A YouTube hashtag generator creates relevant hashtags for your video's title, description, and comments — improving discoverability in YouTube search + Suggested. Free generators (TubeBuddy, vidIQ, RapidTags, Keywords Everywhere) take your topic or video title + output 10-30 keyword-relevant hashtags.
Here's how YouTube hashtags actually work, the best free generators, and the rules YouTube applies that make most hashtag advice wrong.
How YouTube hashtags work
YouTube uses hashtags in 3 places:
Video description. First 3 hashtags appear above the title in the player.
Video title. Hashtags in titles are clickable, drive direct discovery.
Comments. Don't affect ranking, but encourage viewer engagement.
YouTube indexes hashtags + uses them to recommend videos in Search, Suggested, and the hashtag-specific pages (clicking a hashtag in a video opens a feed of all videos with that tag).
YouTube's hashtag rules
Max 15 hashtags per video. More than 15 = YouTube ignores all of them.
Only first 3 hashtags display in the player above the title.
One-word hashtags work best. #marketing > #digital-marketing-tips-2026.
No banned hashtags. #adult, #explicit, etc. trigger video removal.
Hashtags work in title or description — pick one location, don't duplicate.
Best YouTube hashtag generators
Tool | Free tier | Strength |
|---|---|---|
TubeBuddy | Limited free | Browser extension, in-context suggestions |
vidIQ | Limited free | Keyword research + hashtag combos |
RapidTags | Free | Quick paste-and-go hashtag generator |
Keywords Everywhere | $10 for credits | Search volume + competition data |
YT Hashtag Generator | Free | Bulk hashtag generation |
HashtagsForLikes | Free tier | Niche-tagged suggestions |
For most creators: TubeBuddy or vidIQ — both offer browser extensions that suggest hashtags as you upload.
YouTube hashtag strategy
Pick 5-10 hashtags per video. Quality matters more than quantity.
3 high-volume hashtags. Broad terms (#marketing, #fitness, #cooking).
3-5 mid-volume hashtags. Niche-specific (#contentmarketing, #homefitness, #italiancooking).
2-3 long-tail hashtags. Specific to your video topic.
Test which hashtags drive views via YouTube Analytics → Reach → Traffic source.
Hashtags in title vs description
Both work. Trade-offs:
Title hashtags: More visible, more clickable, but eat into character count.
Description hashtags: Less visible, but you can include more (up to 15).
Best practice: 1 hashtag in title (your main topic) + 10-14 in description.
Hashtags for YouTube Shorts
Shorts use hashtags more aggressively. Include:
#Shorts (mandatory — signals to YouTube it's a Short)
3-5 topic-specific hashtags
Trending hashtags relevant to your niche
For Shorts, hashtags drive Shorts Feed placement — much more impactful than for long-form. See Shorts strategy guide.
Hashtag research process
Brainstorm 20-30 keywords related to your video topic.
Run them through a generator (TubeBuddy or vidIQ) to see search volume.
Cross-reference with top 5 ranking videos for your keyword — note their hashtags.
Pick 5-10 hashtags mixing search volume tiers.
Test for 2 weeks, then iterate based on YouTube Analytics.
YouTube hashtag mistakes
Using more than 15 hashtags (YouTube ignores all)
Generic hashtags (#video, #youtube) — too broad, no help
Misleading hashtags (#funnyvideo on a tutorial) — viewer complaints lower ranking
Spam patterns (same 15 hashtags every video)
Hashtag stuffing in titles (looks spammy + reduces clicks)
Forgetting #Shorts on Short videos (critical signal)
Trending YouTube hashtag categories
Niche tutorials: #howto, #tutorial, #tips
Reviews: #review, #unboxing, #honestreview
Vlogs: #vlog, #dailyvlog, #daysinmylife
Gaming: #gaming, #letsplay, #gamertag
Education: #learn, #explained, #breakdown
Trending content: #viral, #trending, #fyp
Avoid: generic high-volume tags (#video, #subscribe) — they don't help discovery.
FAQ
What is a YouTube hashtag generator?
A tool that takes your video topic or title + suggests relevant hashtags for your YouTube video's title + description.
How many hashtags should I use on YouTube?
5-10 high-relevance hashtags. Max 15 — more triggers YouTube to ignore them all.
Where do hashtags go — title or description?
1-2 in title (your main keyword). Remaining 10-14 in description.
Are hashtags more important for Shorts?
Yes. Shorts feed placement depends heavily on hashtag signals — include #Shorts + niche hashtags.
Are there banned hashtags on YouTube?
Yes — adult, explicit, harassment-related hashtags. Using them can flag your video for review.
Next steps
For your next video, pick 5-10 hashtags using TubeBuddy or vidIQ. Track which drive traffic in YouTube Analytics. For more on YouTube strategy, see YouTube video downloads, best YouTube upload times, when to post on YouTube, and Shorts timing. To plan YouTube alongside other platforms, use the So-me Studio scheduler.
