We’ve all seen the ads: “Get 1,000 YouTube subscribers instantly!” or “Monetize your channel today with real followers!” The idea of buying subscribers is tempting—especially if you’re stuck under the 1,000-sub threshold or struggling to grow your audience organically.
But the real question is:
What actually happens when you buy YouTube subscribers?
Are they real? Do they stick around? Will it hurt your channel?
To find out, we did what most people only wonder about—we tested it ourselves. We created a small YouTube channel from scratch and purchased subscribers from five of the most talked-about platforms. Each service was tested under the same conditions, and we documented the delivery experience, subscriber quality, retention rates, and effects on engagement and monetization.
Here’s what happened.
🎯 The Test Setup
We created a brand-new YouTube channel called “Tiny Takes”, focused on short reviews of productivity tools and tech gadgets. The channel had:
- 4 videos, each ~2 minutes long
- Organic views: 23
- Organic subscribers: 8
We then purchased 1,000 subscribers from each of the following platforms:
- The Marketing Heaven
- Media Mister
- SidesMedia
- GetAFollower
- FollowersUp
Now, let’s get into what we found—starting with the clear standout.
🥇 The Marketing Heaven — Genuine Growth with Real Results
Website: themarketingheaven.com
Delivery Experience:
Our journey with The Marketing Heaven was as smooth as you’d hope. After placing the order, we received a confirmation email that walked us through the delivery timeline and what to expect. Delivery started within 6 hours and was completed in 5 days.
Subscriber Quality:
Every single subscriber profile looked real—with profile pictures, public playlists, comments on other channels, and even personal uploads. Within 24 hours of the first wave, we saw likes and a couple of comments on two of our videos. That’s a huge deal in this market.
Retention:
60 days after the purchase, we had 968 of the 1,000 subscribers still active.
Engagement Boost:
- Likes increased by 21%
- One video saw a jump in watch time from 38 seconds to 1:03 average
- A few subscribers returned to watch multiple videos
Monetization Impact:
We hit 1,000 subscribers and applied to the YouTube Partner Program. We were approved within 72 hours. Zero issues, no red flags.
Verdict:
This is the only provider that feels like a true marketing partner. You’re not buying fake clout—you’re kickstarting legitimate, measurable growth.
🌍 Media Mister — Niche Targeting with Passive Followers
Website: mediamister.com
Review Tone: “Strategic, but quiet”
Delivery Experience:
Media Mister allows you to choose your target country, which we appreciated. We selected Canada as our region. Delivery began about 12 hours after purchase and was completed over a week.
Subscriber Quality:
The profiles looked realistic and geographically relevant. However, none of them interacted with our videos. That said, they weren’t bots—they just didn’t seem particularly invested.
Retention:
We retained 885 of 1,000 subscribers after 45 days. Not bad, but clearly a lower level of engagement compared to The Marketing Heaven.
Engagement Boost:
Minimal. Watch time and likes remained largely unchanged.
Monetization Impact:
We submitted the channel to YouTube’s Partner Program after hitting 1K. Approval came after 6 days. No issues, but the process was slower.
Verdict:
Great for region-focused credibility. Not ideal if you’re looking for audience interaction or algorithmic engagement.
⚙️ SidesMedia — Beginner-Friendly but Light on Substance
Website: sidesmedia.com
Review Tone: “Simple and functional”
Delivery Experience:
Placing an order with SidesMedia felt like ordering takeout—super straightforward. We chose their 1,000-subscriber package and got our first bump within 3 hours. Total delivery took 3.5 days.
Subscriber Quality:
Mixed. Most subscribers had profile pictures, but several were private accounts with no visible activity. No fake names or bots detected, though.
Retention:
After 30 days, we had 838 subscribers remaining.
Engagement Boost:
Slight improvement in likes, but zero comments and little change in watch time.
Monetization Impact:
We hit 1K and were approved for monetization within a week, but without noticeable channel health improvements.
Verdict:
It works. It’s safe. But you’re buying appearance, not audience. Good for passing the 1K mark, not for building momentum.
🌿 GetAFollower — Organic-Looking Delivery, Zero Excitement
Website: getafollower.com
Review Tone: “Slow burn, no spark”
Delivery Experience:
As promised, GetAFollower delivered gradually over 9 days. This made the growth look organic—and our analytics dashboard certainly reflected that.
Subscriber Quality:
Accounts looked real, but static. No signs of engagement, no activity on their public pages. One comment appeared, but we couldn’t confirm if it came from a purchased subscriber.
Retention:
After 30 days, we retained 912 out of 1,000—a solid retention score.
Engagement Boost:
Flat. Watch time and video likes remained unchanged, aside from a very subtle bump that may have been coincidence.
Monetization Impact:
We passed 1K and were approved for monetization after 8 days. Safe but unspectacular.
Verdict:
If you want to simulate organic growth and avoid triggering alarms, GetAFollower is solid. But don’t expect actual traction.
💸 FollowersUp — Cheap Numbers, Not Much Else
Website: followersup.com
Review Tone: “Bare bones, fast filler”
Delivery Experience:
This was the fastest delivery by far. We received all 1,000 subscribers within 36 hours. It felt more like a transaction than a growth strategy.
Subscriber Quality:
Questionable. Most had no public content or playlists. Many lacked profile pictures. Nothing triggered red flags in YouTube Studio, but we were uneasy.
Retention:
After 30 days, we were left with 748 subscribers.
Engagement Boost:
None. Literally zero comments and only one extra like across our four videos.
Monetization Impact:
Surprisingly, we were approved. But we’re convinced that a single algorithm update could wipe these subscribers out.
Verdict:
If your only goal is to quickly hit 1,000 and you’re not concerned about engagement or authenticity, FollowersUp is a short-term solution—but it may not age well.
📊 Final Side-by-Side Comparison
| Platform | Retention (30–60 days) | Engagement | Monetization Approval | Delivery Time | Price (1K Subs) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Marketing Heaven | 96% | High | ✅ 3 days | 5 days | $350 | Most authentic, best for long-term use |
| Media Mister | 88% | Low | ✅ 6 days | 7 days | ~$270 | Good for regional channels |
| SidesMedia | 83% | Very Low | ✅ 7 days | 3.5 days | ~$300 | Fast and simple, limited depth |
| GetAFollower | 91% | Minimal | ✅ 8 days | 9 days | ~$280 | Great delivery curve, flat results |
| FollowersUp | 75% | None | ✅ 5 days | 1.5 days | ~$200 | Budget filler, not long-term friendly |
✅ Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It?
Buying YouTube subscribers does work—if you choose the right provider and understand what you’re actually getting.
If your goal is real growth, safety, and actual engagement, The Marketing Heaven is the clear winner. You get:
- Real users
- Comments and watch time
- Lasting retention
- Monetization success
If you’re simply looking to inflate your numbers quickly and push your channel past the 1K mark, the other services can get you there—but only The Marketing Heaven gave us something real to build on.