Free tools and guides

Free in-browser template tool for video ideas, plus how IdeaPhantom builds ideas from the top channels in your niche. Includes YouTube Shorts formats and hook examples.

Free calculator: a video's views divided by its channel's median views, plus how to use outliers to pick video ideas.

How to do a YouTube competitor analysis in 5 steps, with a free template (CSV or Google Sheets) and free competitor research tools.

Free in-browser calendar builder: pick upload days and weeks, get script, film and edit deadlines, export to CSV, Google Sheets or Notion.

The top-channel method in 6 steps: pick channels, spot outliers, note formats, borrow from other niches, check demand, add something new.

How to find what's breaking out in your niche right now: YouTube Studio's Trends tab and Breakout videos, Trending Charts, outlier scores vs. channel median, timing, and when not to chase a trend.

What to make first on a new or small channel: three tests for a beginner idea, formats a small channel can film now, a 10-video starter plan, and what to leave for later.

How to find vlog ideas strangers click: the frame behind vlog outliers (role, result, cost, place, milestone), 8 vlog formats, daily vlogs as series, and the YouTube rules vloggers hit.

Fun and funny video ideas for groups and two friends: give everyone a role and a stake, 10 group formats, title templates, and YouTube's rules on pranks, challenges, privacy and age.

Challenge video ideas for solo creators and groups: the four parts every challenge needs (rule, measurable goal, stake, ending), 10 formats, title templates, and which challenges YouTube doesn't allow.

Reaction video ideas that add value: pick an angle (expertise, verdict, breakdown, point of view), 9 reaction formats, what to react to, and YouTube's fair use, Content ID and reused content rules.

YouTube video title ideas and best practices: title length, keywords, title vs. description, labelled templates, real sample titles taken apart, and title A/B tests, with YouTube Help sources.

Research a YouTube niche through its top channels: map channels, find repeat outliers, list formats, check for gaps, and borrow formats from other niches.

What YouTube counts as a content gap, where to find gaps and how to confirm one before filming.

What replaced YouTube Studio's Inspiration tab (Ask Studio), where saved ideas went, and how to find video ideas now.

The top-channel method applied niche by niche (gaming, cooking, finance, fitness, tech, beauty, travel, education, pets, cars, music), and what to do if your niche isn't listed.

Gaming video ideas by angle (one game, genre, challenge runs, lore), the top-channel method for your game, formats and hooks.

Cooking video ideas by angle (budget, meal prep, one cuisine, viral recipes tested), seasonal outliers, formats and hooks.

Personal finance video ideas by audience (students, first job, near retirement), real IdeaPhantom sample output, formats and hooks.

Fitness video ideas by training style and audience (calisthenics, home workouts, beginners, over-40s), follow-along vs. talking videos, proof formats and hooks.

Tech video ideas by category and buyer (budget phones, PC builds, software, explainers), launch-day vs. evergreen outliers, faceless tech, formats and hooks.

Beauty and makeup video ideas by face, budget and skill (drugstore, mature skin, beginners), launch-hype vs. evergreen outliers, honest tests, formats and hooks.

Travel video ideas by traveller and trip type (budget, solo, families, slow travel), destination vs. format outliers, guides that keep getting found, formats and hooks.

Educational video ideas by subject and learner (exam prep, explainers, skills, study channels), exam-season spikes, made-for-kids rules, faceless explainers, formats and hooks.

Dog, cat and pet video ideas by pet and owner (training, breeds, new owners, rescue stories), one-off viral clips vs. repeatable formats, animal welfare rules, formats and hooks.

Car video ideas by car and owner (used buyers, EV owners, DIY repairs, detailing, project cars), launch vs. ownership outliers, safe filming, formats and hooks.

Video ideas for musicians (covers, originals and behind-the-song, lessons, gear and tone, live sessions, Shorts snippets), song-driven vs. format-driven outliers, and how cover songs work with Content ID.

What vidIQ, 1of10, TubeBuddy, ViewStats and IdeaPhantom are each for, in one table, with links to each full comparison.

vidIQ alternatives for creators who mainly want video ideas: IdeaPhantom, 1of10, TubeBuddy, ViewStats and a free route, with prices checked live.

1of10 alternatives for video ideas and outlier research: IdeaPhantom, vidIQ, TubeBuddy, ViewStats and a free outlier method, with prices checked live.

TubeBuddy alternatives by job (video ideas, SEO, A/B tests, competitor analytics): IdeaPhantom, vidIQ, 1of10, ViewStats and free YouTube Studio tools.