vidIQ Research
Original YouTube Research
Data studies built from aggregated YouTube performance data and vidIQ creator research. We dig into what actually moves the needle for creators, then publish the numbers and the method so you can apply it to your own channel.
Top 1% of Videos Earned 54% of First-Week Views
A September 2026 analysis of 38.2M indexed long-form videos finds the top approximate 1% earned 54.1% of cohort first-week views.
Read the studyvidIQ Research, September 2026Can New YouTube Channels Still Grow in Crowded Niches?
See how 36,163 newer gaming channels grew over 360 days and why crowded Minecraft and Roblox niches can still leave room for new creators.
Read the studyvidIQ Research, September 2026Reaching 1,000 YouTube Subscribers: What 32.9 Million Channels Reveal
Among 32.9 million small YouTube channels, 30.77% with 52+ more videos reached 1,000 subscribers, versus 0.20% with unchanged video counts.
Read the studyvidIQ Research, July 2026YouTube First 10 Videos Study: Shorts vs Long-Form
Compare 30-day views for early Shorts and long-form uploads across 448,413 YouTube channels that posted at least ten videos in their first 90 days.
Read the studyvidIQ Research, July 2026YouTube Subscriber Benchmarks 2026: What 61 Million Channels Reveal
vidIQ analyzed 61.2 million YouTube channels to show how rare 1K, 10K, 100K, and 1M subscribers are, plus 90-day growth benchmarks.
Read the studyvidIQ Research, July 2026YouTube Title Study: What 4 Million Videos Reveal
An analysis of more than 4 million 2026 YouTube uploads found caught-on-camera titles above 4 times average and transformation titles above 3 times.
Read the studyvidIQ Research, July 2026YouTube Upload Frequency Study: How Often Should You Upload?
vidIQ analyzed 10.2 million YouTube channels. Channels uploading 12+ times a month had 4.1x the median view-growth rate of those uploading less than monthly.
Read the studyvidIQ Research, July 2026YouTube Thumbnail Study: What 500 Breakout Thumbnails Reveal
vidIQ coded 500 breakout YouTube thumbnails. Face use rises from 69% overall to 80% among top overperformers. See what the 2026 data reveals.
Read the studyvidIQ Research, June 2026Profitable YouTube Niches for Small Channels: 2026 Breakout Study
A vidIQ breakout-data study found 10 profitable YouTube niches for small channels, with estimated US CPM ranges and the formats driving reach.
Read the studyHow vidIQ Research works
- Data: aggregated YouTube performance data and anonymized first-party analyses, never exposing private channel or personal data
- Sample and scope: sample size, date range, and selection criteria are disclosed on each individual study
- Methodology: each study documents its own definitions and analysis method, since the signal being studied changes what we measure
- Updates: studies show their publication date and the date of any substantive update. Cite the dated study version when using its findings
Using vidIQ data in research and reporting
Channel pages describe public observations. Research studies describe a particular population and period. Use the source that supports your question, and keep its dates and limitations with the figure.
Check the channel, measure and observation date
Start with a named channel such as T-Series. Record its handle, the measure, units and displayed data date. Public subscriber counts can be rounded; a daily difference is not a precise count of people who subscribed or unsubscribed. A page access date does not establish when YouTube was observed. If the observation date is unavailable, say so.
Compare matching periods and explain estimates
The MrBeast and T-Series comparison is an example of checking two channels together. Compare the same measure and time window, and disclose different observation dates. Earnings are modeled advertising estimates, not creator-reported income or net worth. Read how channel rankings work and the earnings assumptions before interpreting them. A channel's declared country is not a measurement of where its viewers live.
Keep the research cohort with the result
The subscriber benchmark study describes a July 20, 2026 snapshot of 61,186,246 channels with at least one public subscriber. It is not a current count of every YouTube channel. Each study includes its own sample, observation window and limitations. Its CSV contains the published aggregate tables, not individual channel records or private analytics.
Cite the exact page and dated evidence
Include vidIQ, the page or study title, its canonical URL, the observation date or study version, and your access date. Link to the relevant table or section when available. Keep estimates labeled, preserve the displayed precision, and do not present a correlation as a cause or a growth guarantee.
For a correction, a methodology question or a research inquiry, contact vidIQ with the source URL, observation date and figure in question. Review our terms before reusing data; a public download does not establish an open-data license.