A YouTube intro video is a short, attention-grabbing clip shown before your main video content. An intro serves to brand your channel, set expectations for viewers, and convince them to subscribe. With over 2 billion logged-in monthly users, standing out on YouTube is crucial yet challenging. This post will explore 15 excellent tools to create stunning YouTube intros that convert viewers into loyal fans.
Why You Need a Great YouTube Intro
Here are some key reasons an intro video is vital for any YouTube channel:
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Branding: An intro video allows you to clearly showcase your brand identity and logo before each video. This repetition ingrains your brand deeply with viewers.
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Expectations: A well-designed intro prepares the viewer for the video style, topic, and tone. This smoother transition retains more viewers.
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Engagement: A catchy intro piques and retains viewer interest so they watch more of your content. More minutes watched signals to YouTube to recommend your videos more broadly.
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Subscriptions: A professional and consistent intro ending with a strong call to action increases subscriptions, your channel‘s lifeblood.
In essence, an intro video sets the stage for viewer retention and loyalty. Let‘s explore some excellent tools to create one with ease.
1. Canva
Canva is the perfect intro tool for non-designers. Its simple drag-and-drop interface makes video creation easy.
Key Features
- Huge template library covering many niches
- Very customizable with owned brand assets
- Animated elements available
- Excellent free features
Pros
- Extremely easy to use
- Great quality output
- Choice of 16:9 or 9:16 aspect ratios
Cons
- Less advanced customizations than paid tools
- Must download videos rather than host natively
Pricing
- Free version has everything most need
- Pro plan starts at $12.95 per month
If you want great results without complexity, Canva is a leading choice.
2. Animoto
Animoto is an award-winning intro maker packed with excellent templates, video effects, and more.
Key Features
- Step-by-step wizard for easy editing
- Tons of bold and dynamic video styles
- Over 900 fonts available
- Music library with commercial-free tracks
Pros
- Quickly make pro-level intros
- Zapier integration
- Watermark-free exports
Cons
- Maximum 60 second intro videos
- Must select music carefully to avoid copyright issues
Pricing
- Limited free plan
- Pro plan starts at $9 per month
Animoto makes intro creation a breeze. Give it a look.
3. InVideo
InVideo offers an immense library of over 6,000 customizable intro templates. The cloud-based editor makes revisions effortless.
Key Features
- Searchable templates by industry, mood, style etc.
- Animated elements, dynamic text
- Commercial soundtrack access
- Media library with Getty Images access
Pros
- Feature-packed free version
- Unlimited downloads and edits
- Solid customer support
Cons
- Takes some learning to master
- Requires an account to use
Pricing
- Full-featured free version
- Paid plans offer longer videos starting at $7.55 per month
InVideo balances power and ease of use with great intro results.
4. RenderForest
As an AI-powered online platform, RenderForest makes animated intro creation easy and intuitive.
Key Features
- Browser-based with no software installs
- Over 15,000 templates across styles
- Logo imports, color scheme editing
- Music library access included
Pros
- Easy drag and drop editor
- Template variety to suit any niche
- Available on any device
Cons
- Steep learning curve for advanced customization
- Mandatory watermark on free videos
Pricing
- Limited free plan
- Paid plans starting at $9 per month
RenderForest brings professional animation within reach of anyone.
5. Adobe Express
As part of Adobe’s creative suite, Adobe Express offers advanced capabilities for eye-catching intros.
Key Features
- Preloaded animations, transitions, effects
- Drag and drop simplicity
- Mobile app allows editing on the go
- Digital asset library access
Pros
- Powerful customization tools
- Easy for beginners
- Clean, intuitive interface
Cons
- Steeper learning curve than other tools
- Advanced features require subscription
Pricing
- Limited free version
- Full access from $9.99 per month
Tap into Adobe’s expertise for pro-level intro results effortlessly.
6. Biteable
Biteable makes intro creation a cinch with its huge template and media libraries coupled with intuitive editing.
Key Features
- Categorized templates searchable by industry, mood etc.
- Animated shapes, illustrations, and text styles
- Stock media library access included
- Commercial music access without royalties
Pros
- Very easy to use, great for beginners
- Quickly create a custom intro
- Abundant assets to work with
Cons
- Limited advanced capabilities vs. paid tools
- Mandatory watermark on free downloads
Pricing
- Free version fully functional
- Premium subscription starts at $19 per month
Biteable allows anyone to make a polished intro effortlessly.
7. Placeit
With over 20,000 video templates, Placeit is a top choice for YouTube intro creation online.
Key Features
- Huge template library with regular new additions
- Search filters like duration, style, music etc.
- Logo imports, color and text editing
- Animation effects, transitions and icons
Pros
- Easy to make a great intro quickly
- Watermark-free downloads
- Intuitive editor
Cons
- Advanced customization requires some learning
- Must select music carefully
Pricing
- Affordable one-off plans per video
- Monthly subscriptions from $7.41 per month
For quick and stylish intros, Placeit delivers excellently.
8. FlexClip
FlexClip‘s online intro maker balances power with ease of use for remarkable YouTube intros.
Key Features
- Drag and drop video elements
- Masking abilities for advanced overlays
- Built-in captions with stylized text
- Animation effects and transitions
Pros
- Easy to master even for beginners
- Includes free music, photos etc. to use
- No watermarks on free downloads
Cons
- Less overall customization vs leading paid tools
- Template selection more limited than niche platforms
Pricing
- Feature-rich free version available
- Premium plans start at $6.95 per month
FlexClip brings professional results minus complexity.
9. Photoslurp
Photoslurp‘s intro maker stands out with its huge library of 4,000+ curated video templates ideal for YouTube.
Key Features
- Thousands of on-brand templates
- Drag and drop editing
- Library of icons, shapes, animations etc.
- Commercial music tracks pre-licensed
Pros
- Specifically designed for YouTube
- Includes call-to-actions
- No editing experience needed
Cons
- Limited advanced controls
- Free version only makes slideshows
Pricing
- Free gives watermarked slideshows
- One-time fee per intro (no subscriptions)
For dedicated YouTube intro creation, check out Photoslurp.
10. Promo.com
Promo‘s online video creation platform is loved by marketing professionals but works excellently for YouTube intros too.
Key Features
- 10,000+ templates across categories
- Animation effects, dynamic text styles
- Music library inclusive of popular songs
- Drag and drop editing
Pros
- High quality pro templates
- Excellent special effects
- Intuitive editing
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Primarily business/marketing focused
Pricing
- 7-day free trial
- Monthly plans from $40 p/month
Tap into Promo’s high-end templates and effects easily.
11. Animaker
With over 20 million users worldwide, Animaker‘s online intro creator claims excellence through simplicity.
Key Features
- 10,000+ templates across styles and niches
- Animation effects, transitions, GIF inserts and more
- Drag and drop editing, no learning curve
- Commercial music tracks, sound effects
Pros
- Extremely easy to master
- Quick creation from templates
- Free version has solid capabilities
Cons
- Paid plans costlier than competitors
- Advanced editing requires software download
Pricing
- Free version with watermark
- Subscription plans from $39 p/month
Animaker removes complexity from powerful intro creation.
12. IntroMaker
As the name suggests, IntroMaker focuses solely on intro creation with great templates and editing tools.
Key Features
- 5,500+ customizable intro templates
- Huge library of fonts, colors, animations
- Drag and drop editing
- Commercial music tracks
Pros
- Specifically designed for YouTube intros
- New templates updated weekly
- Easy to master for beginners
Cons
- Limited advanced editing capabilities
- Free version watermarked
Pricing
- Free version with full access
- Premium from $2.99 per month
For intro videos specifically, IntroMaker leads the pack.
13. InVideo
Claiming over 9 million users, InVideo makes intro creation simple yet still professional.
Key Features
- 10,000+ templates across niches
- Animation effects, dynamic text
- Massive media library inclusive of music
- Real-time multi user collaboration
Pros
- Impressive capabilities for free
- Very fast rendering
- Easy drag and drop editing
Cons
- Mobile app less functional than desktop
- Steep learning curve for advanced features
Pricing
- Full-featured free version
- Subscription plans from $7.55 per month
InVideo empowers beginners and experts alike.
14. MotionDen
With over 800k users worldwide, browser-based MotionDen makes pro-level intro creation easy and affordable.
Key Features
- 5,000+ creatively designed templates
- Dynamic text, shapes, transitions, effects
- Media library inclusive of music tracks
- Collaborative editing in real-time
Pros
- Very user-friendly editor
- Faster rendering than competitors
- Detailed revision history
Cons
- Mobile app in beta, less functional
- Clips limited to 60 seconds
Pricing
- Free version with watermark
- Plans from $6.99 per month
MotionDen modernizes intro creation for the YouTube age.
15. Veed.io
Browser-based Veed.io makes quick work of professional intro creation with its simplicity yet customizability.
Key Features
- Categorized templates by genre
- Animations, dynamic text styles
- Transitions, filters, effects
- Media library with audio clips
Pros
- Extremely easy to master interface
- Upload your own assets as desired
- No watermarks on exports
Cons
- Limited to 30 second clips
- Fewer overall features than leading paid platforms
Pricing
- Free version fully functional
- Pro plans from $6.25 per month
Veed.io intro maker keeps things simple while still providing polish.
Honorable Mentions
While the highest quality tools have been covered above, a few alternatives bear mentioning:
- Visme – Browser-based editor with good templates
- Wideo – Focus on kinetic text videos
- Animatron – Emphasis on animated explainer videos
- Bombay – AI-powered automated video creator
Key Criteria for Choosing an Intro Maker
With so many options for creating YouTube intros, focus on these key criteria during your selection:
Ease of Use – Pick a tool matching your skill level. Advanced options have steeper learning curves.
Templates – More template choice allows better personalization for branding.
Media Assets – Built-in media elements like animations, shapes, and music enable greater uniqueness.
Advanced Editing – If you want total creative control, ensure the tool has capabilities like masking, keyframes etc.
Render Speed – The faster your intro renders, the quicker you can finalize and upload videos.
Pricing – Don‘t overspend; many capable free or affordable options are available.
Downloads – Avoid mandatory watermarks on your exported files unless they don‘t matter for your needs.
Best Practices for Effective Intros
Beyond just the tool, applying these best practices will maximize your YouTube intro‘s effectiveness:
- Maintain brand consistency via logos, colors, tone etc.
- Use a clear call to action to subscribe, like or comment
- Keep intros under 15 seconds; attention spans are short
- Show value clearly to set viewer expectations
- Use lively music and visuals to maximize engagement
- Personalize with your channel name and logo
- Make templates your own by customizing heavily
- Use dynamic text, animations etc. to add energy
Adhering to these will ensure your intro video becomes a beloved signature of your channel.
Go Make an Awesome Intro!
An enticing and professional YouTube intro leaves a strong first impression with viewers, priming them to enjoy your content. This increases subscribers, retention and engagement over the long haul. Thankfully, as covered in this post, creating one no longer requires any specialized skills.
The 15 covered tools ensure you can make an awesome intro tailored precisely for your brand and niche. Most offer generous free plans to get started no commitment required. Select the best match and then customize it to perfection. So get out there, make an intro that wows and watches the subscribers roll in!
