Is top 10 lists a good niche?
Top 10 lists is a steady niche, but we don’t see clear momentum for new channels. Most channels here are Shorts-first, and Shorts pay little: about $0.04–$0.1 per 1,000 views. We haven’t seen any new channels here in the last 90 days. 90% of channels are faceless, so you don’t need to show your face.
Pros
- 90% of channels are faceless
- Videos get a median of 694.1K views
- Fewer rivals: we track 10 channels here
Cons
- Shorts pay little: $0.04–$0.1 per 1,000 views
- No new channels in the last 90 days
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
Layla217K subscribersFacelessShorts(opens YouTube in a new tab)21×$1.2K – $3KByNiche estimate, monthly
Global Stats337K subscribersFaceless(opens YouTube in a new tab)15×$2.6K – $6.4KByNiche estimate, monthly
RankJumplo580K subscribersFacelessShorts(opens YouTube in a new tab)14×$3.7K – $9.2KByNiche estimate, monthly
Breakout videos, last 90 days
- Arruiné el Lavado del Camaro de Mi Papá! 😱🚗 #car #carsPantero, 9.9M views(opens YouTube in a new tab)
276× - Su Gato Brillaba en la Oscuridad! 😱🐱#cats #catshortsPantero, 5.7M views(opens YouTube in a new tab)
159× - ranking best australia animal moments😳Piody Ranks, 4.6M views(opens YouTube in a new tab)
78×
How to start a top 10 lists channel
90% of channels in this niche are faceless, so you can start without going on camera: voiceover, stock footage, animation or screen recording.
The most common formats among the channels we track: compilation / clip montage (58%), list (Top 10 etc.) (17%), narrated documentary / explainer (17%).
Study the example channels below: which titles and thumbnails multiply their average, and how long are the videos?
Pick a narrower angle inside top 10 lists: focus on one audience or one question instead of the generic videos everyone makes.
Aim for the median first: here that’s 694.1K 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 $4 – $10. You need 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours to monetize.
Frequently asked questions
What is the YouTube RPM for top 10 lists?
Long videos in top 10 lists earn an estimated $0.04–$0.1 per 1,000 views (Entertainment 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 top 10 lists channel?
90% of the 10 channels we track here are faceless. The most common formats: compilation / clip montage (58%), list (Top 10 etc.) (17%), narrated documentary / explainer (17%).
How competitive is the top 10 lists niche?
We track 10 channels. We haven’t seen any new channels in the last 90 days. We haven’t seen new channels break in yet.
How much does a top 10 lists channel make?
The median channel earns an estimated $676 – $1.7K a month and gets a median of 694.1K 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.