YouTube or TikTok: Where Should Your Next Comment Giveaway Run?
Video creators and brands often have a presence on both YouTube and TikTok. When it's time for a giveaway, the question comes up: which one should host it?
Both platforms let viewers comment on videos, and RaffleSelect can pick random winners from comments on either. But the two feel very different, and a giveaway that suits one may not suit the other. Here's how to think it through.
Think about how people watch
The biggest difference is how viewers find and watch your videos.
- YouTube viewers often arrive by searching or by following a channel they like. Long videos invite them to stay for a while, and a giveaway mentioned mid-video reaches people who are already invested in you.
- TikTok viewers usually arrive through their feed. A video can reach lots of people who have never heard of you, and they decide in seconds whether to keep watching.
That shapes everything else: what you say in the video, how long the giveaway runs and who ends up entering.
A side-by-side look
| YouTube | TikTok | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical video | Longer videos, plus Shorts | Short vertical videos |
| Who enters | Often subscribers and returning viewers | Often a mix of followers and new viewers |
| Comment pace | Can build steadily over days | Can arrive in a burst if a video takes off |
| Good for | Rewarding a loyal community, prizes that need explaining | Reaching new people, simple and fun prizes |
These are general tendencies. Your own channel's history is a better guide.
Choose YouTube when...
- You want to reward regulars. A giveaway in a regular episode thanks the people who show up every week.
- The prize needs a demo. Tech, tools, courses or kits often need a few minutes to explain. A full video gives you that time.
- You want thoughtful comments. Ask viewers to answer a question about the video. YouTube comments often run longer, which can give you useful feedback.
- You don't mind a longer giveaway. Videos keep getting views for a while, so a deadline a week or more out can make sense.
Choose TikTok when...
- You want to reach new viewers. A fun giveaway video can travel well beyond your followers.
- The prize is easy to show fast. If you can show the prize and the entry method in a few seconds, TikTok suits it.
- You want a quick, energetic giveaway. Shorter runs fit the pace of the platform.
- You're ready for a busy comment section. If a video takes off, you'll need filters and a clear deadline to keep things fair.
Things that matter on both
- Say the entry method out loud and on screen. Don't rely on the description or caption alone.
- Give a clear end date and time. Include the time zone, and pin a comment that repeats it.
- Explain how the winner is picked. "Picked at random from eligible comments" sets expectations.
- Follow the platform's rules. Each platform has its own guidelines for promotions and contests. Read the current version before you launch, and check the rules where you and your viewers live. This is general guidance, not legal advice.
Setting up the draw
Whichever platform you pick, the draw works the same way in RaffleSelect:
- Use the duplicate filter so people who comment many times still count once.
- If you asked for a keyword or hashtag, use the hashtag filter.
- Exclude collaborators, editors and moderators with the block list (Silver and up).
- Choose your number of winners and add substitutes.
- Use the countdown (Gold and up) if you're recording the draw for a reveal video.
Check that your plan loads enough comments. Free loads up to 600, Silver up to 2,000, Gold up to 5,000 and Platinum is unlimited. A TikTok video that takes off can pass those numbers quickly. Details are on the pricing page.
Why not both?
You can post a giveaway on each platform with separate winners, or combine them. RaffleSelect's multi-network option, on Platinum, puts entries from a YouTube video and a TikTok video into one draw. If you do this, decide whether entering on both platforms counts once or twice, and put it in your rules.
A common pattern is to announce the giveaway in a full YouTube video for your regulars, and post a short TikTok pointing new viewers to it, or letting them enter there too. Just be clear about which posts count.
Ready to run it? Start on the YouTube giveaway page or the TikTok giveaway page.