Five TubeBuddy alternatives side by side

We make HookCompass, so we've kept this fair: competitor facts come from their own pages, checked on November 8, 2026.

vidIQ1of10ViewStatsMorningfameHookCompass
What it isBrowser extension and mobile appWeb appWeb app and Chrome extensionWeb appMac desktop app, in development
PlatformsYouTube, InstagramYouTubeYouTubeYouTubeYouTube, Instagram Reels
Keyword researchYesYesNo
Competitor trackingYesYesYesNiche SpyPlanned
Outlier videosYesYesYesPlanned
AI writing helpTitles, tags, thumbnailsTitles, thumbnails, ideasPlanned (agent team)
A/B testingThumbnailsPlanned (Test & Compare)
Free planYes, limitedYes, 60 creditsYesNo, invite onlyNot announced
Paid plansFrom $19/monthFrom $15/month, yearlyBusiness from $249/monthFrom $4.90/monthNot public yet

A dash means the tool's own pages don't mention it. It may still exist.

Who each tool fits

vidIQ

For creators on YouTube and Instagram who want research and AI help together.

Pros

  • Covers YouTube and Instagram in one app.
  • Has keyword research, competitor tracking, outliers and a channel audit.

Cons

  • Free plan: 150 AI credits a month.
  • TikTok appears only as a place to post clips.

1of10

For YouTube creators who study breakout videos to find ideas.

Pros

  • Outlier search and competitor tracking on every plan.
  • AI thumbnails and titles next to the research.

Cons

  • YouTube only.
  • No keyword research or A/B testing described.

ViewStats

For YouTube creators who research competitors while they browse.

Pros

  • Its Chrome extension shows stats while you browse YouTube.
  • Competitors, outliers, analytics and thumbnail search together.

Cons

  • YouTube only.
  • No keyword research or A/B testing described.

Morningfame

For YouTube creators on a small budget who want keyword research.

Pros

  • The lowest price here: $4.90 a month.
  • Compares you with channels of a similar size.

Cons

  • Invite only, with no free plan.
  • No AI help, A/B tests or outlier tool described.

HookCompass

For YouTube and Reels creators who want a tool that learns from their own results.

Pros

  • Built to learn from your niche's breakouts and your own posts.
  • Covers Shorts, long-form and Instagram Reels.

Cons

  • Not out yet: early access through the waitlist only.
  • Mac first, and prices aren't public yet.

Where HookCompass stands today

HookCompass is still in development, Mac first. It is built to learn from breakout videos in your niche and from your own results.

Save my founding spot

Outliers screen: a grid of breakout faceless Shorts, including stick-figure animations, each with its multiplier over the channel's normal views, and a side panel showing the view curve and why the top video worked.
Screens show demo data.

Sources, checked on November 8, 2026