YouTube Growth & SEO

vidIQ Pricing & Review (2026)

Partner resources checked Sep 6, 2026

vidIQ combines YouTube keyword research, competitor tracking, AI-assisted ideas, thumbnails, scripts and channel optimization. The easiest way to evaluate it is to start on the free plan, then upgrade only if you need more research depth, AI credits or multi-channel capacity.

Free

150 AI credits/month, limited research and core creator tools.

Boost

$19/mo

Or $199/year in vidIQ's U.S. pricing comparison; 2,000 AI credits for one channel.

Max

$49/mo

Or $468/year in vidIQ's U.S. pricing comparison; 6,000 AI credits for one channel.

Affiliate disclosure: COSHUMA may earn a commission from some links on this page, at no extra cost to you.

Start vidIQ Free → Compare vidIQ vs TubeBuddy →

Practical value

Problems it can help solve

These are workflow problems the tool's documented capabilities can help address. COSHUMA does not promise a specific business result.

✓YouTube creators struggle to choose topics and keywords with clear audience demand.
✓Existing videos are published without a consistent optimization workflow.
✓Channel growth work is fragmented across idea generation, research and performance review.

Service ideas

Ways to make money with this tool

Use the tool to create a service, workflow or deliverable someone may pay for. These are use-case ideas, not income guarantees.

Offer YouTube topic and keyword research

Difficulty: Beginner · Starting cost: Free/paid

Example deliverable: Video topic and keyword plan

Provide channel optimization services

Difficulty: Intermediate · Starting cost: Paid

Example deliverable: Optimization checklist and content plan

Build a repeatable YouTube content workflow

Difficulty: Intermediate · Starting cost: Free/paid

Example deliverable: Research-to-publishing workflow

Workflow recommendation

Useful together when...

COSHUMA only shows this section when another tool has a distinct workflow role. This does not imply a native integration unless the page explicitly says so.

Pictory

Produce videos after topic and keyword research.

Descript

Edit and repurpose finished recordings into additional clips.

Frase

Coordinate search-focused written and video content around related topics.

Which vidIQ plan makes sense?

Start with Free

Best if you are validating vidIQ before paying. Current official documentation lists 150 AI credits per month, 3 keyword results per search, up to 3 tracked competitors and 3 personalized daily ideas.

Move to Boost when research limits slow you down

Boost raises the monthly AI allowance to 2,000 credits for one channel and unlocks unlimited keyword research, unlimited Outliers research, 50 personalized daily ideas, up to 20 tracked competitors, Best Time to Post and subscriber analysis.

Choose Max for heavier AI use

Max starts at 6,000 AI credits for one channel and raises competitor tracking to up to 50. It is the better fit when AI Coach, thumbnails, clipping, scripts and other credit-using tools become part of your regular workflow.

What you can do with vidIQ

✓ Research YouTube keywords and search opportunities

✓ Find outlier videos and niche trends worth testing

✓ Track competitors and channel performance signals

✓ Generate or improve titles, scripts and thumbnails with AI credits

✓ Use the browser extension inside the YouTube research workflow

✓ Check Shorts scorecards, optimization scores and real-time stats

Free educational paths

Start with the YouTube milestone you are trying to reach

Get your first 1,000 subscribers →

A beginner-focused guide for the subscriber milestone that unlocks more channel opportunities.

Build toward 4,000 watch hours →

Practical watch-time strategies for creators focused on monetization eligibility.

Read the YouTube monetization guide →

A step-by-step overview for creators planning the full monetization path.

vidIQ vs TubeBuddy: quick choice

Pick vidIQ if...

You want a YouTube growth workflow centered on data-backed ideas, outlier discovery, AI Coach, thumbnails, scripts and channel opportunity research.

Compare TubeBuddy if...

You care more about YouTube Studio productivity, SEO utilities and bulk channel-management workflows. Use the full comparison before choosing.

See the vidIQ vs TubeBuddy comparison →

Best low-risk starting point: test the free plan

Use the free tier to see whether vidIQ's ideas, keyword data, competitor signals and AI workflow match the way you plan videos. Upgrade only when the free limits are clearly holding back your workflow.

Try vidIQ Free →

Source note: pricing references are based on vidIQ's official 2026 plan/help pages and its official vidIQ-vs-TubeBuddy comparison, which states U.S. pricing checked August 7, 2026. Feature limits are based on vidIQ's May 6, 2026 plan-credit documentation. This page does not claim hands-on testing where none was performed.

Represent this product?

Request a COSHUMA sponsored placement

Sponsored placement starts at USD 49. Approved sponsorships receive a clearly labeled promotional placement in designated high-visibility areas. Premium positions are priced separately based on placement and availability. Sponsorship does not change independent editorial ratings or organic rankings.

See sponsorship options → Email a sponsorship request →

This inquiry link does not create a charge.

Verification & sources

Last verified

September 1, 2026

Sources checked

vidIQ.com

Software details and prices can change. Verify final terms on the vendor site before purchasing.