YouTube is the better app overall, scoring 8.7 to 8.2. YouTube wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Threads on 1.
Creators who make longer videos and want a clear way to earn
People who like short text posts and already use Instagram
Score by score
The details
| Feature | YouTube | Threads |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Social Media & Creator Tools | Social Media & Creator Tools |
| Category rank | #1 of 17 | #13 of 17 |
| Developer | Meta | |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is YouTube better than Threads?
YouTube is the better app overall, scoring 8.7 to 8.2. YouTube wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Threads on 1.
Which is cheaper, YouTube or Threads?
YouTube: Free with ads; in the US, Premium is $15.99 a month and Premium Lite is $8.99. Threads: Free with ads; you do not need a paid plan to post, reply or message. On value for money, Threads scores higher.
Do YouTube and Threads work on the same devices?
Yes, both run on iPhone & iPad, Android, Web.
Which is more private, YouTube or Threads?
YouTube scores higher on 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.
Strengths and weaknesses
YouTube
- Free to watch and post
- Clear rules for getting paid
- Works on phones, computers and TVs
- 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
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.
Full YouTube review
Threads
- Quick to find people you know from Instagram
- Calmer feel than X for everyday chat
- Free to post, reply and message
- No direct pay program for creators
- Links a lot of personal data to you
- Feed leans on suggested posts
Threads is the friendliest of the big text apps. Posts are short, up to 500 characters, and you can add photos, videos or a longer block of text. It grew out of Instagram, so finding people you know is quick, and it now has 500 million monthly users. It is free with ads. Threads does not pay creators directly, and Meta links a lot of data to you.
Full Threads review
