vidIQ covers YouTube and Instagram and has outlier and AI tools. TubeBuddy works inside YouTube and runs title and thumbnail A/B tests on real viewers. HookCompass is still in development, Mac first.
We make HookCompass, so we've kept this fair: competitor facts come from their own pages, checked on November 8, 2026.
| vidIQ | TubeBuddy | HookCompass | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Browser extension and mobile app | Browser extension | Mac desktop app, in development |
| Platforms | YouTube, Instagram | YouTube | YouTube, Instagram Reels |
| Keyword research | Yes | Yes | No |
| Competitor tracking | Yes | Yes | Planned |
| Outlier videos | Yes | Labs tool | Planned |
| AI writing help | Titles, tags, thumbnails | Titles, thumbnails | Planned (agent team) |
| A/B testing | Thumbnails | Titles, thumbnails | Planned (Test & Compare) |
| Free plan | Yes, limited | Yes | Not announced |
| Paid plans | From $19/month | Pro, Legend (discounted right now) | Not public yet |
A dash means the tool's own pages don't mention it. It may still exist.
For creators on YouTube and Instagram who want research and AI help together.
For YouTube creators who work in the browser and want real A/B tests.
For YouTube and Reels creators who want a tool that learns from their own results.
HookCompass is still in development, Mac first. It is built to learn from breakout videos in your niche and from your own results.
