TubeBuddy plans: month to month against billed yearly
US dollars a month, as shown on the vendor page on 29 October 2026.
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TubeBuddy's pricing page shows headline numbers, but it doesn't clearly explain what's locked behind each tier, what the actual monthly cost looks like on annual billing, or where the hidden limitations are. We've been on every plan, tested every feature, and mapped out exactly what you get, and don't get, at each level. For our full feature review, see the TubeBuddy Review (2026).
| Plan | Monthly Billing | Annual Billing (per mo) | Annual Total | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | $0 | , |
| Pro | $15/mo | $12/mo | $144/yr | 20% vs monthly |
| Star | No longer sold | No longer sold | n/a | Discontinued |
| Legend | $32.99/mo | $26.39/mo | $316.68/yr | 20% vs monthly |
Yearly billing saves 20% on both paid plans as of October 2026: Pro drops from $15/mo to $12/mo and Legend from $32.99/mo to $26.39/mo. A standard license covers one channel; Legend includes 2 user seats, and TubeBuddy points brands with 3+ channels to Enterprise (custom pricing).
TubeBuddy's free plan installs the browser extension and gives you access to:
What's missing: Keyword Explorer depth, SEO Studio, A/B testing, bulk tools, best time to publish, competitor analysis, and advanced analytics. The free plan is a demo, not a working tool. If you're deciding whether TubeBuddy is right for you, we recommend the Pro plan for at least one month, the free plan doesn't represent what the tool actually does.
Pro unlocks the core SEO toolkit:
What's still locked: A/B thumbnail testing, bulk tools, advanced analytics, priority support. The Pro plan is genuinely useful for solo creators under 1K subscribers who need keyword research and SEO guidance. At $12/mo billed yearly (as of October 2026), it is the cheapest way into TubeBuddy's keyword tools.
TubeBuddy no longer sells Star. The features that made it the middle step now sit in Legend and Enterprise on TubeBuddy's plan grid (as of October 2026):
For channels between 1K and 50K subscribers, start with Pro plus YouTube Studio's free Test and compare, and move to Legend when you want TubeBuddy's own A/B testing. The A/B testing feature alone can justify the cost, a 22% CTR improvement on your thumbnails compounds across every video you publish.
Remember that YouTube tool subscriptions are tax-deductible business expenses for monetized creators. The team at CeoCult has a detailed guide on tool subscription deductions that can help you reduce the effective cost.
Legend unlocks everything in TubeBuddy:
Legend is expensive for individual creators but strong for large catalogs. Bulk description updates turn a link change across hundreds of videos from hours of manual work into a single operation. If you manage a channel with over 200 videos, the time savings pay for the subscription many times over; agencies with 3+ client channels go to Enterprise.
TubeBuddy's pricing page doesn't highlight several limitations that affect real-world usage:
Here's how TubeBuddy's pricing stacks up against its main competitor:
| Feature Level | TubeBuddy | vidIQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Very limited | Useful analytics overlay | vidIQ's free plan is more functional |
| Entry paid | Pro: $12/mo | Boost: $16.58/mo | TubeBuddy saves $55/year |
| With A/B testing | Legend: $26.39/mo | No dedicated A/B test tool | YouTube Studio's Test and compare is free |
| Top tier | Legend: $26.39/mo | Max: $39/mo | TubeBuddy saves about $151/year |
TubeBuddy is cheaper at every paid tier. vidIQ justifies its premium with AI content ideation tools that TubeBuddy can't match. The question isn't which is cheaper, it's which features you need. For a detailed feature-by-feature comparison, see our TubeBuddy vs vidIQ breakdown.
Our recommendation based on testing every plan:
For a complete breakdown of TubeBuddy's features beyond pricing, read our full TubeBuddy review. And if you're weighing TubeBuddy against vidIQ, our head-to-head comparison has the data you need.
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TubeBuddy does not offer a traditional free trial, but the Free plan lets you explore the interface indefinitely. Occasionally, TubeBuddy runs trial promotions on paid plans, so check their website for current offers. TubeBuddy also states a 30-day refund policy.
Yes. You can upgrade or downgrade at any time. Upgrades take effect immediately with a prorated charge. Downgrades take effect at the end of your current billing period. If you're on annual billing, downgrading mid-cycle does not issue a refund for the remaining months, you keep the higher plan until the annual period ends.
At $12/mo (Pro billed yearly, as of October 2026), yes, if you're publishing at least once a week. The keyword research alone helps you target topics you can actually rank for, which matters most in the early growth phase. Below that publishing frequency, the free plan is sufficient. Don't invest in tools until you've built a consistent upload habit.
TubeBuddy states that 501(c)(3) nonprofits qualify for a special discount. TubeBuddy's pricing page does not list a small-channel discount, and the Star plan it used to apply to is no longer sold. If you're a content creator looking for additional funding to invest in tools like TubeBuddy, GrantProbe's guide to grants for content creators covers small business grants and funding programs that digital creators qualify for.
TubeBuddy accepts major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) and PayPal. Payment is processed through Stripe. There's no option for cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or purchase orders. For agencies needing invoicing, ask TubeBuddy's sales team about Enterprise, its plan for 3+ channels.
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