50 Best YouTube Ads

Do you love watching YouTube videos? Find yourself climbing down the loophole of YouTube’s engaging videos? If so, you’ve probably seen countless ads while trying to enjoy your content.

Discover examples on our list of top 50 YouTube ad campaigns known for compelling content, smart targeting, and driving conversions. Perfect for businesses refining their strategy or anyone seeking inspiration!

1. B&H

B&H’s video ad of their brief history can be found right away on this list. We enjoyed this because it was provided loads of information, while being lighthearted and fun. Their catchy background music was something that stood out to us. The combination of graphics, maps, commentary, comical quips, and personal interviews creates an example that customers will be sure to remember.

2. Purple Mattress

This “Does Your Mattress Pass The Human Egg Drop Test” ad from Purple Mattress hit many notes of a good quality YouTube ad, making it an easy choice for our top 50 YouTube ads list. We liked it for its perfect blend of fast cuts, short comedy, and valuable consumer information. We also liked the experiments they displayed as they placed a heavy emphasis on showcasing the strengths of Purple Mattress versus the weakness of typical memory foam.

If we were to ding the rating of this ad, it would be for the long watch time. We think that this ad could have been broken up into three different ads which could have resulted in higher engagement, longer watch time, and lower viewer fatigue than a single long video. Overall, this is a great ad and one we highly recommend watching.

3. Ad Council

This ad from the Ad Council on wildfire prevention is funny and quick. The commercial strikes a great combination of being funny, maintaining a short run time, and also integrating popular consumer electronics into the fold in an effort to connect with today’s youth. It does all of this by portraying the mascot “Smokey the Bear” as an artificial intelligence (AI) phone assistant that was created in an effort to help campers reduce their chances of starting forest fires. The comedic twist is that the AI does a bad job at its task and the campers are left stumped on what to believe.

One great thing this ad campaign does well is that it hammers home the concept that “Only YOU Can Stop Forest Fires” by making light of our society’s heavy reliance on technology. At some point, we have to intrinsically know the information ourselves to be effective, especially when it comes to something as dangerous as a forest fire. The commercial uses all of the right ingredients that make for a great commercial and does so within a small 30-second window of time.

However, we do think that the message of the commercial could have been more effective in its delivery by including more valuable information. It would have been nice if the character who was an outdoor influencer corrected the AI in its mistake, hammering home the message even further. The subject matter is more in line with that of a public service announcement than what you might see in one of the many ads that a big insurance agency might churn out. Sort of like getting a bowl of sugary cereal when you really need a salad.

Regardless, the wildfire prevention ad from the Ad Council does a good job of getting the “Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires” message in front of a younger and more tech-savvy crowd. Even if nobody learns how to prevent forest fires in the 30-second ad, at least people will know that there is a place for them to look to if they want more information on the subject!

4. Zillow

The Susans ad from Zillow is objectively and unanimously one of the most hilarious ads we’ve ever seen by striking a nerve in anyone who’s ever had to make a decision in a stressful situation before. The ad depicts a woman addressing an infinitely large conference room that is full of different versions of herself, each of whom embodies a unique emotion. She jumps between random caricatures of herself asking them if they think they should sell her (their) old home and buy a new one.

We picked this YouTube ad as one of our top 50 ads because it has to ability to resonate with anyone, anywhere, regardless of whether you’re buying a home. It also packs a powerful punch by being funny, short, and informative by sending the message that Zillow can help you when you need it. Make sure to look at this ad if you need inspiration in making a funny ad for your company.

5. Progressive

Progressive has a long history of making great commercial advertisements, this one is no exception. The setting takes place in a grown man’s bedroom who lives in his mother’s house. The grown man’s stepfather walks by and suggests that the adult child should make the mother a card for her upcoming birthday. It is apparent from the video that the man is still going through an angsty & rebellious phase and retorts to his stepfather by saying that he will find his own car insurance.

Not much information is given in this YouTube ad, but this is an example of an ad from a brand that exhibits peak brand saturation, or when the company is so effective at generating awareness that nearly every person in the target market is aware of the brand. In this case, Progressive Insurance doesn’t need to tell people why their insurance is better, they just need to keep themselves in the mind of their audience by leaving a positive impression. Not every brand can perform this type of ad quick ad, but for those brands that can, it’s a valuable tool that you should use whenever you can.

6. Masterclass

This is a great example because people who are interested in videos similar to this will find the ad interesting (even if it’s a little long). We thought it was unique to raise awareness to how important negotiation is to our daily lives. Additionally, we thought it was helpful to have interesting background music to improve their video just a bit.

7. Travelers Insurance

We didn’t think that we would have needed a box of tissues for any of the ads in our lineup, but this one made us come close to tearing up! The Legacy ad from Travelers Insurance presents a story that begins by showing a warm relationship between a young girl and her father who owns his own hardware store.

The story then progresses by giving us staggered glimpses through their timeline as the daughter begins taking on more responsibility from her father. We then reach the climax of the story when a large branch from the tree out front breaks off during a storm and tears a huge hole in a wall of the store. This leads to them reopening the store, which is when the father hands the keys to the daughter, making her the new owner of the family business.

This YouTube ad does a great job of portraying how having the right insurance can ease the impact that unexpected events can have on small, family businesses. One downside of this ad is that it does risk the loss of engagement from viewers who are listening to YouTube as there’s not much commentary about the services that Travelers have to offer. With all that said, it is a nice reprieve from the typically fast & loud advertisements that most people are bombarded with!

8. BlueHost

BlueHost was smart by maintaining a short 30 second ad. We really liked how they made their product look very easy to use. Their use of amazing graphics and bold colors was another great choice. Their catchy music makes their example even better. Finally, we thought it was smart to show their logo at the end of this ad.

9. Dominos

10. Lemonade

11. T-Mobile

T-Mobile decided to go with the comedy route for this ad. Using a few famous figures was another good idea. It was helpful that their ad wasn’t super long. Their humor matches with the benefits their company will provide which we enjoyed. Don’t forget to look at this company for YouTube ad inspiration.

12. Uber Eats

13. Michelob Ultra

Here’s another example that takes advantage of celebrities such as Jimmy Fallon, John Cena and more. They also played on that element of humor to build a connection with their customers. Overall, this ad uses humor and a simplistic slogan appearing at the end to attract their customers.

14. GMC

15. Clash Of Clans

This ad is very long so it won’t likely attract lots of new customers. But attempting to gain traction by creating short films was a unique idea that we liked. Allowing for current players to get excited about this game will help them with their advertising. Using bold fonts in this video was another portion of this site that we enjoyed.

16. Nintendo

17. Mint Mobile

18. Aviation Gin

For YouTube ads, celebrities are really the way to go. This company uses Ryan Reynolds to hook their customers into watching their ad. We liked how they showcased their logo for a while so customers know what they’re selling. Additionally, this company picked a perfect length for their ad, not too long but long enough to get their point across.

19. Omaze

20. Google

This commercial tugs at the heartstrings by using video footage of emotional times or moments. As the video plays, a search bar is displayed searching relative questions that are typically difficult to answer. This displays that google can answer some of life’s most difficult questions. It especially focuses on first responders and what they do for us.

21. HBO Max

22. Netflix

23. Hulu

24. Dove

This was a highly impactful ad. Though it isn’t directly selling their product, it goes through an eye-opening experience that deals with beauty pressures placed on young girls. This advertisement will give viewers goosebumps because of what we might not realize we are being forced to believe and see.

25. Hyundai

26. Motorola

This example makes its mark by using brightly colored lines to highlight their product. This high-quality video flows through their products qualities and benefits. Allowing for the images to do all of the explaining with minimal speaking and text was another smart choice. Finally, we liked that their video wasn’t super long.

27. Disney Plus

28. Omega

29. Wayfair

Wayfair is another company that can certainly serve as an example for future businesses. Having a really really short video was smart because it keeps viewers engaged. It makes sense because they showcase how easy it is to find furniture that matches and fits in your home well. Overall, simplicity seems to be showcased well in this example.

30. Apple

31. PlayStation

Even though this is a very short, it captures attention very effectively. We thought their black backgrounds was smart because it allows for a polished feel. Showing their products in lots of different angles creates a more futuristic tone. We really loved every second of this quick commercial.

32. HP

HP is an example that really speaks to the issue of ocean pollution. They did a great job with storytelling in their ad. This goes through the motions of dangers a small item such as a plastic bag can be towards an animal living in the water. But before it gets bad for the fish, the bag is yanked out of the water and turned into a computer to show that HP cares about keeping the waters clean.

33. Clif Bars

This is a company that for sure does a perfect job showcasing that they are a natural company. Going into their factory so customers understand where their food is coming from is a great choice. Additionally, we like how they make their company owners seem very personable. Additionally, they show some of their workers so people can see the diversity of their company.

34. Febreze

Febreze makes use of a short commercial that will convince customers their air fresheners are superior. Comparing competitor products next to theirs in a split screen is a technique that never gets old for us. Their catchy jingle that can be noticed at the end is played in all their advertisements which creates a sense of unity.

35. Discovery Plus

Inspiration can easily be found in this example for Discovery Plus. Its music choices, imagery and colors all factor in to that feeling. Their length is perfect because it keeps viewers engaged. Finally, their bold fonts also get people excited about this service.

36. The General Insurance

This is another brilliant commercial. Even though it was short it was very straightforward. Adding in a bit of humor with showing a man with a tattoo he regrets was smart. But adding in some text related to their services helped customers understand what they would be getting if they consider this company’s services.

37. Mountain Dew

Here we have a quirky example that stands out due to its uniqueness. There isn’t much to say about this example, but because it’s so strange, it helps them to stand out. Including their tag line “Do the Dew” was another great choice because customers will be able to identify their product it if they haven’t already.

38. Pampers

39. Bosch

40. Dr. Squatch

41. Honey

42. Sprint Mobile

43. Starz

44. Grammarly

45. FX on Hulu

46. One Wheel

47. Samsung

48. Dr. Pepper

49. VRBO

50. Amazon