YCS vs CommentGrab
Y
vs
CommentGrab

The YCS alternative
that still works on YouTube

YCS (YouTube Comment Search) loaded a video's comments so you could search them. Its last update was in October 2024, and 8 of its 10 most recent reviews say it no longer works. CommentGrab loads every comment and reply and exports them, so you can search, sort and filter in any spreadsheet.

Add to Chrome, it's free Jump to the table
Last checked 13 Oct 2026Sourced from their public pagesNo account needed
At a glanceYCSCommentGrab
PriceFreeFree
Last updated4 Oct 2024Maintained, with a public changelog
Works on YouTube today8 of 10 recent reviews say noVideos
Other sitesYouTube only12 more, from Reddit to Amazon
Source codeMIT license, but only a packaged zipReadable source on GitHub
VerdictOnce the go-to tool for searching comments in the browser.Pick CommentGrab to export and search comments that load today.
Where CommentGrab wins

Every comment and reply
in a file you can search

YCS searched comments inside its own panel on the YouTube page. Its Chrome Web Store listing was last updated on 4 October 2024, and recent reviews say it no longer loads comments on current YouTube.

CommentGrab loads up to 1,200 top-level comments with their replies and exports them as CSV, JSON or Markdown. Open the CSV in Google Sheets or Excel and search, sort by likes or filter by author.

Exported comments in a spreadsheet, ready to search, sort and filter
What users report

Common complaints
about YCS

From YCS's 10 most recent Chrome Web Store reviews (January to June 2026) and its GitHub issues, checked 13 Oct 2026.

8 of 10 recent reviews

It stopped working

Reviewers say it no longer loads comments on current YouTube.

“doesn't work, not sure why it's still available to download.”Chrome Web Store review, source, 16 Jun 2026

CommentGrab: CommentGrab ships updates when sites change, and the changelog shows each one.

4 of 10 recent reviews

Users moving to other tools

Several reviewers name the extension they switched to.

“It USED to work a long time ago.”Chrome Web Store review, source, 24 Apr 2026

CommentGrab: It's free, so switching costs nothing.

1 open GitHub issue

Top comments only

An issue reports it loading Top comments instead of every new comment.

“YTCS only getting Top Comments instead of all New Comments”GitHub issue #54, source, 14 Feb 2024

CommentGrab: The export includes every comment it loads, with replies under their parent.

YCS
vs CommentGrab, side by side

Checked on 13 Oct 2026 against YCS's own pages. Something changed? Tell us.

YCSCommentGrab
YouTube commentsReported brokenVideos
RepliesWhen it workedIncluded, one level deep
Live chat replay and transcriptListedNot supported
Search inside the pageIts main featureExport, then search in a spreadsheet
ExportListed, format not statedCSV, JSON, Markdown, clipboard
Other platformsYouTube only13 sites
AI analysisNoneNine kinds of insight on your own OpenAI key
Last updateOct 2024Jul 2026 (v1.1)

YCS pricing
vs CommentGrab pricing

Both are free. The difference is whether the tool still works.

YCS

  • Extension$0
  • Last update4 Oct 2024
  • Rating3.3 from 561

Source: YCS pricing page, 13 Oct 2026.

CommentGrab

  • Every platform, every export$0
  • Account or sign-upNone
  • AI analysisYour OpenAI key

With AI analysis you pay OpenAI directly for the tokens you use.

What YCS
is built for

When YCS worked, it did a couple of things CommentGrab doesn't.

Search without leaving YouTube

Its panel searched comments right on the video page. CommentGrab exports first, and you search in a spreadsheet or with AI.

Live chat replay and transcripts

It also loaded live chat replays and video transcripts, which CommentGrab doesn't export.

How to switch
from YCS

It takes a couple of minutes, and you don't need an account.

01

Install CommentGrab.

Add it from the Chrome Web Store. You can remove YCS afterwards.

02

Open the YouTube video.

Any video or Short with comments.

03

Export, then search.

Download CSV and open it in Google Sheets or Excel to search, sort and filter.

YCS
alternative FAQ

Does YCS still work?

Its last Chrome Web Store update was on 4 October 2024, and 8 of its 10 most recent reviews (January to June 2026) say it no longer works on YouTube.

How do I search all comments on a YouTube video?

Export them with CommentGrab as CSV, open the file in Google Sheets or Excel and use find or a filter. Replies are included.

Is there a free YCS alternative?

CommentGrab is free, with no account. It exports YouTube comments and replies, and 12 other sites.

Can I search comments by keyword with AI?

CommentGrab's AI analysis, on your own OpenAI key, groups a thread into themes, objections and the phrases people repeat.

Other comparisons

Comment Exporter for YouTube alternativeReplies are premium ExportComments alternative100 free results, then a paid plan Apify alternativePay per 1,000 comments

Export comments free,
with no account

Install CommentGrab, open a supported thread and export every reply in seconds.

Add to Chrome