Which niche can you actually win right now?
NicheForge scores any niche from live YouTube data and shows the math. It finds the angles the top channels skip, then hands you your first 15 videos and a 7-day test to prove it. Not another niche list.
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How the score works
The viability score (0 to 100) is a weighted sum of four parts. Two carry most of the weight; two only adjust it. You see every input on every analysis.
| Part | Weight | What it measures (from YouTube data) |
|---|---|---|
| Growth speed | 35% | Median views per day since upload across the top videos of the last 12 months. 10/day scores 0; 10,000/day scores 100 (log scale). |
| View consistency | 35% | How much of all views the top 3 videos take. One viral fluke scores low; demand spread across many videos scores high. |
| New-channel flood | 15% | Share of the top channels created in the last 12 months. Some newcomers breaking in is ideal; none means closed; a flood means crowded. |
| Estimated RPM | 15% | An honest RPM range for the niche's category. Always a range, because it depends on your audience's country. |
Score = 0.35 × growth + 0.35 × consistency + 0.15 × new-channel + 0.15 × RPM
Each analysis samples up to 50 top videos by views for your keyword, plus their channels, and shows a data-confidence label based on the sample size. The weights were chosen in public, in a conversation with Grok on X.
A full example: “stoic philosophy”
This is exactly what you get after an analysis: score, breakdown, gaps, 15 videos and the 7-day test.
Viability score
Strong opportunity Data confidence: High
Strongest signal: New-channel flood (100/100). Weakest: Estimated RPM (39/100). Most open angle: I tried it (experiment).
Sampled 44 videos from 26 channels: the top YouTube results by views for “stoic philosophy” published in the last 12 months. Data from Nov 1, 2026.
Score breakdown
Growth speed and view consistency carry most of the score. New-channel flood and RPM only adjust it. Every input below comes from the YouTube data or the RPM table.
Growth speed · weight 35%
80/100 → +28 pts- Median views per day since upload
- 2,569
- Videos sampled
- 44
10 views/day scores 0, 10,000 views/day scores 100 (log scale).
View consistency · weight 35%
94/100 → +32.9 pts- Share of views taken by the top 3 videos
- 19%
- Median views per video
- 530,915
Top 3 taking 90% or more scores 0; 15% or less scores 100. Spread-out views mean demand is not one viral fluke.
New-channel flood · weight 15%
100/100 → +15 pts- Top channels created in the last 12 months
- 6 of 26 (23%)
None new scores 60 (proven but closed). 15-35% new scores 100 (newcomers break in). 70% or more scores 0 (flooded).
Estimated RPM · weight 15%
39/100 → +5.9 pts- Category
- Education and explainers
- Estimated long-form RPM
- $2.00 to $8.00
Midpoint of the range: $0.50 scores 0, $12 scores 100.
Score = 0.35 × growth + 0.35 × consistency + 0.15 × new-channel + 0.15 × RPM = 0.35 × 80 + 0.35 × 94 + 0.15 × 100 + 0.15 × 39 = 28 + 32.9 + 15 + 5.9 ≈ 82
Estimated RPM: $2.00 to $8.00 per 1,000 long-form views
Category: Education and explainers (matched by keyword). Shorts usually earn far less: about $0.02 to $0.10 per 1,000 views.
This is an estimate, not a promise. RPM varies a lot with your audience's country (US, UK, Canada and Australia usually pay most), the season, video length and advertiser demand. It comes from a fixed table of public creator reports, not from these channels' earnings.
Top videos in the sample (10)
| Title | Channel | Views | Uploaded |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Stoic Lessons That Will Change Your Life | Sample Channel 08 | 2,246,360 | Feb 26, 2026 |
| Marcus Aurelius: How to Stay Calm When Everything Goes Wrong | Sample Channel 01 | 2,084,610 | Oct 4, 2026 |
| Seneca on the Shortness of Life (Animated) | Sample Channel 15 | 1,913,804 | May 11, 2026 |
| The Stoic Morning Routine of Marcus Aurelius | Sample Channel 03 | 1,805,236 | Feb 5, 2026 |
| Stoicism Explained in 10 Minutes | Sample Channel 22 | 1,790,199 | Feb 16, 2026 |
| How to Be Unbothered: Stoic Philosophy | Sample Channel 17 | 1,775,419 | Jul 5, 2026 |
| Epictetus: Stop Worrying About What You Can't Control | Sample Channel 10 | 1,566,091 | Jun 12, 2026 |
| 7 Stoic Habits for Discipline | Sample Channel 24 | 1,310,125 | Dec 31, 2025 |
| Marcus Aurelius Meditations Summary | Sample Channel 05 | 1,258,771 | Aug 19, 2026 |
| Stoic Quotes for Hard Times | Sample Channel 19 | 1,203,940 | Apr 13, 2026 |
Gap finder
What the top videos already cover
- marcus aurelius · 9 videos · 23% of views
- seneca · 6 videos · 13% of views
- life · 4 videos · 15% of views
- epictetus · 4 videos · 10% of views
- discipline · 4 videos · 7% of views
- control · 3 videos · 9% of views
Angles already used
- Step-by-step tutorial · 9 of 44
- Explained simply · 6 of 44
- Ranked list · 5 of 44
Under-covered angles
- I tried it (experiment) 0 of 44 titles
I tried it (experiment): a documented experiment with honest results
None of the top videos use this angle. - Head-to-head comparison 0 of 44 titles
Head-to-head comparison: two popular options compared on the criteria that matter
None of the top videos use this angle. - Budget or free version 0 of 44 titles
Budget or free version: doing it on a tight budget or for free
None of the top videos use this angle. - Myths vs. truth 0 of 44 titles
Myths vs. truth: popular beliefs checked against evidence
None of the top videos use this angle. - What changed this year 0 of 44 titles
What changed this year: what changed recently and what it means for viewers
None of the top videos use this angle. - Deep dive documentary 0 of 44 titles
Deep dive documentary: a long-form documentary-style deep dive
None of the top videos use this angle.
Themes are words and phrases repeated across the sampled titles. An angle counts as covered when its typical title wording appears in 3 or more of the 44 titles, and as under-covered at 0 or 1.
Your first 15 videos
Under-covered angles first. Mostly long-form, with Shorts to feed discovery. Titles and hooks generated by rules from the data above.
- I Tried Stoic Philosophy for a Week: Honest ResultsHook: Show the end result first, then rewind to day one.
- Marcus Aurelius vs. Seneca: Which Stoic Philosophy Idea Holds Up?Hook: Put both side by side and promise a clear winner by the end.
- Getting Into Stoic Philosophy for Free: What Actually WorksHook: Open with the free option that works surprisingly well.
- Marcus Aurelius: What the Top Stoic Philosophy Videos Leave OutHook: Name the popular "Marcus Aurelius" take, then show the part everyone skips.
- Stoic Philosophy Myths That Fool Almost EveryoneHook: State the most common belief, say it is wrong, then prove it.
- Stoic Philosophy in 2026: What Changed and What It MeansHook: Lead with the single change that affects viewers most.
- Stoic Philosophy: The Full StoryHook: Open with an unanswered question you will answer by the end.
- Seneca: What the Top Stoic Philosophy Videos Leave OutHook: Name the popular "Seneca" take, then show the part everyone skips.
- Stoic Philosophy for Complete Beginners: Start HereHook: Open with the one thing you wish someone had told you on day one.
- The Stoic Philosophy Mistakes Nobody Warns You AboutHook: Lead with the most costly mistake and show it on screen in the first seconds.
- The Untold Story of Stoic PhilosophyHook: Start inside the most dramatic moment, then explain how it got there.
- Life: What the Top Stoic Philosophy Videos Leave OutHook: Name the popular "Life" take, then show the part everyone skips.
- The Tools That Make Stoic Philosophy EasierHook: Show the one tool that saves the most time, in action.
- Stoic Philosophy for Busy PeopleHook: Call out the viewer directly: "If you barely have time for this, watch this."
- Stoic Philosophy: The Complete Step-by-Step GuideHook: Show the finished result, then promise the exact steps.
7-day test plan
Post 3 test videos, measure, keep the winning angle. The goal is a signal, not a hit.
Schedule
- Day 1Publish Test A: "I Tried Stoic Philosophy for a Week: Honest Results".
- Day 2Cut the strongest 30-45 seconds of Test A into a Short (vertical, captions on).
- Day 3Publish Test B: "Marcus Aurelius vs. Seneca: Which Stoic Philosophy Idea Holds Up?". Log Test A's views at 48 hours.
- Day 5Publish Test C: "Getting Into Stoic Philosophy for Free: What Actually Works". Log Test B's views at 48 hours.
- Day 7Log 7-day views for A and B (and C at 48 hours). Keep the angle that won; drop the weakest.
What to measure
- Views at 48 hours and at 7 days: log them below and we compare them with the niche pace.
- Click-through rate (YouTube Studio): compare your three tests with each other, not with other channels.
- Average percentage viewed: the test that holds attention best is the angle to repeat.
- Comments asking for more: a strong sign the angle has real demand.
Niche pace used for comparison: the median top video here gets 2,569 views per day, so the benchmark is 5,138 views at 48 hours and 17,984 at 7 days. Top videos come from established channels, so landing below it at first is normal.
Log results
- Test A: I Tried Stoic Philosophy for a Week: Honest Results48 hours: 2,100 · 7 days: 9,8009,800 vs 17,984 benchmark at 7 daysBelow the median pace but within reach (at least a quarter of it). Normal for a new channel: keep the angle, test a new title and thumbnail.
- Test B: Marcus Aurelius vs. Seneca: Which Stoic Philosophy Idea Holds Up?48 hours: 640 · 7 days: not logged640 vs 5,138 benchmark at 48 hoursWell below the median pace. Try a different angle from your gap list before giving up on the niche.
Pricing
Free trial
US$ 0
- 5 days, no card
- 2 analyses per day
- Full score breakdown, gaps, 15-video plan and 7-day test
Pro
US$ 9/month
- Unlimited analyses (fair use: up to 30 per day)
- Saved analyses, re-runs and watch list
- Log test results and get a reading
- Cancel anytime from the billing portal
After the trial, your saved analyses stay readable. Payments are handled by Stripe.
FAQ
Where does the data come from?
From the official YouTube Data API: the top videos by views for your keyword published in the last 12 months, their view counts and upload dates, and their channels' creation dates. The RPM range comes from a fixed table of public creator reports.
Is the RPM number accurate?
It is an estimate shown as a range, never one number. Real RPM depends on your audience's country, the season, video length and advertisers. It only adjusts the score (15%).
Does it work for Shorts, TikTok and Reels?
Pick the Shorts focus and NicheForge samples short YouTube videos and plans mostly short content. TikTok and Reels data is not included; the plan works as a starting point for them too.
Why only 2 analyses a day on the trial?
Every new analysis uses part of a shared daily YouTube data allowance. Niches anyone analyzed in the last 24 hours load instantly from cache, but they still count as one of your analyses.
Is the AI making things up?
Numbers never come from AI. Workers AI only writes angle notes, titles and hooks from the data, and its output is checked. If it fails, rules write the plan instead, and the page says which one wrote it.
Do you guarantee my channel will grow?
No. NicheForge helps you pick a niche and test it quickly. Results depend on your videos.
Can I delete my data?
Yes. Settings has a button that deletes your account and every analysis right away.
Who makes this
NicheForge is built by SaaSCron. The maker's mission is non-profit-minded: build small, honest tools that speed up people's progress. There are no testimonials here because the product is new. Try it free and judge for yourself.