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The TubeBuddy Insider’s Guide

Everything we know about TubeBuddy in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.

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ToolGPAOctober 2026

TubeBuddy

The Insider’s Guide

YouTube browser extension for keyword research, SEO and A/B tests

Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among YouTube SEO tools, read from TubeBuddy’s own pages.

Made by TubeBuddy (GameSquare) · checked Oct 23, 2026 · toolgpa.com

2.0GPA

Contents

  1. 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
  2. 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
  3. 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
  4. 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
  5. 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
  6. 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
  7. 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

ToolGPA put this guide together from TubeBuddy’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on TubeBuddy’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 23, 2026.

Part 01 · Overview

Welcome

What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first

2.0

GPA, above 6 of the 28 other YouTube SEO tools we grade

TubeBuddy is a YouTube growth toolkit that works mostly through a browser extension inside YouTube and YouTube Studio, with a web dashboard and mobile apps. It covers keyword research, scoring of titles, tags and descriptions, thumbnail and title A/B tests, channel analytics and bulk editing of videos. TubeBuddy was bought by the media company GameSquare in February 2026.

To get you started, here are 8 things to know about TubeBuddy, taken from its own pages and our grades.

Most of the work happens in the extension, which you install and link to your channel first.
From our grade for ease of use
  1. 1

    Best for SEO help inside YouTube Studio

    We couldn't put a US price on it: the pricing page fills prices in by script and showed regional ones when we read it.

  2. 2

    There is a free plan

    Every channel added gets a free Starter license with a limited set of tools; paid Pro and Legend licenses unlock the rest.

  3. 3

    It runs on 3 platforms

    Web, iOS and Android, with a browser extension too.

  4. 4

    Keyword Explorer

    Researches YouTube search terms with search volume data and suggests related keywords to target in a title and tags.

  5. 5

    SEO Studio

    Scores a video's title, tags and description as you write them and lists what to change, with a tag generator and Insta-Suggest.

  6. 6

    Thumbnail and title A/B tests

    Rotates thumbnail or title variants on a live video, measures click-through rate and picks the winner.

  7. 7

    A 2.0 GPA, above 6 of 28

    That is against the other YouTube SEO tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.

  8. 8

    Keep it

    To replace TubeBuddy you would be making search volumes for millions of keywords, gathered and kept up to date. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.

TubeBuddy at a glance

Pricing
Free plan
Free plan
Yes
Free trial
None stated
Runs on
Web, iOS, Android, Browser extension
Made by
TubeBuddy (GameSquare)
Category
YouTube SEO Tools
Our grade
2.0 GPA, fair

The report card

Best for SEO help inside YouTube Studio

TubeBuddy works inside YouTube and YouTube Studio as a browser extension, scoring titles and tags as you write them and running thumbnail and title A/B tests. We couldn't put a US price on it: the pricing page fills prices in by script and showed regional ones when we read it. Its phone app is rated 2.9, Firefox and Safari aren't supported, and bigger channels are pushed to Enterprise.

ToolGPA report cardTubeBuddyGraded Oct 23, 2026
SubjectGradeComment
Value for moneyCNo US price is on record. The pricing page fills its prices in by script, and the copy served to us showed regional prices, so it can't be placed against this category's $19 middle. A license covers one channel.
Free plan and trialCEvery channel added gets a free Starter license, but it opens a limited set of tools, and the rest wait on Pro or Legend. No trial is listed.
FeaturesBKeyword Explorer with search volume, SEO Studio scoring as you write, thumbnail and title A/B tests on live videos, channel analytics with competitor scorecards, bulk editing and next-video ideas. That covers the whole job, though bulk editing sits on Legend.
Ease of useF2.9 from 434 App Store ratings for its phone app, under the 3.0 line. Most of the work happens in the extension, which you install and link to your channel first.
Platforms and integrationsBWeb, an extension for Chrome, Edge and Opera, iPhone and Android. It connects to YouTube and YouTube Studio only, with no desktop app or API on record.
Grade point averageFair, out of 4.02.0

An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.

Who TubeBuddy is for

  • Fits if you want title and tag scores while you upload in YouTube Studio on Chrome or Edge
  • Works for creators testing two thumbnails or titles against each other on the same live video

Who it is not for

  • Watch out: no US price could be read, as the pricing page fills it in by script and showed regional prices
  • Skip it if you use Firefox or Safari, as the extension no longer supports Firefox and never supported Safari
  • Not for you if you have 50k+ subscribers, several channels or 3+ managers, which TubeBuddy steers to Enterprise
  • Tight if you share the work, since Pro has one user and Legend two seats, on one channel each
  • Tight if you're staying free, as Starter opens a limited set of tools and bulk editing waits on Legend

Good to know

Good for

  • Creators who want SEO help inside YouTube Studio as they upload
  • Channels testing thumbnails and titles against each other
  • Creators managing a large back catalog with bulk edits

Worth knowing

  • Prices are filled in by a script that could not be read for US visitors, and the page shown in India lists regional prices, so none are given here.
  • Pro and Legend are for individual creators; channels with 50k+ subscribers, several channels, 3+ managers or 50+ staff are steered to Enterprise.
  • A license covers one YouTube channel. Pro has one user and Legend two seats; more needs Enterprise.
  • The extension supports Chrome, Edge and Opera; the help center says it no longer supports Firefox and never supported Safari.

Part 02 · Pricing

What it costs

Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved

TubeBuddy's current pricing could not be confirmed from its own site.

Every channel added gets a free Starter license, but it opens a limited set of tools, and the rest wait on Pro or Legend.
From our grade for free plan and trial

We could not confirm TubeBuddy’s current prices from its own site, so this guide lists no plans. tubebuddy.com has them.

Ways to pay less

  • Annual discount

    Save 20% with yearly billing

    TubeBuddy's pricing page offers a per-year option on Pro and Legend marked as saving 20% against monthly billing.

    Stated on tubebuddy.com

  • Nonprofit

    Special discount for US nonprofits

    The pricing page says 501(c)(3) nonprofits qualify for a special discount; the amount is not stated.

    Stated on tubebuddy.com

Part 03 · Features

What it does

Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it

4

Places it runs: Web, iOS, Android and Browser extension

YouTube browser extension for keyword research, SEO and A/B tests. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, keyword research, a/B testing, youTube SEO.

That covers the whole job, though bulk editing sits on Legend.
From our grade for features
Keyword Explorer
Researches YouTube search terms with search volume data and suggests related keywords to target in a title and tags.
SEO Studio
Scores a video's title, tags and description as you write them and lists what to change, with a tag generator and Insta-Suggest.
Thumbnail and title A/B tests
Rotates thumbnail or title variants on a live video, measures click-through rate and picks the winner.
Channel analytics
Channelytics, a channel health report, competitor scorecards and upload alerts, and a niche leaderboard.
Bulk editing
Bulk processing tools for end screens, cards, descriptions and thumbnail overlays, listed as part of the Legend license.
Next Video Ideas
Suggests topics for the next upload; Pro has limited access, Legend more, and Enterprise unlimited.

Where it runs

  • Web
  • iOS
  • Android
  • Browser extension

What it works with

  • YouTube
  • YouTube Studio

TubeBuddy is made by TubeBuddy (GameSquare).

Part 04 · Standing

Where it stands

Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own

6/28

Other YouTube SEO tools it is graded above

TubeBuddy's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 6 of the 28 other YouTube SEO tools we grade, and level with 4.

It stands best on features (B, above 26 of 28) and worst on ease of use (F, above 0).

Each grade against the category

Every bar is all 29 YouTube SEO tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. TubeBuddy’s own letter is outlined.

  • CValue for moneyAbove 3 of 28
  • CFree plan and trialAbove 8 of 28
  • BFeaturesAbove 26 of 28
  • FEase of useAbove 0 of 28
  • BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 13 of 28

Keep it, or make your own?

Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.

Keep it

To replace TubeBuddy you would be making search volumes for millions of keywords, gathered and kept up to date. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.

That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 18 of the 28 other YouTube SEO tools grade higher.

What you could not

  • Search volumes for millions of keywords, gathered and kept up to date.
  • Search data for YouTube topics and channels.
  • Splitting visitors between versions and telling you which won.
  • A real app for iOS and Android. Something home-made would be a web page.
  • AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
  • The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.

What this rests on. TubeBuddy’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.

Part 05 · Alternatives

The alternatives

The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side

vidIQ, Morningfame, Social Blade, 1of10 and Rapidtags

The 5 tools TubeBuddy is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.

  • 2.8GPA

    vidIQ

    Free plan · from $16.58/mo

    YouTube keyword research, video ideas and AI coaching for creators.

    • TubeBuddy also covers a/B testing.
    • vidIQ also covers image generation.
    TubeBuddy and vidIQ compared in full
  • 2.4GPA

    Morningfame

    Free trial · from $4.90/mo

    Invite-only YouTube analytics and keyword research for small channels.

    • TubeBuddy has a free plan. Morningfame does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only TubeBuddy lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Only TubeBuddy lists a browser extension.
    TubeBuddy and Morningfame compared in full
  • 2.8GPA

    Social Blade

    Free plan · from $59.99/yr

    Daily follower and view statistics for YouTube and four other networks.

    • Only TubeBuddy lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Only TubeBuddy lists a browser extension.
    • TubeBuddy also covers keyword research, a/B testing and youTube SEO.
    TubeBuddy and Social Blade compared in full
  • 2.4GPA

    1of10

    Free plan · from $15/mo

    YouTube outlier finder with AI thumbnails, titles and video ideas.

    • Only TubeBuddy lists iOS and Android apps.
    • TubeBuddy also covers keyword research and a/B testing.
    • 1of10 also covers video editing and image generation.
    TubeBuddy and 1of10 compared in full
  • 2.6GPA

    Rapidtags

    Free plan · from $6/mo

    YouTube tag generator with keyword research and video rank checks.

    • Only TubeBuddy lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Only TubeBuddy lists a browser extension.
    • TubeBuddy also covers a/B testing.
    TubeBuddy and Rapidtags compared in full

Part 06 · Questions

Quick answers

The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two

11

Questions, each answered in a line or two

The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.

Is TubeBuddy free?

TubeBuddy has a free plan. Every channel added gets a free Starter license with a limited set of tools; paid Pro and Legend licenses unlock the rest.

What platforms does TubeBuddy work on?

TubeBuddy is available on Web, iOS and Android. It also has a browser extension.

Does TubeBuddy offer any discounts?

TubeBuddy publicly lists the following: Save 20% with yearly billing; Special discount for US nonprofits.

Does TubeBuddy have a Windows app?

No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 23, 2026. TubeBuddy is listed for Web, iOS and Android.

Does TubeBuddy have a macOS app?

No macOS app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 23, 2026. TubeBuddy is listed for Web, iOS and Android.

Is TubeBuddy open source?

TubeBuddy is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 23, 2026.

What does TubeBuddy integrate with?

TubeBuddy's listing names YouTube and YouTube Studio. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.

Who makes TubeBuddy?

TubeBuddy is made by TubeBuddy (GameSquare).

What are the alternatives to TubeBuddy?

The closest alternatives to TubeBuddy in our directory are vidIQ, Morningfame, Social Blade, 1of10 and Rapidtags.

How does TubeBuddy compare with other YouTube SEO tools?

TubeBuddy's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 6 of the 28 other YouTube SEO tools we grade, and level with 4.

Could I make my own version of TubeBuddy?

To replace TubeBuddy you would be making search volumes for millions of keywords, gathered and kept up to date.

Where this guide comes from

The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from TubeBuddy’s own pages on Oct 23, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 23, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from TubeBuddy's own pages on 23 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.

Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by TubeBuddy (GameSquare). Prices change, so check tubebuddy.com before you buy.

Part 07 · About

About ToolGPA

Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

3,189

Tools graded, in 94 categories

ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.

Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.

  • 3,189

    tools graded

  • 94

    categories

  • 426

    price changes on record

  • 579

    apps priced in 12 countries

What else is on toolgpa.com

Scan for the live page

Prices and grades as they are today

Quoting this guide?

Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:

ToolGPA, "TubeBuddy: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 23, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/tubebuddy

Know someone choosing between YouTube SEO tools?

Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/tubebuddy/guide

ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa

See our other guides

The best-graded YouTube SEO tools after TubeBuddy, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.

ToolGPA

Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.

Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›

Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what TubeBuddy’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. TubeBuddy is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by TubeBuddy (GameSquare). Prices and plans change: check tubebuddy.com before you buy.