Is philosophy a good niche?
It’s too early to call. We only track 2 channels in philosophy so far. RPM is middle of the road, around $2–$5 per 1,000 views. Read the numbers below as a first look, not a verdict.
Examples worth studying
The channels beating their niche average by the most, and the biggest breakout videos of the last 90 days. The full list is in the app.
Channels beating the average
Jay Shapiro - Dilemma Podcast32,700 subscribers(opens YouTube in a new tab)3.8×$621 – $1.6KByNiche estimate, monthly
The Ezra Klein Show587K subscribersShorts(opens YouTube in a new tab)3.5×$186 – $464ByNiche estimate, monthly
Stir and Fry281 subscribers(opens YouTube in a new tab)0.6×$2 – $5ByNiche estimate, monthly
Breakout videos, last 90 days
- The Rise and Fall of the Daily WireUnnatural Law, 107.7K views(opens YouTube in a new tab)
90× - Bill Gates: A.I. ‘Makes Nuclear Weapons Look Like Nothing’ | The Ezra Klein ShowThe Ezra Klein Show, 1.8M views(opens YouTube in a new tab)
71× - Ex-Settler Explains Why Israel Is Spiraling and Why Zionism Can Shapeshift So EasilyJay Shapiro - Dilemma Podcast, 203K views(opens YouTube in a new tab)
32×
How to start a philosophy channel
Only 0% of channels in this niche are faceless. Viewers expect a face and a personality, so being ready to go on camera makes it a lot easier.
The most common formats among the channels we track: person talking to camera (80%), animation (20%).
Study the example channels below: which titles and thumbnails multiply their average, and how long are the videos?
Pick a narrower angle inside philosophy: focus on one audience or one question instead of the generic videos everyone makes.
Aim for the median first: here that’s 17,457 views per video. Ship your first 10 videos in one format, then adjust from the data.
Do the math honestly: 100,000 monthly views in this niche earn roughly $200 – $500. You need 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours to monetize.
Frequently asked questions
What is the YouTube RPM for philosophy?
Long videos in philosophy earn an estimated $2–$5 per 1,000 views (Motivation category). Shorts pay much less: about $0.04–$0.1 per 1,000 views. RPM also shifts with your viewers’ countries and the ad season.
Can you run a faceless philosophy channel?
0% of the 2 channels we track here are faceless. The most common formats: person talking to camera (80%), animation (20%). With this little data, the share can still change.
How competitive is the philosophy niche?
We only track 2 channels so far, so it’s too early to say much about competition. The numbers update every night as we find new channels.
How much does a philosophy channel make?
The median channel earns an estimated $312 – $779 a month and gets a median of 17,457 views per video. The estimate comes from the last 30 days of views and the niche’s RPM range; the biggest channels earn far more.