How to Effortlessly Find Small YouTube Channels – Easy Tools You Can Use

You’re either hunting for hidden gems to collaborate with, scouting the next breakout star before they blow up, or just tired of watching the same five creators sponsored by the same protein powder. Either way, you’re looking for those underdog YouTubers, but searching for niche topics specifically from small video creators in the YouTube search bar doesn’t usually work. 

But what if there were dedicated tools that help you filter and explore niche goldmines and easily find small YouTube channels?

Well, forget “what if” because SubSub has got this covered. Find all the details below.
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How to Find YouTube Channels with Low Subscribers

Here’s the basics of how YouTube’s algorithm works. YouTube favors content that already performs well, like videos with high watch time, engagement, and click-through rates. That means big channels with proven track records keep getting pushed, while smaller or newer creators often get overlooked. Their videos might be just as good (or better), but without an early boost, they rarely make it to your homepage. That’s why passive browsing won’t cut it.

Most times, the happiest scenario of stumbling across smaller YouTube channels is when they’re live while you’re browsing.

Another thing that could work is using YouTube’s built-in filters—sorting by “last hour” or “last day”, and digging through the noise to (hopefully) spot something worthwhile.

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The “related videos” section usually doesn’t suggest small channels. Even if you try to browse by category through YouTube’s “Explore” section, rarely if ever do newer or smaller creators appear in trending or recommended sections.

The only places where you could find details about small YouTubers are social media platforms like Reddit, X (Twitter), or Facebook that have dedicated communities promoting small channels. But sometimes, these aren’t easily accessible or wide open to everyone, and they might also not cover the exact niche you’re looking for.

All these bottlenecks and limitations are long gone thanks to a few tools from SubSub.
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SubSub Analytics Helps You Scout Small Channels and Spot What’s Working

Whether you’re looking for collaborations, want to support small YouTube channels, or even keep an eye on smaller creators or competitors in your niche, SubSub Analytics makes the process fairly simple.  

Instead of manually checking metrics across channels, this tool pulls real-time stats like views, likes, comments, number of subscribers, and subscriber growth for you.

Here’s how to use it effectively:

Start by finding relevant channels. Use tools like Similar Search, Trends, or the YouTube Channel Base to filter by number of subscribers, country, or category. If you already know who you’re keeping an eye on, just add them manually.

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Once you’ve got your list, drop them into a Collection. This is where you can track all their data in one place and see how their channels evolve over time.

From there, you can monitor key stats like sub growth, video frequency, and audience interaction. Want to see which of their uploads are killing it? Use the Video Tracker to break down engagement per video and spot patterns.

You can even go deep on one specific channel. SubSub Analytics lets you see how many videos these small YouTubers have uploaded, their average views per video, and which ones got the most traction – all in a clear, side-by-side layout.

This detailed and narrowed-down overview can also become a goldmine of ideas and strategy if you want to grow your channel and start monetizing it.

👉 Try SubSub Analytics for free

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Additionally, you can also use SubSub YouTube Stats & Analytics Tool – a free and open platform where you can explore the most viewed and most subscribed YouTube channels across 130+ countries and 10 categories, including music and gaming.

You get direct access to granular data, so you can drill down into niche content scenes and explore creators who may be big in their region or topic but still under the radar globally.

One of the most useful features for discovering smaller channels is the ability to sort and filter by country, category, and metric, like most viewed or most subscribed. 

Want to find rising gaming creators in Indonesia or fresh lifestyle vloggers in Nigeria? You can do that in a couple of clicks. This makes SubSub ideal if you want to support independent creators, discover new perspectives, or just escape the echo chamber of algorithm-driven recommendations.

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You Found a Great Small Channel, Now What?

Once you’ve discovered a small YouTube channel that catches your attention, you can either support it (if a collaboration is your goal) or learn from it. 

The simplest way to boost a creator is to subscribe and leave meaningful comments. Even a short, thoughtful comment helps with engagement, encourages the creator, and signals to the algorithm that the content is worth recommending.

If you’re a creator yourself, consider reaching out. A DM or email proposing a collaboration, shoutout, or even just mutual support can open the door to opportunities for both sides. Small creators are often more open to working together, and a shared audience can help you both grow.

You can also help them get more visibility by adding their videos to playlists, sharing their content on social media, or even featuring them in newsletters or blog posts. These external signals drive more views and build credibility for the creator in the eyes of the algorithm and new viewers.

Plus, use a tool like SubSub Analytics to stay in the loop. You can create a collection of channels you’ve discovered and monitor rising talent and see how their strategies evolve, especially if you’re looking for long-term collaborations or want to learn from their approach.

Small actions go a long way. If you find a hidden gem, it doesn’t hurt to help it shine.

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Final Thoughts

Whether you're a casual viewer, a content curator, or someone scouting for collaborators, SubSub puts the data in your hands and helps you uncover content you’d barely find through traditional means.

You can forget about relying on YouTube’s homepage, hoping the algorithm magically serves you smaller creators, or searching for a specific topic using date filters. Beyond discovery, SubSub also provides real-time analytics to surface overlooked creators, track emerging trends, and make informed decisions based on data, not guesswork.