vidIQ
Keyword research and channel analytics bolted onto YouTube — see tags, scores and competitor stats in place.
YouTube SEO suite: keyword research, tag suggestions, competitor tracking and analytics overlays. Useful free tier.
- Pricing
- Free plan with core stats; paid tiers for deep keyword and competitor tools
- Platforms
- Web, Chrome, Firefox, Edge extensions
- Category
- SEO & Research
- Last reviewed
- September 21, 2026
What is vidIQ?
vidIQ is a YouTube optimization suite that lives as a browser extension plus a web app. On any video page it overlays the data YouTube hides: estimated tags, views-per-hour, engagement rates and how a video ranks for its keywords. In your own Studio it scores titles, suggests tags, and shows which of your keywords are gaining traction. For research, its keyword inspector pairs search volume against competition so you can spot topics that are searched but underserved.
The free plan is a real tool, not a teaser: basic scorecards on every video you watch, limited daily keyword searches, tag suggestions and channel tracking. Paid tiers (Boost and up) add deeper keyword research, competitor tools, trend alerts and AI assistants. Many creators run free vidIQ for a year before feeling the ceiling.
It is an official YouTube-recognized tool — connecting it uses standard OAuth and it cannot do anything your account permissions don't allow. The most valuable habit it teaches: checking the volume/competition of an idea before filming, not after.
Key features
- Scorecard overlay: tags, VPH and stats on any YouTube video
- Keyword inspector with volume vs competition scoring
- Tag and title suggestions while you upload
- Competitor channel tracking and daily stats
- Trend alerts and AI ideation tools (paid)
- Browser extensions plus web dashboard
Free plan & limits
Free plan includes the video scorecard overlay, limited keyword searches per day, basic tag suggestions and competitor tracking. Paid plans expand research limits and add advanced/AI tools.
Who is it best for?
Any YouTuber who wants to make topic decisions with search data instead of guesses — especially channels in the 0–50k subscriber growth phase.
Frequently asked questions
Is vidIQ safe to connect to my channel?
Yes — it is one of the best-known YouTube tools and connects through Google's standard OAuth. You control the permissions and can revoke access any time in your Google account settings.
Do I need the paid plan to benefit?
No. The free scorecard and limited keyword searches already change how you research. Pay only when you hit the daily limits regularly.
vidIQ or TubeBuddy?
Similar products with different strengths — vidIQ leans into keyword/competitor data, TubeBuddy into upload workflow and A/B thumbnail testing. Both free tiers are worth installing side by side.