YouTube review
The biggest home for videos, Shorts and live streams
- Free + paid plans
- iPhone & iPad, Android, Web
4.7 from 49.9M App Store ratings 10B+ Google Play downloads #3 in Photo & Video on the US App Store
Does it deserve #1?
Is YouTube worth it?
For most people, yes. YouTube scores 8.7/10 and ranks #1 in Social Media & Creator Tools. It's best for creators who make longer videos and want a clear way to earn. Skip it if you only want quick text posts or private chats with friends. Price: Free with ads; in the US, Premium is $15.99 a month and Premium Lite is $8.99.
The verdict
YouTube is still the best place to watch and post longer videos. You can upload long videos, Shorts and live streams, all for free. Creators start earning from ads at 1,000 subscribers plus enough watch time, which is the clearest pay system of any big app. The downsides are lots of ads unless you pay for Premium, and Google links a lot of what you watch to your account.
- Long videos and live streams
- Shorts up to three minutes
- Ad pay through the Partner Program
- Channel memberships and Super Chat
- YouTube Studio stats
- Premium plan with no ads
Score breakdown
Overall = features 30% · design 20% · speed 20% · value 15% · privacy 15%. Why these weights?
What's new
- Feb 2027New channels will need 8,000 watch hours or 20 million Shorts views to earn from ads
- Jun 2026Shorts swapped the dislike button for a heart and added 2x speed
- Apr 2026US prices rose to $15.99 a month for Premium and $8.99 for Premium Lite
Privacy 5.6/10
The App Store label says contact info and identifiers may be used to track you. Location, contacts, search and browsing history and purchases are linked to your Google account. The free app shows ads.
What we like
- Free to watch and post
- Clear rules for getting paid
- Works on phones, computers and TVs
What could be better
- Lots of ads unless you pay for Premium
- Hard for brand new channels to get noticed
- Google links a lot of data to your account
Creators who make longer videos and want a clear way to earn
you only want quick text posts or private chats with friends
Questions about YouTube
Is YouTube worth it in 2026?
For most people, yes. YouTube scores 8.7/10 and ranks #1 in Social Media & Creator Tools. It's best for creators who make longer videos and want a clear way to earn. Skip it if you only want quick text posts or private chats with friends. Price: Free with ads; in the US, Premium is $15.99 a month and Premium Lite is $8.99.
Is YouTube free?
Yes. Watching and posting are free with ads. In the US, YouTube Premium costs $15.99 a month and Premium Lite costs $8.99 a month, and both cost more if you pay through the iPhone app.
How many subscribers do you need to make money on YouTube?
To earn from ads you need 1,000 subscribers plus 4,000 watch hours in 12 months or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days. Fan funding, like Super Chat, opens at 500 subscribers with lower watch-time goals.
How long can a YouTube Short be?
Up to three minutes, as long as the video is square or vertical.
Are the YouTube monetization rules changing?
Yes. From February 1, 2027, new channels will need 1,000 subscribers plus 8,000 watch hours or 20 million Shorts views to earn from ads. The 500-subscriber fan funding level stays the same.
What are the best alternatives to YouTube?
The closest alternatives are TikTok, Instagram and Buffer. See all of them ranked on our YouTube alternatives page.
Where does YouTube rank?
YouTube ranks #1 of 17 in our Social Media & Creator Tools ranking, with an overall score of 8.7 out of 10.