Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about how FollowerCharts works, where the data comes from, and what the numbers mean.
How accurate are the live subscriber and follower counters?
The counters are real-time estimates, not a direct feed from YouTube, Twitch or Kick. We fetch the actual count from each platform every hour and use recent growth rates to extrapolate forward between updates. For fast-growing channels this is a close approximation; for channels with very low or inconsistent growth the counter may differ slightly from the real figure. The counts shown on leaderboards and stat cards are always the exact figure from our last snapshot.
How often is the data updated?
YouTube channels, all tracked Kick streamers and the top 500 Twitch streamers are updated every hour. Mid-tier Twitch streamers (ranks 501–2000) update every two hours, and the remainder every six hours. Growth figures — 24h, 7d and 30d — are recalculated automatically each time a new snapshot is taken.
Where does FollowerCharts get its data?
YouTube data comes from the official YouTube Data API. Twitch data comes from the official Twitch API. Kick follower counts are fetched from Kick's channel API — Kick's official public API does not currently expose follower counts directly. We do not scrape, estimate or use third-party data brokers. Counts are fetched as returned by each platform and stored in our database.
Why is a channel's subscriber count shown as hidden or missing?
YouTube allows creators to hide their subscriber count. When a channel has hidden their count, YouTube's API returns zero or omits the field entirely. We cannot display what YouTube doesn't provide. Those channels are excluded from our leaderboards but may still appear in search results.
Why isn't my favourite creator on FollowerCharts?
Our initial database seed covered the most subscribed and most followed creators across YouTube, Twitch and Kick, but not every channel. If a creator you're looking for is missing, use our contact page to request they be added. We're continually expanding coverage across all three platforms.
What does the milestone tracker show?
The milestone tracker on each creator page shows the most recent round-number milestone the creator has passed (for example, 10M or 50M), their current count, and upcoming milestones they are projected to reach. Projected dates are based on their most recent growth rate — using recent hourly data where available, falling back to their 7-day average daily gain, then their 30-day average if needed.
What does the crossover prediction on the compare page mean?
If one creator is growing faster than another, the crossover prediction estimates how long it would take for the faster-growing creator to overtake the other — based on their current 30-day growth rates. It's a projection, not a guarantee, and will change as growth rates fluctuate.
Can I compare a YouTube channel with a Twitch streamer?
Comparisons work within the same platform — any two YouTube channels, any two Twitch streamers, or any two Kick streamers. Cross-platform comparisons (e.g. a YouTube channel vs a Twitch streamer) are not currently supported, as subscriber and follower counts measure different things across platforms and aren't directly comparable.
How do I request a creator be added?
Send us the creator's name, handle and platform (YouTube, Twitch or Kick) via our contact page and we'll add them to the database. There's no cost and no form — just a quick email.
Does FollowerCharts have an API?
Not publicly at the moment. If you're interested in accessing FollowerCharts data programmatically, get in touch and let us know what you're building.