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At Channel Makers, we’ve used vidIQ for years. We’ve tried the free tools and premium plans. Over time, we saw that we only actually use a few features often. In this review, I want to show you which parts are really useful — and which ones are just fluff. Your time is precious. Let’s find what’s worth your time.
Free Features That Are Useful
One of the free features we use the most is thumbnail preview. Normally once a video plays, the thumbnail disappears. But with vidIQ, it stays visible. That helps when you’re studying other creators’ thumbnails. It lets you compare thumbnails to the actual video content. For content creators, that insight is gold.
Another free tool is Daily Ideas. You get a few video ideas each day without reentering your niche. The ideas aren’t always original. But they’re quick and handy, especially when you’re low on inspiration.
Then there is Competitor Analysis. In free mode, you can compare your channel with a few competitors at a time. It’s not full access. Still, it gives you a sense of how your channel is doing vs. others. You can swap out channels to get fresh comparisons.
Paid Features: Are They Worth the Cost?
So what do paid features add? Mostly, they enhance what already exists.
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Daily Ideas lets you view many ideas at once. More you can mix and match.
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Competitor Analysis lets you compare against more channels at a time. That gives deeper insights.
These upgrades are nice. But many paid-only tools didn’t impress me. They sometimes offer little value beyond what you can get for free or with other tools. If you already use many free or AI tools, the premium version might not be worth it.
New AI Tools: A Mixed Bag
vidIQ recently launched AI features. They now have tools like channel audits, video ideas, and even video scripting. This is more visible on their homepage now.
The channel audit looks over your channel and gives tips. In our test, it said we should make content that appeals to a female audience because our viewers skew male. That advice may work for some creators but not all. If your niche is very specific, that suggestion could mislead you.
We also tested Community Post ideas. ChatGPT used to struggle with YouTube community post ideas. Now it’s better, but we asked vidIQ to suggest a community post for a Lego channel. The idea was “share your favorite Lego sets.” It was fine. But the AI had guessed the channel was about Legos — even if that wasn’t your niche. That shows how AI suggestions can go off-mark.
Final Thoughts: What’s Best for You
Which vidIQ features are truly worth your time? If you only use the free plan, the thumbnail preview tool by itself is worth installing. Combined with Daily Ideas and competitor analysis, you already have tools that matter.
Upgrading to paid might be a good idea if you value convenience and want more depth. If you manage your content strategy manually, some premium perks won’t be essential.
The new AI tools are promising. But they need more refinement. Use them carefully. Don’t trust every suggestion blindly.
Overall, vidIQ offers a solid free experience. If you grow into needing more, try the paid version. Just test it first and see if the upgrades match your needs.

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