Do you want to broaden your horizons? Watch a documentary about something you know absolutely nothing about.
Finding the best YouTube channels for documentaries from the thousands of channels on the video platform can be pretty challenging. If you eventually find one with a likable and relatable name, the challenge upfront becomes its content and relatability.
Keep reading to discover the top ten YouTube channels for documentaries that will keep you informed and satisfied.
Table of contents
What Are Documentary Films?
Documentary films are an in-depth and instructive resource that can be used to spark discussion. They are effective instruments for bringing critical problems to the forefront in an engaging manner, sparking dialogue and, in some cases, social movements.
Character-driven, feature-length documentaries based on real-life events provide a human face to global concerns that could otherwise appear distant or unreliable.
Hearing and seeing these real-life situations on YouTube through the committed work of documentary filmmakers allows us to put ourselves in the shoes of others, constructing empathy bridges in a society that sorely needs our engagement and compassion.
Read also: 10 Best Youtube Channels for Men in 2022
Why Are YouTube Channels For Documentaries A Good Idea?
Knowledge is valuable – and learning new things via free youtube documentaries can be a rewarding source of happiness that isn’t tied to people or material things.
Documentaries are an excellent method to immerse yourself in a new subject and learn more about it, especially if you have no prior understanding of it.
Additionally, documentaries are one method to broaden your map of reality and become a more well-rounded person in your worldview. They can also encourage more interdisciplinary thinking by exposing you to things you would not have considered before, which can increase your creativity and problem-solving abilities.
Do you want to know more about a scientific topic, a historical event, a renowned person, or a political/social cause? There’s probably a documentary youtube channel out there to watch.
Best YouTube Channels For Documentaries To Follow
Here’s a list of documentaries to improve your depth of knowledge, keep your brain sharp and active, find inspiring role models, and expose yourself to new worlds you’ve never experienced before.
1. Vice
Subscribers: 15.9M
Views: 4.1B
Vine is probably one of the better choices for the audience, with approximately 8 million subscribers. Vice provides a wealth of knowledge centered on immersive, caustic, ground-breaking, and frequently strange tales that are likely to impact your perspective on a variety of topics. So, how about you visit the channel now?
2. National Geographic
Subscribers: 20.3M
Views: 5.1B
Next on our list of best YouTube channels for documentaries is Nat Geo.
Nat Geo, a well-known television network, has never failed to encourage people to care about Earth. You might be surprised to learn about unknown stories that make a difference. Their documentaries are a blessing thanks to their world-class scientists, photographers, journalists, and filmmakers!
3. BBC News
Subscribers: 12.7M
Views: 3.8B
With over 12.7M subscribers, BBC News thrills its audience with behind-the-scenes footage to front-line footage from all over the world.
Tune into BBC World News for 24-hour news on TV. Check out BBC News on mobile and download our app for iPhone, Android, and Kindle Fire. The official BBC News documentary YouTube channel is operated by BBC Global News Ltd which incorporates BBC World News the 24hr TV channel and bbc.com/news, the international news website.
There must be some documentaries by them that will have you binge-watching!
4. Real Stories
Subscribers: 5.57M
Views: 1B
Real Stories, is the home of award-winning and compelling documentaries you need to see. They upload at least four full-length documentaries a week from the best documentary producers on the planet.
Subscribe so you don’t miss out. Documentaries on our channel is licensed from Digital Rights Group DCD Rights ITV Global Studios All3Media International TVF International Java Films Cargo Film & Releasing Sideways Film Truevision Production.
Read also: Top 10 Youtube Channels for Interior Design
5. Wendover Productions
Subscribers: 3.5M
Views: 530M
Next on our list of best YouTube documentary channels is Wendover productions. Unlike other documentary channels, Wendover Productions condenses things a little by creating shorter videos that are nevertheless jam-packed with information (though there are also plenty of lengthier videos on the channel).
The channel exposes you to new things all the time. Are you interested in the Nile River’s geopolitical issues? Or perhaps you’d prefer something more current, such as how cyberwarfare actually works? Wendover strikes an excellent mix between keeping things brief while not sacrificing vital data.
6. Defunctland
Subscribers: 1.36M
Views: 152M
Defunctland is about history, but not the kind you may anticipate. This channel delves into the history of amusement parks, shows, movies, and other aspects of pop culture that either never existed or haven’t been seen in a long time.
The youtube documentary channel began and continues to mostly focus on Disney’s amusement parks, but other parks, as well as more diverse themes in general, have been covered. There’s plenty of interesting information about Defunctland, whether it’s about Disney’s weird “Handwich,” the Ferris Wheel, or the dismantling of Six Flags Astroworld.
7. DW Documentary
Subscribers: 4.2M
Views: 658M
The exciting, dramatic, and enlightening DW Documentary is always in touch with current events and worldwide events. Their carefully curated selection of award-winning documentaries and reports gets right to the core of the subject.
This youtube channel for documentary will take you on a journey through other cultures, locations, and the inner workings of modern life. With Deutsche, you can explore the world around you every day, one documentary at a time.
8. Timeline – World History Documentaries
Subscribers: 4.18M
Views: 908M
Timeline explores stories that border across world history. Every week, they’ll bring you one-off documentaries and series from the world’s leading broadcasters, such as the BBC, Channel 4, Discovery, and PBS. We’ll delve into the mysteries of ancient Egypt, throw light on medieval Europe’s dark years, and examine the First and Second World Wars.
9. The Guardian
Subscribers: 2.64M
Views: 2B
The Guardian redefines the need for independent journalism by bringing you the greatest string of documentaries that are sure to keep you up to date on the newest trends from across the world!
The Guardian has been providing high-impact, independent journalism since 1821, always free from commercial and political influence. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this documentary channel.
10. Atrocity Guide
Subscribers: 424K
Views: 19M
It would be a shame if we didn’t include one obscure channel, and Atrocity Guide fills that void admirably. While uploads can be sporadic, the weird topics this channel covers constantly pique my interest—for example, one video is about an obsessed internet stalker, while another is about a man attempting to converse with dolphins. If you have a great interest in the odd but still want the issues addressed professionally, Atrocity Guide will not disappoint.
Read also: 10 Most Expensive T-Shirts In The World
FAQs On Best YouTube Channels For Documentaries
Documentary films bring our awareness to important, often unknown stories. They offer some of the best resources for information, inspiration, and entertainment.
You need to follow these instructions to create a channel that only you can manage using your Google Account.
Sign in to YouTube on a computer or the mobile site.
Create a profile picture
You’ll be asked to create a channel
Check the details (with your Google Account name and photo) and confirm to create your channel.
You can watch free documentaries on Youtube.
The average YouTuber with 1 million subscribers makes roughly $60,000 a year.
Conclusion
Documentaries are a great way to learn more about the world, but that doesn’t mean you have to pay a premium to watch them. All you need to do is visit any of the documentary channels on our list and pay with your time.
I hope our list of best YouTube channels for documentaries satisfies your search intent.
References
- blog.feedspot.com – 15 Documentary Youtube Channels
- reviewgeek.com – 8 Great YouTube Channels That Create Free Documentaries
- vidooly.com – 5 Documentary Channels on YouTube you can’t miss!
We Also Recommend
