Top 10 Best X-Factor Contestants

The X Factor was built for the kind of performance that makes you stop scrolling, sit up, and wonder how the judges managed to stay seated. On this list, you get to weigh raw vocal skill against stage nerve, originality, fan devotion, and the strange but very real ability to turn one audition into years of replay buttons begging for mercy. Some contestants arrived fully polished, others grew in front of you week by week, and a few proved that winning the show is not always the same thing as winning the argument.

Your vote helps decide which singers and groups rose above the lights, sob stories, key changes, and Simon Cowell eyebrow physics. Pick the acts that gave you chills, made you defend them in comment sections, or still send you back to old performances when your playlist needs a little talent-show chaos.

The Top Ten

Jeff Gutt

I started watching this season of X Factor after flipping through channels one night. I just happened to stop right when he was being introduced for the four-chair challenge. I immediately fell in love with his voice.
I became mesmerized by it, to say the least. I couldn't count the times that I listened to his performances over and over again. How he has not been discovered until now is a mystery.
He has so much talent, and his stage presence is so strong. It got stronger and stronger with each of his performances. It was like he was letting us in a little more each time. You could definitely tell Talon was super proud of his daddy. Man, he is one adorable little boy!
I can't wait until Jeff starts touring. I will definitely be there, hopefully front row. I don't care what I have to pay. It'll be well worth it to experience such amazing talent in person. Good luck, Jeff. We love you!
Rhydian

Rhydian James Roberts, known as Rhydian, is a classically trained Welsh baritone singer, musical theatre actor, and television presenter. He rose to fame as the runner-up on the fourth series of The X Factor in 2007. Since then, he has released several albums and appeared in various stage productions... read more

Best X Factor finalist ever, hands down. He could sing circles around Leon, and his success since the show compared with Leon's proves that. X Factor just doesn't produce talent like this these days.

For talent and charisma, which is growing with every performance he gives, no one can touch Rhydian. He will be here long after X Factor and all concerned with it have been forgotten.

The undoubted winner of X Factor 2007, Rhydian is the most talented, most entertaining act ever to come out of that show. He wiped the floor with Leon.
One Direction

One Direction (commonly abbreviated as 1D) was a British and Irish pop boy band composed of Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and originally Zayn Malik, who departed on March 25, 2015.
The group formed on The X Factor UK in 2010, finishing third, and then signed with Simon... read more

Just #3? I don't know who #2, Rhydian, and #1, Fatin Shidqia, are, but 1D are a real wonder! Their songs are so beautiful and deep, so romantic and so cool!
They can sing cool songs like Nobody Compares, deep songs like They Don't Know About Us, or romantic songs like Little Things and What Makes You Beautiful. They just wrote a page of history! Now, in 2013, our parents tell us about those fab bands of the past, like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, or The Who. But we'll tell our children about One Direction and Little Mix and others!
Me equals Directioner forever. Thumbs up if you equal Directioner forever!

One Direction have come the furthest out of all the X Factor contestants. When they were on the show, they always delivered an amazing performance and never let anyone down. They definitely should have won, in my opinion.
They have a massive fan base and some amazing songs. They are so lovely to their fans and everyone, even the haters. I love them with all my heart and always will. Vote 1D!
Leona Lewis

Leona Louise Lewis is a British singer, songwriter, and animal welfare campaigner. She was born and raised in the London Borough of Islington, London, England, where she attended the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology. She rose to fame after winning the third series of The X Factor in 2006... read more

Leona has the perfect voice, so soft and emotional. She is by far the best. She is better than any other X Factor contestant and definitely better than One Direction. At least she doesn't only have good looks, but also a good voice and personality!

No one else comes close to her in terms of singing prowess and execution. The ability of a person to communicate with the audience and give meaningful rhythm to the songs, I think, is something Leona has possessed.

Leona Lewis is the BEST contestant. You can't even compare her to any of the other female contestants. Little Mix or Leona Lewis... I mean, really? Little Mix are LITTLE compared to Leona!
Little Mix

Little Mix is a British girl group formed in 2011. The group originally consisted of Jade Thirlwall, Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and Jesy Nelson. Jesy Nelson left the group in 2020, and the remaining trio continued performing and releasing music until their hiatus in 2022.

Unlike a lot of people that were in X Factor and then became famous, Little Mix are actually talented. They excel when it comes to harmonizing. Each of them has unique and amazing voices. The girls know when to use their strengths, and they all can hit great high notes.
Their songs are awesome, mostly about women empowerment like Wings, Power, Stand Down, and Salute. There are songs about getting over an ex like Shout Out to My Ex and No More Sad Songs. And there are fun songs like How Ya Doing', Move, Black Magic, and Private Show.
They also teach girls (but people in general) that it's okay to be proud of your body and stand up for the LGBT community. So far, they are the only group and girl group to actually win the British X Factor.
Cher Lloyd

Cher Lloyd is an English singer, songwriter, rapper, and model. She rose to fame in 2010 after finishing fourth in the seventh series of The X Factor. Following the show, she released her debut single Swagger Jagger, which topped the UK Singles Chart.

One Direction was another man's creation. Cher Lloyd - there is no imitation. You don't have to win a contest to be the overall winner, and that's where Cher Lloyd is the champion. We aren't talking about one country. We're yelling it out worldwide. Cher Lloyd is better known worldwide compared to any other contestant from the X-Factor.

She's AMAZING! She can rap and has a very unique singing voice. I like how all of her songs aren't focused on love (e.g., Oath is about friendship, etc.). Her songs are all very catchy but not repetitive or boring like every other pop song out there. I'm surprised she's not more popular than she is now!
Carly Rose Sonenclar

Carly Rose Sonenclar is an American singer and teen actress. In December 2012, she became the runner-up on the second season of the American version of The X Factor. Before that, she appeared in Broadway productions such as Les Misérables and Wonderland.

How is she down here? She has an amazing voice at 13! She is better than a lot of adult singers who are already signed. She has great stage presence, is very comfortable on stage, and is humble.
She isn't conceited like some of the contestants I have seen, and she isn't annoying. She is so sweet. Her voice is big and powerful. Think of how amazing she'll be when she's 20 years of age!

I don't get why this girl isn't first?! Alongside the winner, Tate Stevens (who has millions and millions fewer YouTube views than her), Carly was the only one who had never been in the bottom 2 throughout the whole competition. Aside from that, the comments from the judges themselves showed her as a soulful, precocious, mature, genuine, ingenious, and powerful artist.
Dami Im

Dami is the most deserving winner of any talent show. No one before her ever had a standing ovation at every performance. Even the judges kept singing her praises and once gave her a standing ovation on their desk!
Dami has the ability to perform in any genre, be it classical, disco, rock, jazz, or pop. She sang every song as well or better than the original artist. She sings from a love-filled heart, and her beautiful voice reaches you from the inside.
Her fans span all ages and respond to her warm and loving personality. Dami is a beautiful soul with an angelic voice and is destined for international stardom, with her name among the greatest like Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, etc. Dami is a talented singer/songwriter, and we are eagerly waiting for her next album.
Olly Murs

Oliver Stanley Murs, known professionally as Olly Murs, is an English singer-songwriter, television presenter, and actor. He first came to national attention when he finished as the runner-up on the sixth series of The X Factor in 2009. Since then, he has released multiple albums and served as a host... read more

Olly Murs is the most successful out there. He seems like such a nice guy and has performed at many concerts, which loads of people love going to. He's had the most songs, with at least all of them making it into the top 40. Unlike One Direction and JLS, which are loved by kids and teens, Olly is loved by many different age ranges.
As well as kids, there are adults and younger adults around his age who love him. Me and my family are always singing his wonderful songs.

How is Olly Murs 8th!? And Rhydian is 1st! This is not right. Olly Murs is one of the most successful X-Factor contestants of all time!
Most of the people above him have not done much since the X-Factor, and Olly has done so much! How can you not love the cheeky chappy with the amazing talent?!
James Arthur

James Andrew Arthur is a British singer-songwriter who won the ninth series of The X Factor in 2012. His debut single, "Impossible", was released through Syco Music right after the final and debuted at number 1 on the UK Singles Chart.... read more

My favorite of them all. He connects emotionally in a way none of the others do. Not the purest voice, but the one that reaches in and connects, the best communicator by a long way. Watching his journey, I think the judges knew very early on he was the winner, or at least the most talented. There were many spine-chilling moments as he progressed.
For me, he is the single best singer and talent the show has ever produced. Not the most commercially successful, but the best artist by far.

No option for Honey G, so I went with my second favorite, James Arthur. He has an amazing voice, a number one single (Impossible), and a number one album (Back From The Edge). He also collaborated with Shotty Horroh on his song Sermon from the aforementioned number one album Back From The Edge. He had the honor of working with Simon Cowell, and he won the ninth series of The X Factor UK.
He also has a number two single (Say You Won't Let Go) and a number two album (James Arthur). He's amazing - an all-around inspirational, completely honest singer, songwriter, and rapper.

The Newcomers

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Misunderstood

They shouldn't have gone so early on because they're just so amazing.
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Danny Tetley

The Contenders

Janet Devlin

Janet has such a unique voice, and unlike so many other contestants, she has a real passion for music. She writes her own music, plays the guitar, and doesn't agree with the likes of auto-tuning and voice altering. She didn't enter the X Factor for the fame and money. She has no interest in VIP treatment or free things.
She entered the show for her love of music and would never let fame get to her head. What's really special about Janet is that she doesn't realize how talented she is, and I'm not sure she ever will.
But with such a beautiful voice and kind nature, there's no doubt she will succeed in the music business and have a long and happy career as a musician. She's got extremely loyal fans behind her, and I for one will always be supporting her.
Chris Rene

All heart. Positive message. My 13-year-old son, 10-year-old son, and 5-year-old daughter all absolutely love Chris Rene! We play his music 24/7 and sing it even when it's not playing. We are Santa Cruz locals but would have never known about Chris had he not been on X-Factor.
He brings so much joy and happiness to our family. We are always smiling, either listening to him or singing what's constantly in our heads. His "Love Life" message is the best I've ever seen from an artist. Simply put, he is a positive inspiration with a "never quit, be happy, don't sweat the small stuff" attitude. He is always smiling and has so many fans who adore him.

Chris Rene is the most humble guy ever. He's a great father, communicates well and a lot with his Renelians, not to mention he cares deeply about us, and he is just an all-around great person.
He helped me through the darkest time in my life, and he's the only reason I'm still here today and stronger than I've ever been. He is the real deal. Words cannot explain how much love I have for this man. He makes me happy just by being himself, while other celebrities these days are not being themselves, and it's clear that they're not. Chris also puts on a great show on stage. He's really entertaining, and when he's up there, he's just pouring his heart out, and you can tell that he LOVES what he does.
Alex & Sierra

They have a type of chemistry I've never seen before on stage. I admit they aren't the best of singers, but in terms of entertainment and connection with the audience, they were one-of-a-kind. Plus, their renditions of Toxic and Say Something were amazing.

They are so genuine and sweet. Their love for music and for one another shines through everything they sing and say. I have never gotten behind an X-Factor group like this before, even if they were really good. Alex & Sierra are more than just really good. They are captivating in every way. LOVE THEM!
Third D3gree

This is the first mixed group created by the judges. They have a girl that can rap, a guy that can dance and beatbox, and a girl that can hit the high notes better than the others. They are a group full of power, energy, and diversity.

They are fresh and brilliant, and they sing to perfection and dance. They have so much energy as if Red Bull runs through their veins.

They are the very best group ever!
JLS

JLS were an English pop and R&B group formed in 2007 by Oritsé Williams. The group also included members Aston Merrygold, Marvin Humes, and JB Gill. They gained national attention as runners-up on The X Factor in 2008 and later reunited in 2021 after disbanding in 2013.

Possibly a more mature fandom than the One Direction fandom. But JLS didn't need to visit the Yanks to become successful.

11th? Ehh, they're easily in the top 3. This makes no sense.
The boys are great singers and have some great songs!
Rebecca Ferguson

Rebecca Louisa Ferguson Sundström (born October 19, 1983) is a Swedish actress. She gained international recognition for her role as Elizabeth Woodville in the 2013 miniseries The White Queen, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination.... read more

She is one of the greatest female singers ever. Certainly, the best X Factor singer, apart from maybe Rhydian. She is as good, if not better than Rhydian. She can sing anything.
In my opinion, she is up there with Freddie Mercury, Elvis, and Meat Loaf as one of the greatest singers of all time, as well as Rhydian, of course. She is going to be big, and I hope so. She's a new Freddie Mercury or Meat Loaf and could be the biggest X Factor singer of all time.
Hearing her for the first time is like hearing Elvis for the first time. Matt Cardle was good too, but nothing compared to her. And the sad thing is, she and Rhydian never won.

Rebecca has a very unique and sensitive voice, capable of expressing every emotion effortlessly. She can do anything from blues to jazz to modern dance songs, and she does it with style and grace.
She is one of the most genuine and likable personalities ever to appear on X Factor. Her debut album is close to perfect, and I predict she will go down in history with the likes of Amy Winehouse, Adele, and a handful of other artists that made a difference.
Taylor Henderson

Taylor's acoustic guitar playing and rich voice have the ability to take you away from the here and now and transport you to a new place. A place where all the cares and worries of the world fade away, and you just want to stay there for hours. Not many musicians can evoke that kind of feeling.
You can hear in his voice a true emotional outpouring and the joy of just doing something he loves. Fortunately for us, he's dang good at it too. He has a unique, pure, and versatile voice that is at the same time raw and polished. If he just played his guitar, it would be amazing, but then he begins singing and WOW! A fresh new voice in this world of same old, same old bubblegum pop out there today. And he seems to be a genuinely nice guy and good-looking to boot. The world is his oyster, and we are all anxiously waiting for more!
Sam Bailey

Samantha Florence "Sam" Bailey is an English singer who gained national recognition after winning the tenth series of The X Factor in 2013. Her debut single, a cover of Demi Lovato's "Skyscraper," was released on December 15, 2013.... read more

She is the best. Really amazing voice and performance!
Alexandra Burke

I don't understand how Alexandra is so far down on this list. I can see why Rhydian is number one, but Alexandra is clearly one of the most diverse, soulful, emotional, and powerful singers to ever come out of X Factor. Added to that is the fact that she got rejected in 2005 but never gave up on her dreams and ended up winning the show three years later. She deserved it more than any other contestant, in my opinion.

I agree. Leona has made a huge impact in a few years and is an amazing singer, but Alexandra has the natural performer aspect of a singer that makes me think she'll be around for a long time.
Jai Waetford

Jai Waetford is an Australian recording artist and actor who came third on the fifth season of The X Factor Australia. He released his debut single Your Eyes in 2013, which reached number six on the ARIA Singles Chart. Jai has also acted in the Australian soap opera Neighbours.

Jai is amazing and the most inspirational person ever! He has worked so hard to get to where he is and deserves to be number 1! He's my idol, and he means everything to me! He is a god. His singing is the most amazing thing ever. I could listen to it my whole life! I love him so much! Please come to Tasmania, Jai! X

Jai is amazing, okay. Only 14, very cute, he's funny and loves his fans! Voice of an angel. Watch him on YouTube and you'll fall in love.

He's only 14, and he made it to the grand final. He has an amazing voice that gives me goosebumps! He's AMAZING!
Fifth Harmony

Fifth Harmony was an American girl group based in Miami. The group was composed of Ally Brooke, Normani Kordei, Dinah Jane, Lauren Jauregui, and Camila Cabello, who left the group on December 18, 2016.
They signed a joint record deal with Simon Cowell's label Syco Records and Epic Records after... read more

I love Fifth Harmony! Five girls, different backgrounds, thrown together in a group and seriously taking over as one of this generation's best girl groups! They have so many different flavors, and it all works together!

I love Fifth Harmony a lot. My favorites are Camila, Lauren, Ally, Dinah, and Normani. The best style is Lauren's. People need to stop hating on them. They are way better than Little Mix.
Samantha Jade

Sami can sing anything with zero notice to perfection! She is also a talented writer and has an amazing ability to capture the audience right from the get-go. Humble and endearing in every interview.
Jennel Garcia

She is so cool, and she rocks it well. Your tone and style are unique.
Ruth Lorenzo

Easily the best female contestant The X Factor has ever featured. Ruth is raw power. Every single one of her performances is full of passion, emotion, and intensity. She sings with her heart, and her voice is absolutely explosive. It outclasses almost every other female contestant on any X Factor series, ever. Even now, I repeatedly watch her performances on YouTube, especially Always, Purple Rain, and Love Ain't Here Anymore. This woman is beyond world class, and she proved that yet again at Eurovision, where she was easily the best singer of the 26 performers.

Probably the best female contestant, or even the best, The X Factor has ever had! I think she should have been in the final two and should not have left because of the prejudice against her. She was one of the few who really had the X Factor in the 7 seasons.
Stacey Solomon