(2024) Best TubeBuddy Alternatives: An Honest List

Article last updated on:
July 12, 2024

The ideal TubeBuddy alternative should have the power of A/B Testing for thumbnails and more.

It should also be cheaper than TubeBuddy.

  • This guide helps you find our next tool to replace TubeBuddy.
  • We’ve got lists of of Features, Pros, Cons, Pricing, and Reviews…
  • For every app on the list.

Why look for a TubeBuddy alternative?

This is the most common question: If TubeBuddy is already great, why look for a replacement in first place?

YouTubers use TubeBuddy for 3 main tools:

  1. A/B Testing: Test different thumbnails to see what works best for your audience, helping you optimize your content.
  2. Video SEO: TubeBuddy provides suggestions for optimizing your video titles, descriptions, and tags to improve visibility and ranking on YouTube.
  3. Thumbnail Generator: You can create viral thumbnails through screenshots and branding/text layers directly within TubeBuddy.

In may ways, TubeBuddy is already great for most users — though, it’s missing key features.

Customizable A/B A/B Testing

This isn’t something you can do with TubeBuddy.

The app does thumbnail + title testing, but these test are pretty fixed. With apps like Thumbnail Test, you can change the test’s frequency and more!

Pricing

  • Pro Plan = $2.50 per month when you pay for a whole year at once. But honestly, it doesn’t offer much that you couldn’t do on your own without spending the money.
  • Legend Plan = $15.75/mo (billed yearly), so only here you can start A/B testing.

Justified?

TubeBuddy is more of a hub for all of these features.

If you’re looking for something specific (e.g. just A/B testing or just YouTube SEO), you’d be better off with a tool dedicated to each niche.

Top TubeBuddy Alternatives

As of 2024, the best alternatives to TubeBuddy are Thumbnail Test and vidIQ. First one is for A/B Testing, and second is for YouTube SEO & Analytics.

Let’s explore them.

1. Thumbnail Test

Thumbnail Test offers a platform where YouTube creators can A/B test their video thumbnails and titles to optimize views and engagement.

Key Features:

  • Test Thumbnails and Titles: Creators can test various thumbnails and titles, even combining tests for both, to see which combinations perform best.
  • Multiple Test Options: Unlike standard A/B tests, Thumbnail Test allows for A/B/C/D/E testing, giving a broader range of comparison.
  • Automatic Analytics: The platform automatically gathers data from YouTube Studio, making it easier for creators to assess performance.
  • Flexible Testing Schedules: Offers both daily and hourly testing options to get results faster.
  • Upcoming Features: Plans to include full thumbnail swap automation to optimize thumbnail performance further.

Pros:

  • Ease of Use: The platform is designed to be user-friendly, allowing for straightforward setup and execution of tests.
  • Comprehensive Testing: The ability to run multiple tests simultaneously offers a detailed understanding of what works best for a video’s visibility.
  • Positive User Feedback: Users have reported significant increases in views after using the tool to optimize thumbnails and titles​.

Cons:

  • Limited to YouTube: Currently, the service is focused solely on YouTube content, which may not be suitable for creators looking for cross-platform testing.

Pricing:

  • Basic Plan: $29/month, or $24/month when billed yearly.
  • Pro Plan: $49/month, or $37/month when billed yearly.
  • Business Plan: $99/month, or $75/month when billed yearly.
  • Discounts: 40% off for Channels with fewer than 10,000 subscribers.

We care for everybody. Yes, including small YouTubers!

Reviews:

2. vidIQ

vidiq.com - website homepage

vidIQ is a tool designed to help content creators optimize their YouTube channels for greater reach and engagement.

Pros:

  • Daily Ideas and SEO Tools: vidIQ uses AI to provide personalized thumbnails, video content suggestions and keyword research tools to optimize your content for better searchability and engagement​.
  • Competitors Analysis: Gain insights into your competition’s strategies, helping you understand what works and adjust your content strategy accordingly​.
  • Channel Audit: This tool analyzes your channel’s performance, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement​.

Cons:

  • Some users might find vidIQ’s full range of features to be expensive, particularly when starting out or operating on a tight budget​.
  • There’s a learning curve due to the abundance of features, which might be overwhelming for new users​.
  • No A/B testing features.

Pricing:

  • Free plan
  • Paid plans: $5 to $199 per month

Reviews:

  • 4.7 on Trustpilot

Why Just 2 Alternatives?

We get it — they don’t look like much, and it may even look like this is staged, but it isn’t.

There are only two options in this list because:

  • Thumbnail test is the only other reliable A/B Tester.
  • vidIQ is the only capable SEO & Analytics competitor.
  • And there isn’t any other app in-between.

As new tools come out, we’ll be sure to update the guide and give you the 100% most genuine options.

Leaving TubeBuddy For Good 👋

As time goes on, new technologies and ideas come into play.

What was effective before might not cut it today, and it might be the right moment to explore a new option to TubeBuddy.

Get going with ThumbnailTest to boost all of your videos.


Thank you for reading this,
Thumbnail Test

About the author

David is the head of the editing team at ThumbnailTest. With his help, the editorial team is able to provide you with the best free guides related to YouTube thumbnails and A/B testing.