YouTube started as a simple video-sharing platform, but today, it’s one of many great ways to make money online. To improve your chances of creating an income on YouTube, it’s important to know which types of YouTube channels are the most profitable.
This guide will introduce you to some of the highest-earning YouTube niches and offer tips on choosing the right one.
What’s a YouTube Niche?
A niche is a unique genre or subgenre that creators make content about. Instead of covering broad topics, they concentrate on a specific subject to attract a dedicated audience. For instance, rather than running a general beauty channel, influencers could focus on popular niches like costume makeup or natural skincare.
Having a specialty is especially important for part-time YouTubers with new channels, as it helps them plan posts and connect with viewers more effectively. With niches, there’s no need to make a bunch of random content and hope that something resonates with viewers. Instead, influencers can focus their efforts on one genre and community, which helps their channels rank higher on YouTube and make more money.
The 10 Most Profitable Niches on YouTube
Below are a few of the highest-paying YouTube niches to consider.
1. Gaming
Gaming content is one of the most popular categories on the platform, with the best-performing channels averaging 47 million subscribers. Heavyweight brands like PlayStation and Rockstar want to reach this huge audience, so they’ll partner with creators to advertise their games. Often, this is in the form of early access — companies will send influencers a game before it’s released so they can play it on the channel and build hype for the launch.
Other common types of content include Let’s Plays, game reviews, and speed runs. With so many games and video styles available, this niche has staying power.
Examples of top YouTubers include:
2. ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response)
ASMR refers to a tingling sensation viewers feel when listening to gentle sounds. These videos usually feature soft whispering, tapping, or rustling noises. Typically, people watch ASMR posts to unwind and fall asleep.
Posts started out relatively simple, featuring short stories or soft nail taps. In recent years, subniches within ASMR content have expanded to include character role-plays, unintentional ASMR, and quiet meal times.
Like other niches, ASMRtists benefit from sponsorships, advertising items like sleep headphones and therapy services. It’s also one of the most affordable niches for folks learning how to make YouTube videos, since all you need to get started is a good microphone and a cell phone camera.
Examples of top YouTubers include:
3. Travel Vlogs
Travel vlogs draw in viewers interested in exploring new destinations from the comfort of their homes. Posts typically blend entertainment with opinions on local food and attractions. One subniche that has grown in popularity is extreme tourism, which involves traveling to dangerous places. But if that’s not your style, no need to worry — other categories like adventure and culinary travel still perform well.
If you’re a part-time creator, a simple way to break into travel vlogging is by exploring your own town. Especially if you live in a popular tourist destination, consider offering a local view of the sights, shops, and restaurants. Audiences looking for things to do nearby will love the content, and you won’t have to go far to film.
There are plenty of money-making opportunities within this niche. Creators often partner with tourism boards, airlines, and travel product brands for sponsorships.
Examples of top YouTubers include:
4. Personal Finance
Personal finance is popular across a broad audience, as many people want tips on managing their money. Channels offer a range of advice, from passive income tips to debt repayment strategies. Another subniche gaining traction is financial audits, where viewers come on the show and have their finances analyzed by a professional.
There are several ways to generate income within this niche, including partnering with financial service advertisers, selling money-management courses, and writing finance books.
Examples of top YouTubers include:
5. Digital Marketing
With the surge in online businesses, digital marketing content has become highly sought after. Creators share insights on editing YouTube videos for SEO, creating social media strategies, and making money online to draw aspiring entrepreneurs from across the globe. These tips often apply to both small and large businesses, so there’s a large potential audience for marketing channels.
Some of the most common ways these creators make money include selling online courses, offering one-on-one consultations, and freelancing.
Examples of top YouTubers include:
6. Fitness
YouTube has made home workouts more accessible than ever, and many viewers enjoy getting expert advice without heading to the gym. Fitness content creators can create a wide range of posts, from workout routines to nutrition advice to wellness tips. If you’re already a fitness instructor, this niche makes for a great side hustle — simply film yourself doing a typical routine and share it online.
These channels can monetize through partnering with fitness brands, selling fitness plans, and developing exercise apps. You could also host member-only live streams that feature exclusive workout routines.
Examples of top YouTubers include:
7. Makeup and Beauty
Makeup and beauty content covers a wide range of topics, from makeup tutorials to skincare routines. Beauty doesn’t just have to be face-related, either — for instance, there’s a large community of nail technicians and artists sharing tips on the platform. This niche is often popular with younger audiences, although several creators offer resources for more mature viewers.
The beauty space is a classic example of making money as an influencer. Brand ambassadorships, affiliate links, and even collection launches are all common ways these creators make a living.
Examples of top YouTubers include:
8. Cooking
Cooking channels appeal to a large audience by sharing recipes and techniques from across the world. Creators can appeal to beginners and experienced chefs alike, leading to a higher viewership. Popular YouTube niche ideas include trying vintage recipes, making food on a budget, and exploring global cuisine.
There are several ways to make money in this niche, the most common of which is writing a cookbook. Other options involve partnering with culinary brands, creating kitchen equipment, and developing recipe apps.
Examples of top YouTubers include:
9. Music
Music channels offer a broad range of content, from instrumental tutorials to original compositions. Other subniches cover music from an educational standpoint, such as interviewing people in the music industry or exploring a song’s historical meaning. No matter what you specialize in, this space offers plenty of opportunities to collaborate with other creators and increase your channel’s growth.
Creators can earn money through several channels, although the most common for musicians is selling songs and tickets. If you’re looking for different monetization opportunities, consider partnering with music brands or offering exclusive content on Patreon.
Examples of top YouTubers include:
10. Tech Reviews
Tech review channels attract viewers looking for honest opinions on the latest gadgets, software, and tech accessories. With constant gadget releases and ever-changing tech trends, this niche keeps viewers hooked. Popular tech YouTube video ideas include smartphone reviews, laptop comparisons, and software tutorials. This category is also a great fit for YouTube Shorts, as quick reviews often fit within the limited post length.
Companies like Apple and Microsoft tend to support these channels, often offering them early access to products. Another money-making option is launching your own tech product, such as a smartwatch or app.
Examples of top YouTubers include:
How To Choose Your YouTube Niche
Here are three tips to help you choose the best niche for your YouTube channel.
1. Consider the Potential Audience
One of the first steps in choosing a niche is assessing the potential audience. Figure out if there’s a sizable audience for this content by checking what content is ranking well on Social Blade and seeing what keywords are trending on the platform.
While more niche topics might face less competition, they could also limit your growth potential. So, make sure there’s enough interest to sustain your channel.
2. Match Your Personal Interests
Creating content takes time and effort, so it's important to choose a niche that you’re passionate about. This is especially important for part-time creators who are juggling multiple responsibilities. Making content you don’t love will turn a fun hobby into a daunting chore, so be sure to pick a topic you can maintain interest in long term.
3. Use Your Expertise
If you have expertise in a particular area, use it to your advantage. Establishing yourself as an authority within a community can help build trust with your audience and increase your chances of success. As a part-time creator, consider creating a channel related to your day job or main hobby. That way, you won’t need to spend time developing a new skill and can instead share your existing knowledge with viewers.
Elevate Your YouTube Content With Captions
Choosing the right YouTube niche is the key to building a successful channel and making money online. With endless options, picking one that matches your passion, expertise, and audience is essential for long-term success.
But to truly elevate your content, presentation is key — and that’s where Captions shines. With features like an AI YouTube video editor, royalty-free music, and multi-language subtitles, Captions helps part-time creators save time while making their content more polished and accessible.
Improve your content creation process with Captions.
FAQs
What’s YouTube CPM?
YouTube CPM, or cost per mille, is the amount advertisers pay for every thousand views of their ads on YouTube videos. This metric is important for content creators because it affects how much money they can earn from ads. CPM rates can change depending on factors like the video's topic, the audience, and the time of year. In short, a higher CPM means more potential earnings for creators, making it a key factor for anyone looking to make money on YouTube.
How Do You Check Your CPM on YouTube?
To see what your channel’s CPM is, check your analytics page using the following steps:
- Sign in — Go to YouTube Studio.
- Navigate — Choose “Analytics” from the menu on the left-hand side.
- Select — Click “Revenue” in the top menu.