In the vast universe of YouTube, finding new channels to watch can feel impossibly overwhelming. You could spend your entire lifetime just watching the content uploaded in a single day.

[Someone should do that; if you’re interested, let us know — we’ll pay you. -Ed.]

The site’s algorithm can cater to your existing interests better than ever, but that also means that breaking out of a content rut can be nearly impossible. So to cut through the noise, we asked the experts: other YouTubers. Over a dozen of them, in fact. These are the best YouTube channels they go to for inspiration and entertainment.

Vinyl music from My Analog Journal

Zag Erlat started My Analog Journal in 2017 to showcase his Turkish vinyl collection through soothing music videos. After finding an audience, he began spinning records from other parts of the world, including Soviet-era jazz and Japanese funk.

Each 40+ minute video features a DJ sharing rare records spanning genres like “Polish Psychedelia” or “Caribbean Disco.” Many of these albums exist only on vinyl, making this channel a treasure trove of otherwise inaccessible music. The overhead turntable shots are mesmerizing, ideal for background listening while you work or just to explore new, rare sounds.

Morbid curiosity from Ask a Mortician

YouTube is the perfect home for creators who love niche topics, and Caitlin Doughty’s “Ask a Mortician” is no exception. Her videos about the funeral industry and macabre curiosities have gained over 250 million views. According to creator Patrick Kelly, it’s one of his top picks.

In “Watch Me Get Embalmed (Weirdly not clickbait),” Caitlin demonstrates each step of the embalming process—like plastic surgery for the deceased. She’s also an activist pushing for funeral industry reform and death positivity. Her video library spans everything from mega-corporations in funeral services to eco-friendly cremation methods.

Tech breakdowns from Marques Brownlee

Marques Brownlee of MKBHD is something like YouTube royalty. The tech reviewer started his YouTube channel in 2008 and has become a beloved fixture in the YouTube ecosystem. The Shorty Awards crowned him “Creator of the Decade” for his easy-to-understand tech breakdowns — things like, is a $3,000 drone really much better than a $300 one? MKBHD’s honest reviews help his viewers look past the hype of product releases. Whether you’re hoping to navigate the timeless Android or iPhone debate, learn about the latest Tesla, or just hear about incredibly bizarre gadgets, MKBHD is a must-watch for any tech enthusiast.

Cultural commentary from Gabi Belle

YouTuber (and Descript Video Producer) Ramdy Marte recommended Gabi Belle, who started her channel in 2019, where it quickly found success blending cultural commentary with her signature humor and editing style. For millennial viewers like myself, Belle’s Zoomer perspective on the DVD extras of Shrek 2 or early 2000s infomercials are a slightly unsettling yet hilarious look into our childhood from an outsider's perspective. 

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Read more: How to start a video podcast in 2023

Sports made interesting from Secret Base

Secret Base is a sports channel for fans who want something more than just watching highlights. Their series DorkTown “hones in on why sports and sports figures matter in ways that go way beyond boring reasons like winning and losing,” says Michael Luxemburg of Wisecrack. It’s a channel that tries to make sports interesting for even those who don’t like sports, whether the content creators are re-examining the steroid-fueled home-run race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa or unpacking the 28-year fight for equal pay in women’s soccer. 

Thoughtful challenge videos from Michelle Khare

Michelle Khare is a former professional cyclist and is best known for her “Challenge Accepted” series. Khare takes the popular YouTube challenge genre of YouTube but instead of chugging milk or eating Tide Pods, Khare throws herself into the world of professional boxing, ice skating, or garbage collection. In one video, she attends a firefighting school. That culminates in a live-fire training, where students are asked to go into a burning building.

“I think everyone should be watching Michelle,” says YouTuber Shelly Saves the Day. “Her series Challenge Accepted rivals any show on television.”

Unlike other stunt content, Khare leaves viewers with an appreciation and understanding of the fields she trains in. 

TIL from Joe Scott

Scott’s “Answers with Joe” is an exemplar of the video essay format. His YouTube videos open with surprising facts (did you know tumbleweeds didn’t really exist in the Wild West?) that Scott unpacks to give the viewer a new perspective on the world.

Reimagined pop music from Ali Spagnola

Most of Spagnola’s videos exhibit her talent as an artist or musician with a dash of humor. “She carries that OG YouTube fun like covering her car in 9,000 Pop Sockets," says YouTuber and musician Rod Kim. 

Spagnola also covers popular songs in the style of other musicians or genres. Her video covering Aqua’s “Barbie Girl” in the style of The Killers is incredible, as is her version of Jack Black’s “Peaches,” which turns it into an EDM song.

How it’s made by Siroeno Yosui

The videos on the Siroeno Yosui YouTube channel are easy to describe: they depict a single pair of shoes being made from scratch. What’s harder to describe is why they’re so incredibly mesmerizing, even if you have no interest in footwear or fashion, or even how-to videos. 

The channel is the work of Tokyo-based shoemaker Ken Kataoka, who artfully trims, cuts, and shaves his raw materials to transform them into beautiful loafers, oxfords, and slip-ons.

The channel has only released a handful of videos since its start in 2021. Nevertheless, it has racked up over 70 million views and a few viral videos.

Mysteries uncovered by Answer in Progress

Answer in Progress is the joint project of YouTubers Sabrina Cruz, Melissa Fernandes, and Taha Khan. These aren’t your average educational videos. The channel takes an adventurous approach to learning, like when Cruz sets out to determine if lo-fi music actually improved her grades. In the same video, she attempts to create lo-fi beats with artificial intelligence. The channel takes on a large swath of topics, from olive oil fraud to ice baths. Every episode infects the viewer with their passion for understanding the real-life world around them.

On-location eye candy from Rare Earth

“Rare Earth is my go-to for ‘I need some inspiration to make cool on-location stories right now,’” said James from Atomic Frontier.  “I save them up for when I'm having a writing month.”

On this channel, creator Evan Hadfield takes his viewers around the world, from a town in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean that cooks in a volcano to an atoll in the Pacific Ocean threatened by oil tankers sunk during World War II. Each episode is as beautiful as it is enlightening.

The anti-trender from Danny Gonzalez

Danny Gonzalez got his start on Vine but found massive success on YouTube, where he racked up over a billion views.

Gonzalez has a knack for relentlessly mocking whatever’s trendy online. In response to the hype around generative AI, Gonzalez made his own DIY competitor to ChatGPT. Gonzalez’s innovation was that, instead of users interacting with a Large Language Model, they were actually talking to Gonzalez himself posing as a machine. In another, Gonzalez takes on the popular video game speed-running genre by faking his own.

Honorable mentions

There are a few names missing from this list, but we didn’t want to make an article of the “most famous YouTubers you’ve already heard of.” Still, some names came in that are worth mentioning.

The platform wouldn’t be what it is today without Casey Neistat’s daily vlogs, usually featuring the creator skating or biking around New York City. Neistat has been on YouTube for over a decade and still posts new videos on a monthly basis. 

Also in the league of old-school YouTubers, no list would be complete without iJustine, one of the original tech reviewers on the platform. And of course, there’s the most subscribed YouTube channel of all, MrBeast, and a close runner up, PewDiePie. Several creators also suggested Philip DeFranco, who found huge success with his made-for-YouTube news coverage. For the music geeks, we were recommended Adam Neely’s channel of video essays on music and music theory.

Wherever your YouTube path leads, these channels should at least spark some fresh ideas—or maybe even your next online obsession. From guitar-slinging pop covers to historically curious mortuaries, YouTube really has something for everyone. So take a chance on something weird, inspiring, or offbeat—and if you find a new rabbit hole, go ahead and dive right in.

Frequently asked questions

Which YouTube channels do creators recommend?

Creators recommend channels that spark curiosity. For instance, My Analog Journal shares rare vinyl records, Ask a Mortician dives into funeral industry insights, and MKBHD offers honest tech reviews. These channels stand out for their unique focus and compelling storytelling.

What is the most popular YouTube channel right now?

MrBeast has one of the highest subscriber counts, known for bold stunts and large-scale giveaways. T-Series, a major music and film channel from India, has an even larger total view count. Popularity changes over time, but these two often vie for the top spot.

Does YouTube really pay $1 per 1,000 views?

Earnings vary widely based on factors like audience location, channel niche, and ad engagement. Some creators earn less than $1 per 1,000 views, while others earn more. YouTube’s Partner Program also requires channels to meet viewing-hour and subscriber minimums before monetizing.