How to See YouTube Analytics for Other Channels: Best Tools to Access Channel Analytics of Competitors

You can't access another channel's private YouTube Analytics dashboard—that data is locked behind their login. But here's what successful creators know: you can extract powerful competitive insights using the right tools and strategies.

Whether you're trying to understand why a competitor's videos outperform yours or looking for content gaps to exploit, this guide shows you exactly how to analyze other YouTube channels' performance data.

Why You Need YouTube Analytics for Other Channels

Understanding competitor analytics isn't about copying—it's about making smarter content decisions. When you know what works for similar channels, you can:

• Identify content gaps your competitors aren't covering

• Spot emerging trends before they become saturated

• Understand audience preferences in your niche

• Benchmark your performance against industry standards

• Discover outlier videos that massively outperform

The channels growing fastest aren't guessing. They're using competitive data to inform every content decision, like digging into YouTube channel statistics like no other.

What Analytics Can YouTube Creators Actually See?

While you can't access private metrics like revenue or exact demographics, public data reveals plenty:

Visible Metrics:

• View counts and growth rates

• Subscriber counts and trends

• Upload frequency and timing

• Video titles, descriptions, tags

• Engagement rates (likes, comments)

• Top performing videos

• Content categories and formats

Hidden Metrics You Can't Access:

• Revenue and RPM

• Click-through rates

• Audience retention graphs

• Traffic sources

• Detailed demographics

The key is using YouTube video analytics tools that transform visible data into actionable insights.

Method 1: OutlierKit - Top YouTube Outlier-Focused Solution

What it does: OutlierKit is specifically designed for spotting outlier videos—content that massively outperforms a channel's average—to reveal what actually drives YouTube success. 

Unique Strengths:

• Outlier Video Detection: The only tool genuinely focused on finding videos that break through 

• Script Analysis: Understand why successful videos work at the sentence level

• Psychographic Audience Analysis: Detailed viewer personas showing what content styles resonate

• Low-Competition Keywords: Find topics you can actually rank for

• Actionable Insights: Clear recommendations, not just raw data

• Web-based: No browser slowdown issues

Pricing advantage:

• $9/month with free trial

• Same features competitors charge $30-49 for

• Credit-based system for heavy research periods

• No hidden paywalls for essential features

Best for: Any creator serious about growth who wants data-driven strategies without breaking the bank.

How to use it:

1. Enter any competitor channel URL

2. View their outlier videos and performance patterns

3. Analyze successful scripts and hooks

4. Get personalized content recommendations

5. Find low-competition opportunities in your niche

Key differentiator: While other tools show you what happened, OutlierKit tells you what to do next. It's the difference between having data and having a strategy.

Method 2: Social Blade - Basic Video Analytics

What it does: Social Blade provides free basic analytics for any YouTube channel, including historical data and growth trends.

Strengths:

• Completely free for basic features

• Historical subscriber and view data

• Grade system for channel performance

• Future projections based on growth rates

Limitations:

• Surface-level data only

• No content analysis or keyword insights

• Can't identify why videos succeed

• Limited actionable recommendations

Best for: Getting a quick overview of channel size and growth trajectory. Not sufficient for serious competitive analysis.

How to use it:

1. Visit socialblade.com

2. Search for any YouTube channel

3. Review subscriber trends and view statistics

4. Check their channel grade and rankings

Verdict: Good for basic tracking but lacks the depth needed for strategic decisions.

Method 3: VidIQ - Keyword and SEO Analytics Tool

What it does: VidIQ's browser extension shows estimated analytics and SEO data for videos and channels.

Strengths:

• Shows video tags and keywords

• Provides view velocity graphs

• Competitor tracking features

• Channel audit tools

Limitations:

• Browser extension causes significant slowdown

• Many features locked behind $49/month paywall

• Data-heavy interface overwhelming for beginners

• Focuses on SEO metrics over content strategy

Best for: Creators obsessed with keyword optimization who don't mind the performance issues.

How to use it:

1. Install VidIQ browser extension

2. Visit any YouTube video or channel

3. Review the sidebar analytics

4. Track competitors in your dashboard

Verdict: Useful for keyword research but expensive and resource-intensive for what you get.

Method 4: TubeBuddy - Bulk Channel Analytics Features

What it does: Another browser extension offering competitive analysis and channel management tools.

Strengths:

• A/B testing capabilities

• Bulk processing tools

• Click Magnet for thumbnail optimization

• Competitor scorecards

Limitations:

• Cluttered, confusing interface

• Browser performance issues

• Best features require Legend plan ($49/month)

• Limited outlier video detection

Best for: Established creators who need bulk editing and A/B testing more than competitive insights.

How to use it:

1. Install TubeBuddy extension

2. Use Competitor Scorecard feature

3. Analyze video performance patterns

4. Track ranking changes

Verdict: Better for channel management than competitive analysis. Too expensive for most creators.

Method 5: YouTube's Native Tools in YouTube Studio

What it does: YouTube provides limited competitive data through search and discovery features.

Available insights:

• Trending videos in your niche

• "Most Popular" uploads from any channel

• Comment and engagement patterns

• Upload schedules and consistency

How to extract insights:

1. Sort any channel's videos by "Most Popular"

2. Analyze their top 10 videos for patterns

3. Check video descriptions for keywords

4. Monitor their community tab engagement

Limitations:

• Extremely manual and time-consuming

• No aggregated data or trends

• Can't compare multiple channels

• No performance context

Verdict: Free but incredibly limited. Only useful for surface-level observation.

How to Choose the Right Tool for Your YouTube Channel Needs

If you're a new creator (0-10K subscribers):

Choose OutlierKit. You need affordable, actionable insights without overwhelming complexity. The outlier-focused approach shows you exactly what content breaks through—critical when you're trying to gain initial traction.

If you're a data analyst who loves spreadsheets:

Consider Social Blade + OutlierKit. Use Social Blade for free historical tracking, OutlierKit for strategic insights.

If you have a $50+/month tool budget:

Still choose OutlierKit first. It provides more actionable insights at 1/5 the price. Add other tools only if you need specific features like TubeBuddy's A/B testing.

If you're a business using YouTube for leads:

OutlierKit is essential. The focus on outlier videos and audience psychographics directly translates to better conversion rates and ROI.

Step-by-Step: Conducting Competitor Analysis

Here's how to properly analyze competitor channels using the OutlierKit approach:

Step 1: Identify Your True Competitors

• Find channels with similar subscriber counts (within 10x range)

• Same niche or overlapping audience

• Similar content style or format

Step 2: Analyze Their Outlier Videos

• Look for videos with 5-10x their average views

• Identify common patterns in titles, topics, formats

• Note timing and trends they capitalized on

Step 3: Decode Their Audience

• Run psychographic analysis to understand viewer preferences

• Identify optimal video lengths and content styles

• Match your content to proven audience patterns

Step 4: Find Content Gaps in Your Video Content

• List topics they haven't covered

• Identify low-competition keywords they're missing

• Look for emerging trends they haven't noticed

Step 5: Create Your Youtube Video Strategy

• Prioritize high-opportunity topics

• Adapt successful formats to your style

• Test and iterate based on performance

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don't copy content directly. Use competitive analysis for inspiration and validation, not duplication.

Don't analyze only top channels. Channels slightly ahead of you provide more actionable insights than MrBeast.

Don't ignore outliers. Average performance doesn't reveal breakthrough opportunities—outliers do.

Don't overlook small channels. Sometimes smaller channels find gold mines before bigger competitors notice.

Don't rely on single data points. Look for patterns across multiple successful videos and channels.

The Bottom Line: Data Beats Guessing

You can't access private YouTube Analytics for other channels, but you don't need to. The right tools transform public data into competitive advantages.

While Social Blade shows basic stats and VidIQ/TubeBuddy offer keyword data at premium prices, OutlierKit's outlier-focused approach provides the clearest path to YouTube growth. At $9/month, it's the only tool that genuinely answers the question every creator asks: "What content should I make to succeed?"

Stop guessing what might work. Start with data that shows what actually does.

Take Action Today

1. Start with OutlierKit's free trial to analyze your top 3 competitors

2. Identify 5 outlier videos in your niche

3. Find 3 low-competition keywords you can target this week

4. Create your first data-backed video using these insights

5. Track your results and iterate

Remember: The channels growing fastest aren't lucky. They're strategic. They use competitive intelligence to make content decisions that guarantee results.

Ready to see what your competitors know that you don't? Start analyzing with OutlierKit and turn their success patterns into your growth strategy.