YouTube's massive user base comprises almost one third of all people on the internet, and collectively, users spend well over 100 million hours on the site watching billions of videos each day. Add it all up, and this means that YouTube is viewed by more people than any U.S. cable network—making it by far the favorite "TV station" of the internet generation.
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But where exactly do all of these people find all of this amazing content? Well, for most folks, subscribing to a good variety of YouTube channels really opens up the experience and provides a great starting point.
So if you've been looking for a way to get into YouTube, we've come up with a list of our 20 favorite channels that cover a variety of interests—science, history, art, cooking, tech, toys, and more—and we'll share them all below with links that make it incredibly easy to subscribe.
How to Subscribe to a YouTube Channel
If you're completely new to YouTube channels, you'll be happy to know that setting up subscriptions is incredibly easy. First up, regardless of the device you're using, make sure you're signed into your YouTube account. If you have a Google account, you can use that login information to sign in, or you can create a new YouTube account by heading to this link.
Once you've taken care of that, simply find an interesting channel below, then click the provided link. From here, tap the "Subscribe" button in the YouTube mobile app, or on your computer, click the "Subscribe" button from the channel's main page.
Left: Subscribing to a channel with the YouTube mobile app; Right: Subscribing on the YouTube site.
From now on, you'll find all of this channel's latest videos in your "Subscriptions" feed. With the mobile app, simply swipe over to the third tab to view this interface. From the desktop site, just click the "Subscriptions" entry in the left-hand pane to see the latest videos from channels you're subscribed to.
Left: Subscriptions tab in YouTube mobile app; Right: Subscriptions section on YouTube site.
Now that we've got that part settled, we're proud to present our favorite YouTube channels without further ado.
#1. CGP Grey
Pondering the big issues and presenting the facts in a clear, concise manner are some of CGP Grey's biggest strengths. Each video on this channel is thoroughly researched and meticulously crafted, so at times, it can take a few months for CGP Grey to put out a new video. Even still, the quality of the videos and the topics they cover make it well worth the wait.
#2. SmarterEveryDay
Destin Sandlin is an aerospace engineer with an infectious sense of wonder for the world around him, and his amicable demeanor makes him the perfect host for SmarterEveryDay. The channel focuses on the science behind common everyday situations, so there's always something fun to learn with a new video almost every week.
#3. MinutePhysics
Science is the main theme of the first handful of channels in our list, and MinutePhysics is one of the best in this category. With crystal clear narrations accompanied by easy to follow, hand-drawn animations, the interesting and challenging topics covered on this channel become rather easy to understand.
#4. Vsauce
Creator Michael Stevens hosts the flagship Vsauce channel, which has since grown to include several spin-off channels. The original is hard to top, though, as Vsauce covers all types of science-based topics and "What if?" scenarios with an engaging and unique flair.
#5. Veritasium
Continuing with the science theme in this first section of our list, Veritasium is a channel for those who are curious about how things really work. About twice a month, new videos are released that feature cool experiments and demonstrations, and usually interviews with experts in a given field.
#6. In a Nutshell
Top-notch narration coupled with beautiful animations provide the heart and soul of In a Nutshell, which is the last purely scientific channel in our list. Topics covered range from astrophysics to the human condition, but as deep as that may sound, you're left with a very clear understanding of the subject after each bi-monthly video.
#7. ElectroBOOM
For the perfect segue between the strictly scientific channels in our list above, and the more right brain-centric channels that follow, there's nothing quite like ElectroBOOM. Host Mehdi Sadaghdar is an electrical engineer, so he loves to experiment—but he's got a unique sense of humor too, so his videos always have a (painfully) funny undertone.
#8. The Slow Mo Guys
What if you took a couple of fun-loving Aussies, gave them a $150,000 slow motion camera, and asked them to show you cool stuff happening hundreds of times slower than you could see with your own eyes? That's the premise behind The Slow Mo Guys, who put out interesting and beautiful HD videos almost every week.
#9. Primitive Technology
No music, no narrations, and no modern technology—just a guy in the woods building incredible things with his bare hands. This fascinating series of videos covers how one could survive in a Robinson Crusoe-type world by building shelter and tools out of sticks and mud, and it really inspires a sense of awe for the raw power of nature and ingenuity of the human mind.
#10. Matthias Wandel
Watching a true artisan perform his craft can almost be hypnotizing at times, and when Matthias Wandel gets down to business in his woodworking shop, it's simply enthralling. His inventive projects are the main plot line behind these weekly videos, but his execution of these ideas is the main star here.
#11. Clickspring
Almost all modern clocks are stamped out entirely by machines in factories these days, so the true clockmaker is becoming a dying breed. Clickspring is holding steadfast onto this tradition, however, with fascinating videos set in a machine shop that feature wonderful narration and expert camera work.
#12. EngineerGuy
As the channel's name would suggest, EngineerGuy covers the inner workings and processes behind creating things that we all know and love. With roughly one video released each month, the topics that are discussed range from how microwave ovens work to how today's soda cans are manufactured.
#13. Unbox Therapy
After gaining fame by being the first to really demonstrate the effects of the iPhone 6 Plus Bendgate fiasco, Unbox Therapy became the go-to spot for all sorts of tech reviews. The accolades are well-deserved, too, as the production value and host of these videos are both top notch.
#14. Gadget Hacks
Smartphones and tablets have become an integral part of our lives lately, but the complicated blend of hardware and software takes some effort to truly master. Gadget Hacks offers how-to guides that cover all sorts of cool apps and mods for PC, Mac, iOS, and Android, while always making sure to break things down in a way that makes it easy for anyone to understand.
To be clear, Gadget Hacks is a WonderHowTo channel, but we're pretty proud of it, and really do think it's worth your while if you're interested in enhancing your digital life.
#15. Every Frame a Painting
We all love movies, but few of us see the true value of the artwork that goes into making a motion picture. Every Frame a Painting looks at cinema from more of a director's point of view, which gives you a chance to see elements of your favorite movies that your conscious mind probably didn't notice after the first viewing.
#16. CinemaSins
Bashing bad movies is almost as fun as watching good ones—I mean, who hasn't thrown a jab at Adam Sandler's recent work or condemned George Lucas for creating Jar Jar? CinemaSins takes a similar, lighthearted approach to reviewing movies by looking at all of the little things that were done wrong, and no film is too sacred to be considered off limits.
#17. Grand Illusions
Sure, toys are for kids—but rare and unique collector's items can be fun for kids of all ages. Grand Illusions gives you a tour of some of the most interesting and unusual gadgets and antique toys, and the presenter's zeal for these fascinating objects will definitely rub off on you.
#18. The Great War
For the history buffs out there, World War I was one of the most fascinating periods of modern times. It just so happens that most of these events unfurled exactly 100 years ago, so The Great War has been giving a weekly recap of what went on a century ago on this date. You'll probably want to start by catching up, but once you've watched the existing videos, you can immerse yourself in the chaotic world of the mid-1910s on a weekly basis.
#19. BBQWithFranklin
As someone who lived in Austin, Texas for 12 years, I can personally attest that pitmaster Aaron Franklin knows his barbecue. Lines outside of his restaurant easily top 3 hours on a slow day, because this man knows how to work a smoker like none other. So if you've ever wanted to up your backyard barbecue game, there's no better place than BBQWithFranklin.
#20. Bob Ross
If you were lucky enough to catch his PBS show in the '80s, you already know how much of a fun-loving, free-spirited, and downright kind person painter Bob Ross was. But even if you missed out, there are countless hours of Ross' instructional art videos available on YouTube, so you'll be painting your own happy little clouds in no time.
Well that does it for our list, we certainly hope you're enjoying these awesome channels. Do you have any fun, educational, or entertaining YouTube channels you'd like to share? If so, let us know in the comment section below.
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