Indian record label T-Series is the most-subscribed channel, with over 236 million subscribers as of January 2023.
American YouTube personality MrBeast is the most-subscribed individual and fourth most-subscribed channel overall, with over 130 million subscribers as of January 2023.
A subscriber to a channel on the video-sharing YouTube is a user who has chosen to receive the channel's content by clicking on that channel's "Subscribe" button, and each user's subscription feed consists of videos published by channels to which the user is subscribed.[1] The ability to subscribe to users was introduced in October 2005.[2] YouTube began publishing a list of its most-subscribed channels in April 2006.[3] An early archive of the list dates to May 2006.[4]
The most-subscribed channel is that of Indian record label T-Series, which hosts its music videos on its channel. With over 236 million subscribers as of January 2023, the channel has held the top position since April 14, 2019.[5][6] The most-subscribed channel which does not belong to an organization or company is that of American YouTuber MrBeast, who is also the fourth most-subscribed channel overall, with over 130 million subscribers as of January 2023.[6]
50 most-subscribed channels
The following table lists the 50 most-subscribed YouTube channels,[A][6] as well as the primary language and content category of each channel. The channels are ordered by number of subscribers; those whose displayed subscriber counts are identical are listed so that the channel whose current growth rate indicates that its displayed subscriber count will exceed that of the other channel is listed first. Automatically-generated channels that lack their own videos (such as Music and News) and channels that have been made effectively obsolete as a result of the transferal of their content (such as JustinBieberVEVO and TaylorSwiftVEVO)[B] are excluded. As of January 2023, 21 of the 50 channels listed primarily produce content in English while 16 primarily produce content in Hindi.
^ abTheSoul Publishing is currently based in Cyprus; it was originally based in Russia and is still Russian-owned.[15]
Historical progression of most-subscribed channels
The following table lists the 19 distinct runs as the most-subscribed YouTube channel recorded since May 2006. Only runs lasting at least 24 hours are included. 11 different channels have held the position, with PewDiePie holding the title a record four times. In second place is Smosh, which held it three times, while third place is tied between nigahiga, T-Series, and YouTube's own channel, which have all held it twice each.
In mid-2018, the subscriber count of the Indian music video channel T-Series rapidly approached that of Swedish web comedian and Let's Player PewDiePie, who was the most-subscribed user on YouTube at the time.[76][77] As a result, fans of PewDiePie and T-Series, other YouTubers, and celebrities showed their support for both channels. During the competition, both channels gained a large number of subscribers at a rapid rate, and surpassed each other's subscriber count on multiple occasions in February, March, and April 2019.[52][53][54][56] T-Series eventually permanently surpassed PewDiePie, and on May 29, it became the first channel to gain 100 million subscribers.[72]
^The total number of channels listed may exceed 50 if a tie exists for the 50th-highest subscriber count.
^These are not to be mistaken for the channels Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift, both of which are included.
^Although now called simply "YouTube", YouTube's official channel was named "YouTube Spotlight" in 2013.
^T-Series surpassed PewDiePie in subscriber count on numerous occasions, each lasting fewer than 24 hours, from February to late March 2019.[52][53][54] The first incident to last at least 24 hours began on March 27 and ended on April 1.[55][56]
^Gutelle, Sam (March 15, 2017). "The History Of YouTube's Most-Subscribed Channels Is A Fun Nostalgia Trip". tubefilter. Archived from the original on June 2, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2017. In the early days, anyone who made a big viral video could enter the top ten, with "Evolution of Dance" performer Judson Laipply even holding the top spot for a bit.
