Top 10 Online Subtitle Extractors for Budget-Friendly Viewers

If you’ve tried to add subtitles to videos on YouTube before, you may have noticed it’s a bit of a pain. Usually, you have to copy the translation and paste it into your clips, which is time-consuming and requires an advanced level of skill.

Therefore, to help you understand YouTube videos and take notes from their content, we’ve brought a complete review of the best YouTube subtitle extractors that will automatically get the required SRT file in no time. In addition, we’ll also provide a bonus tip to edit your subtitles using Filmora.

So, let’s get into the details of each of these tools one by one.

1. DownSub
2. Checksub
3. EasySub
4. SaveSubs
5. YouSubtitles
6. DVDVideoSoft

• Youtube Subtitle Downloader Software

1. Wondershare UniConverter
2. DVDVideoSoft Free YouTube Subtitles Downloader
3. 4K Video Downloader
4. ByClick Downloader

• Bonus Tips: Easily Edit Your Subtitle With Filmora

10 Free YouTube Subtitle Extractors & Downloaders

We’ve rounded up a list of 10 YouTube subtitle extractors and downloader services to simplify your life and enable you to get the SRT files.

These tools are simple to use and can help you save a lot of time and effort. However, keep in mind that with these software programs, you can only download videos with subtitles automatically generated by YouTube.

Note: if you want to create subtitles, you can also use the Speech to text function.

Online Free Youtube Subtitle Extractor

You can use one of the following subtitle extractor tools if you only need the SRT file:

1. DownSub

DownSub is an online tool that can help you extract subtitles for your favorite YouTube movies or shows. The tool is entirely free and easy to use. Simply paste the link to the video you want to get subtitles for, click download, and DownSub will do the rest.

Some of the key features of DownSub are as follows:

• Download subtitles from YouTube in multiple languages
• Supports multiple formats, including SRT, TXT, and VTT
• Extracts directly from YouTube, Viki, VIU, and more

2. Checksub

Checksub is a handy tool for extracting subtitles for your YouTube video. To use the tool, create your account on the website, drag and drop your file or upload the URL, and wait for Checksub to extract the SRT file.

Here are some of the cool features of the Checksub tool:

• Adds subtitles and translates or dubs your videos
• Ability to edit subtitles
• Supports over 190 languages
• Adds automatic voiceover in a foreign language

3. EasySub

EasySub is another simple and fast-to-use tool that can help you extract YouTube subtitles in no time without installing any software or extensions. Moreover, it supports multiple file formats, such as VTT, SRT, ass, and TXT.

The following are some key features of EasySub:

• Free to use
• Simple and easy to use
• Automatic transcription
• Uses an advanced AI algorithm
• Multi-language support

4. SaveSubs

SaveSubs is a browser-based Youtube subtitles downloader that does not require its users to install any software or touch any code. Just paste the YouTube video link with subtitles, click “Download,” and you can download the file instantly on your device.

Below are a few key features of the SaveSubs tool:

• Download subtitles in multiple formats, such as VTT, SRT, and TXT
• Clear and simple UI
• Supports editable subtitles
• Comes with a social sharing feature

5. YouSubtitles

With its massive subtitle database, YouSubtitles stands out from other online tools. This tool has an easy-to-use UI and can help you get your required file effortlessly. Furthermore, you can even select the translated version of the file after the download.

Here’s why YouSubtitles is one of the best YouTube subtitles extractor online:

• Free to use
• Huge subtitle database
• Supports multiple formats and languages

6. DVDVideoSoft

Another trusted source for YouTube subtitle extraction is DVDVideoSoft. With this tool, you can quickly get the required SRT file by providing the URL of the content. Moreover, you can also use it to download music and videos from Youtube.

Some key features of DVDVideoSoft are as follows:

• Can set the language, interval, and timestamp for the subtitles
• Supports YouTube to MP3 converter and YouTube downloader
• Free to use
• Perfect for downloading subtitles from a particular segment of a video

Youtube Subtitle Downloader Software

Youtube’s automatic subtitles are sometimes inaccurate while using an online tool. Therefore, we recommend you use dedicated software to make adjustments to the content. Some of these programs are as follows:

1. Wondershare UniConverter

Wondershare UniConverter is an easy-to-use software for Windows and Mac that can help you create, add, and generate subtitles for your favorite Youtube videos in just a few clicks.

Price:

• Quarter: $29.99
• Annual: $39.99
• 2-year: $55.99
• Perpetual (one-time): $79.99

Key Features:

Here are some of the things UniConverter can do:

• Auto-generates subtitles from videos in over 100 languages
• Supports multiple video and audio formats
• Customizable subtitle styles
• Comes with a visual subtitle timeline for real-time preview
• Converts TXT to SRT format
• Ability to download the YouTube video on your device

2. DVDVideoSoft Free YouTube Subtitles Downloader

Another customizable and powerful software for downloading YouTube SRT is the DVDVideoSoft Free YouTube Downloader. With this tool, you can get subtitles in multiple languages for any video on YouTube with closed captions.

Price: Free

Key Features:

Here are some key features of the DVDVideoSoft Free YouTube Subtitles Downloader:

• Supports TXT and SRT file formats
• Available for Windows
• Ability to extract subtitles from certain intervals
• Available as a browser-based tool

3. 4K Video Downloader

With the 4K Video Downloader user-friendly GUI, you can download videos from YouTube, Facebook, and many other video sites in high definition. It is also possible to extract YouTube video subtitles in over 50 languages.

Price: Free

Key Features:

Below are the key features of the 4K Video Downloader software:

• Download the video in 4K
• Supports over 50 languages for YouTube subtitles extraction
• Can download an entire playlist

4. ByClick Downloader

ByClick Downloader is another great option to quickly download YouTube videos with subtitles in any format you want. Not only that, you can convert files into MP3, MP4, FLV, AVI, WMV,3GP, WAV, and WEBM formats with just a few clicks!

Price: Free

Key Features:

Key features of the ByClick Downloader are as follows:

• Downloads videos from over 50 different sources
• Excellent user interface
• Quickly downloads YouTube subtitles.
• Supports multiple formats

Bonus Tips: Easily Edit Your Subtitle With Filmora

Since most of the above tools only extract or download the YouTube subtitles and do not offer editing features, we recommend using Wondershare Filmora , where you can quickly apply changes to your SRT file.

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Filmora is a powerful video editing software that lets you create and edit clips like a pro. With its easy-to-use UI and wide range of features, you can also create and edit subtitles for your YouTube video using different parameters, animations, text styles, templates, and colors.

Here’s how you can add and edit subtitles on your videos using Filmora:

Step 1 Open the Filmora software on your laptop or desktop and click the “Create New Project” option in the main interface. Select the “Click here to import media” option and upload your YouTube video. Alternatively, you can drag and drop your file.

Step 2 Drag the YouTube video, drop it in the timeline, and click the “Play” icon. Listen to the voiceover on your video footage and press the “M” key to add a marker. Next, click “Titles” from the toolbar and open the “Subtitles” tab from the left menu. Double-click the subtitle to download and preview it.

Step 3 Drag the downloaded subtitle template and drop it in the timeline. Now, adjust it in your video along with the marker point. Double-click the subtitle template in the timeline and type the text from the video voiceover.

You can also add color or template and adjust the text space to make them more visible on your video clip.

Step 4 Click the “Advanced” option, delete the preset text, and set the one you’ve just typed. Next, head to the “Animation” tab to apply any animation effect and click “OK.” Finally, repeat the steps to add subtitles to the whole video.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve provided a detailed review of the ten best YouTube subtitle extractors and downloaders to help you automatically extract SRT files without much effort.

We’ve also recommended the Filmora software for quickly downloading and editing YouTube subtitles to make them more engaging and clear using various templates, styles, and animations.

Hopefully, you’ve found this article helpful and can now get the SRT files for your favorite YouTube video in a matter of minutes.

• Wondershare UniConverter
• DVDVideoSoft Free YouTube Subtitles Downloader
• 4K Video Downloader
• ByClick Downloader
• Bonus Tips: Easily Edit Your Subtitle With Filmora

10 Free YouTube Subtitle Extractors & Downloaders

We’ve rounded up a list of 10 YouTube subtitle extractors and downloader services to simplify your life and enable you to get the SRT files.

These tools are simple to use and can help you save a lot of time and effort. However, keep in mind that with these software programs, you can only download videos with subtitles automatically generated by YouTube.

Note: if you want to create subtitles, you can also use the Speech to text function.

Online Free Youtube Subtitle Extractor

You can use one of the following subtitle extractor tools if you only need the SRT file:

1. DownSub

DownSub is an online tool that can help you extract subtitles for your favorite YouTube movies or shows. The tool is entirely free and easy to use. Simply paste the link to the video you want to get subtitles for, click download, and DownSub will do the rest.

Some of the key features of DownSub are as follows:

• Download subtitles from YouTube in multiple languages
• Supports multiple formats, including SRT, TXT, and VTT
• Extracts directly from YouTube, Viki, VIU, and more

2. Checksub

Checksub is a handy tool for extracting subtitles for your YouTube video. To use the tool, create your account on the website, drag and drop your file or upload the URL, and wait for Checksub to extract the SRT file.

Here are some of the cool features of the Checksub tool:

• Adds subtitles and translates or dubs your videos
• Ability to edit subtitles
• Supports over 190 languages
• Adds automatic voiceover in a foreign language

3. EasySub

EasySub is another simple and fast-to-use tool that can help you extract YouTube subtitles in no time without installing any software or extensions. Moreover, it supports multiple file formats, such as VTT, SRT, ass, and TXT.

The following are some key features of EasySub:

• Free to use
• Simple and easy to use
• Automatic transcription
• Uses an advanced AI algorithm
• Multi-language support

4. SaveSubs

SaveSubs is a browser-based Youtube subtitles downloader that does not require its users to install any software or touch any code. Just paste the YouTube video link with subtitles, click “Download,” and you can download the file instantly on your device.

Below are a few key features of the SaveSubs tool:

• Download subtitles in multiple formats, such as VTT, SRT, and TXT
• Clear and simple UI
• Supports editable subtitles
• Comes with a social sharing feature

5. YouSubtitles

With its massive subtitle database, YouSubtitles stands out from other online tools. This tool has an easy-to-use UI and can help you get your required file effortlessly. Furthermore, you can even select the translated version of the file after the download.

Here’s why YouSubtitles is one of the best YouTube subtitles extractor online:

• Free to use
• Huge subtitle database
• Supports multiple formats and languages

6. DVDVideoSoft

Another trusted source for YouTube subtitle extraction is DVDVideoSoft. With this tool, you can quickly get the required SRT file by providing the URL of the content. Moreover, you can also use it to download music and videos from Youtube.

Some key features of DVDVideoSoft are as follows:

• Can set the language, interval, and timestamp for the subtitles
• Supports YouTube to MP3 converter and YouTube downloader
• Free to use
• Perfect for downloading subtitles from a particular segment of a video

Youtube Subtitle Downloader Software

Youtube’s automatic subtitles are sometimes inaccurate while using an online tool. Therefore, we recommend you use dedicated software to make adjustments to the content. Some of these programs are as follows:

1. Wondershare UniConverter

Wondershare UniConverter is an easy-to-use software for Windows and Mac that can help you create, add, and generate subtitles for your favorite Youtube videos in just a few clicks.

Price:

• Quarter: $29.99
• Annual: $39.99
• 2-year: $55.99
• Perpetual (one-time): $79.99

Key Features:

Here are some of the things UniConverter can do:

• Auto-generates subtitles from videos in over 100 languages
• Supports multiple video and audio formats
• Customizable subtitle styles
• Comes with a visual subtitle timeline for real-time preview
• Converts TXT to SRT format
• Ability to download the YouTube video on your device

2. DVDVideoSoft Free YouTube Subtitles Downloader

Another customizable and powerful software for downloading YouTube SRT is the DVDVideoSoft Free YouTube Downloader. With this tool, you can get subtitles in multiple languages for any video on YouTube with closed captions.

Price: Free

Key Features:

Here are some key features of the DVDVideoSoft Free YouTube Subtitles Downloader:

• Supports TXT and SRT file formats
• Available for Windows
• Ability to extract subtitles from certain intervals
• Available as a browser-based tool

3. 4K Video Downloader

With the 4K Video Downloader user-friendly GUI, you can download videos from YouTube, Facebook, and many other video sites in high definition. It is also possible to extract YouTube video subtitles in over 50 languages.

Price: Free

Key Features:

Below are the key features of the 4K Video Downloader software:

• Download the video in 4K
• Supports over 50 languages for YouTube subtitles extraction
• Can download an entire playlist

4. ByClick Downloader

ByClick Downloader is another great option to quickly download YouTube videos with subtitles in any format you want. Not only that, you can convert files into MP3, MP4, FLV, AVI, WMV,3GP, WAV, and WEBM formats with just a few clicks!

Price: Free

Key Features:

Key features of the ByClick Downloader are as follows:

• Downloads videos from over 50 different sources
• Excellent user interface
• Quickly downloads YouTube subtitles.
• Supports multiple formats

Bonus Tips: Easily Edit Your Subtitle With Filmora

Since most of the above tools only extract or download the YouTube subtitles and do not offer editing features, we recommend using Wondershare Filmora , where you can quickly apply changes to your SRT file.

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Filmora is a powerful video editing software that lets you create and edit clips like a pro. With its easy-to-use UI and wide range of features, you can also create and edit subtitles for your YouTube video using different parameters, animations, text styles, templates, and colors.

Here’s how you can add and edit subtitles on your videos using Filmora:

Step 1 Open the Filmora software on your laptop or desktop and click the “Create New Project” option in the main interface. Select the “Click here to import media” option and upload your YouTube video. Alternatively, you can drag and drop your file.

Step 2 Drag the YouTube video, drop it in the timeline, and click the “Play” icon. Listen to the voiceover on your video footage and press the “M” key to add a marker. Next, click “Titles” from the toolbar and open the “Subtitles” tab from the left menu. Double-click the subtitle to download and preview it.

Step 3 Drag the downloaded subtitle template and drop it in the timeline. Now, adjust it in your video along with the marker point. Double-click the subtitle template in the timeline and type the text from the video voiceover.

You can also add color or template and adjust the text space to make them more visible on your video clip.

Step 4 Click the “Advanced” option, delete the preset text, and set the one you’ve just typed. Next, head to the “Animation” tab to apply any animation effect and click “OK.” Finally, repeat the steps to add subtitles to the whole video.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve provided a detailed review of the ten best YouTube subtitle extractors and downloaders to help you automatically extract SRT files without much effort.

We’ve also recommended the Filmora software for quickly downloading and editing YouTube subtitles to make them more engaging and clear using various templates, styles, and animations.

Hopefully, you’ve found this article helpful and can now get the SRT files for your favorite YouTube video in a matter of minutes.

Record Breaking YouTube Content Watch Counts

Top 10 Most Viewed Videos on YouTube of All Time

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Making an incredibly successful YouTube video is the holy grail for any digital marketer. Gaining a place in the most-watched YouTube videos list is a great ambition to have, but you’ll be up against some stiff competition. Below, let’ take a look at the most viewed YouTube music video worldwide in 2021 and see what the secret to their success is.

Interested in the richest YouTubers? Check our pick of Top 10 Richest YouTubers in 2021

What is the Most Viewed YouTube Video?

Over the past couple of years, Despacito music video is undoubtedly been the most viewed video on YouTube. However, the list had changed after 2020 due to the rise of a catchy kid song - Baby Shark Dance. This child song video has reached more than 9 billion views worldwide (still growing) and led to an online dancing fever - Body Shark Challenge.

Top 10 Most Watched YouTube Videos in 2021

You may have expected this, but the majority of the most popular YouTube videos are actually music videos. Most, but not all. Here’s our list based on the latest statistics about the most viewed youtube video ever available right now. If you want to know more about the channels or the YouTubers, you can use InflueNex to get the details of them.

Here is a full list of the most viewed videos on YouTube except for Body Shark Dance.

• Despacito - Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee
• See You Again - Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth
• Shape of You - Ed Sheeran
• Gangnam Style - Psy
• Masha and the Bear: Recipe for Disaster - Get Movies
• Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
• Sorry - Justin Bieber
• Sugar - Maroon 5
• Shake It Off - Taylor Swift
• Roar - Katy Perry

1. Despacito - Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee

Views:5.4B

Despacito, the Spanish word for ‘slowly’, has broken all records in terms of the most viewed YouTube videos, reaching the milestone of two billion views faster than any other video, ever. It went on to reach 2.5 billion views faster than any other and now boasts more than five billion views, making it the most-watched YouTube video of all time.

As a song that’s almost completely sung in Spanish, the immense popularity of this video surprised everyone. Although hugely popular in Hispanic countries, Despacito was also top of the charts in 45 different countries, from Uruguay to Japan to Italy, so what made it so popular? Experts have speculated that its mix of Caribbean, Latin, pop, and rap gave it a broad appeal. Its earwormish nature, danceable beat, and perfectly summery vibe have propelled this fairly mediocre video to the heights of YouTube stardom that the rest of us can only dream about.

2. See You Again - Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth

Views:3.7B

See You Again is a pretty cool song but is it really cool enough to be number two of the most-watched YouTube videos? Sure, the tune is catchy, and the video production is probably better than that of Despacito, but its rapid rise to YouTube stardom was still rather unexpected. Over 800 days after release, the video had clocked up almost three billion views, unseating the reigning champion of YouTube views, Psy and his K-Pop masterpiece, Gangnam Style, and today it’s sitting comfortably in the number two spot with 3.6 billion watches.

So, why did this tune go so viral? Was it the loyal Fast and the Furious fan base craving more time with the Furious 7 soundtrack, or was it the tributary nature of the video paying homage to the late Paul Walker that was bringing in the views? In truth, it was probably both and also neither. The main influencer here was simply that a lot more people were using YouTube. Between 2015 and 2016, YouTube experienced a 17 percent increase in music video viewers and a total 25 percent increase in video streams. See You Again was simply in the right place at the right time.

3. Shape of You - Ed Sheeran

Views:3.7B

If there’s one artist who has rocked the music scene more than any other in recent years, Mr. Sheeran is it. His double lead single from his latest album ÷ (divide) has been his most successful to date, racking up 3.5 billion views on YouTube to date with millions more added each day. It is Spotify’s most popular song ever with 1.5 billion streams and currently holds the record for the most number of weeks spent in the Billboard top 10. It’s was nominated for best single at the Brit Awards 2021 but was pipped at the post by Rag’n’Bone Man with Human.

But why does everyone love Shape of You so much? It’s a pretty simple song, with four basic chords and fairly boring romantic lyrics; what makes it so special? Some of its success is down to the physical construction of the music itself, with a pentatonic scale offering a tried and tested catchiness that’s impossible to resist. Even if you’re not a Sheeran fan, exposure has made this song familiar to you, being popular in clubs, pubs, restaurants and with buskers on street corners (not to mention certain Christmas adverts, right?). Add to all this the rise in general popularity of music videos, it’s clear to see how it’s become one of the most viewed YouTube videos of all time.

4. Gangnam Style - Psy

Views:3.2B

We’d be surprised if you could honestly say you’d never heard of Gangnam Style (and perhaps secretly tried a few horse dance moves), and Psy himself was undoubtedly pretty surprised too when he rocketed to internet fame in 2013. At its peak, this K-Pop legend was racking up 72 views per second and averaged 33 views a second for two whole years. Today, he’s fourth on the list with a total of 3.2 billion views (and yes, people are still watching).

Although it might seem Psy was inherently lucky when his song became such a huge hit, actually what he did was very clever. As well as combining a catchy tune with a ridiculously funny video, he intentionally left copyright off the video itself, almost inviting others to create their own parodies of the video, which they did in their droves. The dance he created was nothing short of genius, easily replicable by others all over the world. Despite being ‘K-Pop’, Psy’s own look is a world away from the polished pretty boy image of other artists in this genre, offering more of an anti-pop image from a guy who is clearly comfortable in his own skin. The result is the full package of measures, and deservedly places Gangnam Style in the top 10 most-watched YouTube videos of all time.

5. Masha and the Bear: Recipe for Disaster - Get Movies

Views:3.2B

A rather unusual entry for our number five slot, Masha and the Bear, as you might have guessed, is not a music video at all. It’s not even an official video, and to top it off it’s in Russian! Masha and the Bear is incredibly popular in Russia and is based loosely on an old Russian folk story, and since all 68 episodes have been uploaded to YouTube, three have surpassed the one billion view mark.

This particular episode is the crowning glory, having racked up 3.1 billion views over the years. The reason for this particular episode’s incredibly popularity is not entirely clear, although it is thought that perhaps the way Masha herself is portrayed has helped its success. Dressed in a folk costume with no legs on show and a headscarf makes the video acceptable to Muslim audiences around the world, which may have helped to spread its popularity.

6. Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

Views:3.2B

Also with 3.1 billion views, the inimitably catchy Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson has been his biggest hit to date. Boasting chart-topping success in the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and many other locations around the world, the single won two Grammys, record of the year, and spent 14 weeks at number one in the US. So, what was it that got people watching, singing, and dancing along with Ronson and Mars?

Part of the success is undoubtedly down to the amazing lyrics of the song. From repeating how hot he is to namechecking Michelle Pfeiffer and Saint Laurent, these are feel-good power lyrics at their very best. The simple four-chord structure and effortlessly funky beat help its appeal bridge the generations, and the video itself just screams fun, fun, fun! Don’t believe us, just watch (the YouTube video, of course)!

7. Sorry - Justin Bieber

Views:3 B

It’s no surprise that the young person’s sensation that is Justin Bieber had to make an appearance in our top 10 most-watched YouTube videos. He is, after all, the epitome of the YouTube generation, and has plenty of other well-watched videos in his archives. Selling 10 million copies in 2016 alone and topping the charts in 13 countries, Sorry has racked up, to date, 2.9 billion hits on YouTube, making it his most successful music video ever. So, what was the secret to this hit’s success?

Actually, we think that the reason for the success of this particular Bieber creation is due in part to the mismatch between the visuals and the audio. A languishing video requesting redemption from a lover would typically be shot in gritty black and white and feature the singer moping about feeling sorry for themselves. Instead, Bieber opted to recruit lively dancers from New Zealand’s ReQuest Dance Crew and furnish them with eye-popping outfits and lively dance moves to make up for the potentially depressing lyrics.

8. Sugar - Maroon 5

Views:2.7B

Maroon 5 had enjoyed a somewhat tumultuous career, achieving fame in the noughties, disappearing for a while, and then returning with outstanding hits such as ‘moves like Jagger’ and ‘One more night’. But this song, Sugar, has been their biggest video hit to date. Why? Well, the proof is in the pudding as they say.

This was a completely new concept video, shot in a variety of locations around Los Angeles and featuring Maroon 5 crashing numerous weddings. The reality is that the band did arrange things somewhat with the groom, although the bride and her guests had no idea. The resulting video is a joy to watch, as the assembled wedding parties express their shock, surprise, fear, and even anger as Levine and his crew pitch up and start singing.

Looking for the best wedding video songs? Check our top lists of the best songs for your wedding video .

9. Shake It Off - Taylor Swift

Views:2.6B

After a long drought of almost a year, devoted fans of Taylor Swift were sick to death of hearing ‘I Knew you were Trouble’ on the radio five hundred times a day, so Shake it Off was almost guaranteed to be a big hit. Going straight into number one on the charts and staying in the Hot 100 for 50 consecutive weeks, its success on YouTube was even greater, boasting 2.5 billion views to date and making it the 9th most-watched video on YouTube. But how?

Swift is a master of generating internet attention. With over 100 million Instagram followers, Taylor set about whipping her ‘Little Monsters’ into a frenzy about the forthcoming release of her new single. As a result, Shake it Off was pretty much all the internet cared about for a full 24 hours. The lyrics tread a thin line between playful mockery of Swift and self-aware empowerment but are also super easy to memories and sing along with. Well played madam, well played.

10. Roar - Katy Perry

Views:2.6B

In 2013, Katy Perry took a short break out of kissing girls and liking it, as well as marrying (and divorcing) Russell Brand in order to release this banging new single. By the end of the year, Roar had sold almost 10 million copies and had topped the charts in 12 different countries. Its success on the radio was only surpassed by the success of the colorful music video on YouTube, where it has secured 2.5 billion views to date.

What’s not to love about this particular video, we ask? The lyrics are super empowering, you can run to it, dance to it, or just belt out your own roar alongside Katy. The visuals are awesome too, in particular the CGI animals and skimpy leopard print bikini, which undoubtedly helped its popularity. In a year that was tough personally for Perry, she hit back and produced this powerful song, showing once again that she is indeed a champion.

Conclusion

All the videos listed above have billions of views after it is on YouTube, however, Rome wasn’t built in a day. If you want to get more views on your YouTube videos, do not miss our guide about How to get more views on YouTube . The most viewed videos on YouTube are constantly changing, and as more and more people choose to consume their visual content in this way, we’ll undoubtedly see more records broken, more changes to this top 10, and more exciting content being produced. Were you surprised by our list? Who did you think should have made the top 10? Let us know!

How to empower your YouTube video? Whether you are targeted in YouTube music video, gameplay video, beauty & fashion, comedy, how-to video, education, or entertainment video, you always need good video editing software to edit the YouTube video. Check our pickups of the best video editing software for YouTube in the below video.

Want to know more statistics about YouTube Reds, check our Infographic about YouTube Facts, Figures here .

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Making an incredibly successful YouTube video is the holy grail for any digital marketer. Gaining a place in the most-watched YouTube videos list is a great ambition to have, but you’ll be up against some stiff competition. Below, let’ take a look at the most viewed YouTube music video worldwide in 2021 and see what the secret to their success is.

Interested in the richest YouTubers? Check our pick of Top 10 Richest YouTubers in 2021

What is the Most Viewed YouTube Video?

Over the past couple of years, Despacito music video is undoubtedly been the most viewed video on YouTube. However, the list had changed after 2020 due to the rise of a catchy kid song - Baby Shark Dance. This child song video has reached more than 9 billion views worldwide (still growing) and led to an online dancing fever - Body Shark Challenge.

Top 10 Most Watched YouTube Videos in 2021

You may have expected this, but the majority of the most popular YouTube videos are actually music videos. Most, but not all. Here’s our list based on the latest statistics about the most viewed youtube video ever available right now. If you want to know more about the channels or the YouTubers, you can use InflueNex to get the details of them.

Here is a full list of the most viewed videos on YouTube except for Body Shark Dance.

• Despacito - Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee
• See You Again - Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth
• Shape of You - Ed Sheeran
• Gangnam Style - Psy
• Masha and the Bear: Recipe for Disaster - Get Movies
• Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
• Sorry - Justin Bieber
• Sugar - Maroon 5
• Shake It Off - Taylor Swift
• Roar - Katy Perry

1. Despacito - Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee

Views:5.4B

Despacito, the Spanish word for ‘slowly’, has broken all records in terms of the most viewed YouTube videos, reaching the milestone of two billion views faster than any other video, ever. It went on to reach 2.5 billion views faster than any other and now boasts more than five billion views, making it the most-watched YouTube video of all time.

As a song that’s almost completely sung in Spanish, the immense popularity of this video surprised everyone. Although hugely popular in Hispanic countries, Despacito was also top of the charts in 45 different countries, from Uruguay to Japan to Italy, so what made it so popular? Experts have speculated that its mix of Caribbean, Latin, pop, and rap gave it a broad appeal. Its earwormish nature, danceable beat, and perfectly summery vibe have propelled this fairly mediocre video to the heights of YouTube stardom that the rest of us can only dream about.

2. See You Again - Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth

Views:3.7B

See You Again is a pretty cool song but is it really cool enough to be number two of the most-watched YouTube videos? Sure, the tune is catchy, and the video production is probably better than that of Despacito, but its rapid rise to YouTube stardom was still rather unexpected. Over 800 days after release, the video had clocked up almost three billion views, unseating the reigning champion of YouTube views, Psy and his K-Pop masterpiece, Gangnam Style, and today it’s sitting comfortably in the number two spot with 3.6 billion watches.

So, why did this tune go so viral? Was it the loyal Fast and the Furious fan base craving more time with the Furious 7 soundtrack, or was it the tributary nature of the video paying homage to the late Paul Walker that was bringing in the views? In truth, it was probably both and also neither. The main influencer here was simply that a lot more people were using YouTube. Between 2015 and 2016, YouTube experienced a 17 percent increase in music video viewers and a total 25 percent increase in video streams. See You Again was simply in the right place at the right time.

3. Shape of You - Ed Sheeran

Views:3.7B

If there’s one artist who has rocked the music scene more than any other in recent years, Mr. Sheeran is it. His double lead single from his latest album ÷ (divide) has been his most successful to date, racking up 3.5 billion views on YouTube to date with millions more added each day. It is Spotify’s most popular song ever with 1.5 billion streams and currently holds the record for the most number of weeks spent in the Billboard top 10. It’s was nominated for best single at the Brit Awards 2021 but was pipped at the post by Rag’n’Bone Man with Human.

But why does everyone love Shape of You so much? It’s a pretty simple song, with four basic chords and fairly boring romantic lyrics; what makes it so special? Some of its success is down to the physical construction of the music itself, with a pentatonic scale offering a tried and tested catchiness that’s impossible to resist. Even if you’re not a Sheeran fan, exposure has made this song familiar to you, being popular in clubs, pubs, restaurants and with buskers on street corners (not to mention certain Christmas adverts, right?). Add to all this the rise in general popularity of music videos, it’s clear to see how it’s become one of the most viewed YouTube videos of all time.

4. Gangnam Style - Psy

Views:3.2B

We’d be surprised if you could honestly say you’d never heard of Gangnam Style (and perhaps secretly tried a few horse dance moves), and Psy himself was undoubtedly pretty surprised too when he rocketed to internet fame in 2013. At its peak, this K-Pop legend was racking up 72 views per second and averaged 33 views a second for two whole years. Today, he’s fourth on the list with a total of 3.2 billion views (and yes, people are still watching).

Although it might seem Psy was inherently lucky when his song became such a huge hit, actually what he did was very clever. As well as combining a catchy tune with a ridiculously funny video, he intentionally left copyright off the video itself, almost inviting others to create their own parodies of the video, which they did in their droves. The dance he created was nothing short of genius, easily replicable by others all over the world. Despite being ‘K-Pop’, Psy’s own look is a world away from the polished pretty boy image of other artists in this genre, offering more of an anti-pop image from a guy who is clearly comfortable in his own skin. The result is the full package of measures, and deservedly places Gangnam Style in the top 10 most-watched YouTube videos of all time.

5. Masha and the Bear: Recipe for Disaster - Get Movies

Views:3.2B

A rather unusual entry for our number five slot, Masha and the Bear, as you might have guessed, is not a music video at all. It’s not even an official video, and to top it off it’s in Russian! Masha and the Bear is incredibly popular in Russia and is based loosely on an old Russian folk story, and since all 68 episodes have been uploaded to YouTube, three have surpassed the one billion view mark.

This particular episode is the crowning glory, having racked up 3.1 billion views over the years. The reason for this particular episode’s incredibly popularity is not entirely clear, although it is thought that perhaps the way Masha herself is portrayed has helped its success. Dressed in a folk costume with no legs on show and a headscarf makes the video acceptable to Muslim audiences around the world, which may have helped to spread its popularity.

6. Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

Views:3.2B

Also with 3.1 billion views, the inimitably catchy Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson has been his biggest hit to date. Boasting chart-topping success in the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and many other locations around the world, the single won two Grammys, record of the year, and spent 14 weeks at number one in the US. So, what was it that got people watching, singing, and dancing along with Ronson and Mars?

Part of the success is undoubtedly down to the amazing lyrics of the song. From repeating how hot he is to namechecking Michelle Pfeiffer and Saint Laurent, these are feel-good power lyrics at their very best. The simple four-chord structure and effortlessly funky beat help its appeal bridge the generations, and the video itself just screams fun, fun, fun! Don’t believe us, just watch (the YouTube video, of course)!

7. Sorry - Justin Bieber

Views:3 B

It’s no surprise that the young person’s sensation that is Justin Bieber had to make an appearance in our top 10 most-watched YouTube videos. He is, after all, the epitome of the YouTube generation, and has plenty of other well-watched videos in his archives. Selling 10 million copies in 2016 alone and topping the charts in 13 countries, Sorry has racked up, to date, 2.9 billion hits on YouTube, making it his most successful music video ever. So, what was the secret to this hit’s success?

Actually, we think that the reason for the success of this particular Bieber creation is due in part to the mismatch between the visuals and the audio. A languishing video requesting redemption from a lover would typically be shot in gritty black and white and feature the singer moping about feeling sorry for themselves. Instead, Bieber opted to recruit lively dancers from New Zealand’s ReQuest Dance Crew and furnish them with eye-popping outfits and lively dance moves to make up for the potentially depressing lyrics.

8. Sugar - Maroon 5

Views:2.7B

Maroon 5 had enjoyed a somewhat tumultuous career, achieving fame in the noughties, disappearing for a while, and then returning with outstanding hits such as ‘moves like Jagger’ and ‘One more night’. But this song, Sugar, has been their biggest video hit to date. Why? Well, the proof is in the pudding as they say.

This was a completely new concept video, shot in a variety of locations around Los Angeles and featuring Maroon 5 crashing numerous weddings. The reality is that the band did arrange things somewhat with the groom, although the bride and her guests had no idea. The resulting video is a joy to watch, as the assembled wedding parties express their shock, surprise, fear, and even anger as Levine and his crew pitch up and start singing.

Looking for the best wedding video songs? Check our top lists of the best songs for your wedding video .

9. Shake It Off - Taylor Swift

Views:2.6B

After a long drought of almost a year, devoted fans of Taylor Swift were sick to death of hearing ‘I Knew you were Trouble’ on the radio five hundred times a day, so Shake it Off was almost guaranteed to be a big hit. Going straight into number one on the charts and staying in the Hot 100 for 50 consecutive weeks, its success on YouTube was even greater, boasting 2.5 billion views to date and making it the 9th most-watched video on YouTube. But how?

Swift is a master of generating internet attention. With over 100 million Instagram followers, Taylor set about whipping her ‘Little Monsters’ into a frenzy about the forthcoming release of her new single. As a result, Shake it Off was pretty much all the internet cared about for a full 24 hours. The lyrics tread a thin line between playful mockery of Swift and self-aware empowerment but are also super easy to memories and sing along with. Well played madam, well played.

10. Roar - Katy Perry

Views:2.6B

In 2013, Katy Perry took a short break out of kissing girls and liking it, as well as marrying (and divorcing) Russell Brand in order to release this banging new single. By the end of the year, Roar had sold almost 10 million copies and had topped the charts in 12 different countries. Its success on the radio was only surpassed by the success of the colorful music video on YouTube, where it has secured 2.5 billion views to date.

What’s not to love about this particular video, we ask? The lyrics are super empowering, you can run to it, dance to it, or just belt out your own roar alongside Katy. The visuals are awesome too, in particular the CGI animals and skimpy leopard print bikini, which undoubtedly helped its popularity. In a year that was tough personally for Perry, she hit back and produced this powerful song, showing once again that she is indeed a champion.

Conclusion

All the videos listed above have billions of views after it is on YouTube, however, Rome wasn’t built in a day. If you want to get more views on your YouTube videos, do not miss our guide about How to get more views on YouTube . The most viewed videos on YouTube are constantly changing, and as more and more people choose to consume their visual content in this way, we’ll undoubtedly see more records broken, more changes to this top 10, and more exciting content being produced. Were you surprised by our list? Who did you think should have made the top 10? Let us know!

How to empower your YouTube video? Whether you are targeted in YouTube music video, gameplay video, beauty & fashion, comedy, how-to video, education, or entertainment video, you always need good video editing software to edit the YouTube video. Check our pickups of the best video editing software for YouTube in the below video.

Want to know more statistics about YouTube Reds, check our Infographic about YouTube Facts, Figures here .

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Making an incredibly successful YouTube video is the holy grail for any digital marketer. Gaining a place in the most-watched YouTube videos list is a great ambition to have, but you’ll be up against some stiff competition. Below, let’ take a look at the most viewed YouTube music video worldwide in 2021 and see what the secret to their success is.

Interested in the richest YouTubers? Check our pick of Top 10 Richest YouTubers in 2021

What is the Most Viewed YouTube Video?

Over the past couple of years, Despacito music video is undoubtedly been the most viewed video on YouTube. However, the list had changed after 2020 due to the rise of a catchy kid song - Baby Shark Dance. This child song video has reached more than 9 billion views worldwide (still growing) and led to an online dancing fever - Body Shark Challenge.

Top 10 Most Watched YouTube Videos in 2021

You may have expected this, but the majority of the most popular YouTube videos are actually music videos. Most, but not all. Here’s our list based on the latest statistics about the most viewed youtube video ever available right now. If you want to know more about the channels or the YouTubers, you can use InflueNex to get the details of them.

Here is a full list of the most viewed videos on YouTube except for Body Shark Dance.

• Despacito - Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee
• See You Again - Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth
• Shape of You - Ed Sheeran
• Gangnam Style - Psy
• Masha and the Bear: Recipe for Disaster - Get Movies
• Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
• Sorry - Justin Bieber
• Sugar - Maroon 5
• Shake It Off - Taylor Swift
• Roar - Katy Perry

1. Despacito - Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee

Views:5.4B

Despacito, the Spanish word for ‘slowly’, has broken all records in terms of the most viewed YouTube videos, reaching the milestone of two billion views faster than any other video, ever. It went on to reach 2.5 billion views faster than any other and now boasts more than five billion views, making it the most-watched YouTube video of all time.

As a song that’s almost completely sung in Spanish, the immense popularity of this video surprised everyone. Although hugely popular in Hispanic countries, Despacito was also top of the charts in 45 different countries, from Uruguay to Japan to Italy, so what made it so popular? Experts have speculated that its mix of Caribbean, Latin, pop, and rap gave it a broad appeal. Its earwormish nature, danceable beat, and perfectly summery vibe have propelled this fairly mediocre video to the heights of YouTube stardom that the rest of us can only dream about.

2. See You Again - Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth

Views:3.7B

See You Again is a pretty cool song but is it really cool enough to be number two of the most-watched YouTube videos? Sure, the tune is catchy, and the video production is probably better than that of Despacito, but its rapid rise to YouTube stardom was still rather unexpected. Over 800 days after release, the video had clocked up almost three billion views, unseating the reigning champion of YouTube views, Psy and his K-Pop masterpiece, Gangnam Style, and today it’s sitting comfortably in the number two spot with 3.6 billion watches.

So, why did this tune go so viral? Was it the loyal Fast and the Furious fan base craving more time with the Furious 7 soundtrack, or was it the tributary nature of the video paying homage to the late Paul Walker that was bringing in the views? In truth, it was probably both and also neither. The main influencer here was simply that a lot more people were using YouTube. Between 2015 and 2016, YouTube experienced a 17 percent increase in music video viewers and a total 25 percent increase in video streams. See You Again was simply in the right place at the right time.

3. Shape of You - Ed Sheeran

Views:3.7B

If there’s one artist who has rocked the music scene more than any other in recent years, Mr. Sheeran is it. His double lead single from his latest album ÷ (divide) has been his most successful to date, racking up 3.5 billion views on YouTube to date with millions more added each day. It is Spotify’s most popular song ever with 1.5 billion streams and currently holds the record for the most number of weeks spent in the Billboard top 10. It’s was nominated for best single at the Brit Awards 2021 but was pipped at the post by Rag’n’Bone Man with Human.

But why does everyone love Shape of You so much? It’s a pretty simple song, with four basic chords and fairly boring romantic lyrics; what makes it so special? Some of its success is down to the physical construction of the music itself, with a pentatonic scale offering a tried and tested catchiness that’s impossible to resist. Even if you’re not a Sheeran fan, exposure has made this song familiar to you, being popular in clubs, pubs, restaurants and with buskers on street corners (not to mention certain Christmas adverts, right?). Add to all this the rise in general popularity of music videos, it’s clear to see how it’s become one of the most viewed YouTube videos of all time.

4. Gangnam Style - Psy

Views:3.2B

We’d be surprised if you could honestly say you’d never heard of Gangnam Style (and perhaps secretly tried a few horse dance moves), and Psy himself was undoubtedly pretty surprised too when he rocketed to internet fame in 2013. At its peak, this K-Pop legend was racking up 72 views per second and averaged 33 views a second for two whole years. Today, he’s fourth on the list with a total of 3.2 billion views (and yes, people are still watching).

Although it might seem Psy was inherently lucky when his song became such a huge hit, actually what he did was very clever. As well as combining a catchy tune with a ridiculously funny video, he intentionally left copyright off the video itself, almost inviting others to create their own parodies of the video, which they did in their droves. The dance he created was nothing short of genius, easily replicable by others all over the world. Despite being ‘K-Pop’, Psy’s own look is a world away from the polished pretty boy image of other artists in this genre, offering more of an anti-pop image from a guy who is clearly comfortable in his own skin. The result is the full package of measures, and deservedly places Gangnam Style in the top 10 most-watched YouTube videos of all time.

5. Masha and the Bear: Recipe for Disaster - Get Movies

Views:3.2B

A rather unusual entry for our number five slot, Masha and the Bear, as you might have guessed, is not a music video at all. It’s not even an official video, and to top it off it’s in Russian! Masha and the Bear is incredibly popular in Russia and is based loosely on an old Russian folk story, and since all 68 episodes have been uploaded to YouTube, three have surpassed the one billion view mark.

This particular episode is the crowning glory, having racked up 3.1 billion views over the years. The reason for this particular episode’s incredibly popularity is not entirely clear, although it is thought that perhaps the way Masha herself is portrayed has helped its success. Dressed in a folk costume with no legs on show and a headscarf makes the video acceptable to Muslim audiences around the world, which may have helped to spread its popularity.

6. Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

Views:3.2B

Also with 3.1 billion views, the inimitably catchy Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson has been his biggest hit to date. Boasting chart-topping success in the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and many other locations around the world, the single won two Grammys, record of the year, and spent 14 weeks at number one in the US. So, what was it that got people watching, singing, and dancing along with Ronson and Mars?

Part of the success is undoubtedly down to the amazing lyrics of the song. From repeating how hot he is to namechecking Michelle Pfeiffer and Saint Laurent, these are feel-good power lyrics at their very best. The simple four-chord structure and effortlessly funky beat help its appeal bridge the generations, and the video itself just screams fun, fun, fun! Don’t believe us, just watch (the YouTube video, of course)!

7. Sorry - Justin Bieber

Views:3 B

It’s no surprise that the young person’s sensation that is Justin Bieber had to make an appearance in our top 10 most-watched YouTube videos. He is, after all, the epitome of the YouTube generation, and has plenty of other well-watched videos in his archives. Selling 10 million copies in 2016 alone and topping the charts in 13 countries, Sorry has racked up, to date, 2.9 billion hits on YouTube, making it his most successful music video ever. So, what was the secret to this hit’s success?

Actually, we think that the reason for the success of this particular Bieber creation is due in part to the mismatch between the visuals and the audio. A languishing video requesting redemption from a lover would typically be shot in gritty black and white and feature the singer moping about feeling sorry for themselves. Instead, Bieber opted to recruit lively dancers from New Zealand’s ReQuest Dance Crew and furnish them with eye-popping outfits and lively dance moves to make up for the potentially depressing lyrics.

8. Sugar - Maroon 5

Views:2.7B

Maroon 5 had enjoyed a somewhat tumultuous career, achieving fame in the noughties, disappearing for a while, and then returning with outstanding hits such as ‘moves like Jagger’ and ‘One more night’. But this song, Sugar, has been their biggest video hit to date. Why? Well, the proof is in the pudding as they say.

This was a completely new concept video, shot in a variety of locations around Los Angeles and featuring Maroon 5 crashing numerous weddings. The reality is that the band did arrange things somewhat with the groom, although the bride and her guests had no idea. The resulting video is a joy to watch, as the assembled wedding parties express their shock, surprise, fear, and even anger as Levine and his crew pitch up and start singing.

Looking for the best wedding video songs? Check our top lists of the best songs for your wedding video .

9. Shake It Off - Taylor Swift

Views:2.6B

After a long drought of almost a year, devoted fans of Taylor Swift were sick to death of hearing ‘I Knew you were Trouble’ on the radio five hundred times a day, so Shake it Off was almost guaranteed to be a big hit. Going straight into number one on the charts and staying in the Hot 100 for 50 consecutive weeks, its success on YouTube was even greater, boasting 2.5 billion views to date and making it the 9th most-watched video on YouTube. But how?

Swift is a master of generating internet attention. With over 100 million Instagram followers, Taylor set about whipping her ‘Little Monsters’ into a frenzy about the forthcoming release of her new single. As a result, Shake it Off was pretty much all the internet cared about for a full 24 hours. The lyrics tread a thin line between playful mockery of Swift and self-aware empowerment but are also super easy to memories and sing along with. Well played madam, well played.

10. Roar - Katy Perry

Views:2.6B

In 2013, Katy Perry took a short break out of kissing girls and liking it, as well as marrying (and divorcing) Russell Brand in order to release this banging new single. By the end of the year, Roar had sold almost 10 million copies and had topped the charts in 12 different countries. Its success on the radio was only surpassed by the success of the colorful music video on YouTube, where it has secured 2.5 billion views to date.

What’s not to love about this particular video, we ask? The lyrics are super empowering, you can run to it, dance to it, or just belt out your own roar alongside Katy. The visuals are awesome too, in particular the CGI animals and skimpy leopard print bikini, which undoubtedly helped its popularity. In a year that was tough personally for Perry, she hit back and produced this powerful song, showing once again that she is indeed a champion.

Conclusion

All the videos listed above have billions of views after it is on YouTube, however, Rome wasn’t built in a day. If you want to get more views on your YouTube videos, do not miss our guide about How to get more views on YouTube . The most viewed videos on YouTube are constantly changing, and as more and more people choose to consume their visual content in this way, we’ll undoubtedly see more records broken, more changes to this top 10, and more exciting content being produced. Were you surprised by our list? Who did you think should have made the top 10? Let us know!

How to empower your YouTube video? Whether you are targeted in YouTube music video, gameplay video, beauty & fashion, comedy, how-to video, education, or entertainment video, you always need good video editing software to edit the YouTube video. Check our pickups of the best video editing software for YouTube in the below video.

Want to know more statistics about YouTube Reds, check our Infographic about YouTube Facts, Figures here .

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Making an incredibly successful YouTube video is the holy grail for any digital marketer. Gaining a place in the most-watched YouTube videos list is a great ambition to have, but you’ll be up against some stiff competition. Below, let’ take a look at the most viewed YouTube music video worldwide in 2021 and see what the secret to their success is.

Interested in the richest YouTubers? Check our pick of Top 10 Richest YouTubers in 2021

What is the Most Viewed YouTube Video?

Over the past couple of years, Despacito music video is undoubtedly been the most viewed video on YouTube. However, the list had changed after 2020 due to the rise of a catchy kid song - Baby Shark Dance. This child song video has reached more than 9 billion views worldwide (still growing) and led to an online dancing fever - Body Shark Challenge.

Top 10 Most Watched YouTube Videos in 2021

You may have expected this, but the majority of the most popular YouTube videos are actually music videos. Most, but not all. Here’s our list based on the latest statistics about the most viewed youtube video ever available right now. If you want to know more about the channels or the YouTubers, you can use InflueNex to get the details of them.

Here is a full list of the most viewed videos on YouTube except for Body Shark Dance.

• Despacito - Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee
• See You Again - Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth
• Shape of You - Ed Sheeran
• Gangnam Style - Psy
• Masha and the Bear: Recipe for Disaster - Get Movies
• Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
• Sorry - Justin Bieber
• Sugar - Maroon 5
• Shake It Off - Taylor Swift
• Roar - Katy Perry

1. Despacito - Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee

Views:5.4B

Despacito, the Spanish word for ‘slowly’, has broken all records in terms of the most viewed YouTube videos, reaching the milestone of two billion views faster than any other video, ever. It went on to reach 2.5 billion views faster than any other and now boasts more than five billion views, making it the most-watched YouTube video of all time.

As a song that’s almost completely sung in Spanish, the immense popularity of this video surprised everyone. Although hugely popular in Hispanic countries, Despacito was also top of the charts in 45 different countries, from Uruguay to Japan to Italy, so what made it so popular? Experts have speculated that its mix of Caribbean, Latin, pop, and rap gave it a broad appeal. Its earwormish nature, danceable beat, and perfectly summery vibe have propelled this fairly mediocre video to the heights of YouTube stardom that the rest of us can only dream about.

2. See You Again - Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth

Views:3.7B

See You Again is a pretty cool song but is it really cool enough to be number two of the most-watched YouTube videos? Sure, the tune is catchy, and the video production is probably better than that of Despacito, but its rapid rise to YouTube stardom was still rather unexpected. Over 800 days after release, the video had clocked up almost three billion views, unseating the reigning champion of YouTube views, Psy and his K-Pop masterpiece, Gangnam Style, and today it’s sitting comfortably in the number two spot with 3.6 billion watches.

So, why did this tune go so viral? Was it the loyal Fast and the Furious fan base craving more time with the Furious 7 soundtrack, or was it the tributary nature of the video paying homage to the late Paul Walker that was bringing in the views? In truth, it was probably both and also neither. The main influencer here was simply that a lot more people were using YouTube. Between 2015 and 2016, YouTube experienced a 17 percent increase in music video viewers and a total 25 percent increase in video streams. See You Again was simply in the right place at the right time.

3. Shape of You - Ed Sheeran

Views:3.7B

If there’s one artist who has rocked the music scene more than any other in recent years, Mr. Sheeran is it. His double lead single from his latest album ÷ (divide) has been his most successful to date, racking up 3.5 billion views on YouTube to date with millions more added each day. It is Spotify’s most popular song ever with 1.5 billion streams and currently holds the record for the most number of weeks spent in the Billboard top 10. It’s was nominated for best single at the Brit Awards 2021 but was pipped at the post by Rag’n’Bone Man with Human.

But why does everyone love Shape of You so much? It’s a pretty simple song, with four basic chords and fairly boring romantic lyrics; what makes it so special? Some of its success is down to the physical construction of the music itself, with a pentatonic scale offering a tried and tested catchiness that’s impossible to resist. Even if you’re not a Sheeran fan, exposure has made this song familiar to you, being popular in clubs, pubs, restaurants and with buskers on street corners (not to mention certain Christmas adverts, right?). Add to all this the rise in general popularity of music videos, it’s clear to see how it’s become one of the most viewed YouTube videos of all time.

4. Gangnam Style - Psy

Views:3.2B

We’d be surprised if you could honestly say you’d never heard of Gangnam Style (and perhaps secretly tried a few horse dance moves), and Psy himself was undoubtedly pretty surprised too when he rocketed to internet fame in 2013. At its peak, this K-Pop legend was racking up 72 views per second and averaged 33 views a second for two whole years. Today, he’s fourth on the list with a total of 3.2 billion views (and yes, people are still watching).

Although it might seem Psy was inherently lucky when his song became such a huge hit, actually what he did was very clever. As well as combining a catchy tune with a ridiculously funny video, he intentionally left copyright off the video itself, almost inviting others to create their own parodies of the video, which they did in their droves. The dance he created was nothing short of genius, easily replicable by others all over the world. Despite being ‘K-Pop’, Psy’s own look is a world away from the polished pretty boy image of other artists in this genre, offering more of an anti-pop image from a guy who is clearly comfortable in his own skin. The result is the full package of measures, and deservedly places Gangnam Style in the top 10 most-watched YouTube videos of all time.

5. Masha and the Bear: Recipe for Disaster - Get Movies

Views:3.2B

A rather unusual entry for our number five slot, Masha and the Bear, as you might have guessed, is not a music video at all. It’s not even an official video, and to top it off it’s in Russian! Masha and the Bear is incredibly popular in Russia and is based loosely on an old Russian folk story, and since all 68 episodes have been uploaded to YouTube, three have surpassed the one billion view mark.

This particular episode is the crowning glory, having racked up 3.1 billion views over the years. The reason for this particular episode’s incredibly popularity is not entirely clear, although it is thought that perhaps the way Masha herself is portrayed has helped its success. Dressed in a folk costume with no legs on show and a headscarf makes the video acceptable to Muslim audiences around the world, which may have helped to spread its popularity.

6. Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

Views:3.2B

Also with 3.1 billion views, the inimitably catchy Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson has been his biggest hit to date. Boasting chart-topping success in the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and many other locations around the world, the single won two Grammys, record of the year, and spent 14 weeks at number one in the US. So, what was it that got people watching, singing, and dancing along with Ronson and Mars?

Part of the success is undoubtedly down to the amazing lyrics of the song. From repeating how hot he is to namechecking Michelle Pfeiffer and Saint Laurent, these are feel-good power lyrics at their very best. The simple four-chord structure and effortlessly funky beat help its appeal bridge the generations, and the video itself just screams fun, fun, fun! Don’t believe us, just watch (the YouTube video, of course)!

7. Sorry - Justin Bieber

Views:3 B

It’s no surprise that the young person’s sensation that is Justin Bieber had to make an appearance in our top 10 most-watched YouTube videos. He is, after all, the epitome of the YouTube generation, and has plenty of other well-watched videos in his archives. Selling 10 million copies in 2016 alone and topping the charts in 13 countries, Sorry has racked up, to date, 2.9 billion hits on YouTube, making it his most successful music video ever. So, what was the secret to this hit’s success?

Actually, we think that the reason for the success of this particular Bieber creation is due in part to the mismatch between the visuals and the audio. A languishing video requesting redemption from a lover would typically be shot in gritty black and white and feature the singer moping about feeling sorry for themselves. Instead, Bieber opted to recruit lively dancers from New Zealand’s ReQuest Dance Crew and furnish them with eye-popping outfits and lively dance moves to make up for the potentially depressing lyrics.

8. Sugar - Maroon 5

Views:2.7B

Maroon 5 had enjoyed a somewhat tumultuous career, achieving fame in the noughties, disappearing for a while, and then returning with outstanding hits such as ‘moves like Jagger’ and ‘One more night’. But this song, Sugar, has been their biggest video hit to date. Why? Well, the proof is in the pudding as they say.

This was a completely new concept video, shot in a variety of locations around Los Angeles and featuring Maroon 5 crashing numerous weddings. The reality is that the band did arrange things somewhat with the groom, although the bride and her guests had no idea. The resulting video is a joy to watch, as the assembled wedding parties express their shock, surprise, fear, and even anger as Levine and his crew pitch up and start singing.

Looking for the best wedding video songs? Check our top lists of the best songs for your wedding video .

9. Shake It Off - Taylor Swift

Views:2.6B

After a long drought of almost a year, devoted fans of Taylor Swift were sick to death of hearing ‘I Knew you were Trouble’ on the radio five hundred times a day, so Shake it Off was almost guaranteed to be a big hit. Going straight into number one on the charts and staying in the Hot 100 for 50 consecutive weeks, its success on YouTube was even greater, boasting 2.5 billion views to date and making it the 9th most-watched video on YouTube. But how?

Swift is a master of generating internet attention. With over 100 million Instagram followers, Taylor set about whipping her ‘Little Monsters’ into a frenzy about the forthcoming release of her new single. As a result, Shake it Off was pretty much all the internet cared about for a full 24 hours. The lyrics tread a thin line between playful mockery of Swift and self-aware empowerment but are also super easy to memories and sing along with. Well played madam, well played.

10. Roar - Katy Perry

Views:2.6B

In 2013, Katy Perry took a short break out of kissing girls and liking it, as well as marrying (and divorcing) Russell Brand in order to release this banging new single. By the end of the year, Roar had sold almost 10 million copies and had topped the charts in 12 different countries. Its success on the radio was only surpassed by the success of the colorful music video on YouTube, where it has secured 2.5 billion views to date.

What’s not to love about this particular video, we ask? The lyrics are super empowering, you can run to it, dance to it, or just belt out your own roar alongside Katy. The visuals are awesome too, in particular the CGI animals and skimpy leopard print bikini, which undoubtedly helped its popularity. In a year that was tough personally for Perry, she hit back and produced this powerful song, showing once again that she is indeed a champion.

Conclusion

All the videos listed above have billions of views after it is on YouTube, however, Rome wasn’t built in a day. If you want to get more views on your YouTube videos, do not miss our guide about How to get more views on YouTube . The most viewed videos on YouTube are constantly changing, and as more and more people choose to consume their visual content in this way, we’ll undoubtedly see more records broken, more changes to this top 10, and more exciting content being produced. Were you surprised by our list? Who did you think should have made the top 10? Let us know!

How to empower your YouTube video? Whether you are targeted in YouTube music video, gameplay video, beauty & fashion, comedy, how-to video, education, or entertainment video, you always need good video editing software to edit the YouTube video. Check our pickups of the best video editing software for YouTube in the below video.

Want to know more statistics about YouTube Reds, check our Infographic about YouTube Facts, Figures here .

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

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