YouTube Channel
Comparison Tool

Our tool uses real-time data from YouTube's public API. Subscriber counts, video counts, and total views are 100% accurate as of the moment you run the comparison. Calculated metrics like views per video and engagement ratios are derived from this official data. Keep in mind that YouTube rounds subscriber counts for channels with over 1,000 subscribers, so very small differences may not be reflected.

Yes, you can compare any two public YouTube channels. There are no restrictions on which channels you can analyze - compare your own channel to competitors, compare two competitor channels, or analyze any channels that interest you. The only requirement is that the channels must be public and have a valid YouTube URL, @handle, or video link.

There's no single "best" metric - it depends on your goals. For engagement quality, focus on views per video and views per subscriber ratios. For growth efficiency, look at subscribers per video. For content strategy, examine video count and upload frequency. For overall success, consider total views and subscriber count together. We recommend looking at multiple metrics to get a complete picture rather than fixating on one number.

Monthly comparisons provide a good balance between staying informed and not obsessing over every fluctuation. For actively competing channels or during major strategy changes, bi-weekly checks can be valuable. Avoid daily comparisons as they can lead to short-term thinking and unnecessary stress. The goal is to identify trends and patterns, which require time to emerge.

Several factors can cause this. Smaller, newer channels often have more active core audiences since early subscribers are typically more engaged. Larger channels accumulate inactive subscribers over time who don't watch every video. Additionally, niche channels with dedicated audiences often outperform broad-appeal channels in engagement ratios. Content quality, posting frequency, and audience targeting all play roles.

Technically yes, but the comparison may not be meaningful. Different niches have vastly different performance benchmarks. A gaming channel with 50K subscribers might get more views per video than a B2B marketing channel with 200K subscribers due to audience behavior differences. For actionable insights, compare channels targeting similar audiences and content types.

The lifetime views per subscriber ratio (total views divided by subscribers) indicates how engaged and active your audience is over your channel's history. A ratio of 100-500 is typical, meaning each subscriber has watched 100-500 views worth of content on average. Very high ratios suggest strong audience loyalty or viral content. Low ratios might indicate inactive subscribers, recent rapid growth, or content that attracts subscribers but doesn't retain viewership.

Not necessarily a concern - it's actually an opportunity indicator. If you have better engagement (more views per subscriber or per video), your content strategy may be more effective. The competitor may have grown subscribers through different methods (giveaways, sub4sub, older content) that don't translate to current engagement. Focus on maintaining your engagement advantage while growing subscriber count.

Shorts significantly impact comparison metrics. Channels posting many Shorts often have higher view counts but potentially lower watch time and engagement per view. When comparing, consider whether both channels have similar Shorts strategies. A channel with 10M views mostly from Shorts isn't directly comparable to one with 10M views from long-form content. Look at content mix when interpreting numbers.

Being behind isn't failure - it's information. First, verify you're comparing to an appropriate benchmark (similar niche, comparable channel age). If the comparison is fair, use the data to identify your biggest gaps. Focus on one or two areas for improvement rather than trying to fix everything at once. Many successful channels started behind competitors and overtook them through consistent improvement.

Currently, you can take screenshots of the comparison results for your records. We recommend maintaining a simple spreadsheet tracking competitor metrics over time. Record the key numbers (subscribers, views, videos, calculated ratios) monthly to build your own competitive tracking database that shows trends over time.

Start by searching YouTube for your target keywords and noting who appears consistently. Look at the "Related Channels" or "Channels viewers also watch" sections on competitor channels. Join creator communities in your niche to discover peers. Aim for a mix of aspirational channels (larger, successful), direct competitors (similar size), and up-and-comers (smaller but growing fast).

It depends on your mindset. Comparing to much larger channels can be inspiring ("that's what's possible") or demoralizing ("I'll never catch up"). We recommend primarily comparing to channels at similar stages for realistic benchmarking, while occasionally checking larger channels for strategic insights. Focus on your growth rate and improvement rather than absolute numbers when looking at much larger channels.

YouTube Analytics (in YouTube Studio) shows detailed data about YOUR channel only - including watch time, revenue, traffic sources, and audience demographics. Our comparison tool shows public data about ANY channel and allows side-by-side comparison. Use YouTube Analytics for deep dives into your own performance, and our comparison tool for competitive intelligence that YouTube Analytics doesn't provide.

Absolutely. All the data we use is publicly available on YouTube - anyone can see subscriber counts, view counts, and video counts on any public channel. Competitive analysis is a standard business practice in every industry. What matters is what you do with the information: learning from competitors to improve your content is ethical; copying their content or harassment is not.