Best Equipment for YouTube: Starting as a Beginner

I grew my brand new channel to 100,000K subscribers in less than 2 years and have learned so much! I’m sharing the best equipment beginners need to start a YouTube Channel.

I may receive a small commission for items purchased through affiliate links in this post at no additional cost to you.

So you want to start a new YouTube channel and you’re wondering what equipment you need to be a successful YouTuber in 2024? One of the biggest mistakes content creators make when starting a YouTube channel is not investing in the right equipment from the get-go.

The average small, home-based business invests about $5,000 in startup costs. And that’s before launching the business. On average, small business owners spend about 40,000 in their first year of operation. So, that’s a total of about $45,000 on average to start and run a new, small business in the first year.

The good news is that even if you purchase top-of-the-line equipment to start your YouTube business, you won’t have to invest nearly that much! However, I do recommend making at least a small initial investment in your business if you want to actually treat it like a business and make a profit. You can read more about my story of growing my new channel to 100K subscribers in under 2 years here.

Before you start your YouTube Channel or invest in equipment, it’s wise to spend time thinking about why you’re doing it.

Will Starting Your Own YouTube Channel Be a Hobby or a Business?

Is it just a hobby? If so, that’s ok! But if it’s *just* a hobby, you’ll probably not want to invest too much time and energy into it, especially when life gets hectic – so turning a significant profit may not be on the horizon for you, and once again – that’s ok! Just know that going in and set an equipment budget accordingly.

Is it just a business? Are you trying to make money on YouTube doing something you’re not that passionate or knowledgeable about? It can be done! Sometimes people see a business opportunity and capitalize even though it’s not something they’re particularly passionate about. If that’s you – just be careful to avoid burnout. It can be difficult to stay consistent with something you’re not that into, and it’s a real bummer to invest a lot of money in a startup that fizzles out after a while.

YouTube For Beginners: The Best Strategy

I think the best strategy for starting a YouTube channel with hopes of being successful is to turn a hobby, something that you’re passionate and knowledgable about, into a business.

Not every hobby should be turned into a business. But if one is called to turn a hobby into a business, it should be done intentionally so as not to waste precious time and energy. Part of being intentional means setting a budget for startup costs, which for YouTube, means equipment costs.

Are there YouTube creators who run a successful YouTube channel from an old mobile phone with no special equipment? Yes. But this rarely happens, and there are obstacles to doing so. A newer model iPhone, natural light, and a ring light can go a long way! But still, stories of successful creators who operate solely on mobile devices whether recording videos or live streaming are the exception, not the rule.

You don’t want to start a business banking on being the exception – you want to play by the rules to give yourself the best chance at success. I’m convinced the reason I have had so much success in such a short amount of time is that I followed the “rules” laid out in the YouTube course I took from day one.

Is YouTube Equipment for Beginners Expensive?

The short answer is – it can be! But you definitely don’t need to start by purchasing the most expensive, top-of-the-line video equipment from day one. I didn’t! I purchased middle-of-the-road vlogging equipment that was enough to create content that stood out. And I didn’t upgrade until very recently, once I hit 75,000 subscribers.

This basic list is what I started with, and I really can’t think of anything on this list that I could have gone without. (Trust me, you don’t want to be in the middle of filming a video just to have your battery die, and then you have to wait an hour to recharge it! Everything on this list has been essential for me for efficiency.)

The Basics List of The Best YouTube Equipment

Basic Vlogging Camera

You don’t have to start with an expensive camera right off the bat. This is the video camera I got started with, and it took me to 75k subscribers. You don’t have to spend thousands to create high-quality videos that will stand out. I asked around in my blogging/vlogging Facebook groups before writing this post and the consensus was that the Sony I used in the beginning is the best camera for beginners.

Many people do run successful YouTube Channels using just a phone and a ring light, but more often than not, this doesn’t work. Here’s why: For most aspiring YouTubers, the reason for using an iPhone to record is a lack of funds to purchase a vlogging camera. This often means that the iPhone they are using is an older model, and other accessories like a ring light, microphone, tripod, laptop, editing software, etc. are also out of the budget. The final product for videos shot on an older model iPhone with poor lighting, sound, and editing usually doesn’t gain much traction.

Some more common complaints I see about shooting with an iPhone are:

Not enough storage.

Sometimes I start with 2 hours of footage for one 30-minute long-form video. If the iPhone you’re using to shoot video is also your personal phone, you likely have a lot of photos and videos saved on there already and will not have enough space to save YouTube footage. I see this ALL the time in vlogging Facebook groups.

Getting Distracted or Interrupted

Using a personal phone for work can mean getting distracted very easily from filming – whether it’s answering texts, taking calls, or scrolling social media. Using a dedicated vlogging camera eliminates this distraction. You can set your phone aside and focus without having to turn it off or on airplane mode.

Poor Quality Videos

I know I sound like a broken record, but the reality is – phone videos just don’t stand out as much. I have even had people notice and comment when I use a different lens to film on my Canon! If people notice a lens change, they will definitely notice when a video is filmed on an older model iPhone.

Investing in a good camera from the get-go is a great way to commit to producing quality video content consistently.

Memory Cards

You need a memory card if you’ll be filming on a digital camera. I highly recommend having at least 2 memory cards in case one malfunctions, you run out of space in the middle of filming, or you have two cameras for B-roll footage. I have 256GB cards and they have more than enough memory to shoot several hours of footage every week.

It’s best practice to transfer your footage from your memory card to an external hard drive ASAP and format your card regularly. Trust me, it’s no fun sorting through footage for 3-4 different videos trying to see what goes where. Take an extra 10-15 minutes to organize your footage on your external hard drive as you go and you’ll be very glad you did.

Extra Batteries

The best way to maintain a steady workflow when filming is to have at least 2 batteries for your camera. You do not want to have your entire setup ready to go, only for your battery to die 10 minutes into shooting.

If you’re using a basic vlogging camera like the Sony I recommend, just be aware that the battery life is only about an hour. I have 3 extra batteries for that camera so I never have to worry about waiting for a battery to charge.

Higher-end cameras will have a much longer battery life, but it’s still a good idea to have at least two.

Basic Tripod

A good, basic tripod costs about $30 and is non-negotiable. I have seen comments from aspiring YouTubers who prop their phone up on some books, create grainy, unfocused videos, and then wonder why they aren’t getting any traction. You want to be able to show your viewers the best angle for whatever you’re filming, and using a tripod makes that possible. You’ll want a tripod that is adjustable and can shoot vertical footage as well in case you are creating footage for social media.

Macbook Pro

I highly recommend using Apple products. I first started with a Macbook Air, and even though I was using an external hard drive to store footage, I’d still frequently run out of space on my laptop just from importing footage into my editing software to edit one video! It was so frustrating and ate up so much of my time trying to work around the storage issue. I upgraded to a Macbook Pro and have never looked back or had any issues with space even when I’m editing several videos at a time.

Adaptor

If you’re using a MacBook, you’ll need a multi-port adaptor to connect your memory card and external hard drive. I’ve gone through 2 of these in under two years, and it’s a bummer to have one go out in the middle of editing because there’s nothing you can do to access your footage when this happens. So now I keep an extra on hand at all times. You’re probably noticing a pattern of keeping spares and extras of everything on hand – even if you don’t have the budget to purchase spares from the get-go, it should be a priority as soon as you start earning an income.

External hard drive

An external hard drive allows you to store all of your footage, unedited and edited, in one place. This is a must as it frees up space on your computer and ensures that your footage isn’t lost if something happens to your computer. Most YouTubers back their footage up in at least 2 different places. Some use 2 external hard drives and some use an external hard drive and Google drive.

Google Drive is great for backing up footage, especially if you are working with a team or a video editor who needs to access your footage as well. Just keep in mind that you don’t own Google and your footage could be wiped out at any time. For this reason, I think it’s wise to have at least one external hard drive. All of my footage is backed up on an external hard drive and Google Drive.

Editing Software

iMovie works great for beginners and it’s free. In fact, I’m still using iMovie to edit all of my YouTube videos. However, I’ll probably be upgrading soon to allow for more text layover options. If you’re creating basic vlog-style videos, iMovie is a great choice. But if you want lots of text or effects in your videos, you’ll need to purchase some kind of advanced software, we will talk about that in the next section.

The Upgraded Equipment List of Best YouTube Equipment

Upgrading equipment is something that can wait until you’re earning enough income for the new equipment to pay for itself. It’s very doable to start earning with basic equipment, and probably the most practical route for most people starting with a budget.

High-Quality Camera
50mm Lens
Tripod
iMac
Microphone
Upgraded Editing Software

High-Quality Camera

I upgraded to a Canon EOS R5 in 2023 and absolutely love it. It was a huge investment compared to my little Sony vlogging camera, but the quality is amazing, it’s incredibly easy to use, and I can switch out lenses to quickly snap photos for my blog in between shooting for YouTube. There are so many choices out there when it comes to high-quality digital cameras. Just make sure to do your research and choose something that is mirrorless and easy to use for shooting video.

50mm lens

A 50 mm lens makes for absolutely beautiful, highly focused, high quality footage that really stands out to your target audience. But it’s not always the best choice depending on what kind of content you’re shooting. I rotate between a standard lens and a 50mm depending on what I’m shooting, and almost always use the 50mm for blog photos or thumbnail photos.

Tripod

If you want a really sturdy, top-of-the-line tripod, the Manfrotto is the way to go. I purchased one recently and while it definitely wasn’t a must-have, it’s very nice and easy to use. This is an item I’d recommend putting lower on your priority list as far as investing in equipment.

iMac

Once you start gaining ground with your YouTube business, you may want to think about setting up a home office with a desktop and working toward being more structured and disciplined with your work schedule. It’s easy to take a laptop with you wherever you go and work on your channel at any time, but doing so can lead to burnout. Setting a long-term goal of having “office hours” and working in a dedicated office space on a desktop that can’t go with you is a really good idea if you’re hoping to do this long-term and enjoy it!

Microphone

Getting an external microphone has been a game changer when it comes to the sound quality of my videos. And one thing that the YouTube audience doesn’t forgive is poor sound. Sound is an integral part of the experiences viewers get when they come to my channel. Some would argue that sound quality is even more important than video quality in YouTube content creation. Investing in a good microphone is a must. Rode is a brand that makes one of the best microphones on the market, with a wide selection of models to suit your specific use case scenario.

Software

Final Cut Pro is Apple’s upgraded editing software that’s more sophisticated and offers more options for customization in editing. While it’s definitely superior to iMovie, the drawbacks are that it’s more difficult to learn and it’s not free (Final Cut Pro costs $300). Like the upgraded tripod, Final Cut Pro isn’t a must – especially when you’re just getting started. But once you start getting sponsorships or really improving in your content creation, you may find that the additional tools and option in Final Cut Pro make the investment worthwhile.

FAQ

1. What camera should I use?

For beginners, a good quality webcam or a smartphone camera can work, depending on the type of content creation. As you progress, you’ll want to consider investing in a DSLR or mirrorless camera for better video quality.

2. Do I need a microphone?

Yes, audio quality is crucial for a good YouTube video. A USB microphone or a shotgun microphone that connects directly to your camera can greatly improve audio clarity.

3. What lighting equipment do I need?

Good lighting is essential for clear and professional-looking videos. The best lighting is free – natural light. That’s all I use. But if you don’t have any natural light where you’ll be filming, you can start with affordable softbox lights or LED panel lights, ensuring you have even lighting without harsh shadows.

4. Should I use a tripod?

Yes, a stable camera setup is important to avoid shaky footage. A basic tripod can help keep your camera steady and ensure consistent framing.

5. Do I need video editing software?

Yes, you’ll need video editing software to edit your footage and add effects, transitions, and other elements. There are many options available, including free software like iMovie and DaVinci Resolve, or paid ones like Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro.

6. How can I improve the quality of my videos on a budget?

You can start by focusing on good, natural lighting, clear audio, and engaging content. Additionally, learning basic video editing techniques can help enhance your videos without needing expensive equipment.

7. What about background and set design?

A clean and visually appealing background can enhance the professionalism of your videos. You can achieve this with a simple backdrop, or by setting up your recording space in a tidy and visually interesting way.

8. How can I learn to use the equipment and software effectively?

There are plenty of online tutorials, courses, and communities where you can learn how to use your equipment and software effectively. YouTube itself is a great resource for tutorials on everything from camera setup to video editing techniques.

9. What about copyright issues with music and images?

It’s important to use copyright-free music and images in your videos to avoid legal issues. There are many websites where you can find royalty-free music and images, or you can create your own content. Be sure to check the licensing terms to ensure you have the right to use the material in your videos.