Guide
SaaSSoftware ReviewsYouTubeUSAHow to Start a SaaS Review YouTube Channel in the US (2026 Guide)
SaaS (Software as a Service) review content is one of YouTube's most quietly profitable niches. While it won't generate millions of views, it attracts a B2B audience with high purchase intent and access to company budgets. The US SaaS market exceeds $200 billion, and every purchase decision starts with research — often on YouTube. Channels like Stewart Gauld, Santrel Media, and TechLead have built sustainable businesses reviewing software tools. The real advantage: recurring affiliate commissions that grow month after month.
Last updated: February 26, 2026
Step-by-Step Guide
Choose your SaaS category focus
Pick one to two software categories: project management, CRM, email marketing, accounting, design tools. Your expertise in a specific category is more valuable than shallow coverage of everything.
Sign up for free trials and test thoroughly
Get hands-on with the top 5-10 tools in your category. Use each for at least 2 weeks on real projects. Take notes on setup experience, daily usability, and limitations.
Create comparison content first
Head-to-head comparisons have the highest search intent and conversion rates. 'Tool A vs Tool B' is what people search when they're ready to buy.
Join affiliate programs before publishing
Apply to affiliate programs for every tool you plan to review. Have your links ready before publishing so you don't miss early traffic conversion.
Build a content flywheel
Each tool review links to related comparisons and tutorials. Comparisons link to individual reviews. This internal linking creates a content ecosystem that keeps viewers on your channel and maximizes affiliate conversions.
Why SaaS review content is quietly one of the best niches
SaaS review content won't make you famous, but it can make you wealthy.
Why the economics are exceptional:
- CPM range: $20-$45 (B2B/SaaS advertisers pay premium rates)
- Affiliate model: Most SaaS tools offer 20-30% recurring commissions on monthly subscriptions
- Audience intent: People searching 'Notion vs Asana' or 'best CRM for small business' are ready to buy
- Decision-maker audience: Your viewers often control company software budgets
The math on recurring affiliates:
If you refer 50 people/month to a $30/month SaaS tool with 20% recurring commission:
- Month 1: 50 x $6 = $300
- Month 6: 300 x $6 = $1,800
- Month 12: 600 x $6 = $3,600
- This compounds as long as referred customers stay subscribed
Market size:
- US businesses spend $200B+ on SaaS annually
- Average company uses 130+ SaaS tools
- "Best [tool category]" searches number in the millions monthly
- Every tool category refreshes yearly, creating perpetual content demand
Content strategy for SaaS reviewers
Head-to-head comparisons (highest conversion):
1. "Monday.com vs Asana vs ClickUp — which project management tool is best?"
2. "HubSpot vs Salesforce — CRM comparison for small business"
3. "Notion vs Obsidian vs Evernote — the real differences explained"
4. "QuickBooks vs FreshBooks vs Wave — accounting software comparison"
In-depth tutorials (highest search volume):
5. "Notion complete tutorial — from zero to organized in 30 minutes"
6. "How to set up HubSpot CRM — step by step for beginners"
7. "Airtable tutorial — build your first database in 10 minutes"
8. "Zapier automation guide — connect your tools without coding"
Category roundups (broadest reach):
9. "Best project management tools in 2026 (tested and ranked)"
10. "Best email marketing platforms for small business"
11. "Best accounting software for freelancers"
Shorts:
- "The SaaS tool that replaced 5 others for me"
- "Stop overpaying for [category] — use this instead"
- "Hidden feature in [popular tool] that nobody uses"
Always demonstrate tools with real use cases, not feature checklists. Show how you'd actually use the tool to solve a specific problem.
Building a SaaS review brand
SaaS audiences value thoroughness and objectivity over personality.
What viewers want from SaaS reviews:
- Honest assessment of strengths AND weaknesses
- Real-world usage demonstrations, not marketing material regurgitation
- Pricing transparency including hidden costs and renewal rates
- Comparison with alternatives at similar price points
- Who the tool is best for AND who should avoid it
Building credibility:
- Actually use the tools you review (at minimum for 2 weeks)
- Show your real workflow and how the tool fits (or doesn't)
- Cover customer support quality, not just features
- Update reviews when tools make major changes
- Respond to comments with specific answers about tool capabilities
Content production approach:
- Screen recordings are 90% of your content — invest in good screen capture software
- Voiceover with screen recording is the standard format (face not required)
- Template your review structure: overview, setup, key features, pricing, verdict
- Create timestamps for every section (SaaS viewers skip to what they need)
- Aim for 10-20 minute reviews — thorough enough to be useful, not so long viewers leave
Monetization through SaaS affiliate programs
SaaS affiliate programs are uniquely powerful because of recurring commissions.
Top SaaS affiliate programs by category:
- CRM: HubSpot (30% recurring), Salesforce (partner program), Pipedrive (33% recurring)
- Project management: Monday.com (affiliate program), ClickUp (20% recurring), Asana
- Email marketing: ConvertKit (30% recurring), Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign (20-30%)
- Website building: Squarespace ($100-$200 per sale), Wix, Webflow
- Accounting: FreshBooks ($5-$55 per sale), QuickBooks, Wave
- Design: Canva Pro ($36 per annual signup), Figma, Adobe
Additional revenue streams:
- Sponsored tutorials: SaaS companies pay $2,000-$10,000 for detailed tutorials of their product
- Template sales: Notion templates, Airtable bases, ClickUp workflows ($10-$49)
- Consulting: Help businesses choose and implement SaaS tools ($100-$300/hour)
- Courses: Tool-specific mastery courses ($47-$197)
Ad revenue:
- $20-$45 CPM from B2B advertisers
- Tutorial videos have long watch times, maximizing ad placements
Use FluxNote to create Shorts with quick SaaS tips and feature highlights — these drive discovery for your in-depth reviews where affiliate conversion happens.
Pro Tips
- Always include pricing in your reviews, including which features are locked behind higher tiers — this is the information viewers can't get from the tool's marketing page
- Create a standardized rating system you apply to every review — viewers learn to trust your framework and seek out your verdict on new tools
- Update your most popular reviews annually — SaaS tools change constantly, and outdated reviews lose credibility and rankings
- Focus on 'vs' comparison content — 'Monday.com vs Asana' search intent converts to affiliate signups at 3-5x the rate of standalone reviews
- Reach out to SaaS companies directly for extended trials, exclusive deals for your audience, and sponsored content opportunities — most have creator programs