Before TikTok, Vine, and Instagram Reels - there was YouTube.
Arguably the first mainstream social media platform for video content - YouTube was launched in 2005 and quickly grew to become the second most visited website today - only following Google itself.
Today, we’re breaking down the top 10 Australian YouTubers based on subscriber count. From kids channels to Twitch streamers and everything in between - settle in.
Bounce Patrol Kids (23.2m)
As YouTube has grown, so has its audiences of all ages - adults, teens, and most significant, young children.
Over the years, YouTube has become a great outlet for children or parents looking for sources of kid-friendly entertainment.
This is where Bounce Patrol Kids comes in - an Australian based channel launched in 2013 - and is coming in at a whopping 23.2 million subscribers.
The group seem to be a modern-day Wiggles, with five live-action performers singing and dancing their way through 200 videos and a 14.7 total channel views.
As children find themselves placed in front of iPhones or iPads for sources of entertainment, kid-friendly YouTube channels like Bounce Patrol Kids have become smashing successes.
Chloe Ting (20.9m)
Health and fitness is another YouTube niche that is wildly popular - especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic and various stay-at-home orders.
With people stuck inside and gym closures all over the globe, many turned to platforms such as YouTube for their workouts.
This is where Australian YouTuber Chloe Ting comes in - with her channel growing from 2 million to a whopping 20 million subscribers in 2020.
Viewers of Chloe’s content can find themselves watching workout videos, healthy food recipes, and behind-the-scenes vlog style content.
The #ChloeTingChallenge went viral, further boosting Chloe’s success particularly over the pandemic period.
LazerBeam (18.9m)
Make no mistake - gaming is here to stay.
The rise of platforms like YouTube Gaming and Twitch have shown us how gamers are able to cultivate and maintain massive online followings.
The largest Australian gaming YouTuber, and third on our list today is LazerBeam - maintaining an audience of 18.9 million loyal followers.
His real name is Lannan Eacott, and has risen to popularity through his comedic reaction videos, gameplay content, vlogs, and memes.
It’s also nice to note that Lannan has used his platform for good - previously raising around $400,000 for Australian bushfire relief funds.
Lannan found most of his success from creating content surrounding Fortnite when the game first launched, making him the platform’s sixth most viewer gaming creator in 2020.
CKN Toys (17.3m)
Another kid-based channel is CKN Toys - coming in as the fourth largest Australian YouTube channel with 17.3 million subscribers.
This channel is based around young brothers from Melbourne, Calvin and Kaison - with their content revolving around reviewing the latest toys and dressing up as their favourite superheroes.
The pair also headline their very own TV show on Nickelodeon, which has also since been syndicated internationally.
How To Basic (16.6m)
This is where it starts to get a little cuckoo.
The name of the channel might make it seem like a collection of helpful how-to videos, but the reality couldn’t be further from the truth - it’s chaos and destruction combined, with videos such as How to Bake Shepherd's Pie turning into ingredients being smeared all over the kitchen.
The channel’s owner remains anonymou to this day - yet the channel continues to generate success through bizarre videos.
Lachlan (14.7m)
Another gaming niche YouTuber is Lachlan Power - an Aussie creator who has been curating content since 2013.
Lachlan initially grew his channel by creating content that centered around popular, mainstream video games like Pokemon and Minecraft.
Similarly to LazerBeam, Lachlan’s YouTube channel saw amazing periods of growth when Fortnite was released.
Based in Brisbane, Lachlan has since used his channel to launch Power by Lachlan, a lifestyle brand, as well as managing competitive gaming teams across various titles and platforms.
Wengie (14m)
Beginning on YouTube in 2013 is Chinese-Australian creator Wendy Jie Huang - who has quickly risen to fame with a whopping 14 million following on YouTube.
Known as Wengie online - she produces an array of vlogging content on beauty, DIY tips, and fashion.
With the 2017 Australian Online Video Awards resulting in Wengie winning Best Channel and Overall Winner, it’s safe to say her success has been acknowledged by the masses.
Wengie has released a number of singles in Australia and China with the songs being received well in both countries, and has also found success as a voice actor - voicing Bliss in the Australian version of The Powerpuff Girls.
Primitive Technology (10.4m)
Few channels on YouTube have so many subscribers and so few videos as Primitive Technology, led by creator John Plant from the Far North Queensland wilderness.
John specializes in producing amazing structures and tools from anything he can find in the wild, with his channel launching in 2015 and 30 videos being published since.
John produces everything from mud huts to ancient furnaces using nothing but his hands, which is a sight to behold for nature fanatics.
Muselk (9.46m)
When it comes to even more gaming channels on YouTube, Sydney-based creator Muselk is the third-largest in Australia.
Muselk has been on the platform since 2012, with his initial stardom coming from live commentary videos on games such as Team Fortress 2, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, and Overwatch.
Similarly to LazerBeam and Lachlan, the worldwide popularity of Fortnite is what propelled him into stardom, as millions of fans are enthralled with the world of Fortnite.
JoshDub (8.95m)
Finishing off our list today is JoshDub - another YouTuber who has found success on the platform through its gaming niche.
As one of 2020s most trending YouTubers, JoshDub produces content left right and centre - with a number of comedic videos centring around virtual reality (VR) games.
VR in particular has become quite commonplace across so many industries, and the gaming industry in particular has struck gold.
With JoshDub managing to collect a total of over 1.2 billion video views since beginning his channel in 2013, it’s only upwards from here for the young Aussie star.
