YouTube is certainly a 21st Century sensation. Alexa ranks it as the #2 website in the world, only trailing Google (who, of course, own YouTube and operate it as a subsidiary). Millions of people enjoy YouTube videos every day, and this is a highly important place where brands can find YouTube influencers.
Our list is loosely based on YouTube subscribers. Some of the most subscribed YouTube channels are not really suitable to be considered influencers for brands. We have excluded YouTube's own genre channels, such as Music, Gaming, and Sports (these are actually the three channels with the most subscribers, more than 121 million subscribers opt for YouTube’s music channel).
How to Find the Right YouTube Influencers for Your Brand
What makes the leading YouTube influencers so successful? We’ve interviewed Ryan Doser, VP of Inbound Marketing at Empathy First Media, to help shed some light on why some YouTube influencers gain more traction than others.
“A few qualities that come to mind for successful YouTubers are charisma and authenticity. Most creators are scared to get in front of a camera (like myself sometimes) and creators who both look and speak naturally tend to draw a larger audience,” shares Doser.
With over 64 million YouTube creators, how can you stand out and make an impact on viewers?
“Also, since most creators online are fake and go after the quick commissions, being authentic with your audience will help you stand out in today’s crowded market. Not to mention the rise of generative AI in YouTube videos will only help the creators who are trustworthy,” he adds.
By the end of this year, it’s estimated that the influencer marketing industry will grow to approximately $24 billion. As part of Influencer Marketing Hub’s The State of Influencer Marketing 2024: Benchmark Report, we surveyed around 3,000 people from different backgrounds. We found that 84.8% of respondents believe that influencer marketing is an effective marketing strategy.
With all the noise on the internet, brands may find it difficult to capture their audience’s attention. YouTube influencer marketing, when done right, can turn the tide and amplify brand awareness. By leveraging an influencer’s massive reach, brands can increase their exposure and improve brand awareness. A 2023 study found that influencers have a significant potential to help SMEs reach their target market, expand brand awareness, and drive sales.
Aside from these benefits, partnering with the right YouTube influencer can help your brand cultivate customer trust and loyalty. They know how to build relationships with audiences, acting as a bridge between your brand and your target audience.
In fact, 81% of consumers became interested in a product or service after seeing posts from family, friends, or influencers. To further drive home the impact that influencers have on audiences, the same survey noted that 69% of consumers are more likely to trust recommendations coming from family, friends, or influencers over those coming from brands themselves.
How many youtube channels can you have
You can manage up to 100 YouTube channels from one Google Account using Brand Accounts. Each channel can have its own unique content and settings, making it ideal for different themes, languages, or branding purposes. MrBeast is a great example for this, you can read all about him below.
If you’re a brand looking to partner with a YouTube influencer on the other side, these tips can help you find the right one.
- Keep your audience in mind. When finding potential partners, focus on whether they align with your target audience or not. Learn to look beyond their follower count. Aside from that, assess the influencer’s engagement metrics and authenticity. A high engagement rate tells you that their audience is active and more receptive. A good example would be micro-influencers who have built their following through genuine engagement and having shared interests with their audience.
- Leverage keywords. Use YouTube’s search bar to find channels or content that are relevant to and align with your brand.
- Use influencer platforms. Influencer marketing platforms can help you find influencers who align with your brand, goals, and audience. Features like Influencer Search & Discovery, Influencer Analytics, and Influencer Relationship Management make it easy for you to find, onboard, and manage influencers who best fit your brand.
- Look into using social listening tools. These can help you identify influencers who are already talking about your brand or niche.
- Find potential influencers or advocates from your audience base. See if you have brand advocates or customers organically promoting your product or service. You can work with them and leverage their affinity to your brand.
Aside from these tips, we’ve curated several articles to help narrow down your search. Check them out below:
- Top 15 Vloggers to Follow
- 15 Popular Content Creators on YouTube
- 20 of the Most Popular YouTubers
- Top 28 Black YouTube Influencers & Vloggers
- 21 YouTube Fitness Influencers
Top 40 YouTube Influencers Worth Checking Out in 2024
We’ve chosen to include only influencers for this list, so we’ve excluded official music channels for musicians, including personalities from channels like T-Series, SET India, YouTube Music, and YouTube Gaming. We’ve also divided this list into general categories to make it easier for you to find YouTube influencers based on your interests.
Note that the top three categories are presented based on their popularity. We placed “People and Blogs” first because it’s the most popular category for YouTube influencers, with 28.5% of them posting content related to the topic. For each category, you’ll see the top YouTube influencers ranked according to the number of subscribers they have.
How many youtube channels with 1 million subscribers:
In 2023, around 41,900 YouTube channels boast over 1 million subscribers. With more than 113.9 million active channels on the platform, this means that only about 0.04% have reached this milestone. This highlights just how rare and significant it is to achieve such a large following on YouTube. Still, the odds are better than winning the lottery.
Overall
As of writing, these are the YouTube influencers who have the most subscribers:
- MrBeast – 312 million
- Kids Diana Show – 124 million
- Vlad and Niki – 123 million
- Like Nastya – 119 million
- PewDiePie – 111 million
- Canal KondZilla – 67.3 million
- A4 – 65.9 million
- Dude Perfect – 60.4 million
- JuegaGerman – 50.9 million
- Fernanfloo – 47.8 million
People and Blogs
The YouTube influencers on this list mostly create vlogs, with content ranging from gaming videos (non-gaming exclusive channels) and challenges to educational and documentary-style videos.
1. MrBeast
MrBeast, aka Jimmy Donaldson, has a number of channels on YouTube of which his main channel has 312 million subscribers.
That’s not the only impressive number. In 2017, he made a video in which he counted to 100,000. It’s this video that has helped him to become one of the biggest YouTube stars. To date, MrBeast’s videos have racked up over 57 billion views.
According to Donaldson himself in a recent interview with Time Magazine, “Each video does a couple in ad revenue, a couple million in brand deals.” He adds that brands pay between $2.5 million and $3 million for a shout-out. According to the same report, Donaldson brings in approximately $600 million to $700 million annually, which he says he reinvests into growing his brand and audience.
A lot of what he does is about making things count and so he often shares videos in which he makes donations. From donating over 100 cars to giving away $1 million in a single video, it might come as a surprise but philanthropy is close to MrBeast’s heart.
How Many Youtube Channels Does MrBeast Have
MrBeast (Donaldson) manages 5 YouTube channels:
- MrBeast: Known for challenges with cash prizes.
- MrBeast 2: for Shorts
- MrBeast Gaming: Focuses on gaming content.
- Beast Philanthropy: Dedicated to philanthropic efforts
- Beast Reacts: Features reaction videos
Recently, MrBeast was embroiled in controversies and scandals. One such issue concerned Beast Games, the YouTube influencer’s Amazon Video reality series. Several participants spoke out about unsafe working conditions. Donaldson has also been criticized for his content. MrBeast is famous for creating content centered around doing good deeds. His critics’ main issue with him is about how he uses these types of content to make a profit.
2. A4
A4 (aka Vlad Bumaga) is a YouTube vlogger from Belarus. He is most known for his pranks, skits, and challenges. Though, his success has not come without controversy. At the beginning of 2021, MrBeast and JustDustin accused him of stealing their thumbnails. A4 sort of admitted to the crime, but claimed that it was only one thumbnail.
He first joined YouTube at the end of 2014. While it took him relatively long to get his first 100,000 subscribers (almost two years) after he hit that first milestone, the rate at which his subscriber count grew increased rapidly. At the time of writing this article, his YouTube channel has 65.9 million subscribers, with total video views going over the 30 billion count.
3. Ricis Official
Ria Yunita (aka Ria Ricis) is a rising Indonesian YouTuber. In fact, before her success on YouTube, she already had millions of followers on Instagram who loved the content that she created with squishy toys.
On YouTube, she currently has 47 million subscribers, and her most popular video, uploaded six years ago and featuring squishy toys, has received a whopping 131 million views. Ricis has also ventured into the world of movies, appearing in Indonesian films like The Wedding Agreement and Target.
4. Luisito Comunica
Luis Arturo Villar Sudek is the man behind the YouTube channel, Luisito Comunica. In addition to being a YouTuber, the Mexican is also a businessman and internet personality. Before starting Luisito Comunica, he had two other failed YouTube channels and also joined the YouTube team, NoMeRevientes.
He clearly learned from his mistakes as, at the time of writing this article, Luisito Comunica has 43.1 million subscribers, with total video views reaching more than 9.9 billion. His videos continue to gain traction, with the latest uploads having views ranging from 1.5 million to 15 million. The video that received 15 million views was uploaded three months ago, and showed Sudek visiting La Rinconada, Peru, which is known as the “highest city in the world.”
5. SSSniperWolf
Our list has very few female YouTubers, let alone female gamers. SSSniperWolf (Alia "Lia Valentine" Shelesh) is one of the top YouTube gaming influencers. Though, she also includes a lot of sunny reaction videos on her channel. Her YouTube channel currently has 34.6 million subscribers. On average, her videos get just over 1 to 3 million views per month.
Recently, Shelesh came under fire due to a number of issues. These include claims of Shelesh copyright striking a smaller content creator on YouTube and posting unoriginal reaction videos. In 2023, she doxed fellow YouTuber Jacksfilms. Shelesh showed up at Jacksfilms’ home, took a photo of his house, and shared it on her Instagram, invading Jacksfilms privacy.
6. AH (Atta Halilintar)
Atta Halilintar first joined YouTube at the beginning of 2014. In the eight years that he has been active on the channel, he has managed to get more than 31 million subscribers. In addition to being a content creator and YouTube star, the Indonesian is also an actor, a singer, and a businessman. In 2018, he starred in the movie, 13: The Haunted, and a year later, in another horror movie, The Return of the Devil Child.
Though, his content has sparked some controversy. In 2019, he was reported to the police for alleged blasphemy as one of his videos was accused of making fun of Islam’s prayer movement.
7. Yuya
Yuya, aka Mariand Castrejon Castañeda, currently has almost 25 million subscribers. She is a Mexican influencer and YouTuber who mainly makes make-up videos and vlogs documenting things in her life.
Although she registered her channel in 2009, it was not until the next year that she uploaded her first video - "peinados faciles y lindos" (Easy Hairstyles That Are Cute). Since then, her hundreds of videos have received close to 50,000 comments. Her last upload on the platform was two years ago.
8. Roman Atwood Vlogs
Roman Atwood operates two YouTube channels - RomanAtwood which focuses on prank videos, and RomanAtwoodVlogs, which, as its name suggests, is his vlogging channel. Both channels perform well, with the prank channel exceeding 10 million subscribers and the vlog channel having more than 15 million subscribers.
He has operated his prank channel since 2009 and his vlog channel since 2013. Three of his best-known pranks are the Pee Prank, the Ferrari Prank, and the Anniversary Prank. As of writing, his last upload was three months ago.
Entertainment
This list features several YouTube influencers whose niches span from music and reviews to vlogs and comedy.
1. KondZilla
KondZilla is one of the biggest YouTube channels in Brazil and has more than 67 million subscribers. The man behind the channel, Konrad Dantas, is a Brazilian director and screenwriter. Some of his most popular videos are official music videos (in fact, KondZilla has produced over 1,000 music videos). On average, he gets about 60,000 views per video.
In 2020, Dantas collaborated with The Orchard, a music distribution company, to distribute new releases from KondZilla Records, part of the KondZilla brand.
2. Dude Perfect
Unlike some of the other influencers in this list, Dude Perfect shares entertainment, mostly in the form of trick shots, that young and old can enjoy together. Created by Tyler Toney, Cody Jones, Garrett Hilbert and the twins (Coby and Cory Cotton), their YouTube channel has 60.4 million subscribers.
For the past 12 years, this team of five best buds (and a panda) has been putting together their noggins to create a globally recognized brand. Thanks to their clever branding, they also have one of the best influencer merch stores that sell a ton of different items.
Plus, they’ve collaborated with some of the world’s biggest brands, including Walmart, BMW, Ubisoft, AT&T, Nestlé, Paramount, and EA Sports.
3. Felipe Neto
Felipe Neto Rodrigues Vieira is an award-winning Brazilian-Portuguese vlogger and actor. He is also the founder of Paramaker, a YouTube business network dedicated to Brazil's online video market, which he sold in 2015. On his YouTube channel with more than 46 million subscribers, he shares videos that mainly deal with general entertainment. In 2020, Time magazine included him in their list of the 100 Most Influential People.
Felipe is also the founder of Instituto VERO, an organization dedicated to combating fake news. He was invited to speak at the UNESCO (Paris) and UN (New York) headquarters in recognition of his influence among the youth and his commitment to improving the digital environment through his fight against misinformation.
4. Luccas Neto
Luccas Neto is the younger brother of Felipe Neto. The Brazilian-Portuguese actor and comedian’s YouTube channel, Luccas Neto - Luccas Toon, boasts more than 45 million subscribers. In addition to his YouTube channel, he has also created over 10 Brazilian movies.
5. Kimberly Loaiza
Originating in Mexico, Kimberly Loaiza managed to get 100,000 subscribers in her first week after joining YouTube. Though, that is not where she stopped. Five years later, her YouTube channel has more than 45 million subscribers and her videos get on average 14.5 million views per month.
In fact, she is even more successful on TikTok where she has 81.6 million followers, currently making her one of the most popular TikTok influencers in Mexico. Her last video on YouTube was uploaded 8 months ago, entitled Mi Ultimo Video (My Last Video).
6. whinderssonnunes
With just over 44 million subscribers, Whindersson Nunes Batista is another Brazilian comedian and YouTube star. On his channel that he started in 2013, he likes to share musical parodies and comedy vlogs. One of his most popular videos, a parody of Adele’s Hello, was watched more than 79 million times. On average, he gets about 1 million views per video.
7. CarryMinati
Boasting more than 43 million subscribers on YouTube, CarryMinati (aka Ajey Nagar) is an Indian comedian, rapper, and gamer. While he posts fewer than one video per week, his YouTube videos are very engaging among his audience and get a lot of comments.
His YouTube stardom has been recognized by Time magazine and Forbes. In 2019, Time magazine included him in its Next Generation Leaders list, while the following year, he was included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list.
8. Smosh
Smosh is one of the more-established YouTube channels, having been around since 2005. Its focus is on sketch comedy. Anthony Padilla and Ian Andrew Hecox are its founders and they were originally also the main stars of the videos. Since 2015, however, they have been in a position to use actors in their videos.
The name was coined in 2002 by Anthony Padilla based on a friend mispronouncing the phrase “mosh pit”. The first video they uploaded in 2005 was on a Power Rangers theme. The video that made their name was a Pokemon-themed one, which set YouTube records before it was taken down by Nintendo’s Pokemon Company for copyright reasons. To date, their channel has just over 26 million subscribers.
9. WatchMojo.com
Watchmojo.com is the official YouTube channel for the popular Canadian website created by Ashkan Karbasfrooshan, Raphael Daigneault, and Christine Voulieris. Their goal is to entertain their 25.4 million subscribers by looking at the places and people who have helped to shape pop culture.
In fact, they share as many as four Top 10s per day and have covered a number of topics since they joined the platform in 2007. From video games to superheroes, there are thousands of videos that you can watch.
10. nigahiga
Nigahiga had the honor of being YouTube’s most subscribed channel for a couple of periods during 2008-2011. During that time, he was the first to reach 2 million subscribers in 2010, and 3 million in 2011.
The channel was initially set up in 2006 by Ryan Higa and Sean Fujiyoshi, while they were still at school. Their videos initially showed them lip-syncing to songs, although they suffered from some copyright takedowns. Since then, Ryan Higa has composed mostly his own music.
Eventually, Ryan moved to Las Vegas to go to university, and the videos were mainly solo.
In 2012, he put together a production company, Ryan Higa Production Company, to make the videos. Sean Fujiyoshi became part of this team.
11. REACT
Aged in their thirties, the team behind the REACT videos, Benny and Rafi Fine, are quite old for this group. In fact, they have been known as the “uncles” or “grandparents” of online video.
Their REACT series of videos, e.g. Kids React, Teens React, Elders React, YouTubers React, and Adults React, have been very popular since 2010. They also create many other videos, and now have more than 20 million subscribers.
However, they made something of a misstep in 2016 when they tried to trademark the word “react” in relation to videos. This upset others on YouTube as it meant that nobody else could make reaction videos. They actually lost 500,000 subscribers in a week because of it. The brothers quickly apologized and rescinded their trademark applications.
12. BuzzFeedVideo
BuzzFeedVideo is a YouTube channel operated by the popular website BuzzFeed. BuzzFeed’s short, sharp articles, aimed at going viral, are an obvious good fit with YouTube’s video style. As with the BuzzFeed website, their YouTube channels include snappy content on a wide range of topics.
There are actually quite a few BuzzFeed channels. However, their main one currently claims just almost 20 million subscribers. They see this as their flagship channel, focusing on creating and showcasing original content.
13. Good Mythical Morning
Good Mythical Morning is made to be like a daytime talk show, hosted by Rhett and Link (aka Rhett McLaughlin and Charles Lincoln). They refer to themselves as “internetainers”. This is just one of their YouTube channels. Although with 18.7 million subscribers, it is their most successful one.
Rhett and Link began Good Mythical Morning in 2008 and have now uploaded more than 3,700 videos over ten series. The focus of Good Mythical Morning is to look at the somewhat unusual lives of Rhett and Link. They also talk about videos that they make for their other channels. Although many of the episodes cover random topics, episodes on Thursdays and Fridays follow a seasonal theme.
14. Porta dos Fundos
Porta dos Fundos is one of Brazil’s most successful YouTube channels. It was created in August 2012 and has 18.2 million subscribers.
It is a creative collective, founded by Antonio Tabet, Fabio Porchat, Gregorio Duvivier, Ian SBF and John Vincent de Castro, five friends who were dissatisfied with the lack of creative freedom on Brazilian television. They decided to set up a channel of humor skits on YouTube. They have built up a large cast and crew, and are clearly popular with Brazil’s fans of humor.
15. FailArmy
In some ways, FailArmy has to be YouTube's most depressing channel - it celebrates all of humanity’s failures. In saying that, failure has become a success to FailArmy, as they have gathered over 17 million subscribers, all interested in seeing other people doing things worse than themselves. With more than 610 videos, they certainly have plenty of evidence of mankind’s follies. Each month, they also spotlight a Fail of the Month.
16. Werever2morro
Outside of YouTube, Werevertumorro is more commonly known as Gabriel Montiel Gutierrez, a Mexican vlogger and gamer. He produces sketches with the w2m Crew, a group of 13 friends who each have their own channels and enjoy making videos together.
Despite all 13 crew members making videos together and posting them on their personal channels, Werevertumorro has turned out to be the most popular one with the fans, having now reached more than 16 million subscribers.
However, the channel’s last upload was two years ago. That same year (2022), Gutierrez reported that his YouTube channels were hacked.
17. ERB
Even though they have fewer than 100 videos, ERB (or the Epic Rap Battles of History) has more than 14 million subscribers. It is a comedy series that was created by Nice Peter and epicLLOYD. Their most popular rap battle features Barack Obama versus Mitt Romney and has received over 160 million views.
Other popular videos include Steve Jobs versus Bill Gates, Rasputin versus Stalin, and Mozart versus Skrillex.
Video Games/Gaming
These YouTube influencers focus on creating content about video games, sharing playthroughs, commentaries, and vlogs.
1. PewDiePie
We have regularly reported on the ups and downs of the number one YouTube influencer, PewDiePie, aka Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg. Despite bad publicity due to the decidedly non-PC content of some of his videos, he is still hugely popular with his loyal followers. The Swedish YouTuber founded his YouTube channel in 2010 and, today, it boasts 111 million subscribers.
PewDiePie refers to his fan base as the Bro Army. The bulk of his videos follow a simple, but clearly popular, formula. He plays horror and action games and commentates on them as he plays, making each commentary sound like he is spending time with his Bro Army friends.
Lately, with PewDiePie’s soft retirement, his content focuses on his family, with videos featuring his wife, Marzia Kjellberg, and son Björn.
Though, if there is one lesson to be learned from PewDiePie’s controversies it is that brands wanting to work with YouTube influencers need to do their homework first. You have to ensure that your brand and any influencers you work with are a perfect fit. PewDiePie is popular with his audience because he gives them exactly what they want - being non-family-friendly and politically incorrect.
2. JuegaGerman
Created in 2013, JuegaGerman is the second YouTube channel of Germán Alejandro Garmendia Aranis. He uses this predominantly as his gaming channel. His first upload was of him playing Slender. Since then, he has uploaded numerous videos of him playing popular games.
This channel has helped him to break many records for somebody who operates two channels. It is gaining both viewers and subscribers rapidly and, at the time of writing this article, has more than 50 million subscribers. Though, JuegaGerman is in Spanish and so to understand his jokes you need to be able to speak Spanish.
3. Fernanfloo
Luis Fernando Flores Alvarado comes from El Salvador and began his Fernanfloo channel in May 2011. The bulk of his videos are about gaming, vlogs, and occasionally comedy sketches.
His first video was a parody of Star Wars, featuring dogs fighting like Jedi. As time has gone by, though, more of his videos featured gameplays of indie games. It was a series of GTA V gaming videos in 2013 that really kick-started his YouTube success, leading to his subscriber numbers rapidly increasing.
4. elrubius OMG
The Spanish-Norwegian YouTuber, elrubiusOMG (aka Rubén Doblas Gundersen), is one of the most popular Spanish YouTubers. The focus of his channel is on gameplay and vlogs.
He began in 2008 by covering Skyrim gameplay, although he ran into copyright issues with this channel. Three years later, he set up the elrubiusOMG channel, again covering Skyrim gameplay.
In 2020, he signed a deal with Twitch to stream exclusively on the platform. While he is now one of the biggest Twitch influencers, much of his personal empire would not have existed today without the help of YouTube.
5. Markiplier
Like a surprisingly large percentage of the top YouTubers (particularly those in the gaming genre), Mark Edward Fischbach, aka Markiplier, is currently in his 30s. He uploads the games he plays, along with in-game commentary. He has a particular love for horror games, and his videos reflect this.
He has currently reached over 36 million subscribers. Every time he passes another million subscribers, he makes a special video thanking his fans and telling them of his plans for future projects. As of writing, Markiplier has uploaded a total of 5,645 videos, with total views going over 21 billion.
6. VEGETA777
It’s amazing how successful uploading videos of people playing Minecraft has become. There are several YouTube sites devoted solely to this. VEGETTA777 is Samuel de Luque’s Spanish YouTube channel. It focuses on video commentaries of Samuel playing Minecraft, Battlefield, Saint’s Row, Garry’s Mod, and a few other games.
His point of difference (apart from being a Spanish channel, obviously) is that he tries to create histories from his videos and make them like a movie. He has a fan base covering both Spain and across the Latin American region and, in total, has more than 34 million YouTube subscribers.
7. rezendeevil
Pedro Afonso Rezende Posso (aka rezendeevil) is a YouTuber from Brazil. Just like VEGETTA777 and DanTMD, he is also known for videos and vlogs about Minecraft. In fact, his most popular video which has more than 30 million views is about Minecraft versus Pokemon.
Most of his latest uploads feature his friends. His YouTube channel currently has more than 30 million subscribers.
8. jacksepticeye
As his bright green hair symbolizes, Jacksepticeye (aka Seán William McLoughlin) is an Irish YouTuber. He has been uploading videos to his gaming channel since 2012 where he has been making loud commentaries on games as he plays them.
Of course, there is another possible reason for the green-haired image. While Sean may be Irish (and possesses a very distinctive Irish accent), Jack describes himself as being “the last remaining Bossatronio from the planet Bossatron (Spore)”. Both the nicknames, “Jack” and “Septic Eye” date from his childhood.
He puts together a series of videos covering particular games, with a real love for adventure games. His favorite game is apparently Shadow of the Colossus. At the time of writing this article, he has just over 30 million subscribers.
9. DanTDM
DanTDM (formerly TheDiamondMinecart) is another popular gaming channel with more than 28 million subscribers. It is hosted by Daniel Andrew Middleton and is mainly known for its extremely popular Minecraft videos.
He certainly takes his YouTube channel seriously. To date, he has uploaded more than 3,700 videos, racking up almost 20 billion total views. He has become enough of a celebrity to be able to make a couple of book tours to the United States.
Daniel uses a wide variety of characters to populate his Minecraft World for his videos. These include Dr. Trayaurus, Grim, Melbot, Craig The Mailman, McDuck, Denton, Terrance, and Iron Man (an Iron Golem).
He makes a point of doing something special whenever he reaches a subscriber milestone. He first showed his face online on reaching 100,000 subscribers.
10. VanossGaming
Vanoss is the online alias for Evan Fong. He set up VanossGaming in September 2011. The channel has grown quickly in popularity during that time, and it currently enjoys more than 25 million subscribers.
Most of his videos show him and his friends playing GTA V Online and Gmod. His band of fellow cast members go by the names Moo Snuckel, I AM WILDCAT, Daithi De Nogla, Ohmwrecker, Lui Calibre, BasicallyIDoWrk, Mini Ladd, Terroriser, Mr Sark, fourzer0seven, BigJigglyPanda, and H2O Delirious.
VanossGaming is known for having a more positive fan base than most, meaning that feedback tends to be friendly, and online arguments between his supporters are rare. He also has a wider base of supporters than many other sites, with his subscribers being a mix of children, teenagers, and adults.
Kids
As the category’s name implies, this list focuses on YouTube influencers who are kids themselves and who make content for, well, kids and their parents. Their content covers broad topics ranging from educational videos to unboxing videos.
1. Kids Diana Show
What started out as a way simply to share videos of their daughter, Diana, and her loved ones soon grew into one of the biggest YouTube channels. In slightly more than a year, the Kids Diana Show, a Ukrainian YouTube channel, had a million subscribers. Fast-forward to 2024 and the channel boasts 124 million subscribers, 1,248 videos, and more than 105 billion total views.
With the help of her parents, Vlad and Elena, Diana posts children’s songs, unboxing videos and vlogs. The videos have limited dialog and rely primarily on costumes and facial expressions. In fact, her channel has been so successful that both her parents quit their full-time jobs to dedicate their time to helping her grow her channel.
2. Vlad and Niki
Vlad and Niki is one of the youngest YouTube channels (just like the kidfluencers behind the videos). The brother duo started their kids channel on YouTube in 2018 and in six years, they have managed to get to 123 million subscribers from 77 million subscribers two years ago. Their videos are a mixture of live action, music, and animation, while their channel is the property of Content Media Group FZC, LLC, which was co-founded by their parents, Victoria and Sergey Vashketov. They even have their own online store where they sell merch such as T-shirts.
3. Like Nastya
The girl behind the popular Like Nastya YouTube channel is Anastasia Radzinskaya. She is a 10-year-old Russian-America content creator who, with the help of her dad, creates entertaining and educational content in several languages.
What started off as a toy unboxing channel now boasts almost 120 million subscribers. On average, her videos get over 22 million views per video.
4. Maria Clara & JP
Since 2015, the siblings have been producing content about their daily lives, games, and challenges. At the time of writing this article, the Brazilian YouTubers have just over 44 million YouTube subscribers. While they do not post that frequently (about two videos per week), their videos get about 9 million views per month.
5. Ryan’s World
In 2018, Forbes estimated that Ryan Kaji (the boy behind Ryan’s World) earned $22 million, making him the top-earning YouTuber according to their estimations for that year. It’s estimated that in 2023, Kaji’s earnings were at $30 million.
His channel used to be called Ryan ToysReview, which was one of the top unboxing channels on YouTube. In fact, his toy reviews will at times have an impact on toy sales. He also has his own branded line of toys, Ryan’s World Toys, that are available at Walmart.
Unleashing the Potential of YouTube Influencers
Forming a strategic partnership with the right YouTube influencers goes beyond knowing who the popular ones are. You must also focus on developing authentic collaborations, trying out different content formats, and building long-term relationships with YouTube influencers. Aside from these considerations, you need to stay updated on platform changes and emerging trends. Doing so can help you maintain your strategic advantage while developing more innovative campaigns.
Lastly, it’s important to measure and optimize the performance of your campaigns with YouTube influencers. This means defining clear goals, tracking metrics like views, likes, and comments, and conducting A/B tests to figure out which types of content, messaging, or influencers work best for your brand and audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a YouTuber and an influencer?
Influencers are bloggers or vloggers who are often experts in their field and are known for promoting certain brands through sponsored posts. They focus mainly on engaging their audience, building strong relationships with them, and priming these audiences to get “influenced.” Meanwhile, YouTubers, who fall under the “content creator” umbrella, focus mainly on producing high-quality, valuable short or long-form video content, not just building their audience or engagement.
How do YouTubers monetize their content?
The platform offers several ways for YouTubers to generate revenue, including:
- Ad revenue and YouTube Premium
- Super Chat and Super Stickers
- YouTube Shopping
- Channel Memberships
- YouTube Brand Connect
- Super Thanks
Who are the most influential YouTubers, and why?
MrBeast, PewDiePie, Like Nastya, and A4 are some of the most influential YouTubers around. They’re known for creating high-quality content that appeals to and engages their audiences. They know how to cultivate their community by engaging with fans and they continue to produce authentic content their audiences can relate to.
What tools do YouTube influencers use to grow their channels?
At Influencer Marketing Hub, we’ve researched, tested, and even created some of the best tools for YouTube influencers. Here are several guides we’ve created:
What resources can a brand use to easily find the best YouTube influencers?
We’ve researched and reviewed several tools to help brands find the right YouTube influencers. Check out some of our helpful guides:
What factors should brands consider when choosing top YouTube influencers?
Before partnering with a YouTube influencer, keep the following factors in mind:
- Audience demographics. Ensure that a YouTube influencer’s audience aligns with your target audience in terms of their demographics and interests.
- Engagement rate. Go for influencers with higher engagement rates as these indicate an audience that’s more connected and responsive.
- Content relevance. Choose YouTube influencers who create content that’s relevant to your niche, industry, or brand. This makes it more likely for their audience to be genuinely interested in what you have to offer.
- Content quality and consistency. Ensure that the YouTube influencer you’ll be working with is capable of creating high-quality and relevant content on a regular basis. This helps your brand grow and maintain a loyal following.
- Past collaborations. See if they’ve previously worked with brands similar to yours. Did their content or style align with your brand’s messaging?
How do the top YouTube influencers in the gaming niche compare with each other?
Influencer | Follower Count (in millions) | Weekly Average Views, as of writing | Primary Content Type | Notable Brand Collaborations |
PewDiePie | 111 | +3,792,495 | Commentary, Gaming | GFUEL, Dbrand |
JuegaGerman | 50.9 | +22,859,233 | Gameplay Videos | N/A |
Fernanfloo | 47.8 | +6,033,818 | Gaming/Livestream | N/A |
elrubiusOMG | 40.4 | +1,936,950 | Gameplays, Vlogs | N/A |
Markiplier | 36.9 | +25,159,659 | Horror Games, Reaction Videos | Alienware, AFK Arena |
What are the key differences between top entertainment YouTube influencers?
Influencer | Follower Count (in millions) | Weekly Average Views, as of writing | Primary Content Type | Notable Brand Collaborations |
KondZilla | 67.3 | +20,564,488 | Music Videos | The Orchard |
Dude Perfect | 60.4 | +12,658,061 | Trick Shot Videos | Bass Pro Shops, Apex Legends, Chipotle, Dr. Pepper |
Felipe Neto | 46.6 | +21,075,489 | Humor, Vlog | UNESCO (as a guest speaker) |
Luccas Neto | 45.7 | +129,547,641 | Humor, Vlog | Continente Toys |
Kimberly Loaiza | 45.5 | +12,195,635 | Vlogs, Tutorials, Challenges, Music | N/A |
What are some of the best tools for YouTube influencers and brands?
At IMH, we’ve tried, tested, and reviewed several tools for YouTube influencers. This table shows you the critical comparison points of each tool so you have a better idea of which ones to use.
Tool | Best For | Pricing | Free Trial | Key Features |
YouTube Analytics | In-platform analytics | Free via YouTube Studio | N/A | Channel Analytics, Earnings Metrics, Audience Demographics |
VidIQ | Content Creators | Contact VidIQ for pricing | N/A | Keyword Tool, Channel Audit Tools, Competitors Tool, YouTube Productivity Tools |
Social Blade | Competitor Research | Free. Premium membership and Business API options are also available. | N/A | Support for Platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and more, Detailed Stats |
Brandwatch Social Media Management | Mid to Large-Sized Brands | Contact Brandwatch for pricing. | N/A but offers a free demo of the product. | Social Media Dashboards, Competitor Benchmarking, Content Calendar Overview, Built-in Photo Editor |
Sprout Social | Brands and Agencies of All Sizes | Starts at $199/seat/month (annual billing) | 30-day free trial | Social Content Calendar, Keyword Monitoring, Centralized Inbox |
What are the most popular niches among YouTube influencers?
Popular niches include:
- Travel
- Fashion
- Health and Fitness
- Food
- Gaming
- Beauty
- Technology
- Finance
How has the role of YouTube influencers evolved over the years?
The evolution of YouTube influencers reflects the broader changes in digital media and consumer behavior. From being hobbyists who create and post original video content, some of them have amassed such huge followings that they’ve gained a significant influence over audiences and brands have started working with them. Meanwhile, some YouTube influencers have ventured into creating more diverse and niche content to better suit their target audience.