Since its early days, YouTube has helped several creators build successful filmmaking careers. And among the younger generation, being a YouTuber is one of the most desirable career aspirations. Growing a channel takes a lot of work, but you can find many tools to help you.

One of the most popular solutions for growing a YouTube channel is TubeBuddy. You will have access to several features with the platform and valuable insights that you may not have thought of.

What exactly is TubeBuddy? How does it work, and why should you consider using it? Lets find out.

What is TubeBuddy?

TubeBuddy is a browser extension. The company launched in December 2014 and aims to give YouTubers the tools they need to grow their channels. You can research specific topic ideas using the platform and optimize your content accordingly once you’ve created the initial video.

At the time of writing in August 2022, millions of YouTubers are using TubeBuddy. One example is The Food Ranger, which has more than five million subscribers.

How Much Does TubeBuddy Cost?

TubeBuddy has multiple pricing tiers. At the most basic level, you can use the free version. This edition gives you access to tag rankings, and you can also use the keyword and search explorer tools in a limited capacity. If you want to do free keyword research for YouTube, this is a great option.

For YouTubers who want more tools to grow their channel, one of TubeBuddy’s paid pricing plans will probably work better. TubeBuddy Standard is the cheapest paid subscription, costing $4.99 per month. With TubeBuddy Standard, you can generate thumbnails and plan video topics—and more.

Enhanced is the next tier up, and it costs $9.49 per month. You can add end screen templates, get access to an SEO studio, and enjoy various features.

Ultimate is the most expensive pricing tier. For $24.49 per month, you can bulk copy cards, publish to Facebook, and more.

If you don’t have 1,000 subscribers, you can get a discount on annual plans.

What Can You Do With TubeBuddy?

Now that you know what TubeBuddy is and how much it costs, let’s take a look at the best features of the platform. Below is a selection of must-try items to help grow your YouTube channel.

1. Auto-Translation

When you start a YouTube channel, you may have big ambitions to reach people in many countries. And once you start to gain traction, you may find that translating your content into other languages ​​is the best way to do it.

TubeBuddy has an auto-translate tool that lets you do this for your descriptions and titles without much effort. Because of this, you will reach a larger audience than if you had remained monolingual.

2. Research Topic Keywords

YouTube’s search engine works like Google; the only difference is that you are only looking for videos. Using the right keywords is important to cut through the noise, and TubeBuddy has a variety of tools to help you with this.

You can track multiple keywords if you purchase a higher license than the Standard version. You can more easily optimize your content accordingly, which—in turn—will get you more attention.

TubeBuddy also offers keyword ranking reports to help you better visualize all this data.

3. Split Test Your Video Content

In your early days as a YouTuber, you shouldn’t think too much about monetization. Instead, your main goal is to learn what works and doesn’t work for you. A/B testing your content may be the best way to do this.

TubeBuddy has a variety of tools to help you split test the optimization of your content before uploading it. You can use the tool to determine which titles will work best and make sure your description is perfect. You can choose to run metadata tests and thumbnail clickthrough rate (CTR) tests.

At some point, monetization becomes important, so read our guide to the best YouTube monetization strategies.

4. Generate Thumbnails

If you want people to click on your video, you should create a thumbnail that will attract their attention. Canva can help you create things like thumbnails. However, you can also use TubeBuddy to help you out if you’re short on time.

TubeBuddy’s thumbnail generator allows you to create matching visuals for your videos. You can add text, emojis, images, and shapes. The app also lets you use different templates and save any specific ones you like for easy access in the future.

5. Channel Health Reports

Once you’ve been posting consistently on YouTube for a few months, you’ll have a good idea of ​​what you’re doing right. Furthermore, it will be clear to you where you have room for improvement. Knowing how your audience interacts with your videos is an important part of growth, and TubeBuddy can help you do just that.

When you use TubeBuddy, you can access channel health reports. You’ll get an overview of your traffic sources, along with finding videos related to the topics you’re talking about. Plus, you’ll see what your engagement rate is—as well as your average watch time, and more.

6. Get Discounts on Other Tools for Your Channel

A lot of work goes into making YouTube videos, and many creators use a huge range of tools to help them. In addition to looking at your channel’s analytics, you’ll also need to consider the sound effects and music you’ll be including in your videos. Moreover, you have to consider adding B-roll and other things.

When you purchase a subscription to TubeBuddy, you receive discounts for various third-party tools. For example, you can save money when buying a plan for royalty-free music platforms.

TubeBuddy also gives paying members access to its mobile app, which otherwise costs $2.99 ​​per month.

If you’re looking to build a successful YouTube channel in the long run, you’ll need to step up as a full-time creator right away. Part of this means you need to invest in the right tools to help you improve with every video you upload.

TubeBuddy is an affordable solution for YouTube growth, and you can access some useful insights. It is also a great SEO tool, allowing you to rank higher. Additionally, its plans are scalable—meaning you can upgrade as your channel grows.