If you're serious about YouTube SEO, you're probably familiar with the names TubeBuddy and VidIQ. Both tools add special functionality and data to YouTube, and make many SEO tasks significantly easier.
Both TubeBuddy and VidIQ offer free extensions for free browsers and accounts, and they also have many premium features and packages.
But which of these two tools is better? Should you use only one free tool, or both at the same time? If you can only afford a premium tool, which one should you choose? This is what we will talk about in this article.
Free Extension for YouTube SEO
The great thing about both TubeBuddy and VidIQ is that they have a free account level that includes quite valuable tools. TubeBuddy is an extension for Chrome, Firefox and Safari browsers, while VidIQ is only available for Chrome. I do all my testing on Chrome, because it's my usual browser of choice. If you have not used Chrome, you can download it for free at the official website.
Install the extension and set up your account
Each of these extensions requires an account, which you can set up through the extension itself. For TubeBuddy, you only need to use your YouTube account to sign in. With VidIQ, you can set up your account easily through the extension using your email address and password. Once your account has been created and you have delegated your access and YouTube channel, you are ready to use these free tools.
Which extension is better, TubeBuddy or VidIQ?
The short answer is that both VidIQ and TubeBuddy have their own strengths in different areas. If I had to choose only one tool, I would choose VidIQ because I really liked the additions that this add-on added to my YouTube experience (counting subscribers in the comments, quick stats above. toolbar, such as the dislike ratio of each video, and statistics per view). However, I really think TubeBuddy wins when it comes to uploading tools and checklists, in addition to batch video editing tools, especially at the free level.
To start the comparison, I want to check out the FREE version of these tools to see which one is better. I will share some notes and screenshots of some of the most important parts as these tools add features to YouTube.
first.Search Sidebar
One of the places these tools add functionality to YouTube is on YouTube's search results page. You can search for any word and get additional information about it including in the sidebar and in the same stream as the result video.
TubeBuddy also has keyword data on this tab …
VidIQ has the option to display the tags of each video similar to the resulting video (the top 3 videos with the free package)…
Both tools provide similar features in this section. Some general metrics for videos that appear in related searches, suggestions or keywords, and exclusive keyword scores. Both tools are very limited in recommending the free version. TubeBuddy says that they show the top 3 of 9 related searches with the free version, and that means showing about 3 of the 229 tags; while VidIQ gave 3 out of 313 suggestions for their free version in this particular search.
VidIQ provides inspiration for keywords in the free version because they have the option of displaying video tags related to the top 3 videos, and they also give you relevant questions from Google Trends.
At a glance, VidIQ seems like a clear winner in this section, but I believe TubeBuddy's unweighted keyword score gives you a much easier idea of putting one of your videos. how hard it is for you to appear in this particular search. In every search I've made, VidIQ's scores seem to reduce the difficulty of the term, based on my experience and understanding of that topic. However, the scores for both sides are calculated by third parties (not YouTube's actual figures), and if you don't care about this score, I really like VidIQ's features. on the search page.
Winner in the Search Bar: Hoa
2.Video Sidebar
One of my favorite features of both tools is video analysis. With each video, you can see more information about the metrics in the sidebar. It works on any video, and you can see some information about your video itself.
Again, both tools provide very similar features and metrics. You can see video statistics, social sharing information, channel metrics and video tags. Both tools also give you the ability to copy all the tags to the clipboard, and will display the rank of this video in YouTube search results for that particular keyword. You can also click on any card in this list to open it in the keyword investigation function of the tool (data for the free plan is quite limited).
One feature I really like about TubeBuddy is the ability to copy tags to a list of tags. However, as a data nerd, I really like VidIQ's sidebar, mainly because it shows the number of views per hour of a video, and more channel expansions.
Winner in the Video Bar: VidIQ
3. Channel Statistics
If you navigate to any channel on YouTube, you will be able to see additional information and statistics about that channel itself.
“Channelytics” by TubeBuddy
Data on VidIQ's channel
VidIQ shows the emerging videos of the channel
This is the first section where our tools provide completely different features. Both tools display channel tags, but other than that, the metrics are quite different.
TubeBuddy counts real-time subscribers to every YouTube channel, along with a chart that lets you compare your channel to the channel you're watching.
VidIQ provides a global ranking on YouTube, along with the total number of views, number of new subscribers, and the number of videos posted in the last month (default by month, but you can change the cycle).
Perhaps my favorite feature of these two tools is the emerging channel list of videos provided by VidIQ. With the free version, you can see the top 6 videos based on average visits per hour. This can be very important if you're looking for opportunities to make a video that helps generate search traffic or videos that are likely to be long-term recommendations over time. Videos that have been around for a long time, but have a high average traffic per hour now, are likely to earn their traffic from searches and suggestions.
Winner in Channel Statistics: VidIQ
4.Upload Video
Both TubeBuddy and VidIQ add features and shortcuts to YouTube's video upload interface. If you turn on both plugins, it would be confusing and confusing, so I turned on each one to take the following screenshots.
Both tools provide many of the same features and metrics. Add / suggest tags, and upload checklists are available in both tools, even for the free package (although tag suggestions are quite limited with a free account).
However, in my opinion, there is a clear winner when it comes to the video upload interface.
TubeBuddy gives you the ability to save multiple default descriptions (YouTube only shows you the channel's broad default settings, while this feature helps you to set descriptions for different types of uploads). The TubeBuddy options are neatly organized and don't clutter the interface too much, and you can manage what you want to be shown on your TubeBuddy account screen (below the settings icon in your channel). Moreover, after the video has been uploaded, TubeBuddy offers more options, including thumbnail maker, card template, end screen template, and a list of best practices, with shortcuts to complete each (only 3/11 best practices are given with a free account).
But my favorite tool on TubeBuddy's upload interface is the upload checklist. You can choose one of a bunch of YouTube experts, and then you'll have that person's checklist accompanied with detailed tips for each of your future uploads! These lists are also available for viewing and printing, even if you are not a TubeBuddy user. For example, here is Robert Blake's checklist for uploads. You can also add your own sections if there's something you want to remember to do every time you upload your video. This feature easily becomes one of my favorite things with the free version of TubeBuddy!
Winner in Video Uploads: TubeBuddy
5.Video Management
When you manage your videos (with YouTube Creator Studio / Studio Beta), both tools add additional options. At the time of this writing, VidIQ's options cannot be easily accessed via the Studio Beta video manager (you will need to use Creator Studio Classic, but it will no longer be available in the future. near the). I can only assume that they will update this in the next few months. For now, VidIQ has a way to watch your videos with your VidIQ account and make some basic edits.
When it comes to batch video management, there is no competition between the two tools, especially if you use Studio Beta, and especially the free version.
TubeBuddy offers easy batch video editing options, along with quick shortcuts to almost anything you might want to do with your videos, all consistent with Studio Beta. The free options are limited, but still useful enough to help you and get some done! If you're looking to update / manage your YouTube videos in bulk, TubeBuddy is clearly the winner in this section.
Winner in Video Management: TubeBuddy
6. Mixed some Other Features
There are many different tools and features that VidIQ and TubeBuddy add to the YouTube experience, and because I can't cover them all, I will point out a few that can make you choose this extension instead of the that.
Comment Management
Both tools provide the ability to save existing responses to comments. TubeBuddy shows you how to use stored answers to your videos.
One thing I really like about VidIQ is counting the number of subscribers in each comment, along with the ability to filter comments under each video. For example, you can filter comments written by channels with a certain number of subscribers, or comments that contain questions.
Like / Dislike Ratio
VidIQ adds a convenient like / dislike ratio feature to each video.
Statistics Quick
VidIQ adds some quick stats in the top bar in YouTube, including the total views in the past year … a special value for anyone who is making videos to make money!
Mobile Application
TubeBuddy provides a mobile application, available on iOS and Android! At the moment, VidIQ has no mobile apps. I haven't tested TubeBuddy's app extensively, but if you want to work from your phone, this could be a tool to change your landscape!
Member Rights
TubeBuddy offers a number of discounts and even free access to other YouTube tools and services. For example, a premium account gives you a 25% discount with Epidemic Sound, which is a way to sign up for a more affordable service!
Winner in the Mixed Features: HO (mostly because TubeBuddy got ahead with their app)
Can I use TubeBuddy and VidIQ at the same time?
Although both tools offer free accounts and free extensions, the overlapping features make using both at the same time can be quite difficult. If you want to use both tools, you'll want to adjust the settings on both of these extensions to disable some tables and features.
Disabling the features with TubeBuddy is very simple, just go to your account interface and click the settings icon for the channel you want to edit.
With VidIQ, you can choose some options by clicking the extension icon on the toolbar, then selecting settings. The guest settings that you might want to adjust are in the video upload interface, and even if you disable those settings separately, the priority box will still display.
Now that you see a comparison of the features of the free version of each tool, let's take a moment to talk about the premium version, whether you need them, and which premium tool is appropriate. with you!
Is it worth upgrading to the premium version of TubeBuddy or VidIQ?
In short, I recommend upgrading one of the two tools to at least the ~ $ 10 / month they offer. At that price, the additional information provided even with keyword research tools alone is worth it. When I upgraded my TubeBuddy and VidIQ to my “Pro” account, I was impressed by how much the amount of data I could see. Both tools do a good job of wrapping values into these low-level packages.
You do not need to upgrade both tools. If you plan to upgrade one of them to a Pro level, I will upgrade TubeBuddy and use the free version of VidIQ. Mostly because I think at $ 10 / month, the main use of these tools is keyword research, and I find TubeBuddy to be a bit more advantageous about this (although this is mostly based on experience. my use). However, I must say that I LIKE the feature of VidIQ's emerging videos, and I would be happy to pay $ 10 / month just to be able to get data from 100 videos per channel instead of 10. The “Top Keywords” tool of all videos with the highest visits per hour is also very helpful.
Both tools also cost approximately $ 50 / month. When you start researching these packages, you are almost a powerful YouTube user and the cost may be negligible compared to the value you get from these tools. TubeBuddy also offers a “middle” package that costs ~ $ 20 / month for you more than the Pro package a few features, but in my opinion this is just a stepping stone to avoid situations like VidIQ's when you have to choose to pay $ 10 or $ 50 / month, with most users feeling this is a pretty big gap.
Which package should I choose?
I have tried all the packages except TubeBuddy's “Star” and VidIQ's “Enterprise” packages.
When I first started testing these free packages and extensions, I was really drawn to VidIQ. The little things they add to the YouTube experience are things I really would have missed without this tool. Although most of these come with free extensions.
When it comes to paid plans, I feel that TubeBuddy has done a better job of building a full feature set that fits their price. However, I also think that each tool still has its own strengths, and as an SEO, I can very well keep the paid accounts of both tools.
VidIQ is a powerful tool for competition analysis. I know I've mentioned the competitor's emerging video feature a few times already … but I can't really say too much about how powerful this can be for research! Choose any YouTube channel, then export a .csv with all their videos including title, description, duration, posting date, keywords, views, likes, dislikes and sharing on social networks, … then potentially sort by any of these schools?
You choose VidIQ or Tubebuddy, with me comment below
CEO – Founder of Compa Marketing. Specialist with over 5 years of experience in the field of Digital Marketing, SEO / SEM in Vietnam and the world.