SaaS Ideas from YouTube Comments: Mining Video Feedback for Products

YouTube isn't just for entertainment—it's an untapped goldmine for validated SaaS ideas. While most founders hunt for opportunities on Reddit or Twitter, YouTube's comment sections contain millions of conversations where people explicitly describe their problems, request solutions, and even outline the exact features they'd pay for.

With over 2 billion logged-in users monthly and 500 hours of video uploaded every minute, YouTube comments represent one of the largest collections of unfiltered user feedback on the internet. The best part? Unlike carefully crafted forum posts, YouTube comments are spontaneous, emotional, and often reveal pain points people don't articulate elsewhere.

This guide shows you exactly how to extract profitable SaaS ideas from YouTube comments—the same method successful founders use to discover opportunities before they become obvious.

Why YouTube Comments Beat Other Research Sources

Before diving into the process, understand why YouTube comments deserve a place in your SaaS idea research toolkit.

Raw, Unfiltered Pain Points

Unlike polished product reviews or structured surveys, YouTube comments capture people in the moment. Someone watching a tutorial on Excel formulas might comment: "I spend 3 hours every Monday doing this manually for my team's reports. There has to be a better way." That's a validated pain point with clear willingness to pay.

Niche-Specific Audiences

YouTube's algorithm creates highly targeted audiences. A video about Shopify inventory management attracts e-commerce owners. A tutorial on real estate photography editing attracts property professionals. The comments section becomes a focus group of your exact target market.

Feature Requests in Plain English

People don't just complain—they describe solutions. Comments like "Why doesn't someone make a tool that automatically does X when Y happens?" are essentially product specifications written by potential customers.

Volume and Velocity

Popular videos accumulate thousands of comments. Tutorial channels, software reviews, and how-to content generate continuous feedback as new viewers discover problems and share frustrations.

The YouTube Comment Mining Framework

Here's the systematic approach to extracting SaaS ideas from YouTube comments.

Step 1: Identify High-Intent Video Categories

Not all YouTube content generates valuable SaaS ideas. Focus on these video types:

Tutorial and How-To Videos People watching tutorials are actively trying to solve problems. Comments reveal where existing solutions fall short. Search for:

• "How to [task] in [software]"
• "[Process] tutorial for beginners"
• "Step-by-step guide to [workflow]"

Software Review and Comparison Videos These attract people actively evaluating tools. Comments often list missing features or combination needs. Look for:

• "[Software] review 2025"
• "[Tool A] vs [Tool B] comparison"
• "Best [category] software"

Industry-Specific Workflow Videos Niche professional content attracts concentrated audiences with specific pain points:

• Real estate agent workflows
• Freelance designer processes
• Small business accounting tutorials
• Agency client management

Problem-Solving Videos Videos addressing specific challenges attract people with acute pain:

• "How to fix [problem]"
• "Dealing with [frustration]"
• "Why [thing] doesn't work"

Step 2: Use Advanced Search Operators

YouTube's search is powerful when you know the right queries. Combine these elements:

Problem + Solution Format:

• "automate [task]" + filter by upload date (last year)
• "[software] alternative" + sort by view count
• "how to speed up [process]" + filter by duration (10+ minutes)

Industry + Pain Point:

• "real estate" + "time consuming"
• "e-commerce" + "manual process"
• "content creator" + "workflow"

Software + Limitation:

• "Excel limitations"
• "Notion doesn't do"
• "Zapier expensive"

Pro tip: Videos with 50K-500K views often have the best comment-to-noise ratio. Mega-viral videos attract too many generic comments, while small videos lack volume.

Step 3: Scan Comments Systematically

Don't read every comment—that's inefficient. Use this filtering approach:

Sort by "Top Comments" Highly upvoted comments represent shared pain points. If 2,000 people liked a comment saying "I waste hours on this every week," you've found validated demand.

Search Within Comments Use your browser's find function (Ctrl+F or Cmd+F) to search for:

• "wish there was"
• "need a tool"
• "someone should make"
• "how do I"
• "is there a way"
• "struggling with"
• "takes me hours"
• "manual process"

Look for Reply Chains When multiple people reply agreeing with a pain point, you've found a validated problem. Comments with 50+ replies often contain detailed problem descriptions.

Note the Creator's Responses Video creators often respond to feature requests or workarounds. Their answers reveal gaps in existing solutions.

Step 4: Document Patterns and Themes

As you research, track these elements in a spreadsheet:

Column 1: Problem Statement The exact pain point in the commenter's words.

Column 2: Video Context What video it appeared on (link, topic, audience).

Column 3: Engagement Metrics Upvotes, replies, and whether others echoed the same issue.

Column 4: Implied Willingness to Pay Does the comment suggest time savings, money lost, or business impact?

Column 5: Potential Solution Your initial idea for addressing the problem.

After reviewing 20-30 videos, patterns emerge. You'll see the same pain points mentioned across different channels, which validates demand.

Real SaaS Ideas Discovered in YouTube Comments

Here are actual opportunities found using this method, with the comment that sparked each idea:

Idea 1: Shopify Inventory Sync for Multi-Location Retailers

Comment: "I have 3 retail stores and an online shop. When someone buys in-store, I have to manually update Shopify inventory or customers order things we're out of. Shopify's POS is too expensive for my volume."

Found on: "How to Manage Shopify Inventory for Multiple Locations" (178K views)

Validation signals: 340 upvotes, 67 replies with similar problems, multiple comments mentioning "paying for a simpler solution."

SaaS opportunity: A lightweight inventory sync tool for small multi-location retailers that's cheaper than Shopify POS but more reliable than manual updates.

Idea 2: Automated Thumbnail A/B Testing for YouTubers

Comment: "I spend an hour creating 3-4 thumbnail options, then just guess which one to use. I know thumbnails matter but I don't have time to test properly. Would love a tool that automatically rotates thumbnails and shows me which performs best."

Found on: "How to Make YouTube Thumbnails That Get Clicks" (892K views)

Validation signals: 1.2K upvotes, creator replied "I need this too," dozens of comments asking if this exists.

SaaS opportunity: A tool that automatically A/B tests YouTube thumbnails and provides performance analytics. This addresses a clear pain point for the 2+ million channels with over 1,000 subscribers.

Idea 3: Client Portal for Freelance Designers

Comment: "I'm tired of emailing design revisions back and forth. Clients lose files, I lose track of which version is current, and explaining my process takes forever. I need something simpler than full project management software but better than email."

Found on: "Freelance Graphic Design Workflow Tutorial" (156K views)

Validation signals: 580 upvotes, 89 replies, multiple comments listing desired features.

SaaS opportunity: A streamlined client portal specifically for freelance designers—simpler than Asana, more professional than Dropbox folders, with built-in revision tracking and client feedback tools.

These examples show how YouTube comments provide not just problems, but detailed feature requirements and target market validation. Similar to finding SaaS ideas from customer support tickets, YouTube comments reveal what people struggle with in their own words.

Advanced Techniques for YouTube Comment Research

Use YouTube Data Tools

Manual comment reading works, but these tools accelerate research:

YCS (YouTube Comment Scraper) Export all comments from a video into a spreadsheet for easier analysis. Filter by keywords, sort by engagement, and identify patterns faster.

Channelcrawler Analyze comment sentiment across an entire channel. Useful for understanding recurring themes in niche communities.

TubeBuddy Comment Filters Filter comments by length, engagement, and keywords. Find detailed problem descriptions without scrolling through thousands of comments.

Cross-Reference with Other Channels

When you find a promising pain point, search for it across multiple channels:

1. Note the problem from one video
2. Search for related videos in the same niche
3. Check if the same problem appears in those comments
4. If it does, you've found a validated, cross-platform pain point

This approach mirrors the validation process in our SaaS idea validation playbook—you're looking for repeated signals across different sources.

Monitor Comment Sections Over Time

Set up a system to revisit high-value videos:

• Bookmark 20-30 videos in your target niche
• Check new comments weekly
• Track emerging pain points as software evolves
• Notice when people stop complaining about solved problems

Software changes create new opportunities. When a major tool updates its pricing or removes features, comment sections explode with frustrated users—perfect timing to offer an alternative.

Engage Directly with Commenters

Unlike anonymous Reddit posts, YouTube commenters have profiles. You can:

• Reply asking clarifying questions about their problem
• Request permission to interview them about their workflow
• Share a simple landing page to gauge interest

Most people appreciate when someone wants to solve their problem. Response rates are surprisingly high when you approach genuinely.

Filtering YouTube Ideas for Viability

Not every problem mentioned in YouTube comments makes a good SaaS. Apply these filters:

The Frequency Test

See the same problem mentioned across:

• At least 5 different videos
• At least 3 different channels
• At least 100 total mentions

One-off complaints aren't markets. Repeated patterns indicate real demand.

The Willingness-to-Pay Test

Look for these signals in comments:

• "I'd pay for this"
• "How much would this cost?"
• Mentions of current expensive solutions
• Time or money currently wasted
• Business impact of the problem

As we discussed in why most SaaS ideas fail before launch, willingness to pay must be validated early.

The Complexity Test

Ideal YouTube-sourced ideas are:

• Complex enough to require software
• Simple enough to explain in one sentence
• Solvable without deep technical infrastructure
• Not requiring extensive integrations initially

If the solution requires 6 months of development before MVP, it's probably too complex for a micro-SaaS approach.

The Competition Test

When you find a promising idea:

1. Google the problem + "software"
2. Check if existing solutions address it
3. Read reviews of those solutions
4. Look for gaps in their offerings

Often, existing tools are too expensive, too complex, or missing key features. That's your opportunity. This process aligns with reverse engineering winning products through competitor analysis.

Niche Categories with Rich YouTube Comment Opportunities

These YouTube niches consistently generate high-quality SaaS ideas:

Real Estate and Property Management

Channels teaching real estate investing, property management, and agent workflows attract professionals with specific software needs. Common pain points:

• Lead tracking and follow-up
• Property photo management
• Tenant screening automation
• Rental income tracking

Content Creation and Social Media Management

The creator economy is exploding. Comments reveal needs for:

• Content repurposing tools
• Analytics dashboards
• Collaboration platforms
• Sponsorship tracking

E-commerce and Dropshipping

Shopify tutorials and e-commerce strategy videos attract business owners willing to pay for tools:

• Inventory management
• Supplier communication
• Order fulfillment tracking
• Customer service automation

Freelancing and Agency Management

Channels about freelancing attract solo operators and small agencies needing:

• Client onboarding systems
• Project scope management
• Invoice and payment tracking
• Portfolio presentation tools

Small Business Operations

General small business channels reveal operational pain points:

• Employee scheduling
• Customer database management
• Simple CRM alternatives
• Bookkeeping simplification

These niches align with B2B SaaS ideas that businesses will pay to solve—they're specific, validated, and have clear monetization paths.

Combining YouTube with Other Research Methods

YouTube comment mining works best as part of a comprehensive research strategy. Combine it with:

Reddit and Online Communities Validate YouTube findings in online communities beyond Reddit. If the same problem appears on YouTube and in niche forums, you've found strong validation.

Twitter Conversations Use Twitter mining techniques to find real-time discussions about problems you discovered on YouTube.

Customer Reviews Once you identify a problem category on YouTube, check Amazon and G2 reviews of existing solutions to understand feature gaps.

Your Own Workflow If you experience the same problems you're seeing in YouTube comments, you're perfectly positioned to build the solution. As we covered in turning daily frustrations into products, founder-market fit accelerates success.

This multi-source approach ensures you're not building based on isolated feedback. Cross-validation reduces risk.

Common Mistakes When Mining YouTube Comments

Avoid these pitfalls:

Mistake 1: Focusing Only on Mega-Viral Videos

Videos with 10M+ views attract general audiences. The comments are too broad. Instead, target videos with 50K-500K views in specific niches.

Mistake 2: Taking Single Comments as Validation

One person's problem isn't a market. Look for patterns across multiple videos, channels, and time periods.

Mistake 3: Ignoring the Business Model

A common problem doesn't automatically mean a viable SaaS. Consider:

• Can you charge enough to sustain the business?
• Is the target market reachable?
• Will they pay monthly or need convincing?

Refer to our guide on bootstrapped vs funded SaaS ideas to ensure your YouTube-sourced idea matches your business goals.

Mistake 4: Building Without Further Validation

YouTube comments are strong signals, but not sufficient validation alone. Before building:

• Interview 10-15 people with the problem
• Create a landing page to test interest
• Validate pricing expectations
• Confirm they'd switch from current solutions

Mistake 5: Choosing Overly Technical Problems

Comments like "I need a tool that uses machine learning to predict customer churn" sound impressive but may be too complex for a solo founder. Focus on problems you can solve with existing technology and AI tools.

Building Your YouTube Research System

Create a repeatable process:

Week 1: Exploration

• Identify 3-5 niche categories
• Find top 10 channels in each category
• Watch popular videos and scan comments
• Document interesting pain points

Week 2: Pattern Recognition

• Review your documented pain points
• Group similar problems together
• Identify the 3-5 most frequently mentioned issues
• Search for these problems across other channels

Week 3: Deep Validation

• Focus on your top 2-3 ideas
• Find 20+ mentions of each problem
• Document engagement metrics
• Check for willingness-to-pay signals

Week 4: Market Research

• Google existing solutions
• Read competitor reviews
• Identify feature gaps
• Estimate market size and pricing

This systematic approach prevents random idea hopping and ensures you're building on solid validation.

From YouTube Comments to Paying Customers

Once you've identified a validated idea from YouTube comments:

Step 1: Create a Landing Page Describe the problem in the exact words you found in comments. Include:

• The specific pain point
• How your solution addresses it
• Email signup for early access
• Pricing indication

Step 2: Return to the Source Comment on the videos where you found the problem:

• Don't spam or be salesy
• Genuinely contribute to the conversation
• Mention you're building a solution
• Share your landing page if appropriate

Step 3: Reach Out Directly Contact people who mentioned the problem:

• Offer to interview them
• Ask about their current workflow
• Request feedback on your proposed solution
• Invite them to beta test

Step 4: Build in Public Document your building process on YouTube:

• Create videos about solving the problem
• Share progress updates
• Attract your target audience organically
• Use comments on your own videos for feature ideas

This approach aligns with our 90-day SaaS launch blueprint—you're validating, building, and marketing simultaneously.

AI Tools That Accelerate YouTube Research

Modern AI tools make YouTube comment mining dramatically faster:

Claude for Comment Analysis Copy 50-100 comments into Claude and ask:

• "What are the main pain points mentioned?"
• "Which problems appear most frequently?"
• "What features are people requesting?"
• "Rate these problems by apparent willingness to pay"

ChatGPT for Pattern Recognition Feed comments from multiple videos and request:

• Thematic clustering
• Sentiment analysis
• Feature priority ranking
• Market size estimation

Cursor for Rapid Prototyping Once you've identified an idea, use Cursor to build an MVP quickly. As covered in AI SaaS ideas you can build with Claude & Cursor, modern AI tools dramatically reduce time-to-market.

These tools transform YouTube comment mining from a manual slog into a systematic, data-driven process.

Why YouTube Comments Beat Traditional Market Research

Traditional market research involves surveys, focus groups, and interviews—all expensive and time-consuming. YouTube comments provide:

Zero Cost All data is publicly available. No research budget required.

Authentic Feedback People aren't being paid or prompted. They're sharing genuine frustrations.

Real-Time Insights Comments appear as problems emerge. You're seeing current pain points, not historical data.

Scale Access millions of data points across thousands of niches. No traditional research method offers this volume.

Context You see the problem within the user's actual workflow. The video shows what they're trying to do; the comments reveal where they're stuck.

This combination of authenticity, scale, and context makes YouTube comments one of the most valuable—and underutilized—sources of SaaS ideas.

Your Next Steps

Start mining YouTube comments for SaaS ideas today:

1. Choose Your Niche: Pick 2-3 industries you understand or find interesting
2. Find Key Channels: Identify the top 10 channels in each niche
3. Set Up Your Tracking: Create a spreadsheet to document pain points
4. Commit 5 Hours: Spend one hour per day for a week scanning comments
5. Look for Patterns: By day 5, you'll see recurring themes
6. Validate Further: Take your top 3 ideas through additional validation steps

YouTube comments won't hand you a perfect SaaS idea on a silver platter. But they'll show you exactly what people are struggling with, in their own words, with engagement metrics proving others share the same pain.

Combine this method with other research sources from our toolkit that successful founders use daily, and you'll have more validated SaaS opportunities than you can build.

The next time you watch a YouTube tutorial, don't skip the comments section. Your next profitable SaaS idea might be waiting there, already validated by thousands of potential customers.

Ready to discover more validated opportunities? Explore our weekly roundup of micro-SaaS ideas or learn how to find profitable SaaS ideas using proven methods that work in 2025.