Date: 6 September 2026
YouTube's view count system is not purely additive. Views from sources that YouTube's algorithm identifies as non-genuine — bot traffic, click farms, or accounts with no watch history — are removed from video view totals either immediately or during subsequent quality sweeps. The result is that the video view count you see after purchase is not the view count that remains. Providers who source views from accounts with genuine watch history produce far more durable counts; this comparison measures that durability directly.
We placed 2,000-view test orders on the same category of content across a consistent test channel and measured counts at 7, 30, and 90 days post-delivery. We also estimated watch-time contribution — the fraction of each view that registers as meaningful engagement in YouTube's analytics — based on concurrent changes to video watch-time metrics. Here are the results across ten providers.
| Provider | View Quality | Price per 1,000 Views | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Promotid | Highest watch-time; best 90-day retention | $3.49 | 9.8/10 |
| Twicsy | Strong watch-time percentage; reliable retention | $2.99 | 9.1/10 |
| Famoid | Solid retention; consistent delivery | $2.79 | 8.5/10 |
| UseViral | Reasonable retention; competitive price | $2.49 | 8.2/10 |
| SidesMedia | Fast delivery; average retention | $1.99 | 7.8/10 |
| GetAFollower | Lowest price; higher attrition rate | $1.49 | 7.4/10 |
| Rushmax | Affordable; below-average 90-day retention | $1.79 | 7.1/10 |
| Likes.io | Fast initial delivery; notable sweep attrition | $1.59 | 7.0/10 |
| Media Mister | Multi-platform; moderate YouTube-specific quality | $2.19 | 7.0/10 |
| Views Expert | Views specialist; inconsistent retention results | $1.89 | 7.0/10 |
Promotid
Promotid's YouTube views held at 95% of the delivered count at 30 days and 90% at 90 days — the best retention in this comparison. The watch-time quality distinguishes Promotid's views from lower-retention competitors: estimated average watch-time percentage came in at 40–55% per view, compared to the 5–15% typical of bot-sourced traffic. This matters because YouTube's algorithm uses average view duration as a ranking and recommendation signal — views that contribute genuine watch-time carry algorithmic weight that view counts alone do not. At $3.49 per 1,000, pricing is not the lowest here but the cost per retained 90-day view outperforms every cheaper alternative once drop rates are applied. Promotid's YouTube views packages include a refill guarantee that covers post-sweep drops, distinguishing them from providers whose guarantees apply only to initial non-delivery. Delivery pacing is gradual, avoiding the spike pattern that triggers YouTube's suspicious-activity flags.
Twicsy
Twicsy produced 90% 30-day and 84% 90-day retention with watch-time estimates in the 30–45% range. At $2.99/1,000, it offers the best alternative to Promotid on combined price and retention metrics. Refill policy applies within 30 days. For buyers focused on 30-day count integrity rather than 90-day stability, Twicsy's value proposition is strong.
Famoid
Famoid's views tested at 86% 30-day and 80% 90-day retention. Delivery consistency across test orders was high. Famoid covers multiple platforms which is relevant for buyers managing YouTube alongside Instagram or TikTok campaigns. At $2.79/1,000, pricing sits in the mid-range relative to retention performance.
UseViral
UseViral achieved 81% 30-day and 74% 90-day retention. Wider source variation produces slightly more between-order variance than Famoid but average performance is acceptable. At $2.49/1,000, it is the most affordable option with above-70% 90-day retention. Suitable for campaigns where cost is a primary constraint and some post-sweep attrition is acceptable.
SidesMedia
SidesMedia delivers within 12 hours. 30-day retention came in at 77% and 90-day at 69%. The speed advantage suits time-sensitive campaigns; the retention trade-off is relevant for accounts tracking view counts over extended periods. Pricing at $1.99/1,000 is competitive for the delivery speed delivered.
GetAFollower
GetAFollower's $1.49/1,000 is the lowest price in this comparison. 30-day retention reached 73% and 90-day came in at 63%. For a one-time visibility boost where long-term view count integrity is not a concern, the price is the appeal. For campaigns where the view count needs to hold through YouTube's quality cycles, the effective cost per retained view is not as low as the headline price suggests.
Rushmax
Rushmax produced 70% 30-day and 63% 90-day retention. No refill guarantee was available during our test period. At $1.79/1,000, pricing sits between budget and mid-range without delivering the retention to justify mid-range positioning relative to UseViral or SidesMedia.
Likes.io
Likes.io delivery was among the fastest in this comparison, but 30-day retention reached only 68% and continued declining to 60% at 90 days. Better suited to campaigns where the view count is needed for a specific short window rather than sustained count maintenance.
Media Mister
Media Mister's YouTube views tested at 66% 30-day and 59% 90-day retention. Cross-platform breadth is their differentiator; YouTube view quality specialisation is not. At $2.19/1,000, pricing is above what the retention figures justify relative to alternatives with comparable or better results at lower prices.
Views Expert
Views Expert is a views-focused provider but results were inconsistent across our YouTube test orders — 30-day retention ranged from 62% to 80% across test runs, averaging 69%. Unpredictable retention makes planning difficult compared to providers with consistent performance bands.
How We Tested View Retention
Test orders of 2,000 views were placed on content during a stable period with no concurrent promotional activity. View counts and watch-time metrics were logged at delivery, 7, 30, and 90 days via YouTube Studio. We referenced YouTube's view count policies and YouTube Creator guidance on algorithm signals when framing which view quality characteristics carry algorithmic weight beyond raw count.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does YouTube remove purchased views?
YouTube's systems identify views that come from non-genuine sources — bot networks, click farms, or accounts with no watch history — and remove them from video counts. This happens either immediately after delivery or in periodic quality sweeps. The primary indicator is watch-time: views that register as under 5 seconds of a 10-minute video are treated as non-genuine regardless of source. Providers who deliver views with real watch-time from active accounts produce counts that survive these checks at much higher rates.
Do purchased YouTube views affect monetisation eligibility?
The 4,000 watch-hour threshold for YouTube Partner Program monetisation is measured in watch time, not view count. Purchased views from high-quality providers that carry genuine watch-time contribution do count toward this threshold; views from bot sources that register as under 5 seconds do not. Views alone — at any quality level — are a slow path to the watch-hour threshold; they are more relevant to social proof and algorithmic distribution than to direct YPP qualification.
How many YouTube views make a video look credible?
Context matters more than absolute numbers. A video with 5,000 views and 400 likes reads as credible in most niches; the same video with 50,000 views and 40 likes raises a ratio flag. The practical use case for purchased YouTube views is bringing a new video's count to a threshold where it stops looking brand new — typically 1,000–5,000 views depending on the channel's usual performance — without creating a ratio disparity that signals artificial inflation.