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How to use Channel Bench: a simple workflow
Channel Bench is for the moment you have two or more YouTube channels in mind and want them in one place—titles, scale, and a long list of comparable numbers—without copying cells out of ten browser tabs. This walkthrough stays on what you do in the tool: paste links, run a compare, read the tables, then export or share what you need.
Who this is for
- Creators sizing up peers, collaborators, or a niche before you commit to positioning.
- Teams and managers who need a side-by-side snapshot for a slide or a decision memo.
- Researchers who want a structured table first, rabbit holes second.
1. Line up the channels
Add one channel per row using a full channel URL or an @handle—whatever you already have open in another tab. You need at least two non-empty rows to compare, and you can go up to ten in one run. Use Add channel row when you need more slots, or Remove when you pasted the wrong thing.
2. Decide on upload insights
There is an option to fetch upload insights—extra numbers derived from recent uploads, useful when you care about posting rhythm or depth, not just the headline subscriber count. Turning it on means a heavier pass; leave it off for a faster, lighter compare when you only need the baseline profile metrics.
3. Compare and read the story in order
Run Compare channels and let the page fill in. If something is ambiguous or incomplete, check the Warnings panel first—it explains what still counts and what does not.
Then move top to bottom: Overall ranking blends the metrics you select (or a default blend when you leave every box unchecked—equal weight, scaled within this group only). Per-metric wins is a separate scoreboard counting how often each channel leads an individual row—useful when you want bragging rights on one signal without letting it dominate the combined score.
The channel cards give you avatars, titles, and the big public counters at a glance, with a link out when you need to verify branding or recent uploads on YouTube itself.
4. Use the metrics table
The main table is grouped into sections—overview-style numbers first, then presence and metadata, then upload insights when you asked for them. Best cells highlight the leader on each row (ties highlight together). Hover metric names when a short explanation is available so you are not guessing what a composite row means.
5. Export when someone else needs the numbers
Download ranking CSV or metrics CSV when you want the same view in a spreadsheet or an email attachment. The filenames pick up a timestamp so you do not overwrite last week’s run by accident.
Open Channel Bench
Start with two channels you already know, run once without upload insights, then turn insights on and compare again when you need the deeper rows.