Viewstats Chrome Extension: YouTube Analytics Review 2026
The Viewstats Chrome extension overlays view trajectories, outlier scores, and thumbnail history directly onto YouTube. It is co-founded by MrBeast, rated 4.5/5 with 217 reviews, and free to install. The Pro plan is $49.99/month — and the gap between those two tiers is where most creators run into trouble.
Quick Answer
What it is: A browser extension that adds YouTube analytics directly on YouTube pages — including a views-over-time graph, an outlier score (vs. the creator's last 9 uploads), and thumbnail/title change history.
Is it free? The core features are free. Pro costs $49.99/month (or $479.88/year) with no mid-range option.
Main problems: Repeated login failures, page slowdowns, Pro feature outages, and conflicts with other extensions.
Best free alternative: The OutlierKit extension shows color-coded outlier scores on YouTube thumbnails — completely free, no account required, and lightweight.
The MrBeast Connection: What It Means (and What It Doesn't)
Viewstats was co-founded by Jimmy Donaldson — known online as MrBeast — and Chucky Appleby in December 2023. This is a business investment and co-founding decision, not a personal tool that MrBeast built for his team. The association lends Viewstats significant credibility and media coverage, and it likely accelerated early user growth.
In practice, the MrBeast connection affects the brand and the marketing. It does not directly affect the data quality, server uptime, or the product roadmap. The extension's database claims to have 2,500 times more datapoints per day than competitors — that claim stands or falls on its own merits regardless of who co-founded the company.
For creators evaluating the extension: treat it as you would any other analytics tool. The co-founder's fame is not a reason to pay $49.99/month, and it is not a reason to dismiss it either.
What the Viewstats Extension Shows on YouTube
Once installed, Viewstats overlays several data panels directly onto YouTube without requiring you to leave the page. Here is what each feature does and which plan unlocks it:
Views-Over-Time Graph
FreeAn interactive chart appears on every YouTube video watch page, showing views plotted across multiple time windows: 24 hours, 1 week, 28 days, 90 days, 1 year, and Max. This lets you see whether a video's views are accelerating, plateauing, or declining — directly on the page, without opening a separate tool.
Outlier Score
FreeEach video gets a score comparing its performance against the creator's previous 9 uploads. A score above 1.0x means the video is outperforming recent history. This is designed to identify which videos broke through for a channel.
Thumbnail and Title Change History
FreeViewstats logs every time a creator changes a video's thumbnail or title after publishing. This history is invisible to normal viewers, making it uniquely useful for research — you can see which thumbnail a creator tested and whether they changed it to improve CTR.
One-Click Channel Analytics Panel
FreeA sidebar panel shows total channel views, subscriber count, and a breakdown of video performance without leaving YouTube. Useful for quick competitive research while browsing.
Video Comparison Over Time
ProOverlay the view trajectories of multiple videos on the same chart to compare how different videos from the same channel or across channels performed over time.
Trending Channels Widget
FreeA 'Trending channels today' widget surfaces channels gaining unusually high view velocity on a given day, which can be useful for spotting viral content early.
Note on database coverage: The features above only function for videos and channels that exist in Viewstats' database. Channels with under approximately 10,000 subscribers often return no data or placeholder values. The extension is most reliable for mid-to-large channels.
Viewstats Extension Pricing
Viewstats has a free tier and a single paid tier. There is no intermediate option.
Free
- ✓Views-over-time graph on all videos
- ✓Outlier Score (vs. last 9 uploads)
- ✓Thumbnail and title change history
- ✓One-click channel analytics panel
- ✓Trending channels widget
- ✓Available on Chrome and Firefox
Pro
Paid tier$479.88/yr (save 20%)
- ✓Everything in Free
- ✓Video comparison over time
- ✓Extended data history
- ✓Advanced channel analytics
- ✓Mobile app (iOS and Android)
- ✓Priority data access
The pricing gap is a real problem
Moving from free to Pro is a $49.99/month commitment. For a solo creator or small team, that is $600/year for features that — based on user reports — have experienced notable outages. There is no $9/mo or $19/mo tier. If the two Pro features (video comparison and extended history) are what you need, you either pay the full price or go without.
Known Issues: What Users Report
The Chrome Web Store listing shows a 4.5/5 rating across 217 reviews (as of version 1.5.4, November 2025). Many reviews are positive, particularly for the views-over-time graph and thumbnail history. The critical reviews cluster around a consistent set of problems:
Login and authentication failures
HighMultiple Chrome Web Store reviews report being repeatedly logged out, sessions not persisting, or the extension failing to authenticate. This blocks access to any account-linked features.
Page slowdowns and lag on YouTube
MediumThe extension injects additional UI and data fetching into every YouTube page load. Users on slower connections or machines report noticeable delays, especially on the YouTube home feed and video watch pages.
Pro-tier feature outages
HighPaying Pro subscribers have reported periods where premium features — specifically video comparison and extended history — stop working without notice. Support response times vary.
Compatibility conflicts with other extensions
MediumViewstats can conflict with ad blockers, VidIQ, TubeBuddy, and other YouTube-overlay extensions. Symptoms include broken UI panels, overlapping overlays, or the Viewstats UI disappearing entirely.
Incomplete database coverage
MediumNot every video and channel is in Viewstats' database. Smaller channels (typically under 10K subscribers) and newly published videos may show no data or placeholder scores.
High Pro price with no mid-range option
MediumThe jump from free to $49.99/mo is steep with no intermediate tier. For casual users who want one or two Pro features, there is no affordable upgrade path.
These issues do not affect every user. The extension has a large install base and most users do not encounter all of these problems. However, they are documented consistently enough in user reviews to take seriously before committing to the Pro tier.
OutlierKit Extension vs Viewstats: Side-by-Side
Both extensions show outlier scores on YouTube. They approach the problem differently, and the gap in what they each do well is significant enough to warrant a direct comparison.
| Feature | Viewstats | OutlierKit | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outlier scoring | Compares vs creator's last 9 uploads only | Color-coded scores across any channel's full video library | OutlierKit |
| Where scores appear | On the video watch page | Directly on YouTube thumbnails in the Videos tab | OutlierKit |
| Cost | Free (basic) / $49.99/mo (Pro) | Completely free, no account required | OutlierKit |
| Views-over-time graph | Yes — 24h, 1 week, 28 days, 90 days, 1 year, Max | Not in the extension (available on platform) | Viewstats |
| Thumbnail change history | Yes — full history of title and thumbnail changes | Not available | Viewstats |
| Browser performance | Reported lag and slowdowns on YouTube pages | Lightweight — no reported slowdowns | OutlierKit |
| Privacy and data collection | Account required for Pro features | No account required, activates on YouTube.com only | OutlierKit |
| Extension reliability | Login bugs and Pro outages reported | No account-based auth to break | OutlierKit |
| Works on small channels | Limited — sparse data under 10K subs | Works on any channel with a Videos tab | OutlierKit |
| Mobile app | Yes — iOS and Android (Pro) | Not available | Viewstats |
OutlierKit's Free Chrome Extension
The OutlierKit extension overlays color-coded outlier scores directly on YouTube thumbnails in any channel's Videos tab:
- ✓Green badge (2.0x+): Video is a proven outlier — performing at twice or more the channel's average.
- −Neutral badge (1.0x–2.0x): Solid performer but not a breakthrough video.
- −Red badge (below 1.0x): Underperforming relative to channel average.
- ✓Hover over any badge for a detailed breakdown; click for deeper analysis
- ✓No account required — installs and works immediately
- ✓Lightweight — does not cause the page slowdowns reported with Viewstats
- ✓Only activates on YouTube.com — no background data collection
Who Should Use Viewstats vs OutlierKit
Viewstats makes sense for:
Established creators (100K+ subs)
The Outlier Score and views-over-time graph are most accurate on channels with a large upload history. For big creators, the data is richer and more reliable.
Creators who research thumbnail strategy
The thumbnail and title change history feature is genuinely unique. No other free tool tracks this, and it reveals which creative decisions large channels made after publishing.
YouTube enthusiasts and stats watchers
If you enjoy tracking channel performance, the free tier provides a satisfying amount of data without spending anything.
Viewstats is the wrong fit for:
Small or new channels (under 10K subs)
The database coverage is limited for smaller channels. The Outlier Score requires upload history to be meaningful — and your competitors likely won't be in the database.
Creators on a tight budget wanting Pro features
At $49.99/mo with no mid-range tier, the value proposition is difficult to justify unless you rely heavily on the Pro-specific data. Most free features are sufficient for casual research.
Creators using multiple browser extensions
If you already run VidIQ, TubeBuddy, or an ad blocker, Viewstats frequently conflicts with them. The combined performance hit can make browsing YouTube unpleasant.
OutlierKit's extension is the better choice when:
You want outlier scoring at zero cost
OutlierKit's extension is completely free — no account, no trial, no credit card. The core outlier scoring feature is permanently free.
You research small or mid-size channels
OutlierKit works on any channel with a Videos tab regardless of subscriber count. Viewstats has limited data for channels under 10K subs.
You run multiple YouTube extensions
OutlierKit is lightweight and does not conflict with other extensions. If you also use VidIQ, TubeBuddy, or an ad blocker, it installs without interference.
You need bulk outlier scanning across a channel's archive
Scores appear on thumbnails as you browse the Videos tab — you can scan an entire channel's content at a glance without clicking into each video.
OutlierKit's full platform (from $16.6/mo annual) adds deeper research tools, psychographic analysis, and keyword research. The extension alone is a standalone free product and always will be.
Viewstats Extension: Honest Verdict
The Viewstats Chrome extension has two features that are genuinely hard to find elsewhere: the views-over-time graph embedded directly on YouTube watch pages, and the thumbnail and title change history. These are useful for any creator who does competitor research and wants to see exactly how a video performed after publishing — and what creative changes the creator made along the way.
The Outlier Score is a reasonable starting point for identifying breakout content, but comparing only against the last 9 uploads is a limited window. A channel in rapid growth will show artificially high scores for older videos, and a channel in decline will show inflated scores for recent content. The score is informative, not definitive.
The $49.99/month Pro tier is difficult to justify without a specific use case for video comparison or extended history. The reported reliability issues — login failures, Pro outages, and performance impact — make the investment feel uncertain for a tool at this price point. The free tier is worth installing if the views-over-time graph and thumbnail history are valuable to your workflow.
If your primary need is outlier scoring — identifying which videos on a channel significantly outperformed its average — the OutlierKit extension does that job for free, with better coverage for smaller channels and no login or slowdown issues.
Install Viewstats if:
- ✓You want the views-over-time graph on YouTube watch pages
- ✓Thumbnail and title change history is part of your research process
- ✓You research large, well-established channels (100K+ subs)
- ✓The free tier features are enough for your workflow
Use OutlierKit instead if:
- ✓You want outlier scoring for free, permanently, no account needed
- ✓You research channels of any size, including smaller ones
- ✓You already use VidIQ, TubeBuddy, or other browser extensions
- ✓Browser performance and privacy matter to you
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Viewstats Chrome extension do?
The Viewstats Chrome extension overlays YouTube analytics directly onto YouTube pages. On every video watch page, it adds an interactive views-over-time graph (showing performance across 24h, 1 week, 28 days, 90 days, 1 year, and Max), an Outlier Score (comparing the video against the creator's last 9 uploads), and a history of any thumbnail or title changes the creator made after publishing. There is also a one-click channel analytics panel and a trending channels widget. Most of these features are available on the free tier.
Is the Viewstats extension free?
Yes, the core features are free. The views-over-time graph, Outlier Score, thumbnail change history, and channel analytics panel are all available without paying. The Pro plan at $49.99/month (or $479.88/year) unlocks video comparison charts, extended history, and mobile apps. There is no mid-range paid tier between free and $49.99/mo.
Does MrBeast own Viewstats?
Viewstats was co-founded by Jimmy Donaldson (MrBeast) and Chucky Appleby in December 2023. MrBeast's involvement is a business partnership and investment — he is not the sole owner or operator. The MrBeast connection brings credibility and publicity, but does not affect the day-to-day product or data quality.
How does the Viewstats Outlier Score work?
The Outlier Score compares a video's view count against the creator's previous 9 uploads. A score above 1.0x means the video is outperforming the channel's recent average. For example, a score of 3.0x means the video has approximately three times the views of the average recent upload. This is useful for spotting breakout videos, but the comparison window is limited to 9 videos — so context matters, especially if a channel has variable upload frequency or is in a growth phase.
What are the main complaints about the Viewstats extension?
The most common complaints in Chrome Web Store reviews include: login and authentication failures (users being logged out repeatedly), noticeable page slowdowns on YouTube, Pro features becoming unavailable without notice, and compatibility issues when other extensions like ad blockers or VidIQ are also installed. Data coverage is also limited for channels with under 10K subscribers.
How does OutlierKit's extension compare to Viewstats?
Both extensions show outlier scores on YouTube, but they work differently. Viewstats shows a score on the individual video watch page, comparing against the creator's last 9 uploads. OutlierKit's extension shows color-coded outlier scores directly on thumbnails in any channel's Videos tab — green for 2.0x+ outliers, neutral for 1.0x to 2.0x, and red for below 1.0x. OutlierKit's extension is completely free with no account required, lightweight with no reported slowdowns, and works on any channel regardless of size. Viewstats has additional features like the views-over-time graph and thumbnail change history that OutlierKit's extension does not include.
Is the Viewstats extension available on Firefox?
Yes. Viewstats is available on both Chrome and Firefox. There are also iOS and Android mobile apps, though those require the Pro subscription ($49.99/mo or $479.88/yr).
Get free outlier scores on YouTube — right now
OutlierKit's Chrome extension shows color-coded outlier scores on YouTube thumbnails. Free forever, no account required, no browser slowdown.
Install Free Extension