vidIQ Review 2026: Pros, Cons and Verdict
Posted on |
By Mohamed Zaki · Researched and updated October 28, 2026 · Coupons Scout may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.
This vidIQ review is for YouTube creators who want to know whether vidIQ’s free plan is enough or whether Boost or MAX is worth paying for. vidIQ says its mission is to empower every video creator with the insights and inspiration they need to grow. We read its own homepage, pricing page, extension page and help center in October 2026 to explain the plans, AI credits and billing rules. Before you upgrade, check our vidIQ coupon page for current offers.
Quick Verdict
Our score: 4.4/5 · A YouTube growth toolkit with a free plan, AI credits, an AI Coach and a browser extension
vidIQ gives YouTube creators keyword research, daily video ideas, an AI Coach and a browser extension with SEO scores. As of October 2026, its free plan includes 150 AI credits a month, Boost costs $19 a month or $199 a year, and MAX costs $49 a month or $468 a year at US list prices.
Best for: YouTube creators who want data-backed video ideas, keyword research and AI coaching, and who can start on the free plan.
Consider an alternative if: you want a stated refund window; the pricing page does not list one, so start on the free plan before you upgrade.
Key Takeaways
- vidIQ is a YouTube growth toolkit, and as of October 2026 its free plan includes 150 AI credits a month, niche trend insights, content ideas and AI Coach growth tips.
- As of October 2026, vidIQ lists one-channel US prices of $19 a month or $199 a year for Boost, and $49 a month or $468 a year for MAX.
- vidIQ Boost includes 2,000 AI credits a month (selectable up to 3,000), and MAX includes 6,000 (selectable up to 10,000).
- The vidIQ browser extension adds a real-time SEO score for every video and AI title, description and tag recommendations, with versions for Chrome, Firefox and Microsoft Edge.
- You can cancel vidIQ anytime under Account Settings, and paid features stay active until the end of the current billing cycle.
- We rate vidIQ 4.4 out of 5 for YouTube creators who want AI-assisted ideas, keyword research and coaching in one toolkit.
vidIQ at a Glance
| Detail | vidIQ |
|---|---|
| Best for | YouTube creators who want AI-assisted ideas, keyword research and coaching |
| Free plan | $0 with 150 AI credits a month |
| Boost | $19/month or $199/year; 2,000 AI credits a month |
| MAX | $49/month or $468/year; 6,000 AI credits a month |
| Browser extension | Chrome, Firefox and Microsoft Edge |
| Teams | Enterprise plans for more than 3 channels or several team members |
| Cancellation | Anytime; access lasts to the end of the billing cycle |
From vidIQ’s pricing page, extension page and help center, October 28, 2026. One-channel US list prices; local pricing may vary.
What Is vidIQ and Who Is It For?
vidIQ is a toolkit for growing a YouTube channel. Its homepage lists keyword research with search volume and competition scores, daily video ideas, an AI YouTube Coach, a channel audit, thumbnail design, AI clipping for Shorts and TikToks, and Instagram support. It also names enterprise users such as Netflix, TED-Ed and ESPN.
vidIQ suits:
- New YouTubers who want video ideas and keyword data, starting on the free plan.
- Growing channels that need more AI credits, personalized ideas and optimization tools on Boost.
- Full-time creators who want more AI Coach conversations and up to 11 hours of short clipping on MAX.
- Agencies and brands with more than 3 channels, which vidIQ points to its enterprise plans.
vidIQ Review: Key Features
What Does the vidIQ Browser Extension Do?
The vidIQ extension page describes a browser extension that adds analytics, SEO tools and tag suggestions to YouTube. It provides a real-time SEO score for every video, plus AI title, description and tag recommendations and tag insights from top-ranking videos. vidIQ offers it for Chrome, Firefox and Microsoft Edge, and says it is trusted by 30M+ creators.
How Do Keyword Research and Daily Ideas Help?
Keyword Research shows search volume and competition scores, so you can pick topics people search for. Daily Ideas suggests video ideas tuned to your channel and niche. On Boost, vidIQ adds personalized ideas and unlimited trends research, which helps if you publish often.
What Is the vidIQ AI Coach?
The AI YouTube Coach gives growth plans based on an analysis of your channel. The free plan includes AI Coach growth tips, Boost adds deeper reasoning, and MAX adds more conversations and a Max Mode AI for growth strategy. If you want a person instead, vidIQ also sells a Boost + Coaching plan that pairs Boost with 1-on-1 YouTube coaching.
What Is vidIQ MCP?
vidIQ MCP connects your vidIQ account to Claude, ChatGPT or another AI assistant that supports MCP, according to the pricing page. It is available on every plan, including Free, and tool calls use the AI credits in your plan.
vidIQ Pricing in 2026
vidIQ’s pricing page shows one-channel US list prices. It notes that local pricing may vary and that the final price is shown at checkout. Here is the breakdown as of October 2026.
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly | AI credits per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | 150 |
| Boost | $19 | $199 ($16.58/mo) | 2,000 (selectable up to 3,000) |
| MAX | $49 | $468 ($39/mo) | 6,000 (selectable up to 10,000) |
| Boost + Coaching | Not listed | Not listed | Boost access plus 1-on-1 coaching |
| Enterprise | Not listed | Not listed | For more than 3 channels or teams |
One-channel US list prices from vidIQ’s pricing page, October 28, 2026. Paid plans renew automatically.
Free Plan vs Paid Plans: What Is the Difference?
vidIQ has a free plan, not a time-limited free trial. The pricing FAQ says the free tier includes limited access to its most popular tools, and you can upgrade anytime. Free covers niche trend insights, content ideas, AI Coach growth tips and 150 AI credits a month. Boost adds thumbnail creation, personalized ideas, unlimited trends research, optimization tools, unlimited subscriber insights and creator masterclasses.
How Can You Pay Less for vidIQ?
- Start free. Use the free plan and its 150 AI credits before you pay.
- Pick yearly billing. Boost is $199 a year against $19 a month, and MAX is $468 a year against $49 a month.
- Choose the right tier. Boost covers most solo creators; MAX adds more AI credits and clipping hours.
- Check for codes. Our vidIQ coupon page lists current codes and offers; click Get Code before you pay.
Pros and Cons of vidIQ
✅ What We Like
- Free plan with 150 AI credits a month and limited access to popular tools.
- Yearly billing costs less than paying monthly: Boost is $199 a year vs $19 a month.
- Browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Microsoft Edge with a real-time SEO score.
- Keyword research, daily ideas, AI Coach and thumbnail tools in one account.
- vidIQ MCP connects your account to AI assistants on every plan, including Free.
- Cancel anytime; paid features stay active to the end of the billing cycle.
💡 Things to Consider
- The pages we read do not state a refund window; start on the free plan and upgrade when you need more credits.
- Prices are US list prices and local pricing may vary; check the final price at checkout.
- App store subscriptions must be cancelled in the App Store or Google Play; buy on the web if you prefer to manage billing in vidIQ.
vidIQ’s strengths are its free plan, its range of AI tools and its browser extension. The things to consider are mainly about billing: start free, compare your local price at checkout, and buy on the web if you want to manage your plan inside vidIQ.
Is vidIQ Legit? Cancellation and Billing
vidIQ lists enterprise users such as Netflix, TED-Ed, Oracle Red Bull Racing and ESPN on its homepage, and it explains billing on its own help center. To cancel, the help center says to open Account Settings, press Manage Plan and click Cancel Subscription, then finish the full downgrade process. Your access to paid features ends at the end of the current billing cycle.
If you subscribed through the Apple App Store or Google Play, you cancel there instead. Paid plans renew automatically, so note your renewal date. The pages we read do not state a refund window, so start on the free plan before you upgrade.
How We Rated vidIQ
| Criterion | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 4.6/5 | Keyword research, daily ideas, AI Coach, thumbnails, clipping and a browser extension. |
| Free plan | 4.5/5 | 150 AI credits a month plus trend insights, ideas and AI Coach tips. |
| Pricing and value | 4.3/5 | Boost $199 a year or $19 a month; MAX $468 a year or $49 a month (US). |
| Ease of use | 4.4/5 | Extension shows SEO scores and tag ideas right on YouTube pages. |
| Billing transparency | 4.1/5 | Cancel anytime with access to the end of the cycle; refund terms not stated. |
| Overall | 4.4/5 | A YouTube growth toolkit with a free plan, AI credits, an AI Coach and a browser extension |
How we score: we read vidIQ’s own pages (homepage, pricing, browser extension page and help center) on October 28, 2026, and compared them with other YouTube growth tools. We did not use the service; scores reflect this research, not a sponsorship, and no company reviewed this article.
How vidIQ Compares to Other YouTube Tools
| Tool | Best for | Free option | Price shown on site | Our score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| vidIQ | AI ideas, keyword research and coaching | Free plan, 150 AI credits a month | Boost $19/month or $199/year (US) | 4.4/5 |
| TubeBuddy | Bulk editing and SEO tools for one channel per license | Free plan after downgrade | Not shown; Per Year Save 20% | 4.2/5 |
| Morningfame | Simple analytics and search optimization | Not stated | Not shown on homepage | 3.9/5 |
TubeBuddy says it offers a 30-day refund policy and that a standard license is tied to one YouTube channel, while Morningfame describes itself as smarter analytics for YouTube. See our vidIQ alternatives and competitors comparison and our creator tool guides for more.
How to Get Started With vidIQ
- Sign up for the free vidIQ plan and connect your YouTube channel.
- Install the browser extension for Chrome, Firefox or Edge to see SEO scores on YouTube.
- Use Keyword Research and Daily Ideas to plan your next videos.
- Ask the AI Coach for growth tips, and watch your monthly AI credits.
- Check our vidIQ coupon page, then choose yearly billing if you upgrade.
Final Verdict: Is vidIQ Worth It?
We think vidIQ is worth it for YouTube creators who want ideas, keyword data and AI coaching in one place. The free plan with 150 AI credits a month is a low-risk start, and Boost at $199 a year adds the tools most growing channels need. We rate vidIQ 4.4 out of 5. Start free, upgrade when you run short of credits, and compare your local price at checkout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is vidIQ free?
Yes. As of October 2026, vidIQ has a free plan with 150 AI credits a month, niche trend insights, content ideas and AI Coach growth tips. You can upgrade anytime.
How much does vidIQ cost?
As of October 2026, vidIQ lists one-channel US prices of $19 a month or $199 a year for Boost, and $49 a month or $468 a year for MAX. Local pricing may vary.
What is the difference between vidIQ Boost and MAX?
vidIQ MAX includes everything in Boost plus more AI Coach conversations, Max Mode AI and up to 11 hours of short clipping. MAX has 6,000 AI credits a month against 2,000 on Boost.
How do I cancel vidIQ?
Open Account Settings, press Manage Plan and click Cancel Subscription, then finish the downgrade process. vidIQ’s paid features stay active until the end of your current billing cycle.
Does vidIQ work on browsers other than Chrome?
Yes. vidIQ says it offers browser extensions for Firefox and Microsoft Edge as well as Chrome.
Does vidIQ offer a refund?
The vidIQ pages we read in October 2026 do not state a refund window, so start on the free plan and contact vidIQ support before you upgrade if you have questions.
Are there vidIQ promo codes?
Check our vidIQ coupon page for current codes and offers. Click Get Code so the discount is applied at checkout.
Comparing more stores in this category? See Best Tools for YouTube Channel Growth and Video Downloading.
About the author: Mohamed Zaki, Founder & Chief MarTech Strategist, Coupons Scout. Mohamed Zaki is the founder of Coupons Scout and leads how the team finds deals and researches the software behind them. He focuses on marketing technology, automation tools and ways to pay less for them.
Editorial note: this article is based on research of brand product pages, help centers and policies, last checked October 28, 2026. Scores are our editorial opinion. Coupons Scout may earn a commission from some links, which never changes our rankings.
Sources
Brand pages we used for this article, checked October 28, 2026. Prices and plans can change, so confirm on the brand’s own website before you buy.
