After years inside creator dashboards, analytics exports, and trend autopsies, we’ve learned that virality is rarely truly accidental. In 2026, creators do their research before diving into a topic for a video. How do you do that? Using tools at your disposal! Here’s a list of video research tools that can help you propel your content forward!
Things Worth Mentioning
Beyond the headline AI tools and paid dashboards, creators with experience know that the platforms themselves can be equally as accurate if you know what you’re looking for.
YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Reels each surface trend signals before third-party tools can detect them. What do you need to watch out for:
- Repeated formats
- The same hook structure is showing up across different creators
- Topic clusters appearing in unrelated niches
- Average creators are suddenly getting abnormal reach
Spotting virality early on is all about pattern recognition. It’s all about training that creator-native instinct and watching what your competitors do. Manual research via Recommended, For You, and Related Videos works when you know what you’re looking for.
But what if your ‘instinct’ isn’t trained yet? Or what if you want to see an outside perspective? Well, this is where AI tools come in handy! Let’s dive right in.
1. VidIQ
Coming in hot is the tool, or rather a whole ecosystem, that can help creators research to their heart's content. VidIQ remains one of the most widely used tools for a good reason! Its value cannot be underestimated.
VidIQ combines:
- Keyword demand data
- Competitor tracking
- Trend alerts
- Content scoring systems
Which is why creators often use it to pressure-test ideas before filming or identify topics with high search intent. Or, which is even more common, for video research purposes.
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VidIQ’s Pricing & Access
This tool can offer multiple tiers and includes a free plan with decent perks.
- Basic keyword insights
- Limited analytics
- Trial access to the premium tools
Next up is the Boost Plan, which will cost you around $19/mo (with the possibility to save around $29 if you choose to get billed annually). By picking this plan, you get:
- An ability to identify keywords
- Personalized ideas
- Competitor insights
- AI Shorts clipping
- AI Thumbnail generation
- Access to masterclasses from top creators
- Keyword scores
- SEO optimization tools
But the good news doesn’t end just there. AIR Media-Tech partners receive VidIQ Pro bundle for free!
If you want even more functionality and a personal YouTube Mentor, then the Coaching + Boost tier is for you. This tier lands you at $199/mo, but will offer you:
- Advanced, personalized coach matching
- Full access to VidIQ Boost tools
- 1-on-1 guidance + expert feedback
- Step-by-step growth plan
- Deeper competitor analysis and prio feature access
This isn’t the tool for an overnight success, but no tool can offer you that. But it will help you make changes and improve.
Source: Joseph Martin
2. Idea Generator (Oxys)
The second spot in this list is reserved for the Idea Generator (from Oxys). This tool shows you what’s truly promising, based on something nobody could deny: raw data. It turns vague keywords into testable video ideas.
The Idea Generator from Oxys works by analyzing:
- Topic-level audience demand
- Format performance patterns (explainers, challenges, breakdowns, reactions, etc.)
- Concept fatigue (how overused an idea already is)
- Channel fit based on your past uploads
Creators typically use this tool to pressure-test ideas before committing hours to production. It’s especially useful in saturated niches.
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Oxys Idea Generator: Pricing & Access
Oxys keeps pricing lightweight compared to all-in-one platforms. You’ll typically find:
- Free access with limited daily idea generations
- Paid tiers that unlock higher generation limits.
For more information, you can reach out to us!
3. Velio
Next up is Velio, which markets itself as a tool that helps creators in researching proven viral ideas. Velio approaches virality from a more predictive angle. Instead of reacting to spikes, it tries to forecast where attention is moving next. The tool analyzes:
- Topic momentum over time
- Audience overlap between niches
- Competitive density vs growth rate
It then scores ideas based on future potential, which is why creators use it to test and identify underserved sub-niches.
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Velio’s Pricing & Access
As all the tools have it, Velio is subscription-based. It offers only one tier for $35/mo for the next perks:
- Unlimited searches and saves for the videos
- Advanced Filters
- Track unlimited competitors
- Chrome Extension & Mobile App
Is there a free trial to test out the features? Nope.
4. Viewstats
Viewstats is made by a YouTuber with YouTubers in mind (at least that’s how it’s advertised). It’s a great research tool that can also help you explain why some videos explode while others don’t. Viewstats allows creators to:
- Track performance across channels in real time
- Compare video velocity across niches
- Break down thumbnails, titles, and upload timing
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Viewstats’ Pricing & Access
So, just like other models, Viewstats operates on a paid subscription model with $50/mo for a basic tier and $249/mo for a Business tier. Both include:
- Access to velocity charts
- Competitive video analysis
- Channel-level performance comparisons
- Historical trend visibility
Source: Timeworks
5. 1of10
1of10 is built for creators who already understand metadata, but need to know what’s breaking and how to research it. Instead of showing what’s popular overall, it focuses on outliers.
1of10 scans YouTube performance data to identify:
- Videos ranking in the top 10% of performance relative to channel size
- Sudden velocity spikes (views per hour vs subscriber count)
- Early-stage formats that haven’t saturated yet
At its core, 1of10 is a trend-discovery tool for YouTube creators who already understand the basics. Now, let’s dive into the pros and cons of this tool, from what we’ve tested and seen.
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1of10 Pricing & Access
Pricing varies by plan and access tier, generally positioned for serious creators and teams rather than hobbyists. The Basic version will cost you $49/mo (but $349 annually), and the Pro version will set you at $89/mo (or $588 if you’re willing to pay an annual subscription).
The Basic model gets you:
- Outlier dashboards
- Channel and niche scanning
- An ability to bookmark specific videos
- An ability to track competitor channels for further analysis
Source: Jon Davis
6. Inspiration Tab
And, last but not least, a YouTube-native instrument that has appeared on the site relatively recently. Inspiration Tab is an AI feature that helps you out with creative ideas by looking into what you’ve made before, how your audience took it, and does things from there.
The feature is able to auto-suggest hooks, which could be of immense help when it comes to making your intros. If you want to see how this tool works on a live example, be sure to check out this article.
This tool is free to use and is available in some European countries as of now, with future aspirations to roll out further.
The Best Case Use
The mistake we see most often is treating viral research tools like slot machines. That’s not how professionals use them. The real workflow goes along these lines:
- Scan for emerging signals (1of10, Viewstats, Idea Generator)
- Validate strategic fit (Velio, VidIQ, Inspiration Tab)
- Package creatively using instinct and audience knowledge
- Test fast, then double down only when signals confirm
Keep in mind that viral video research tools don’t replace creativity. They reduce blind spots, shorten learning cycles, and help you place bets with better odds. In a world where algorithms change weekly, that edge compounds faster than any hack ever could.
