Ever wondered who your favorite YouTuber’s favorite YouTuber? Who inspires them to create the content you love?
Even the biggest creators on the platform are also fans of certain channels. In fact, diving into the creator recommendations on YouTube can offer a fascinating look into their preferences and perhaps even a glimpse of what influences their next big idea.
We have gathered five interesting cases of the popular YouTubers’ favorite channels, so jump in!
MrBeast
You’d think the king of epic challenges and philanthropy, MrBeast, spends all his time plotting his next world-changing giveaway. But nope, Jimmy also likes watching his fellow YouTubers.
In Marques Brownlee’s “20 Questions with MrBeast!” video the most subscribed YouTuber said he loves Marques’ tech reviews. Also, he added (edited for clarity):
“I mean, 90% of people watching this won’t even know these channels, but I love Wendover Productions, PolyMatter. These people just make videos, like…why global shipping is easier than manufacturing domestically or things like that. Or like Mark Rober, Veritasium. I like learning things. I don’t like when I spend a couple of hours on YouTube and I don’t really walk away with much. So I try to watch and click on videos that teach me stuff.”
So we can conclude that MrBeast prefers educational content even though all of his own videos are almost entirely focused on the entertainment of his audience.
PewDiePie
PewDiePie, one of the biggest YouTubers ever, often enjoys smaller YouTube creators who remind him of his early days. At the start of his career, Felix liked channels like SeaNanners Gaming Channel.
Also when chatting with Cold Ones, PewDiePie mentioned that he enjoys bald and bankrupt, an English fellow capturing raw, authentic travel experiences. His favorites frequently include channels that embody the raw, unpolished vibe of YouTube’s early era.
Felix has also given a shoutout to Jaiden Animations for her storytelling prowess and creative doodles. He’s a fan of her quirky, relatable content that brings life to everyday situations in a way only animations can.
Our partners recently reached 125 billion YouTube views, achieving milestones of 100K, 1M, 10M, and 100M subscribers. AIR Media-Tech is the ultimate space for content creators, offering tools and solutions for every challenge you might face. Join AIR Media-Tech and grow faster with us!
Markiplier
Markiplier, the gaming Let’s Play master, loves channels that combine creativity and humor. On the IMPAULSIVE’s podcast, Markiplier said:
“My favorite creator right now is a guy named DougDoug. I love his channel. He does these Twitch interactive streams and he edits down the vods for YouTube and they’re just very entertaining. That’s it. He makes it so like if Twitch can fly a plane in GTA for 30 seconds they win, no prize, it’s just captivating.”
This shows Markiplier’s appreciation for unconventional, interactive content—a reflection of his own style that thrives on engaging audiences in unexpected ways.
Alexa Rivera
Alexa is known for her engaging content on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, often featuring challenges, pranks, and collaborations with her brother Brent Rivera. She likes to rewatch a lot of her own stuff, which is a great method to find room for improvement and come up with new ideas.
In an interview for YouTube, Alexa mentioned binge-watching Ryan Trahan’s videos. Here’s what she said about one of them:
“Shoutout to Ryan. He went to Japan and he did the “oldest hotel”. He stayed in one of those hotels where you sleep on the floor. It was a really good video. It was very peaceful, very Zen, and obviously very funny.”
Safiya Nygaard
Safiya Nygaard is a popular YouTuber known for her creative beauty and fashion vids, DIY projects, and unusual experiments. In an interview for YouTube’s official channel, she shared her watch history (edited for clarity):
“Tom Scott is someone who I watch all the time. Often I’ll just go on like a full-on Tom Scott binge. And especially because his videos are sort of between five to ten minutes, it’s very easy to watch like eight of his videos in a row.”
She mentioned that during her editing hours, she likes to listen to ASMR:
“This is Gibi ASMR’s “Tingly Haircut and Styling I Propless”. Gibi is the master of rubbing hands against each other sounds. She’s so good at those.”
Also, Safiya loves Cut’s The Button series but can’t watch them without Cody Ko’s comments:
“To be honest, I can’t watch the original button videos. I can only watch them with Cody’s commentary because I find them sort of secondhand cringe-inducing, it’s so uncomfortable. But Cody makes it incredibly funny and watchable.”
What to Do When You Find a Creator You Love?
We know you’re busy—you’ve got your own channel to run, content to create, and ideas to bring to life. But when you come across a creator whose content you admire and whose audience seems like your dream crowd, it’s worth taking a closer look.
This isn’t about fan-girling over their videos; it’s about learning what they’re doing right and how you can apply it to your own strategy. It’s not copying—it’s smart.
We’ve worked with thousands of creators, analyzing their channels to help them grow. If you don’t have the time to dive into others’ content and find where you’re missing out, let us handle it. Request a channel audit, and our experts will pinpoint the opportunities you’re overlooking and give you a clear plan to level up.
Watch Like You’re Analyzing, Not Just Enjoying
Pick one or two of their best-performing videos and break them down:
- What’s grabbing attention? Is it their thumbnail, title, or the way they open their video?
- How do they keep viewers hooked? Pay attention to pacing, transitions, or even their sense of humor.
- How are they monetizing? Are they seamlessly promoting products, using affiliate links, or subtly integrating sponsorships?
You don’t need to watch their entire channel—just a few key videos to spot patterns that resonate with their audience.
Study Their Audience Engagement
The comments section is a goldmine. Check out how their viewers interact. Are they asking questions, sharing personal experiences, or just throwing emojis? A lively comment section is a sign that the creator knows how to connect.
Also, look at the tone—how do they respond to their audience? This insight can help you refine how you interact with your own viewers.
Borrow Inspiration Without Losing Your Voice
Thumbnails are a huge part of what draws people in. Are they bold, colorful, or minimalistic? Do they feature strong emotions or clean typography? Take screenshots and compare them to your own.
The goal isn’t to copy—it’s to learn what works and adapt it in a way that fits your brand. A small tweak to your thumbnail style could mean more clicks.
Use Tools to Dig Deeper
Creators leave clues, and tools like VidIQ, TubeBuddy, and Social Blade can help you uncover them. Look at:
- Upload schedules: Are they consistent?
- Top-performing videos: What topics are driving their views?
- Engagement rates: Are their views translating into likes, shares, and comments?
Numbers can reveal a lot about what’s working in their strategy—and what you can take inspiration from.
Learn From Their Mistakes Too
Everyone has videos that flop. Look for the ones that didn’t perform as well and try to spot why. Was the topic too niche? The thumbnail uninteresting? The pacing too slow?
Learning from another creator’s missteps can save you from making the same ones.
Look at Their Collaborations
Collaborations can tell you a lot about a creator’s growth strategy. Who are they teaming up with? How do they blend audiences? If they’re working with others in your niche, that’s a sign you should explore partnerships too.
Why This Matters
Creators leave behind a blueprint of what works. By studying their thumbnails, pacing, engagement strategies, and even their mistakes, you can find actionable insights to elevate your own content.
Take an hour to dig into a creator you admire. It’s not just about watching—it’s about analyzing. That time can give you ideas that save you months of trial and error. And who doesn’t want that?
And if you need more than just inspiration, AIR Media-Tech is here to support you with the tools, expertise, and insights to take your channel to the next level!
