To run a high-performing YouTube channel, you’ll need the right tools. Learn more about the best tools for YouTube creators in this informative guide.

If you’re serious about creating a high-performing YouTube channel, it’s important to use the right tools. Even with the rise of new social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube is still extremely popular amongst users. In fact, YouTube is expected to reach a total of 2.6 billion users in 2023.

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To capture the attention of your ideal audience and stand apart from your competition, you’ll need to create high-quality, well-edited videos with eye-catching thumbnails. You’ll also need to closely monitor your channel as it grows and pay attention to data trends.

Fortunately, there are several free and low-cost tools to keep your YouTube channel running smoothly. Keep reading to learn more about today’s best tools for YouTube creators.

Best Tools for YouTube Creators

Now that you know the importance of having the right tools for your YouTube channel, let’s take a look at some of the best options.

General Tools

One of the best general tools for your YouTube channel is TubeBuddy. TubeBuddy is a one-stop-shop for managing and optimizing your channel. With productivity tools like scheduled publishing, you can plan out your videos in advance. It also has several SEO features to help get your content in front of as many of your target viewers as possible.

TubeBuddy plans start at just under five dollars a month. The platform’s Legend plan contains more sophisticated data analysis tools for serious content creators.

Another great multi-functional tool for YouTube is VidIQ. The program’s Daily Ideas feature uses artificial intelligence to come up with the best video ideas for your audience. It also has keyword tools and tools to track your competitors. Use the Channel Audit feature to help identify gaps and areas to improve. 

The free version of VidIQ comes with access to the VidIQ Academy as well as video scorecard and live stats features. Paid plans start at $7.50 per month.

Graphics

Having an eye-catching thumbnail on each of your YouTube videos helps attract viewers to your channel. Create one with a graphics tool like Canva. Canva is very user friendly and perfect for beginners. With several pre-made templates to choose from, you can create a custom thumbnail in just a few clicks. You can also use the platform to create graphics for your other social media channels.

The Canva Free plan gives users access to over 250,000 templates and hundreds of free fonts and graphics. Upgrade to the Pro plan for $12.99 a month to try out some of the more advanced features.

If you need stock images or videos for your YouTube channel, check out Storyblocks. The Storyblocks library has more than one million royalty-free videos, music, and images. Other features include a built-in editing tool and a plugin that works with Adobe Premiere Pro. 

Plans range from $15 to $35 per month. The Storyblocks Starter plan is the most basic option and comes with up to five downloads per month. Upgrade to either the All Access or Pro plans and benefit from unlimited downloads

Editing

To make sure your YouTube videos look seamless and professional, you’ll need the right editing tools. One of the most popular and well-known options is Adobe Premiere Pro. In addition to standard video editing capabilities, Adobe also includes motion graphics, visual effects, and animation tools. Through the Premiere Rush mobile app, you can create great content on the go from your smartphone. 

Monthly subscriptions to Adobe Premiere Pro start at around $20. 

Another popular video editor is TechSmith’s Camtasia. With Camtasia, you can easily convert screen recordings into YouTube videos. The editor also allows content creators to add special effects, transitions, and music. If you create tutorial videos, Camtasia has a customized cursor feature for some added personalization.

You can try Camtasia for free for up to 30 days. After the trial ends, you can purchase a license for $299.99.

Growth & Management

The official channel management app for YouTube creators is the built in YouTube Studio platform. This tool’s mobile app keeps you updated on any alerts while you’re on the go and allows you to make changes and updates without having to use a computer. You can also respond to comments, schedule posts, and control monetization features.

If you’re an affiliate marketer, Geniuslink allows you to easily share your monetized product links with your YouTube audience. The program also helps you generate more revenue by sending link visitors to the webpage where they’re most likely to make a purchase. You can also customize links and make them shorter for easy sharing. 

You can try Geniuslink for free for 14 days. Paid plans start at five dollars a month.

Analytics

If you want to stay ahead of your competition, monitoring your YouTube channel’s data is essential. Unbox Social tracks critical statistics, like retention rate, video shares, and subscriber growth. Additionally, it tracks key subscriber demographics such as age, gender, and geographical location. The tool can also help you figure out the best times to post your content.

Unbox Social offers 14-day free trials for all of their plans. Paid subscriptions start at nine dollars a month.

With Sprout Social, you can gain valuable insights into your YouTube channel’s performance. The platform helps determine the key elements of your content so you can make more of what your audience loves. You can also use the tool to compare your performance across channels and monitor the effectiveness of campaigns. With Sprout Social’s premium features, you can create custom reports and view your data through interactive charts and graphs.

You can try Sprout Social free for 30-days. Paid plans start at $249 per month.