What is a good YouTube SEO score?

Anything above 80 means your metadata is not holding the video back. Below 60 usually points to a missing keyword in the title or a description too short for YouTube to categorise confidently. The score measures metadata quality only, so a high score does not guarantee views.

Should my target keyword go at the start of the title?

Where it fits naturally, yes. Front-loading the keyword helps on mobile, where titles are truncated after roughly 40 characters, and it matches how viewers scan a results page. Do not force it at the cost of a title that reads badly.

How long should a YouTube description be?

Aim for 150 to 300 words. The first 150 characters appear before the more link and should contain your keyword and a reason to watch. The rest gives YouTube context, and is a reasonable place for timestamps, links and chapter markers.

Does changing the title of an old video help?

It can, particularly if the video already gets impressions but a low click-through rate. Re-optimising the title and thumbnail on a video with existing watch history is often faster than publishing a new one. Change one variable at a time so you can tell what worked.

How do I get more of my views from the US, UK and Europe?

Publish so the video lands in the morning in New York and London rather than overnight, since the first hours decide who the algorithm keeps showing it to. Reference the currencies, retailers and regulations those viewers recognise, and add English subtitles to widen reach into the Netherlands, the Nordics and Germany.

Is this YouTube SEO analyzer free?

Yes. There is no account, no trial and no view limit. You can analyse as many videos as you like.

Free Video SEO & Growth Tools — VidSEOKit

Boost your video SEO with free AI-powered tools. Analyze YouTube titles, generate click-worthy thumbnails, extract competitor tags, and estimate your AdSense earnings — all in one place.

This page compares VidIQ and TubeBuddy across pricing, features, keyword research, and channel analytics to help YouTube creators decide which tool suits their needs.

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Try VidSEOKit Free — No Sign-Up Required

Get your free YouTube SEO score in 30 seconds. Paste your title, description and tags, enter your target keyword, and see exactly what to fix before you publish.

analyticsAnalyze My Video For Free

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SEO Score

Scores title, description and tags against your target keyword — with the formula shown openly.

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AI Titles

Generates 5 click-worthy title angles for any video topic in seconds.

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Tag Extractor

Extracts the tags any YouTube video is using — see how ranking videos describe themselves.

VidIQ vs TubeBuddy at a glance

Both VidIQ and TubeBuddy install as Chrome browser extensions and overlay data on the YouTube Studio interface. Both offer keyword research, SEO scoring, and thumbnail performance tracking. The differences are in how each weighs the signals it tracks, where each tool restricts features to paid tiers, and which additional tools each includes beyond the core SEO overlay.

VidIQ leans toward a dashboard-first experience with channel analytics, competitor channel tracking, and an AI coaching tool on higher tiers. TubeBuddy leans toward in-workflow assistance — checklist prompts at upload time, A/B thumbnail testing, and bulk metadata editing. Which emphasis matches your workflow determines which is the better fit.

Pricing compared

VidIQ's free tier includes basic SEO scores and keyword data but restricts search volume numbers to Pro ($7.50/mo) and higher. TubeBuddy's free tier includes more features for channels under 1,000 subscribers, with Pro at $5.99/mo unlocking the full keyword explorer.

For creators not yet monetised, both free tiers offer useful starting points. For creators actively earning revenue, the $6–$9/mo jump to the first paid tier on either platform typically pays for itself through the time saved in keyword research and upload optimisation — but only at a publishing frequency of at least two videos per week.

The free alternative both miss

Both tools require browser extensions and ongoing subscriptions for their most valuable features. VidSEOKit offers SEO scoring, real search volume data, AI title generation, thumbnail concepts, and tag extraction entirely free, with no extension to install and no account required.

The tools VidSEOKit does not currently replicate are A/B thumbnail testing on live videos and historical analytics overlays inside YouTube Studio — both of which require extension-level YouTube API access.

Frequently asked questions

Is VidIQ or TubeBuddy better for small channels?

TubeBuddy offers more features on its free tier for channels under 1,000 subscribers. VidIQ's free tier shows score breakdowns but restricts search volume numbers. For a channel not yet generating revenue, TubeBuddy's free tier or VidSEOKit's entirely free suite are the practical starting points.

Do VidIQ and TubeBuddy work on Firefox or Safari?

Both are primarily Chrome extensions. TubeBuddy has a Firefox version; VidIQ does not. Neither works on Safari. VidSEOKit works in any browser on any device as a web app.

Can I use both VidIQ and TubeBuddy at the same time?

Technically yes, but the overlapping interfaces create visual conflicts inside YouTube Studio and slow the page load. Most creators pick one and commit to it rather than running both simultaneously.

Which has better keyword research, VidIQ or TubeBuddy?

VidIQ shows keyword data within its keyword inspector panel; TubeBuddy shows it in the Tag Explorer within YouTube. Both pull from similar third-party search volume providers. The difference in data quality is marginal; the difference in interface is a matter of preference.

Last reviewed 6 September 2026