XP Daily Plain comparisons of personal productivity tools

How to review competitor videos for video marketers in 2026

A plain guide to reviewing competitor videos, with steps, tools to consider, and checks before choosing a video review approach.

By XP Daily ยท

XP Daily is published by the makers of DaysAid, QuickDictate and YTSort, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Review competitor videos by collecting the right examples, recording what each video shows, comparing patterns, and using tools that support the review process.

OptionOptionHow it helps review videos
Note documentHolds links and observations
SpreadsheetOrganizes video details
YTSortReorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first [1]

What you need before you start

Reviewing competitor videos starts with a clear list of what needs to be checked.

Prepare the competitor video links, the channels or playlists being reviewed, and a place to record notes.

Decide what details matter for the review, such as video length, topics, titles, and the order of videos in a playlist.

Keep the goal of the review visible before collecting examples, because a review for content planning may need different notes than a review for audience research.

A spreadsheet, document, or note app can hold observations as the review moves along.

A browser is useful when a tool is part of the process. Check each tool's current details before choosing how to use it.

Step by step

These steps work with any approach, including a manual review.

  1. Choose the videos to review. Select the competitor videos that relate to the question being researched.
  1. Record basic details. Note the title, length, topic, and any patterns that stand out.
  1. Review the order. If videos are part of a playlist, look at how the videos are arranged and what order a viewer sees.
  1. Compare similar videos. Put videos with similar topics next to each other in the notes so differences are easier to see.
  1. Mark useful patterns. Record repeated topics, changes in length, and other details that matter for the review goal.
  1. Check the findings. Read through the notes and remove observations that do not support the original review question.
  1. Organize the final notes. Keep the useful observations together so they can guide future video decisions.

Tools that can do it

You do not need software for this. Here are options to consider.

A note document. A simple document can hold video links, observations, and review notes. Facts about specific note apps are not provided here, so check their own pages for details.

A spreadsheet. A spreadsheet can help organize video details into rows and columns. Facts about specific spreadsheet apps are not provided here, so check their own pages for limits and cost.

A playlist sorting tool. YTSort is made by the team that publishes this site. YTSort is one option. It is a free browser tool that reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. [1] It can reorder a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. [1]

YTSort reorders videos by sending requests to YouTube's own system using your existing session, with no dragging or scrolling. [1] After sorting, it reads the playlist back from YouTube and re-applies any moves that did not stick. [1] It sorts the full playlist, not just the videos loaded on screen. [1]

YTSort can show the before and after order so it can be checked before applying. [1] It can sort only videos within a length range and move the rest to the end. [1] It can show total, average, shortest and longest video duration for the playlist. [1] It can export position, title, duration and URL of every video to a CSV file. [1]

YTSort's panel follows YouTube's light or dark theme automatically. [1] If its usual fast method is unavailable, it automatically switches to drag-and-drop. [1] YTSort is free, and all install options include the same features. [1] YTSort is free, open-source software under the GPL-2.0-only licence. [1] It can be installed as a bookmark, a browser script, or a Chrome Web Store extension. [1] The extension needs Chrome or Edge, and the script version works in any browser, including Firefox, with Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey installed. [1]

Common mistakes to avoid

Reviewing without a question. A video review is easier to use when the purpose is clear before collecting examples.

Recording only titles. Titles alone may not show the full pattern in a competitor video review, so include the details that matter for the goal.

Ignoring playlist order. When videos appear in a playlist, the order can be part of the review notes.

Choosing a tool without checking details. Read the current information for any tool before using it for a review process.

Making notes without structure. A consistent format makes it easier to compare videos after the review is complete.

Frequently asked questions

How to review competitor videos for video marketers?

Review competitor videos by choosing relevant examples, recording details such as length and topic, comparing patterns, and organizing notes around the review goal. A manual process or a tool can be used depending on what needs to be reviewed.

Can YTSort help review competitor videos?

YTSort can reorder a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. [1] It can help when playlist order by duration is part of the review process. YTSort does not replace the need to record observations about the videos themselves.

How does YTSort reorder a YouTube playlist?

YTSort reorders videos by sending requests to YouTube's own system using your existing session, with no dragging or scrolling. [1] After sorting, it reads the playlist back from YouTube and re-applies any moves that did not stick. [1]

Can YTSort check a playlist before changing the order?

YTSort shows the before and after order so it can be checked before applying. [1] This can help when reviewing whether a new playlist order matches the intended review goal.

Which browsers work with YTSort?

The extension needs Chrome or Edge, and the script version works in any browser, including Firefox, with Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey installed. [1] YTSort can also be installed as a bookmark, a browser script, or a Chrome Web Store extension. [1]

YTSort is free; all install options include the same features. [1]

Try YTSort

Sources

  1. YTSort's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

Related comparisons