Track YouTube Competitors: Monitor Channel Performance
Keep tabs on up to 10 competitor YouTube channels. Get notified of new uploads, track their performance over time, and stay ahead of your competition.
Successful YouTubers don't operate in a vacuum—they stay aware of what their competitors are doing. OutlierKit's Channel Tracking feature lets you monitor up to 10 YouTube channels over time, keeping you informed of their content strategy, upload schedule, and performance trends. By tracking the right competitors, you can identify opportunities, learn from their experiments, and ensure you're always one step ahead in your niche.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- 1
Click "Track Channels" in the left sidebar
- 2
Enter a YouTube channel URL or handle in the "Add New Channel" section
- 3
Click "+ Add Channel" button
- 4
View your tracked channels (maximum 10 allowed)
- 5
See channel info including subscribers and when added
- 6
Click "Analyze" to get full channel analysis
- 7
Click the trash icon to remove a channel from tracking
Pro Tips
- Track channels at different sizes to see various stages of growth
- Include channels outside your exact niche for creative inspiration
- Regularly review tracked channels to spot strategy changes early
- Remove inactive or irrelevant channels to make room for better ones
- Track your own channel to monitor your progress over time
What is Competitor Channel Tracking?
Channel tracking is continuously monitoring select channels over time—unlike one-time analysis, it shows how competitors evolve.
- 1See when competitors try new formats, shift focus, or experience growth spurts
- 2Spot successful strategies early and avoid repeating their mistakes
- 3Identify opportunities they're missing that you can capitalize on
- 4Automates monitoring so you stay informed without manually checking channels weekly
The Hard Way vs The Easy Way
Without OutlierKit (The Hard Way)
- Manually Check Channels WeeklyRemember to visit each competitor's channel every week, scroll through their new uploads, and try to notice changes in strategy or performance.
- Forget Who You're MonitoringLose track of which channels you wanted to follow, or forget to check them for weeks at a time, missing important strategic shifts.
- No Historical ContextCan't easily see how a competitor's strategy has evolved over time because you're only looking at their current state each time you check.
- Time-Consuming ProcessSpend 30+ minutes each week manually reviewing competitor channels instead of creating content or doing more impactful research.
With OutlierKit (The Easy Way)
- Organized Competitor ListKeep your top 10 competitors in one organized dashboard, with key metrics visible at a glance—no more forgetting who to monitor.
- Instant Channel AccessOne click to see full channel analysis for any tracked channel, making competitive research fast and efficient.
- Strategic CurationFocus your attention on the most relevant competitors by easily adding and removing channels as your competitive landscape evolves.
- Subscriber TrackingSee subscriber counts and when channels were added, giving you context for understanding their growth trajectory over time.
How Pro YouTubers Do It
Track Different Competitor Types
Include channels smaller, similar, and larger than yours. Each provides different insights—emerging strategies, peer benchmarks, and aspirational goals.
Rotate Channels Periodically
Review your tracked list monthly. Remove channels that have become irrelevant; add emerging competitors you've discovered.
Track Channels Outside Your Exact Niche
Following 1-2 channels in adjacent niches can reveal format innovations and audience crossover opportunities.
Note Strategy Changes
When a tracked channel makes a noticeable change, document it. Watching what competitors test—and whether it works—is free market research.
Real-World Examples
Finance creator tracking 10 competitor channels
Noticed 3 tracked channels all started adding Shorts in the same month—signaled a platform trend worth exploring
Started a Shorts strategy early, gaining first-mover advantage in the finance Shorts space
Beauty creator feeling isolated from industry trends
Tracked 5 successful beauty channels of various sizes and reviewed weekly for content inspiration
Spotted 'get ready with me' format trend early, adopted it, and saw 3x engagement improvement
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Why it hurts: You miss innovations happening in adjacent spaces that could differentiate your content.
Do this instead: Use 2-3 slots for channels in related (but not identical) niches.
Why it hurts: Tracking without reviewing defeats the purpose. Stale lists provide stale insights.
Do this instead: Schedule a weekly 15-minute review of your tracked channels' recent activity.
Why it hurts: Big channels innovate less (they're protecting what works) and their tactics may not scale down.
Do this instead: Include a mix: 3 larger, 4 similar-sized, 3 smaller but fast-growing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can I only track 10 channels?
We limit tracking to 10 channels to ensure quality monitoring and to encourage focused competitive analysis. Tracking too many channels can lead to information overload without actionable insights.
Can I change which channels I'm tracking?
Yes, you can remove tracked channels at any time by clicking the trash icon and add new ones as long as you're under the 10-channel limit.
What kind of insights do I get from channel tracking?
Channel tracking gives you ongoing visibility into competitor upload frequency, video performance, subscriber growth, and content strategy changes over time.
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