PlayedBy / Compare
A PlayScout alternative for indie devs
PlayScout and PlayedBy do a similar job: you give them games like yours (or your Steam link) and they find YouTube and Twitch creators who recently played those games. Both have a free tier with no sign-up. They differ in how you pay, what they show about each creator, and how much help you get writing the first message. Here's a side-by-side, using each tool's own public pages.
The short version
- PlayScout is pay-per-search with no subscription, includes creator contact details (including emails creators publish), and offers a hand-picked list option.
- PlayedBy explains why each creator ranks where it does and writes a pitch draft for every creator, referencing what they actually played. It offers a one-time Launch list or monthly plans for ongoing searches.
- Both free tiers give you 2 searches a week with no account, so you can run your own game through both and compare.
PlayScout pricing (from its public site)
Read on 29 October 2026 from tryplayscout.com; check the source for the latest.
| PlayScout option | Price | What it includes (per its site) |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 2 searches a week, 7 matches each with their public contacts, no sign-up |
| 1 full search | $9 one-time | Strong matches first, then more good fits (up to 250), public contacts and a spreadsheet of channel links |
| 3 full searches | $24 one-time | Same as above, three searches |
| Hand-picked list | $29 one-time | The founder hand-picks 50 creators for your game, with a short opener for each, delivered by email within a day |
PlayScout says it is not a subscription and that paid lists stay saved in your account.
PlayedBy pricing
| PlayedBy plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 2 searches a week with no sign-up (4 with a free account), top 7 creators revealed, each with why it ranks and a pitch draft |
| Launch list | $12 one-time | 1 full search for one game, every creator with a pitch draft, CSV export, results saved 30 days |
| Indie | $19/mo | 1 game project, full ranked YouTube + Twitch list, a pitch draft for every creator, outreach tracking |
| Studio | $49/mo | Up to 5 game projects, everything in Indie, priority data refresh |
Prices in USD via Whop (Launch list one-time; Indie and Studio monthly). See pricing.
How they differ
| PlayScout | PlayedBy | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 2 searches a week, 7 matches each, no sign-up | 2 searches a week, top 7 creators, no sign-up (4 a week with a free email account) |
| Input | Steam link, or 2–5 similar games | Steam link (fills in comparable games you can edit), or 3–10 similar games |
| Why a creator ranks | Each result explains the evidence available, per its site | Every creator shows the reasons behind its rank: which of your games they covered, how recently, and whether their audience size suggests they'll reply |
| First message | A first line based on what the creator posted; a short opener per creator on the $29 hand-picked list | A full pitch draft (subject + body) for every creator, referencing the video or stream they made |
| Contacts | Public contacts, including emails creators publish themselves | Links to the creator's own About page and the links in their bio; PlayedBy does not copy email addresses |
| Export | Spreadsheet / CSV with paid lists | CSV export for free accounts and paid plans |
| Paying | $9 per search, $24 for 3, or $29 hand-picked; one-time | $12 one-time Launch list (1 full search), or $19/mo and $49/mo plans for ongoing searches |
| Data source | YouTube and Twitch coverage of your comparison games | Official YouTube Data API and Twitch API only |
Which one fits you
- If you want creators' published emails in the results, or the lowest price for a single search, PlayScout fits.
- If you want to understand why each creator is on the list and start from a written pitch for every one of them, try PlayedBy.
- If you're pitching continuously across a launch, updates and sales, PlayedBy's monthly plans let you re-run searches as new creators pick up games like yours.
Browse examples: creators who played Hades II, Balatro, or all games. Also see our Keymailer alternative and Woovit alternative guides.
PlayScout is a trademark of its owner. PlayedBy is not affiliated with it. Facts above come from PlayScout's public pages as of 29 October 2026; if anything is out of date, tell us and we'll correct it.
Try it on your own game: paste your Steam link or enter 3–10 games like yours. 2 free searches a week, no sign-up.
Find creators free →