legend plan to use this feature. Thereafter, you can click "Translate" in the tag tools and see the top languages suggested by TubeBuddy.

Now, choose your language and generate auto-translated tags for your video. Simple!

5. End Screen Templates

We were particularly impressed by this convenient feature offered by TubeBuddy.

You can choose a video to use as an end-screen template and use it for your future videos. So you don't have to create a new end screen for each and every video.

6. Thumbnail Generator

This awesome thumbnail tool helps you select stills from the video to use as a thumbnail.

Alternatively, you can upload pictures from your computer or use a solid color background.

And here's the fun part: you can overlay the selected image with other images, texts, shapes, logos, and emojis!

7. VID2VID Promotion

This is one of the promotion tools offered by TubeBuddy, which is quite useful in increasing your overall engagement.

This feature lets you promote your YouTube videos on all your video descriptions. As a result, you'll earn more views on the promoted videos.

8. Scheduling Of Publications

Sometimes, you may not have the time to upload a video at the "best time to post," but you can't postpone the upload as it may ruin your engagement.

That's when you can schedule the publishing date and time for video upload while the rest of the uploading and processing steps have already taken place.

9. Video Tests

Could you test the performance of your video before uploading it? Well, TubeBuddy lets you do just that with its A/B testing feature.

While you cannot test the main video content, you can check how the title, description, thumbnail, etc., will perform after publishing the video.

Pricing

1. Free Plan at $0/month

• Advanced video embed
• Emoji picker

• Comment formatting

2. Pro Plan at $2/month

• Default upload profiles
• End screen templates
• SEO studio

3. Star Plan at $7.60/month

• Demonetization double check
• Bulk update end screens
• Scheduled publish and video update

4. Legend Plan at $19.60/month

• Auto translator
• Video A/B tests
• Retention analyzer

Pros

• User-friendly software solution
• YouTube certified with a strong affiliate program
• Affordable plans with perks like 4K graphics and soundtracks
• Video SEO, time-saving and promotion tools
• Excellent customer support

Cons

• It May be difficult to understand for beginners
• Accepts PayPal only for affiliate payout

VidIQ vs. TubeBuddy- Comparative Study

1. Ease Of Use

Both TubeBuddy and VidIQ are fairly easy-to-use SaaS products.

Once the installation is complete, you'll have to review some of the features and work your way through mastering them.

Moreover, you get a host of informative blogs, tutorial videos, and more to help you learn the A-B-C of YouTube SEO.

However, we do feel that TubeBuddy has a slightly more confusing visual representation that may overwhelm first-time users, especially those with no SEO knowledge.

2. Keyword Research Tools

The keyword research tools are essential to get started on YouTube and establish your channel.

VidIQ features a Scorecard that displays the number of views, keywords in titles and descriptions, and the top creator. Additionally, you can view the "interest over time," related and top queries, and trending videos on the sidebar.

We also liked the Trend Alerts and Keyword Inspector, which help you recognize trending content and check the related keywords of those videos.

TubeBuddy offers a Search Explorer that provides deeper insight into any search query. The "Keyword Score" and "Keyword Stats" also specify the overall score and high-performing keywords in the metadata.

Not to forget the "Videolytics" panel that shows the video ranks of each tag. And like VidIQ, this software also boasts a "Keyword Explorer" but only in the web app.

So, in this aspect, both the tools score the same in our books!

3. Browser Extensions

The browser extension of VidIQ is the Scorecard panel that gives you a peep at your performance against the competitors.

The panel is divided into sections, so "Overview" and "Channel" showcase the number of views, subscribers, and watch time data.

Additionally, the real-time stats bar shows the performance of various time stamps. Finally, the SEO score shows the probability of your video ending up in the search results.

You'll also find a Channel Audit tool to check the monthly progress.

On the other hand, TubeBuddy offers the Channelytics tool to view advanced channel analytics. You can see the stats, views, and uploads of any channel in real time!

Moreover, Videolytics shows likes, comments, views, SEO, social media metrics, and more.

4. Thumbnail Generator

VidIQ and TubeBuddy allow YouTube content creators to generate thumbnails from the video or upload images and backgrounds.

You can customize the thumbnails with frames, texts, emojis, etc. Plus, both these tools allow you to make templates for future thumbnails.

5. Browser Support

VidIQ supports two of the most widely used browsers- Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome.

However, TubeBuddy clearly outweighs VidIQ in this aspect as it supports the aforementioned browsers and Microsoft Edge and Opera.

6. Affiliate Program

Both of these outstanding YouTube management tools offer high-paying affiliate programs. This is a great way to make money online and even pay for your YouTube tools.

While VidIQ pays 25% to affiliates using its sales, TubeBuddy pays 30% based on app downloads. Moreover, the latter supports affiliates with workshops, training videos, and monthly newsletters.

Both the tools use their affiliate marketing software and pay via PayPal.

7. Web Applications

The web app for VidIQ features video analytics like views, comments, engagement, traffic sources, and more. It further allows you to check your embedded URLs, video trends, search queries, the best time to post, and viewer countries.

On the contrary, the web app for TubeBuddy is divided into four data sections. First is Health Report, which highlights stats regarding views, comments, subs, engagement, traffic sources, etc.

Next is Channel valuation, which integrates with SocialBluebook.com and displays your suggested price for branded content.

The Retention Analyzer identifies trends in audience viewership and boosts your overall retention. Lastly, Usage Stats checks the actions of your channel.

8. Competitor Research Tools

Both tools show similar competitor insights that can help boost your performance further. However, you will see different channel statistics on different platforms.

As such, the web apps show channel-to-channel comparisons, and you can check the total and weekly engagement simply by adding the channel URL or ID.

Also, the AI Chrome extensions offer video and channel analytics with graphs for better understanding.

However, TubeBuddy notifies you every time a competitor uploads a video. On the other hand, VidIQ shows the competitors' trending videos during a certain period.

9. Demonetization Prevention

Demonetization is every YouTube creator's nightmare!

Your channel could get demonetized for using copyrighted content, spreading hate speech, showcasing things that aren't supposed to be shown, cyberbullying, and more. As such, even using controversial terms can land you in trouble.

That's why VidIQ identifies controversial keywords in your titles, descriptions, etc. TubeBuddy does the same, along with reviewing already demonetized videos with the Demonetization Double Check tool.

10. App Integrations

In this aspect, VidIQ falls way behind by allowing Facebook integration only. In hindsight, TubeBuddy integrates with platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Patreon, Amazon Alexa, MagicLinks, and Social Bluebook.

11. Tag Management

On uploading a new video, VidIQ recommends a list of rank tags for the video. You can even check the tags used in previous videos and copy them.

We also liked the keyword template option as it is convenient and time-saving. Not to forget the channel-wide tags and bulk SEO generated for all your videos at once.

TubeBuddy also suggests high-ranking tags, and you can check the tags used for previous videos on Videolytics. We recommend copying frequently used tags and creating a list for quick access while uploading future videos.

The tag sorter is another interesting feature on TubeBuddy that allows you to reorder, drag-and-drop, and auto-rank keywords.

12. Member Perks

VidIQ members can get discounts on various apps while acquiring music, videos, and graphics. Of course, the amount of discount varies for each plan.

Similarly, TubeBuddy members can avail themselves of deals and discounts on popular video editing apps like Filmora.

13. Bulk Updates

While it may not be necessary for the beginning stage, bulk edits gain importance after you've created many YouTube videos.

As such, you can use VidIQ to bulk edit and copy end screens and cards. On the other hand, TubeBuddy facilitates bulk updating, deleting, and copying playlists, end screens, and cards. Also, you can make bulk edits on metadata, which is quite a functional and impressive add-on!

14. Customer Support

VidIQ offers a help center and a virtual chatbot for one-on-one support. On the contrary, TubeBuddy provides customer support in the form of a virtual assistant, support/helpdesk tickets, and a knowledge base.

15. Social Media Marketing

Both the software solutions allow video sharing on Facebook, with TubeBuddy allowing it on Twitter as well. Further, both track engagement on Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit.

16. Mobile App

The mobile app for VidIQ consists of all the SEO-related features that can help you with tags and keywords. Plus, the app is free to download.

TubeBuddy also has a free mobile app but with limited features. To make the most of this app, you either have to opt for a paid plan on the browser extension or pay $2.99 every month to access the Mobile Unlimited plan.

17. Comment Management

VidIQ lets you make ready-made, common sentences such as "Thanks for your comment" or "Watch out for our next video," and others like that.

TubeBuddy does that too, but it also comes with lots of extra tools, including sorting comments and spotting messages from Patreon backers.

It improves the way you handle comments by making it possible to answer right from the YouTube alert box.

We also found the YouTube comment word cloud really interesting because it shows a visual summary, like a picture, of what most people are talking about in your YouTube video comments.

18. Value For Money

As we talked about before, VidIQ has four subscription options. You'll save some money if you have multiple YouTube channels or choose to pay yearly.

TubeBuddy has even more choices with five different subscription levels. They even have a special Enterprise plan that you can tailor to your needs.

Like VidIQ, they give discounts and an extra one for charity groups. This makes TubeBuddy both cheaper and more adaptable because of the personalized plan.

Before we declare who wins the title of the top YouTube marketing tool today, let's look at which tool fits which users best...

Who Should Use VidIQ For YouTube Videos?

VidIQ is a great video marketing tool for creating trending videos, researching keywords with high search volume, and analyzing competitors' views per hour (VPH).

So, it is ideal for any YouTube creator who wants to make it big on the platform, and honestly, who doesn't?

Who Should Use TubeBuddy For Their YouTube Channel?

Although TubeBuddy scores high in most of the factors considered in the comparative study, we still believe it suits creators with specific requirements.

As such, if you are moderating large YouTube accounts and need to interlink multiple videos, go for TubeBuddy.

It is also helpful in bulk processing and A/B testing, which is a requirement for larger accounts.

Alternatives To TubeBuddy And VidIQ

1. Keyword Tool (keywordtool.io)

As the name suggests, this tool helps find keywords/topics your viewers would be interested in based on their YouTube search requests.

Entering various keywords on the search bar will display suggestions in hashtags, questions, and more.

2. Ahrefs Keywords Explorer

This content optimization tool boasts the largest database of YouTube keywords, so you really cannot go wrong with it!

When searching for a keyword, you can check its clickstream data, click percentage, and search volume locally and globally.

You can also take advantage of the keyword idea reports to come up with fresh and promising content.

3. TagsYouTube

Last but not least, here, you can add a keyword and get a bunch of related tags for your videos.

Plus, this tool offers advanced title and description settings and a thumbnail generator.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can you use TubeBuddy and VidIQ together?

You definitely can, but the dashboard might become too cluttered and confusing for beginners. Hence, choosing one according to your goals and requirements is best.

Or, if choosing one out of the two best video marketing tools gives you FOMO, pay for one and try the free version of the other!

2. Who should not use TubeBuddy and VidIQ?

If you expect these tools to boost your channel overnight, let us warn you now- that won't happen.

There is only so much an SEO tool can do to push your video. The viewers will judge your channel based on your content and how much value it brings to the table.

So, start by creating good quality content and then use these tools to boost them and eventually win the race for search traffic!

Verdict: VidIQ vs. TubeBuddy

TubeBuddy stands out in today's comparison with its impressive features and no-cost tools.

It works on more web browsers and has a wider range of options for customer help. The pricing plans also provide affordability and allow customization to suit your needs.

Meanwhile, VidIQ earns extra credit for its detailed video performance reports and user-friendly design.

Its app for phones is superior to TubeBuddy's. Plus, beginners have much to gain from its blog, which is updated often.

But in the end, the choice depends on why you want to start a YouTube channel, what it needs, and how much you're willing to spend on these kinds of tools. 

Either way, both TubeBuddy and VidIQ provide lots of support to reach those first 4,000 hours of watch time on YouTube.

And who knows, you might even earn YouTube's silver play button one day!