ic-home iconAnimation Resources12 best YouTube intro makers on the planet

12 best YouTube intro makers on the planet

By Ben Barnhart
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7 minutes
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Adding a short intro clip that plays before your YouTube video content can help grab your viewer's attention.

You can use it to reveal the name of your YouTube channel, introduce you and your brand, and give a short overview of the video content. The most catchy intro videos are relatively short (a 10-second intro is a good length) and include brand assets like logos, colors, and images.

You can easily create custom intros for your YouTube videos using online software. These video intro makers often include customizable templates and many additional features to create an engaging clip.

Learn more about creating an animated YouTube intro video and the steps to follow.

We've created a shortlist of creative YouTube intro makers that offer a wide range of features to help you find the right software.

1. Linearity Move

Have you ever wished you could turn a static design into a sophisticated animated video? With Linearity Move, you can.

Since launching Linearity Curve, our flagship vector graphics software, we've seen a rising tide of vector animations in digital marketing.

Animated graphics is a trend that"s here to stay as more brands vie for their audience"s attention on digital interfaces.

This is where Linearity Move comes in: it's the easy-to-use, one-click marketing animation tool you've always wanted. You can create animated flyers, social media posts, explainer videos, digital displays, and online ads.

But can you use Move for YouTube intros and other video content production? Yes, you can. It boasts sophisticated animation software features like Auto Animate, keyframe pinning, layer masking, and customizable templates

Built with simplicity and productivity in mind. You can even create custom shapes and text elements in Linearity Move Design Mode.

It's equally powerful for individuals and teams to create, collaborate, and share their work. Pricing starts at $7.99/month (annual).

Pros and cons of Linearity Move

ProsCons
Easy-to-use, one-click marketing animation toolCurrently less known than competitors
Sophisticated features like timelines, keyframes, layers, and customizable templatesSmaller online community
Equally powerful for individuals and teams, education pricing for students and teachers
Huge stock library with over 3,000 customizable templates and 80,000 royalty-free icons
A free plan is available to try out the tool before investing

“Super easy to use! Love the templates—they mean any member of the marketing team can easily get started with creating animated assets for social channels, announcements, and even performance marketing assets. It makes marketing a ton more productive and efficient. Great quality output at a much faster pace.”—Rory W., Product Marketer on G2

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2. Renderforest

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Image source: Renderforest

Renderforest offers a library of intro video templates. These include sophisticated logo animations, outros, and more. You can then use its intuitive interface and customization options to change the fonts and color scheme, add audio files, and more.

You can create a high-quality YouTube intro using Renderforest, but it has a watermark when you export your custom video intro with the program's free version. To avoid this, you must sign up for one of Renderforest’s monthly plans, starting at $9.99/month.

Renderforest is a web-based platform, which is both a good and bad thing. On the one hand, the in-browser editor is accessible and can be used by anyone on any operating system or device. But you can only use the platform with an internet connection.

Pros and cons of Renderforest

ProsCons
Extensive library of intro video templatesFree version includes a watermark
Intuitive interface with customizable optionsMonthly subscription required for advanced features and watermark removal
Web-based platform, accessible from any device with an internet connectionDependence on an internet connection for use

“Renderforest has been a staple in my advertising internally and externally. Our target audience loves it and always has delightful feedback about it. Whether it was a logo created or a video created using the awesome templates, everything is just so simple to use.”—Willis L., Renderforest user on G2

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3. Canva

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Image source: Canva

Canva is one of the best-known online graphic design tools used by many non-designers and marketers. You can use it to create quick template-based designs for web and print.

You can also use it to make intro videos for your YouTube channel. If you’re on the Canva Pro premium package, you can access many pre-made video intros, audio, and effects.

It offers a handful of basic tools to customize your video intro, and you can export it without a watermark. The platform is easy to use but lacks some essential video editing tools: layers and keyframes. It’s also limited by its small selection of animation presets.

Pros and cons of Canva

ProsCons
User-friendly interface, ideal for non-designersBasic video editing tools, lacking advanced features
Access to many pre-made video intros and audio effects in the Pro versionPro version required for full access to features
Allows video export without watermarksLimited customization options compared to specialized video editing software

 “I love that Canva provides an easy and intuitive way to create creative designs without the need for extensive graphic design knowledge. Canva"s tools make it quick and easy to create eye-catching images, social media graphics, presentations, logos, and more. In addition, many templates and design elements help you get inspired and quickly bring your ideas to life. It"s easy to implement a project in a couple of mouse clicks”—Anna S., Canva user on G2

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4. Animaker

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Image source: Animaker

If you’re looking for a cartoon animation-style intro, Animaker is a good option. It has a stock library of custom animations from which you can choose. You can pick one of their templates that best suits your channel or video and then work from there.

It offers features for animating text, adding characters and avatars, inserting objects, and more. It has a user-friendly interface that beginners will welcome, but there are some animation tools and creative features to satisfy more advanced users and experts.

As with some of the other intro makers on our list, it’s free to use. Your intro animation will be watermarked when you export it, unless you sign up for one of the premium plans. The pricing starts from $10/month.

Pros and cons of Animaker

ProsCons
Offers cartoon animation-style templatesFree version exports videos with a watermark
User-friendly interface suitable for beginnersPremium plans required for advanced features
Features for animating text, adding characters, and moreLimited in terms of complex video editing capabilities

“One really great thing is the many ways you can share your creations. You can publish your videos directly from Animaker to platforms like YouTube or Facebook. This makes it easy to get your content out to a wide audience.”—Verified User on G2

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5. Placeit

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Image source: Placeit

This video intro maker boasts a large library of video templates. Luckily, this massive template library is categorized, making searching for the perfect intro template much easier and more user-friendly.

You can customize the templates with your own logo and fonts, choose a soundtrack from Placeit’s music library, and more. Its simple interface is easy to use.

The downside is that the platform does not offer a free option. You can download your video clips for $9 per video or subscribe for unlimited downloads.

Placeit is a viable option for quick, professional intro videos made from a wide selection of high-quality intro templates. If you'd prefer to pay per video, this platform may fulfill your expectations.

Pros and cons of Placeit

ProsCons
Large library of categorized video templatesNo free option available
Customization options for logos, fonts, and soundtracksPay-per-video or subscription model might not be suitable for all users
Simple, easy-to-use interfaceLimited in terms of advanced editing features

6. InVideo

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Image source: InVideo

This established and popular video creation platform has templates for various video types, such as gaming intros, 3D animations, podcast intros, and more.

It offers tools for making YouTube intros and lets you quickly create an eye-catching intro. Like almost all of the video makers on this list, it offers customizable template videos. There are over 8 million photos and video snippets to browse and choose from.

InVideo also has some handy design tools to get creative and make custom graphics. These include editing options to trim, crop, make transitions, and add text effects. You can also trim, loop, and manipulate the audio to add some sound effects.

The video animation options include slide, blur, disco, and more. The free software version uses watermarks, so you must upgrade to get non-watermarked versions. InVideo subscriptions start at $15 a month.

Pros and cons of InVideo

ProsCons
Templates for various video types, including YouTube introsFree version uses watermarks
Over 8 million photos and video snippets availableSubscription required for non-watermarked versions and more features
Handy design tools for custom graphics and editingMay not offer as advanced editing tools as some specialized software

“If you"re looking for a tool for creating short social media videos or Facebook ads, InVideo is the answer. It has a user-friendly interface and hundreds of ready-made templates. Above all, they"re about to introduce their AI feature to create videos.”—Ahmed Y., Small Business Founder on G2

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7. Adobe Express

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Image source: Adobe

Adobe Express, the new avatar of Adobe Spark, is a comprehensive design app from Adobe's suite. It's designed for creating graphics, web pages, and short videos.

This online video editor can be particularly effective for crafting engaging YouTube intros, thanks to its user-friendly interface and wide selection of pre-made animation templates.

Adobe Express is fully integrated with other Adobe products, making it ideal for users already using other professional Adobe design software. Luckily for those interested, Adobe express has a free plan. After that, users can expect to pay a minimum of $11.49 monthly.

Pros and cons of Adobe Express

ProsCons
Wide variety of professionally designed templates suitable for creating YouTube introsLimited advanced video editing features compared to more specialized software
Integration with Adobe Creative CloudAdvanced features and full template access require a subscription
Simple, drag-and-drop interface

8. Biteable

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Image source: Biteable

Biteable is an intuitive online video maker for creating short, engaging video content like YouTube intros.

It's designed for ease of use, making it a go-to for businesses and individuals who want to produce high-quality intros quickly without deep video editing expertise. This platform is particularly suitable for users looking for simplicity and speed in creating professional-looking intro videos.

Pricing starts at $49/month.

Pros and cons of Biteable

ProsCons
Easy to use, with a straightforward interfaceLimited customization in the free version
High-quality video templates suitable for introsThe free version includes a Biteable watermark
Good selection of stock footage and animationsPremium version needed for more advanced features
Quick rendering and sharing optionsNot as feature-rich as some other tools
Useful for both beginners and professionals

"The best thing about Biteable is its simple, easy-to-use and implement interface, which makes video creation accessible to users of all abilities. From selecting web templates to incorporating text and music, end users can make professional-looking video clips with little effort.”—Seema C., Biteable user on G2

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9. Vyond

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Image source: Vyond

Vyond, formerly known as GoAnimate, is a powerful animation tool primarily used for creating animated videos, including YouTube intros. It offers a broad range of features, from character animations to customizable scenes. This makes it ideal for more dynamic and story-driven intro videos.

It's best for creators looking for animated, explainer-style intros. However, there is no free plan, and the monthly prices start at $25, making it a relatively expensive option.

Pros and cons of Vyond

ProsCons
Extensive range of animation featuresHigher learning curve than simpler tools
Large library of characters, props, and scenesMore expensive than some competitors
High customization potentialLimited options in the free trial
Ideal for storytelling and explainer videosMay be overwhelming for complete beginners
Regular updates with new featuresRegular updates with new features

“Vyond has been a game changer for our organization! We have the ability to easily create videos utilizing the content library with different characters, scenes, props and music. I love the new AI feature with Vyond Go which makes creating video content even faster! It"s super easy to integrate your videos and characters into other e-learning software programs or training materials.” - Carolyn F., G2

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10. Powtoon

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Image source: Powtoon

This popular platform for creating animated videos and presentations is known for its ease of use and flexibility. It's also a good choice for creating YouTube intros without extensive technical skills.

It's optimized for users who want to create engaging animated or infographic-style videos.

Pros and cons of Powtoon

ProsCons
User-friendly interface, suitable for beginnersFree version includes a Powtoon watermark
Wide range of styles and templatesMore advanced features locked behind paywall
Large library of assets (images, videos, soundtracks)Not as in-depth as professional editing tools
Good for both animated and infographic-style introsLimited video export options in the free version
Regularly updated with new features and templates

“Powtoon is one of the best and most advanced software that helps a user create beautiful videos and presentations in a matter of minutes. It has an intuitive interface and comes with an array of pre-made templates that are made to cater to a spectrum of needs.”—Verified user on G2

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11. FlexClip

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Image source: FlexClip

FlexClip is an online video editing platform for both beginners and experienced creators. It offers a user-friendly interface with various resources to help you create your YouTube intro. FlexClip stands out with its extensive library of pre-designed templates, allowing you to quickly create professional-looking intros, explainer videos, or social media content. 

FlexClip offers the standard tools for adding text, music, and stock footage. However, it also has AI-powered automatic video creation and background removal features. There is a free plan, but if you need more features, you can expect to pay a minimum of $9.99 monthly.

Pros and cons of FlexClip

ProsCons
User-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionalityFree plan restricts video length and resolution (only 480p) and includes a watermark on exported videos.
Large collection of royalty-free stock videos, photos, and musicYou need to pay for the more advanced features
AI-powered featuresLacks professional editing tools
Cloud-based platform for flexible access to your videos
Free plan available

“The video footage library is excellent. It has absolutely everything I need to create short videos for my social media and websites. Graphics, texts, images, icons, can all be added easily using a very intuitive editor.”—Verified user on G2

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12. Typito

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Image Source: Typito

If you don’t have extensive video editing knowledge, Typito may be the tool for you. This online platform makes text-based video creation easy. It provides a drag-and-drop interface where you can choose from a huge library of text templates and animations, incorporating motion graphics into your intro.

With free and paid plans available, you can decide on a solution that fits your budget and your YouTube intro needs. 

Pros and cons of Typito

ProsCons
Free plan available plus affordable paid plansNot suitable for complex video editing projects.
You can incorporate motion graphics and effects to add dynamism to your intro.Very template-focused, so fewer customization options are available
The drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to use, especially for those new to video editing.The free plan exports videos with a Typito watermark
Good for both animated and infographic-style intros

Typito is easy to use, with a simple interface and easy-to-follow steps that make uploading and editing videos quick and fun. There are plenty of text options to choose from, and the social media banners are great.”—Aviva S., Typito user on G2

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Ready to make engaging videos for your YouTube Channel?

This is our small selection of the best and most popular YouTube intro makers out there, but you can also search for other animation software options.

Once you"ve chosen your video editing software, check out our pro tips for creating a YouTube intro video.

Choosing a YouTube intro maker can be challenging, especially if you have a specific style in mind. Whether you want to go for an explainer, infographic, or cartoon animation style, there's an animation tool for you. And most of this software can be used for so much more than YouTube intros.

Linearity Move is seamlessly integrated with Linearity Curve. With this powerful design + animation software combo, you can create eye-popping designs and animate them in one click.

Linearity Move gives you the ease and speed of templated animations combined with the power and versatility of advanced animation features.

You can also develop your graphic design and motion graphics skills with the free step-by-step tutorials in the Linearity Academy.

Ready to try new and innovative marketing animation software? Get started with Linearity for free below.

Bring motion in-house

Animate marketing assets in seconds with Linearity Move.

Get Started
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FAQs

Ben Barnhart

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Content Lead

Ben is a Content Lead for Linearity living in Berlin. His hobbies include board games, cooking, reading, and writing.

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