In this article we are going to list the top 25 most subscribed YouTube channels heading into 2021. Click to skip ahead and jump to the top 10 most subscribed YouTube channels heading into 2021. It might be hard to image a time without YouTube now, as it seems like YouTube has been with us forever, but we should remember that it only came into existence almost 16 years ago in February 2005. It was created by three former PayPal employees, namely Jawed Karim, Steve Chen and Chad Hurley. And in the times since, it has become one of the most important free websites in the world, on par with Wikipedia.
The importance of the video sharing platform cannot be understated. While there is a premium subscription for no ads and other benefits which most people don’t really want, YouTube allows you upload videos which can be viewed potentially by billions of people across the world. Whether you just want to upload a small personal moment, or whether you have come across something that you want the larger population to be a part of, all you need to do is to make a video and then upload it. This is why some of the most subscribed YouTube channels heading into 2021 don’t involve celebrities, or at least normal celebrities. Instead, these channels belong to what is a recent creation: the YouTube celebrity.
See, YouTube itself is now a major business opportunity for people worldwide, from the most developed of economies to those with poor infrastructure and little to no money. So many people across the world now have smartphones as all other types of phones have lost popularity, thanks to the biggest phone companies in the world. All you need to do is make a video and even an unstable connection, which most people still have even in remote areas, is all you need to upload the video. This is why there have been many viral videos propelling obscure and unknown people into the limelight, allowing many people to actually make a career out of it. See, YouTube actually pays you if your videos get enough views and your channel has enough subscribers, and while even tens of thousands of views may not earn you a lot of money, if you consistently put out videos and get millions of views and keep attracting subscribers, then you can actually earn more than many top jobs out there. The top YouTubers in the world earn millions of dollars every year, and this is just from YouTube alone. When you are attracting millions of viewers and hundreds of thousands, if not millions of subscribers, then companies will start to notice the marketing potential you have as well and get you to sponsor their brands, which can result in even more revenue.
The popularity of YouTube is why Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) decided to buy the company for $1.63 billion in November 2006, less than 2 years after its creation. Ever since, the popularity of the platform has just kept on increasing and now, YouTube gets more than 3 billion views every single day, with 70% of the viewers from outside the United States. While the most subscribed YouTube channels heading into 2021 are often dominated by celebrities, you will also see normal every day people who were propelled into stardom through their channels and have now earned tens of millions of viewers. Just to show you the following these channels command, the channel with the lowest subscribers in our list still has close to 35 million subscribers! We have of course excluded channels by YouTube itself, which don’t upload their own videos such as Sports, Games, Music and Movies, and focused on actual content generating channels. We have ascertained the number of subscribers for each channel by visiting the channel on YouTube and ascertaining the subscribers they have.
To be the most followed channel on YouTube is a huge deal, which is why the top two channels, T-Series and PewDiePie actually had a major competition to gain the most followers. This included fellow YouTube stars taking sides and promoting these two channels. Who won in the end? Well, you’ll have to read the article to find out, starting with number 25:
25. Badabun
Total number of subscribers as of December 31 2020 (in millions of subscribers): 34.8
The YouTube channel turned into a company due to its success, and creates personal content videos, which have attracted a lot of criticism from Internet celebrities, which in turn has gained the channel even more views.
Pixabay/Public Domain
24. Eminem Music
Total number of subscribers as of December 31 2020 (in millions of subscribers): 45.8
The ‘Rap God’ has been one of the most consistent and universally adored artists of the last 20 years and his popularity shows no signs of waning.
Pixabay/Public Domain
23. Ariana Grande
Total number of subscribers as of December 31 2020 (in millions of subscribers): 45.9
Ariana Grande has attained a lot of fame in a short time and is one of the most popular singers in the world right now.
JStone/Shutterstock.com
22. Shemaroo Filmi Gaane
Total number of subscribers as of December 31 2020 (in millions of subscribers): 46.2
If you are a Bollywood music lover, especially old songs from the industry, then this is the channel to head to for you.
Tatiana Frank/Shutterstock.com
21. Ed Sheeran
Total number of subscribers as of December 31 2020 (in millions of subscribers): 46.4
One of the most popular musicians in the world right now would of course have a YouTube channel with millions of subscribers and billions of views. Few would think that Ed Sheeran would not be among the most subscribed YouTube channels right now.
Pixabay/Public Domain
20. Goldmines Telefilms
Total number of subscribers as of December 31 2020 (in millions of subscribers): 46.7
The channel provides Hindi movies as well as Hindi dubbed movies to its audience.
Pixabay/Public Domain
19. Movieclips
Total number of subscribers as of December 31 2020 (in millions of subscribers): 48.1
Movieclips simply provides trailers of upcoming movies on its YouTube channel as well as bits and parts of famous movies, and has gained a huge following.
Pixabay/Public Domain
18. MrBeast
Total number of subscribers as of December 31 2020 (in millions of subscribers): 49.5
MrBeast pulls of a lot of expensive stunts while also focusing on philanthropy, and this combination has endeared Jimmy Donaldson aka MrBeast to nearly 50 million subscribers, earning a place on the list of the top 21 most subscribed YouTube channels heading into 2021.
Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock.com
17. Big Hit Labels
Total number of subscribers as of December 31 2020 (in millions of subscribers): 49.7
Big Hit Labels is an entertainment company from South Korea which was only established 15 years ago in 2005. Its biggest client is BTS, which is a boy-band and the best selling artist in Korean history, having sold more than 20 million albums. The group has attained massive popularity over the last 5 – 6 years, and is one of the highest earning music acts, which is said to be worth potentially $4.65 to the Korean economy, with one in thirteen visitors to the country stating that they’re visiting only because of BTS.
silvano audisio/Shutterstock.com
16. Marshmello
Total number of subscribers as of December 31 2020 (in millions of subscribers): 50.6
Marshmello is one of the most popular DJs in the world right now, having had several songs go multi-platinum in many countries globally.
Pixabay/Public Domain
15. Dude Perfect
Total number of subscribers as of December 31 2020 (in millions of subscribers): 54.7
A sports and comedy group from the US, Dude Perfect consists of former roommates from college and depicts various trick shots and stunts, which have earned it a place on the top 21 most subscribed YouTube channels heading into 2021.
Pixabay/Public Domain
14. Zee TV
Total number of subscribers as of December 31 2020 (in millions of subscribers): 54.8
The television leg of the Essel Group, Zee TV puts out full episodes as well as promos of future episodes on its YouTube channel.
Concept Photo/Shutterstock.com
13. BLACKPINK
Total number of subscribers as of December 31 2020 (in millions of subscribers): 55.2
Blackpink is one of the most popular girl groups from South Korea which has a major following across the world, which of course translates to YouTube views and subscribers as well.
Son Hoang Tran / Shutterstock.com
12. Justin Bieber
Total number of subscribers as of December 31 2020 (in millions of subscribers): 59.9
Justin Bieber doesn’t really need any introduction. He is perhaps the most famous popstar of the last decade and in fact, the reason behind his signing was that he uploaded a singing video to YouTube which went viral and earned him a music deal.
Pixabay/Public Domain
11. Vlad and Niki
Total number of subscribers as of December 31 2020 (in millions of subscribers): 60.5
The channel features two brothers who are 5 and 7 years old, as the travel, pretend play or try out other activities. The channel has earned more than 27 billion views in total.
Please continue to see the 10 most subscribed YouTube channels heading into 2021.
Suggested articles
- 15 highest paid YouTubers of 2018
- 7 best bitcoin documentaries to watch on Netflix, Youtube and Amazon Prime
Disclosure: No position. 25 most subscribed YouTube channels heading into 2021 is originally published at Insider Monkey.
