The most-subscribed-to YouTube channels

If you’re just now checking out YouTube, the sheer volume of content can seem overwhelming, and it can be hard to choose what to watch first. But looking at subscriber numbers for the streaming site’s channels can actually be helpful in refining your options. Sometimes, high-quality content and entertaining videos can be found on channels that have millions of subscribers.

Just curious about all the hype surrounding the popular streaming site’s content? We can help satisfy that curiosity a bit with our list of the 10 most-subscribed-to channels currently on YouTube. We’ll also discuss what to expect in terms of the kind of content featured on each channel.

From YouTube’s own themed channels to professional wrestling to DIY projects to children’s programming and more, here are the 10 most-subscribed-to YouTube channels to date.

10. WWE (64.6 million subscribers)

If you’re into professional wrestling, then you know that WWE stands for World Wrestling Entertainment. You also know that the WWE is best known for iconic professional wrestling shows such as Raw and SmackDown. With this YouTube channel, wrestling fans can catch clips from their favorite shows, exclusive extra content, and even full matches. The channel launched in May 2007 and has racked up over 47 billion views since then.

9. 5-Minute Crafts (67.8 million subscribers)

Launched less than four years ago, 5-Minute Crafts surpassed some of the most popular YouTube channels, like whinderssonnunes and elrubiusOMG. It now has over 67 million subscribers consuming an extensive video library.

The 5-Minute Crafts channel offers something for everyone, including “20 bathroom hacks to make life easier” and “35 unbelievable cooking hacks.”

8. Sports (75 million subscribers)

The Sports channel on YouTube, like a few other channels on this list, merely aggregates content from other YouTube channels under a related theme. In this case, the Sports channel pulls sports-related videos ranging in content from news to highlights to live sporting events. This channel began on December 15, 2013, and according to the channel’s About section, it “was generated automatically by YouTube’s video discovery system.”

7. SET India (79.9 million subscribers)

Moving to the №7 slot is Sony Entertainment Television India, a 24-hour Hindi-specific channel with 79.9 million subscribers. SET India launched as a station in 1995 and entered the YouTube space in 2005.

This channel originally played top-10 artists like Taylor Swift and Katy Perry. Now it has a library of thousands of videos including comedy specials like The Kapil Sharma Show and police dramas like Crime Patrol.

6. Gaming (85.9 million subscribers)

The Gaming channel appears to be another auto-generated channel by YouTube. In this case, the Gaming channel curates and pulls together gaming-related content from other YouTube channels. Such content includes live games, how-tos, and other trending gaming videos. According to Social Blade, this channel was created on December 15, 2013, just like the Sports channel.

5. Cocomelon — Nursery Rhymes (91 million subscribers)

Cocomelon — Nursery Rhymes is a channel focusing almost entirely on classic children’s nursery rhymes and original songs set to 3D animation.

Originally called ABCkidTV, Cocomelon is one of the longest-running top channels on YouTube. It published its first video in September 2006, and while it experienced steady growth over the years, its popularity exploded in 2017. That’s when it began garnering more than 100,000 new subscribers a month.

Cocomelon — Nursery Rhymes is somewhat controversial, however. It has the twelfth most disliked video of all time: “Bath Song.” This video has 4.1 million dislikes alongside its 2.8 billion views.

4. PewDiePie (106 million subscribers)

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After a long time on top, PewDiePie is now only the fourth-most-subscribed YouTube channel, with 106 million subscribers. Viewers describe his content as goofy, obnoxious, and filled with profanity. He could also be considered quite a controversial figure.

Created in 2010 by Swedish comedian Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, the PewDiePie YouTube channel is best known for its “Let’s Play” videos and blogs, as well as Kjellberg’s following.

After dropping out of college to focus on creating content, PewDiePie surpassed 1 million subscribers just two years after his channel’s creation. Kjellberg’s influence on the social network has also had a positive effect on the sales of indie video games, particularly Goat Simulator and McPixel.

He maintained a feud with the now-most-subscribed channel, T-Series, throughout much of 2018. They stole the top position from each other multiple times, but Kjellberg eventually capitulated and has now fallen far enough behind that it would take something quite special for him to retake the top spot.

That said, his subscriber numbers are still strong. They remain at a steady 106 million subscribers in August.

3. Music (112 million subscribers)

This is yet another YouTube auto-generated channel that pulls and aggregates content from other channels under a theme. Here, you can find music videos, song playlists, and even live performances. This channel was created on September 24, 2013.

2. YouTube Movies (120 million subscribers)

This is less an aggregator for YouTube content and more of a hub for YouTube’s movie rental/purchase service. On this page, you can watch a variety of movies via renting, purchasing, or choosing to watch movies that are free with ads. You can also pay to watch television shows via this channel as well, including shows like Veep, Supernatural, The Daily Show, and Seinfeld. According to Social Blade, this channel was created on June 10, 2015.

1. T-Series (150 million subscribers)

Finally, eclipsing the former longtime YouTube king is T-Series. It’s a popular Indian music channel with 150 million subscribers and more than 120 billion views since its beginning.

T-Series is best known for its Bollywood music soundtracks. It’s the most subscribed Hindi-language and Indian YouTube channel. It’s also the first channel to reach 100 million subscribers.

Although the T-Series channel launched in 2006 (YouTube started in 2005), the T-Series company, which runs the channel, opened its doors in the 1980s. The company’s breakthrough came in 1990, with the film soundtrack album, “Aashiqui.” The soundtrack sold more than 20 million units in India, making it the best-selling Bollywood album of all time.

Numbers are based on Social Blade findings as of August 2020.