Comparing five creators in one afternoon
by CIA updated 21/09/2026 3 min read
Also available in: Tiếng Việt
Comparing several creators only means anything when all five are measured with the same ruler, over the same period, using the same denominator. Miss one of those conditions and a professional-looking table leads to the wrong decision. The process below takes about two hours and 97 credits for five people.
The six-column table
| Column | Where from | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Median views | channel report | median, not mean |
| Engagement rate by views | the same run | same denominator for all five |
| Absolute interactions per video | multiply the two above | comparable across every size |
| Span of the 45 videos | oldest video's date | tells you whether two channels compare at all |
| Does the audience match | audience analysis | only for the 2–3 finalists |
| Price per post | ask directly | ask all five, including ones you will not choose |
The last column divided by the third gives cost per interaction — the number that makes the decision. See also building a price range.
The two-hour process
First hour. Run channel report on all five, 5 credits each. Fill the first four columns. Immediately drop anyone showing the seven signs of bought engagement.
Second hour. For the two or three who remain, run audience analysis at 12 credits and comments analysis at 12 credits. This is where you find the channel with good numbers talking to a different group.
Total: 25 + 3 × 24 = 97 credits for five thoroughly vetted candidates. For a screening round only, 25 credits is enough.
Three mistakes that void a comparison
Mixing denominators. Taking channel A's rate from a media kit (divided by followers) and channel B's from your own calculation (divided by views). Those two numbers do not compare.
Ignoring the time span. A daily channel and a weekly channel both have "60 most recent videos", but one covers two months and the other over a year.
Comparing numbers without comparing audiences. The most expensive mistake. See the audience article.
When the table comes out close
If cost per interaction is nearly identical for three people, do not force a winner. Choose on something else: who edits better (so the content is reusable in ads), who replies faster, who has looser contract terms. See the 12-point checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Can I compare creators across two different platforms? It is hard, because the number of readable posts differs. Use the multi-platform report for one person, and compare on per-post averages.
Is five the optimal number? There is no optimal number. Below three there is nothing to compare; above eight nobody reads the whole table.
Does the tool rank them for me? No. It returns the numbers; the priority order depends on your objective, which only you know.
More on this topic: Creators & KOLs