Helium 10 vs Viral Launch: Which is Better?

Wondering what the difference is between Helium 10 and Viral Launch?

Fortunately, I’ve used both, and I’m happy to share my thoughts. In this guide, I’m pinning these two Amazon seller tools in the ultimate showdown. Helium 10 vs Viral Launch: Which is better for you?

Overview of Helium 10 vs Viral Launch

I know — you’re here for a dramatic Helium 10 vs Viral Launch face-off. Before diving into the differences between the two tools, let me start with the basics.

What Is Helium 10?

Helium 10 is a comprehensive Amazon seller tool created a little over three years ago. Its founders, Manny Coats and Guillermo Puyol, designed it to help Amazon sellers conceptualize key metrics like profit estimates and seasonal trends. Sellers use these metrics to help them determine their products’ success rates.

Helium 10’s key features include an ASIN grabber, profitability calculator, PPC Ads management, index checker, inventory protector, and many more.

In its short existence, Helium 10 has made big strides. It has helped over 1 million Amazon sellers and generated more than $4 billion in monthly revenue.

Pros

• Caters to new and veteran sellers alike
• Excellent product research extension like X-Ray, Trendsetter, and Black Box
• Sophisticated research tools you can use to look up your competitors
• Advanced keyword aggregation capabilities
• Offers a free plan you can use indefinitely
• You’ll gain access to nearly two dozen tools to grow your Amazon business
• Has good management tools like the Refund Genie

Cons

• The free plan is quite limiting
• You only get multi-user access on the higher-level plans
• Customer support is limited to

What Is Viral Launch?

This tool has a bit more history behind it. It was founded by Casey Gauss, a leading e-commerce entrepreneur, in 2014.

Since its inception, it has been responsible for generating nearly $8 billion in Amazon sales. It has helped more than 10,000 brands grow and tracked more than 225,000,000 products. Despite its large scale, Viral Launch remains easy to use and helps Amazon FBA businesses of all sizes.

Users often compare Viral Launch to tools like SpyFu and SEMrush. These two tools help users achieve higher rankings in the Google SERPs. Viral Launch works in the same way, but its priority is to help you climb to the top in your specific niche on Amazon.

Amazon sellers use this tool for many reasons, including pinpointing new opportunities, staying ahead of competitors’ strategies, optimizing your product listings, and tracking your company’s progress.

Pros

• Superior customer support
• Has a well-designed, intuitive interface
• Has a solid AI system that gathers and interprets data for you
• Comes with a Google Chrome extension for greater ease of use
• Has an extensive suite of tools to drive up your sales
• Lets you easily find relevant keywords that’ll attract buyers

Cons

• Comes with a steep learning curve
• A bit pricier than Helium 10 (for the lowest-level plan)

Helium 10 vs Viral Launch — Which Is Right for You?

Alright, now you have a general idea of what each tool is all about. On the surface, these products may seem like they serve very similar purposes. However, we’re here to explore what sets them apart.

Below, I’ll go over several elements of Helium 10 vs Viral Launch and how they differ. I’m not leaving anything out — I’ll cover everything you need to know about using these tools for product research, keyword research, listing optimization, inventory protection, and more.

Product Research

With both Helium 10 and Viral Launch, you won’t have to spend hours upon hours researching new product ideas. Instead, both tools come with extensive research options to help you discover the most profitable products to sell.

Helium 10 is most famous for its product research tool known as Black Box. Helium 10 Black Box lets you look for products to sell within seconds.

With the Black Box by your side, you’ll only find products you feel confident in selling. Take advantage of the opportunity to filter ideas on the Black Box by:

• Product category
• Review rating
• Amount of sellers
• Number of images
• Weight
• Price
• And more

One unique feature regarding product research on Viral Launch is its split testing tool. This is the go-to Viral Launch product discovery tool. The split testing tool lets you run tests on different price points, product descriptions, and image and title variations. You can combine all these elements and apply what you learned from this product research tool to create the best selling rates.

The split testing tool from Viral Launch will give you a unique competitive advantage, as many shops don’t conduct trials before putting their products up for sale.

Keyword Research

Don’t get tunnel vision when trying to find a reliable seller product. The one you pick shouldn’t only serve as an excellent product discovery tool.

After product research, keyword research is one of the most important things about managing a successful Amazon FBA business.

Helium 10 comes with the Misspellinator tool. This unique tool helps you attract all customers, including those who didn’t do too well in their 3rd-grade spelling bees.

Let’s say you sell camouflage hunting gear. You can use the Misspellinator to get your product to rank for “camouflage hunting gear” and “camoflage hunting gear.”

Viral Launch also has some unique features related to keyword research. The Viral Launch keyword tracker tool lets you find high-volume and relevant keywords for your Amazon listings.

Filter your results by the number of competing products, word count, and search volume to find the best fit for your business.

Inventory Safeguards

Launching a new product is exciting, but it also exposes you to vulnerabilities. Helium 10 comes with an Inventory Protector tool that protects your listings from overactive couponers who want to clear your shelves.

Viral Launch doesn’t have this same inventory protector tool, but it lets you run promotions safely. Use the tool’s Max Order Quantity adjustment feature to limit how much of one item each customer can order.

Navigation

When it comes to the menu of Helium 10 vs Viral Launch, both are simple to navigate. When you log into your respective accounts, you’ll have instant access to all of the tools.

These tools belong to categories like the following, so you’ll always be able to find what you’re looking for easily.:

• Keyword Research
• Product Research
• Listing Optimization
• Operations, Marketing
• Analytics

Product Photography Services

Think about it — when you’re buying something on Amazon, you want to see what the item looks like. A blurry, off-center or inaccurate picture can turn you towards another listing.

As a seller, you want to advertise your products as clearly as possible. Viral Launch’s product photography services ensure you have high quality photos to show off your products.

The team will provide captivating images you can use to transform your product listings. It combines the expertise of professional photographers and branding buffs to deliver a compelling final product.

Unfortunately, Helium 10 doesn’t offer anything similar. So, if you want to beautify your listings, Viral Launch wins out when it comes to Helium 10 vs Viral Launch.

Listing Optimization

Pictures aren’t the only way to increase the appeal of your product listings. Both Helium 10 and Viral Launch offer listing optimization services to improve their readability and appeal to a larger audience.

Helium 10 offers several tools for listing optimization, including the Scribbles tool. This tool lets you:

• Ensure you’ve used the appropriate number of keywords based on any character limitations you have
• Retrieve old listing drafts
• Import listings from your Amazon account
• Create optimized listings using the best search terms in your niche

Viral Launch has three tools that allow it to optimize your listings:

1. The Viral Launch Listing Analyzer
2. The Viral Launch Keyword Research Manager
3. The Viral Launch Listing Builder

You can use these three tools together to discover keywords automatically and evaluate your content to get an idea of how your products are performing.

Reverse ASIN Search Features

When it comes to reverse ASIN search features, Helium 10 walks away victorious.

The Helium 10 Cerebro tool lets you discover which keywords are ranking for. After using Helium 10 Cerebro, you can adjust your listings and watch your conversion rates rise.

Viral Launch has a similar reverse ASIN feature, but it’s not as user-friendly and doesn’t provide as extensive search volume data.

Chrome Extensions

The Market Intelligence Viral Launch Chrome extension is excellent for enhanced usability. This feature comes with every subscription level.

Once you install the Viral Launch Market Intelligence extension, you can browse Amazon and review accurate market data simultaneously. No need to switch back and forth between tabs tirelessly.

Good news — Helium 10 also offers a handy Chrome extension.

Competitor Tracking

You won’t be the only business trying to thrive on Amazon.

To help you stay ahead of the competition, Helium 10 offers the Market Tracker tool for competitor intelligence. The Market Tracker gives you a bird’s-eye view of your particular niche. You can project sales estimates, get an idea of where you stand, and understand the current market’s overall health.

Viral Launch also has something to offer when it comes to competitor intelligence. It provides accurate data about product trends and sales estimates. You can view both current and historical data to get a better idea of the bigger picture in your industry.

Management Tools

The Amazon software you select should make performing everyday office tasks easier.

One of my favorite management tools from Helium 10 is the Refund Genie. The Refund Genie lets you view reimbursements and simplifies the FBA seller refund process.

Do you have a new product and can’t figure out how to launch it? Viral Launch offers effective launching services. These services will help improve your product’s sales performance from the get-go. You’ll notice increased exposure to external traffic and heightened profit margins.

Marketplaces

Both Amazon seller tools have an international reach. Amazon sellers all over the world can benefit from these product and keyword research selling tools.

Helium 10 supports the Amazon marketplaces in the U.S., U.K., Netherlands, India, Mexico, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, and Canada.

Its competing keyword research tool supports the marketplaces in the U.S., U.K., Italy, France, Mexico, Spain, Germany, China, Japan, and Brazil.

Customer Support

In my opinion, any keyword research tool is only as good as the customer service that backs it. When it comes to the customer service of Helium 10 vs Viral Launch, the latter prevails.

Helium 10 doesn’t have an active community. There’s no phone number to call or live widget to submit your questions to. Instead, you’ll have to rely on FAQ sections and customer support tickets for help.

On the other hand, you can reach Viral Launch’s customer support team easily. Submit an inquiry via email or the website’s chat function.

If you need a more immediate response or want to talk to a live person, consider phoning Viral Launch’s support staff.

Ask any questions you want, including how to interpret search volume statistics or upgrade to a higher plan like the Brand Builder.

No matter which communication channel you select, you’ll get a rapid, enthusiastic, and helpful response every time.

Pricing

After hearing about all the awesome features these two seller tools offer, reading about Viral Launch and Helium 10 pricing might seem a little tedious.

However, it’s essential to understand the products’ pricing differences, especially if you plan to commit for the long term.

Both of these tools offer a tiered pricing system. When you pay more, you’ll receive more access to extensive features.

When it comes to the lowest price you’ll pay for Helium 10 vs Viral Launch, Helium 10 wins.

The lowest plan for this tool starts at just $37/month. The other two plans are the Platinum plan and Diamond plan, which cost $97/month and $197/month, respectively.

As you move up in Helium 10’s plans, you gain several benefits. Some of these perks include the ability to track more keywords, use the Index Checker more often, and send more follow-up emails.

The barebones plan with Viral Launch has a steeper price of $69/month. However, the next two plans have very similar rates to Helium 10’s (the Pro plan is $99/month and the Brand Builder plan $199/month).

As you move up in Viral Launch’s plans, you’ll receive additional features like competitor monitoring, listing health analysis, 24/7 campaign monitoring, and organic & PPC keyword tracking.

A La Carte Plans

When it comes to Viral Launch vs Helium 10, the latter is the only software that offers an a la carte plan.

Do you only need something specific from Helium 10, like the Index Checker, to find relevant keywords? You can pay for some of the platform’s most popular tools on an individual basis.

Tailored Plans for Big Businesses

After reading about the Helium 10 vs Viral Launch pricing differences, you may have found a plan that fits your needs perfectly.

However, these plans may not be suitable for large-scale operations or businesses with unique needs. If you need to customize a plan to fit your needs, Helium 10 is the way to go.

Helium 10 has a designated pricing plan called Enterprise. This plan offers customized solutions to large agencies. As extensive as the Diamond plan may seem, the Enterprise plan exists to fill in the gaps and meet giant businesses’ needs.

Not every Enterprise plan will offer the same solutions and benefits. You’ll need to get in touch with a member of Helium 10’s sales team to find out more details about the right plan design for your business.

From what I’ve observed, Viral Launch doesn’t offer this kind of custom plan. Instead, your only three options are the pre-determined plans on its Pricing page. However, Viral Launch has superior customer service, so we’re sure they’d be willing to work with you to find an acceptable solution.

But, if you want to go into business with a service that has experience catering to large businesses, Helium 10 will be your best bet.

No-Cost Trials

You can read all the Helium 10 vs Viral launch reviews you want. However, what we (and other customers) have to say should only matter so much to you.

You’ll likely want to test these products for yourself before you commit to paying over the long term.

Do you have to pay to give these tools a test spin, or do the brands offer some sort of unpaid trial?

Helium 10 has a free plan that you can use forever at no charge. However, the capabilities are pretty limited. To experience what this tool is capable of, you’ll have to fork over at least a month’s worth of the Starter or Platinum plan.

Viral Launch offers a 14-day free trial at no cost. For two weeks, you can explore everything this tool has to offer. It doesn’t even require a credit card to sign up. So, there’s no way you’ll forget to cancel your trial and automatically receive a charge.

All you have to do is provide your full name and email and create a password for your account.

Free Long-Term Versions of the Tools

Forget an unpaid trial. If you’re on a budget or are new to the Amazon business world, you might not be interested in paying for an Amazon seller tool at all.

Do these tools have any free versions of their products that users can use to sell on Amazon for the long term?

As we mentioned before, Helium 10 has a free plan that you can use indefinitely.

Viral Launch doesn’t have an unlimited free version of its product. Once your unpaid trial expires, you have to decide whether or not to pay for a premium version.

However, this tool offers some helpful free resources on its site. You can access video courses, including “Amazon PPC Playbook” and “How to Sell on Amazon,” for no charge.

You can revisit these informative videos as many times as you’d like and implement the strategies you learn into your Amazon business.

After using these free versions and resources for a while, you may become pickier. You may desire more features and enhanced knowledge of the Amazon FBA world. At this point, you can consider switching to a premium version of either Helium 10 or Viral Launch.

How Does Jungle Scout Compare?

While Helium 10 and Viral Launch are pretty big names in the Amazon seller world, you might be wondering about another one — Jungle Scout.

Greg Mercer created this Amazon seller tool in 2015. After a long career in a different industry, Greg transitioned to the e-commerce world and soon created the recognizable brand many Amazon sellers still swear by.

Whenever we use this Amazon seller tool, we notice the founder’s past begin to creep to the surface. Originally, Mercer was an engineer, not an e-commerce entrepreneur. He designed his software with people like him in mind — he tried to make it as easy to use as possible.

This software is incredibly simple to use, but it leaves users wanting more. It’s fine if you’re just starting, are on a budget, or don’t require many product research capabilities.

In fact, many small-scale business owners who only sell a handful of products can get by with Jungle Scout swimmingly in comparison to Viral Launch and Helium 10.

The one thing we like about this software is its supplier database feature. You can use it to determine where to buy your products from.

Other than that, we classify Mercer’s software as an introductory tool. Both Helium 10 and Viral Launch offer more detailed features for Amazon FBA businesses who want to experience exponential growth.

Final Thoughts: Which Tool Is Better — Helium 10 or Viral Launch?

As much as you may hate to hear it, I can’t really settle the Helium 10/Viral Launch debate with 100% confidence. I’ve ranked Helium 10 as higher based on my methodology (outlined below), but truly, the tool that’s best for you depends what you’re looking for.

Helium 10 is a better fit if you have a smaller budget, want to take advantage of every type of seller tool and want the ability to manage your inventory. It’s great if you’re a hands-on Amazon seller who wants full control of your business.

Viral Launch is better for private-label sellers and those looking for PPC automation and a more set-it-and-forget-it approach to running their Amazon business.

Both tools are great for different purposes and suit the needs of different Amazon FBA businesses.

You’ll have to consider what you want in your Amazon seller tool to decide which is best:

• If you want an easy-to-use Chrome extension, superior customer service, and product photography services, Viral Launch is your best bet.
• However, if you’re just starting and need something cheap that offers reliable product research tools, Helium 10 will be your go-to pick.

Use this guide to consider all the factors of buying the right Amazon software for your business, then make your choice!

I personally tested both Helium 10 and Viral Launch, using them to perform basic Amazon seller tasks. Before writing this review, I delved into each tool by scouring their websites, reading customer feedback, and consulting other Amazon sellers for insights. To stay objective in my Helium 10 and Viral Launch review, I compared them against each other using various criteria and assigned scores to each category.

The following factors were considered:

• Features and tools (30%): The quantity and quality of tools each tool offers. Bonus points were granted or unique features.
• Reputation and reviews (20%): I collected feedback from people within my personal network and from public review sites such as Google, Trustpilot, and Reddit and came up with a qualitative system for strong and poor reviews.
• Pricing (20%): Evaluated based on a cost-to-value ratio. Additional credit was awarded to Helium 10, as it offers a free plan.
• Interface UX and ease of use (15%): Intuitive tools with a simplified interface scored highest in this category.
• Customer support and education (15%): Amazon FBA can be complicated. The stronger the reputation for customer service, the higher the company ranked in this category.

Have a question about my methodology? Feel free to reach out here.