50+ YouTube channel ideas for beginners

Want to create a successful YouTube channel? Gather inspiration from these YouTube video ideas.

1. Personal vlog

Vlog is short for video blog — essentially a video version of someone’s day-to-day life. 

Vlogging has been around for decades now but exploded in popularity with the increase of video-sharing platform options such as TikTok and Instagram Reels, not to mention YouTube. As a result, many creators have turned to vlogging as a way to build an audience and make money.

Creator Jules Acree is a YouTube vlogger, sharing content like Q&As, day in the life videos, travel diaries, and more.

If you want to build a personal connection with your audience and are OK sharing your personal life online, vlogging may be a great channel idea for you.

2. ASMR

ASMR stands for “autonomous sensory meridian response” — it’s a tingly, relaxing sensation that some people get when they hear certain soft, whispery sounds. Videos that depict these sounds are huge on YouTube. Examples include soap carving, keyboard typing, slime, drawing, and other videos that capture the sound of an action but no other audio.

Many people have created successful channels out of this type of video alone. Consider how you might be able to create satisfying ASMR content for your channel.

3. Life hacks

If there’s one thing people love, it’s a quick way to make their lives easier. That’s why life hack videos are so popular. Create a YouTube channel where you share life hacks — or try life hacks that others have shared to see if they actually work. This content can be both helpful and entertaining, which can build a large and engaged following.

4. Product reviews

Product review videos are all over YouTube, and many channels publish them on top of other types of videos. But you could also create a channel that’s fully dedicated to trying out and reviewing different products.

That’s exactly what YouTube channel Freakin’ Reviews does. It reviews As Seen on TV products to see if they really work the way the infomercials claim they do.

5. How-to videos 

How-to videos cover the step-by-step process of how to do something. Again, these can be standalone videos in your niche, or you can create an entire channel of how-tos.

6. Video podcast

Podcasts are inherently audio-based. However, video podcasts have become popular as another avenue for sharing podcast content. Essentially, podcasters set up cameras to film themselves as they record their podcast episodes.

You Can Sit With Us shows a great example of how to optimize your podcast for YouTube, ensuring your video is still just as engaging as the audio.

7. DIY crafts

DIY, or do it yourself, can be a great channel idea. If you’re good at DIYing, consider turning it into a YouTube channel. This can be household items, furniture flips, home renovations, and more. The possibilities of what you can DIY are endless.

8. Unboxing videos

Unboxing videos are essentially a recording of someone opening something — and they’re wildly popular. Influencers will create unboxing videos showing off recent packages they’ve been sent by brands. Gamers will unbox Pokemon cards.

Dottie’s Toys does a great job of creating unboxing videos targeted at younger audiences. These videos open tons of different types of toys and mystery boxes to create exciting, kid-friendly videos.

9. Challenge videos

Challenge videos are all about doing something daring or unbelievable. This can be anything from trying to land a trick shot to surviving 24 hours in the wilderness. They can easily go viral, making them a great option for building up a new YouTube channel. 

10. Animated videos

Have animation skills? You might want to focus on animated videos! This is an especially great option if you’re looking to create a faceless YouTube channel where you don’t have to be the star of the show.

Lucas the Spider is an example of a YouTube channel focusing on animated content. The spider is animated and narrated by a voiceover, but the rest of the video content is recorded footage, creating a fun mixed-media type of video.

11. Tutorial videos 

Tutorial videos are similar to how-to videos, but they tend to focus on people who are doing a task for the first time — rather than those needing a refresh or a quick step-by-step.

📈 Help your videos go viral: ‎How to A/B test on YouTube for better video performance

12. Gaming channel

Gaming is an extremely popular topic on YouTube right now — there are nearly half a million gaming channels on the platform. This type of channel typically records and shares videos of the creator playing various video games.

Sparkle Egg is an example of a gaming channel that focuses on Minecraft videos and gameplay.

Some creators focus on a specific game while others will play multiple games. It depends on what you’re good at, what you like to play, and what your target audience wants to see.

13. Cooking channel

Got a clean kitchen and a taste for creativity? Create your own YouTube cooking channel to share your own recipes, try out viral recipes, create “go grocery shopping with me” videos, whatever hungry viewers might like to see.

14. Technology reviews

If you’re a tech early adopter, a technology review channel might be for you. You can review apps, gadgets, higher-end devices, whatever strikes your fancy. This can be a great way to provide objective opinions on technology that others might be interested in buying.

Mrwhosetheboss has amassed over 15 million subscribers with his tech review videos.

15. Fitness channel

Are you passionate about fitness? Have you been trained as a coach, or do you have a fitness journey you want to share with others? Consider creating your own fitness channel. You could focus on yoga, barre, HIIT, or other at-home workouts for your viewers to follow. Or consider including training tips, equipment to use, and more.

16. News channel

Want to share some trending topics or breaking news? Consider creating a news YouTube channel. You can focus on politics, global news, local news, celebrity news, or any other type of news topic you choose.

17. Music channel

Do you record music and want to market it? Consider creating a music channel! This can be a great way to build an audience, especially if you’re wanting to release an album, make money from streaming, or play more live shows.

Rapper Connor Price does a great job of promoting his music via his YouTube channel and other social media platforms.

18. Comedy

Share standup comedy, comedic sketches, and other funny videos on your comedy channel. This can be a great way to break into the world of comedy — Bo Burnham, Andy Samberg, Hannah Hart, and the creators of Workaholics all got their start with this strategy.

19. Gardening channel

Have strong opinions about the best way to mulch or the most overrated plants to grow? You might want to create a gardening channel. Share information about plant care, landscaping ideas, tips and tricks for keeping plants alive, and more.

20. Travel channel

If you love to travel, consider bringing a GoPro along and sharing the footage on your own travel channel. You could create travel guide videos, share the best restaurants, explain how to get the best travel deals, whatever inspires you.

Ryan Shirley creates list videos that cover the top places to go when you visit different areas around the world and has over half a million subscribers.

21. Movie or TV show reviews

Love to watch movies or TV? Turn that passion into a YouTube channel! Create your own movie or TV show reviews and share them on your channel. You might choose to focus on a niche like horror or fantasy, or you might make your reviews funny. Find a way to make your review videos engaging and unique.

22. Sports channel

The great thing about YouTube is that it lets you turn something you love to watch into something you love to do. Share game highlights, comment on draft prospects, or explain what fantasy football newbies need to know. Focus on a single sport like soccer or basketball or create an all-encompassing channel.

23. Makeup channel

Many talented makeup artists choose to create their own makeup channel. This is a great way to monetize a hobby, get even better at a trade, and eventually get access to free or discounted products to use to create even more high-quality videos.

Here’s an example from KathleenLights of a makeup channel and the types of videos you might create.

24. Gameplay/walkthrough videos

We’ve already covered gaming channels. Game walkthrough videos are slightly different, instead focusing on helping gamers beat a particularly tough level or find rare items in a specific game. If you’re at an elite level in a certain game or franchise, this could be the channel for you.

25. Interviews

Create a channel that’s all about interviewing others, whether that’s high-profile figures, interesting peers, or people with a fascinating life story. This is exactly what Colin and Samir do with their channel — they interview creators to share success stories, get behind the scenes details, and generally have entertaining conversations.

26. Timelapses

This type of video content tends to use footage taken over a span of hours or even days, sped up to only a handful of minutes. For example, a timelapse video might depict a sunset, city traffic, or plants growing new leaves.

If you’re a videographer and want to create content like this, you can dedicate your entire channel to various types of timelapses. These are interesting videos to watch and can help you build a following.

27. Motivational/self-help channel

Are you someone people come to for advice? Or maybe you’ve turned your life around and want to help others. Create a motivational or self-help channel. Share motivational quotes, helpful insights, and more.

28. Reaction videos

Reaction videos are videos that YouTubers create of themselves reacting to other videos. These are often — though not always — created by YouTubers who already have a following, so people are more interested in seeing those people react.

Socksfor1 is a great example of this. He’s a gaming YouTuber who has since created a new SocksReact YouTube channel just for his reaction videos.

29. Meditation channel

Create a channel all about meditation. Make videos detailing how to meditate, share guided meditation sessions, share music people can use as background noise, and more.

30. Kids channel

Another great YouTube channel idea is one geared toward kids. Create animated videos with nursery rhyme singalongs, create your own kids show, or create educational kids content.

Ms Rachel is a great example of a popular kids channel that uses songs and educational lessons to create entertaining video content for babies and toddlers.

31. Educational channel

Do you have knowledge about something that you want to share with the world? Consider creating an educational channel. You have a lot of options with this one. You might create videos that teach young viewers about science, or you might create more general-interest narrative videos about historical events.

32. Health/nutrition channel

Create a channel to help your audience live healthier lives through diet and nutrition. You’ll need special training or a degree in this type of information to prove that you’re a legitimate resource for this type of content. But it can be a great way to help your audience become healthier versions of themselves.

Abbey Sharp is a registered dietician and uses her knowledge to create helpful videos on her YouTube channel.

33. Music reviews

Similar to movie or TV reviews, you might choose to create a channel all about reviewing music. You can review things like albums, live shows, tours, tour sets, festivals, and anything else related to the music industry.

34. Fashion/style channel

With a fashion or style channel, you can create “getting ready with me” or “outfit of the day” videos, closet tours, fashion show recaps, and more. This is the perfect type of channel for the fashionista — especially since, if your channel grows, you might be able to get free clothes from brands to promote.

35. Talk show

Create your own talk show on YouTube! Come up with creative segments, find people to interview, and have fun with it. Who knows — if you become successful enough, a network might choose to pick up your show!

36. Compilation/list videos

Compilation or list videos are one of the most popular video types on YouTube. Who doesn’t love a good listicle — even in video format?

MsMojo is a popular list/compilation video channel, typically focusing on movie scenes.

37. YouTube Shorts

YouTube Shorts are a popular video format on YouTube. Essentially, they’re YouTube’s version of TikTok videos and Instagram Reels. They’re short-form videos that help to supplement traditional YouTube content.

Some channels choose to focus entirely on YouTube Shorts. This can be a great monetization strategy, as these short-form videos are wildly popular.

38. Whiteboard videos

A whiteboard video is a type of video that essentially looks like someone is writing on a whiteboard. They can be great at explaining things in a simple, visual way. If you’re an animator or well-versed in whiteboard software, this might be a great channel type for you.

39. Art channel

If you’re an artist, art historian, art curator, or other art expert, you might want to create an art channel. You can create videos about how to create art, showcase yourself creating art, or talk about famous pieces of art.

40. Book reviews

Another type of review channel focusing on books, book reviews, and reading challenges can be a great way to build an audience of book lovers.

YouTuber Sara Carrolli has a book-focused channel that has helped her gain over 200,000 subscribers.

41. Bloopers

Bloopers are short clips that typically cover mistakes or mishaps on film and TV sets. This could be actors forgetting their lines, saying the wrong things, improving a funny line, and more. People love bloopers, so creating a channel all about bloopers could be a great way to entertain your audience.

42. Magic tricks

If you’re any good at magic, consider sharing that talent with the world. Create videos to show off your magic tricks and teach others how to do them too.

43. Livestream channel

YouTube offers the option to go live and host a livestream or live broadcast on your channel. You can then turn these videos into regular videos that live on your channel. Consider creating a livestream-focused YouTube channel where you get to record and interact with your audience in real time.

44. Horror/true crime channel

Horror and true crime podcasts have become all the rage — but what about a YouTube channel? Create animated videos of paranormal stories or talk about true crime stories or another type of scary story.

Danielle Kirsty combines her love of makeup and true crime to create videos of her talking about various true crime stories while she puts on makeup. This is a great way to give your viewers something entertaining to watch while you tell a story.

45. Nail art channel

Another great type of beauty/makeup/art channel focuses on nail art. If you’re a nail technician or just like to paint your own nails, consider creating a channel to show off your talents and the different types of nail art you can create.

46. Finance channel

If you’re good with money, share your tips by creating your own finance channel. There are many different types of finance channels you could run — personal finance designed to help individuals budget their money or more professional tips based on your education or training, like stock trading or accounting.

The Money Guy Show is a great example of a finance YouTube channel.

47. Cryptocurrency channel

You could niche down even more into finance and create a channel focused entirely on cryptocurrency. Create videos explaining the different types of cryptocurrency, sites used for trading, how to buy, and other lessons.

48. Drone videos

If you own a drone, you might want to consider using it to create your own drone footage YouTube channel. Drone videos can be fun to watch, and that can help to amass a large following.

49. History channel

Teach your audience history by creating your own historical YouTube channel. Focus on an era that fascinates you. Create animated videos, photo slideshows with voiceover, or use modern footage of the areas you’re covering.

50. Business coaching

If you’ve been successful in business, consider sharing some of your tips with your own YouTube channel. MyWifeQuitHerJob does a great job of sharing how viewers can create side hustles or small businesses to generate even more income.

51. Science channel

Share your love of science via your own YouTube videos. Create science experiments, talk about an area of science that fascinates you, or teach science lessons to kids or adults.

52. Animal videos

Everyone loves adorable animals! Create cute compilations of animal videos to share on YouTube. Animal videos have wide appeal and can be a great way to build an audience.

53. Cleaning/organization channel

Why not share your love of cleaning and organization with your audience? Teach viewers how to be more organized in their home, make cleaning fun, and share helpful tips for keeping their houses tidy.

Which YouTube channel idea is for you?

Think about what you’re good at, what excites you, and what you could stick to for years to come. The perfect YouTube channel idea is the one that ticks all three of those boxes and lets you make videos you love — and your audience loves, too. Be sure to optimize your videos for YouTube SEO and its algorithm. And, of course, pay attention to your YouTube analytics to know what’s working and what’s not.