Becoming a Master at the Art of Engaging Thumbnails

The Ultimate Guide to YouTube Thumbnails that Get Views

Richard Bennett

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

Search for any topic on YouTube and you’ll find thousands of videos. How do you decide which of them to watch? Thumbnails play a major role in what viewers decide to click on. They’re often more important than video titles.

Viewers click on thumbnails that both standout and feel relevant to their search. Your task when it comes to creating YouTube thumbnails is to make something that does both of those things while also maintaining your personal style.

1. How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail
2. How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail
3. YouTube Thumbnail Makers
4. How to Make Thumbnails that Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)
5. Animated YouTube Thumbnails

Part 1: How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail

In order to create a custom video thumbnail, you’ll need a program to put it together in. You can use an image editing program like Photoshop if you have one, but if you don’t you can check out these free thumbnail makers.

Here are some examples of popular thumbnail styles.

1. The Classic Thumbnail (Photo or Screenshot)

A photo that shows what happens in your video – whether that means the finished ‘look’ from your makeup tutorial or you posing in front of the landmark you shot your travel vlog in front of – is a great way to let viewers know what to expect. While curiosity can be a big motive behind clicking on a video thumbnail (or anything online), when people have searched for a specific topic they want to be convinced that your video has what they’re looking for.

#1. Choose Your Photo

To start off, either choose a still frame from your video or take a photograph while you’re still set up from your video. A separate photograph is usually a better idea because your video editor might not be able to export a high-quality snapshot, and also because you’re able to choose your facial expression.

Aim to make this shot a close-up or medium close-up and make sure you’re either in the center of the screen or off to one side, as per the ‘rule of thirds’. Many cameras allow you to bring an optional grid up onto your viewfinder. This will divide your screen into three equal segments both vertically and horizontally. Try to make sure your eyes line up with the top line, and if you’re going to be off to one side then make sure you’re on one of the vertical lines. This will ensure your image is visually appealing.

If you want to add text later, it’s a good idea to be off to one side.

Including your face is important for most types of YouTube videos. People are attracted to eye contact and are more likely to click on thumbnails that feature a face. Gamers might choose to use a picture of a video game character instead and it will have the same effect.

Some situations where it isn’t essential to include your face include tech reviews, where viewers will be more interested in seeing the product, and cooking videos where people are looking to be tempted by a yummy food pic.

#2. Add Text and/or Images

This part isn’t essential – in some cases, a photo is enough – but a lot of the thumbnails for the videos ranked highest in YouTube’s search results include either a couple of words of text, a simple graphic (i.e. an emoji), or both.

In some cases you might use text to make it clear what type of video you’ve made, i.e. ‘review’ or ‘tutorial’. It’s best to keep any text you use brief, but you could get a bit more descriptive and write something like ‘fall makeup tutorial’. Three words is probably the most you can get away with. Remember that your text will be shrunk down with the rest of your image; you need to make it big enough to read easily once it’s shrunk, and that means you don’t have a ton of room for text.

You should also avoid fonts that are harder to read. Fonts with a lot of curves can be harder to read, and you want to make sure you choose a color that stands out from your background. Yellow might work against black, but it probably won’t work against the beige wall of your sunny bedroom. Sans serif fonts tend to be best.

Another tactic used in successful thumbnails is to add small graphics, like emojis or small images (i.e. pumpkins for a Halloween video), which are related to your video’s content. As with text, you don’t want to overload your thumbnail with images, but they’re a great way to add something eye-catching that’s a bit different from competing thumbnails.

2. The Emotional Laser (Background + Face Reacting)

One increasingly popular style of YouTube thumbnail is what we’re going to call the ‘Emotional Laser’. It’s bright (like, blindingly bright), it communicates a clear feeling, and it creates high expectations for how exciting the video’s content is going to be.

The three main elements of the Emotional Laser thumbnail are a background (usually bright), your face on the right wearing an over-pronounced expression, and either the thing your expression is in reaction to (i.e. food, a product, the topic of your video in text) or reinforcement of your emotion (i.e an emoji or question marks) on the left.

#1. Ham It Up (Take Your Reaction Photo)

Take a high-quality photograph of yourself conveying strong emotion. Generally, you want to look extremely excited, disgusted, angry, or shocked depending on the theme of the video.

If there’s an object you want to include in your thumbnail, like a product you’ll be talking about, then it’s a good idea to hold it for this photo. Hold it to one side of your head, turn towards it slightly (but not so much that the camera can only see the side of your face) and put on the expression that’s supposed to be a reaction to the object.

It can be a good idea to take this photo in front of a solid color so you can remove the background easily with chroma key.

#2. Choose Your Background

Your background might be scenery, a solid color, or even the room you filmed the video in. Light or bright colors are popular. Make sure there’s nothing that will distract from your expression. If your background is a room, or anything else where there could be things like pictures hanging, you may want to add a blur effect in the next step.

#3. Put It Together

In your thumbnail maker or a program like Photoshop, you’ll need to put your photo and your background together. This will work differently depending on what program you use. If your program has a chroma key tool and your reaction photo was taken against a solid color then you can make that solid color transparent.

What if I don’t have a separate background? If you don’t have a background you want to use, but you still want your reaction to stand out the same way it would if you did, then you can use your photo editor’s blur tool to turn the normal background of your photo into something you can pop-out from.

#4. Add Extras (Text, Emojis, etc.)

If instead of an object you plan to fill the other side of your thumbnail with text, question marks, emojis, or some other graphic element then now is the time to add it.

Part 2: How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail

When you upload a new video to YouTube, you will see a Custom thumbnail option under Video thumbnails after your upload is complete.

If you want to add a custom thumbnail to a video that’s already up, that’s easy too.

1. Go to your Video Manager in the Creator Studio.
2. Find the video you want to change the thumbnail for and click Edit next to it.
3. Click Custom thumbnail on the right of the preview screen.
4. Upload your thumbnail and click Save changes.

Remember when you’re uploading custom thumbnails that you need to use a .JPG, .GIF, .BMP, or .PNG image with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and that your file size has to be under 2MB.

YouTube recommends that thumbnail images have a resolution of 1280x720px, and you cannot upload an image with a width of less than 640 pixels.

Make sure that all of your thumbnails adhere to YouTube’s Community guidelines. Anything sexually suggestive, violent, or otherwise graphic could result in your video being age-restricted.

Part 3: YouTube Thumbnail Makers

You don’t have to go out and buy a photo editor like Photoshop to make custom video thumbnails (although it’s a good thing to use if you already have it). Here are two free online programs you can use instead:

Canva is an intuitive option with templates for Thumbnails, Channel Art, and other social media graphics. There are stock photos and graphics provided, but not all of them are free (paid options cost $1 each). Canva’s templates do tend to include paid resources, so you may want to use them mostly for their layouts or as inspiration and replace everything they provide with your own images.

Generally, using Canva is as easy as dragging and dropping things where you want them. You’ll be able to set the dimensions for your project so the image you export is a perfect size. Adding text and changing the size, font, or color is easy too.

Adobe Spark also has templates for channel art, and it’s also very easy to use. The first time you use it helpful notes will pop up to guide you through the process. Using templates is especially simple because you just click on the elements in the pre-made thumbnail and replace them with your own photos/text.

You can make changes to the colors in your Spark thumbnail easily by selecting a new color scheme or filter. You can even toggle through layouts easily. When you choose a new layout, Spark will rearrange all the pieces of your current thumbnail to align with the new layout so you can quickly see what it looks like instead of having to rebuild.

Click to check more YouTube thumbnail makers

Part 4: How to Make Thumbnails That Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)

Here are the top 10 best practices for creating effective YouTube thumbnails:

#1. Show What Your Video Is About

Being mysterious and clickbaity can get you views, if you’re already big. For small YouTubers, it pays off to be clear about your video’s topic. You want people to click who want to watch the actual content of your video. Even if you manage to get some clicks by being mysterious, you’ll probably end up with low viewer retention because people are clicking away when they realize your video isn’t what they were looking for. That will make YouTube’s algorithm rank your video lower, and then even fewer people will find it.

If your video is a product review, show the product in the thumbnail and maybe even write ‘review’ on it. If your video is a makeup tutorial, show your face with the finished makeup and maybe even include pictures of the products you used. People want to know what they’re clicking on before they click.

#2. Use a Consistent Layout

As you grow, you’ll want people to be able to see one of your thumbnails and instantly know it’s yours. Building a recognizable brand is about consistency. Try to stick with one basic layout for all of your videos. You can still customize every individual thumbnail by using different facial expressions and different graphics, but try to use similar backgrounds, fonts, and general layouts (i.e. you to the right of the thumbnails, text to the left) over and over.

#3. Use Your Face

Why should people want to watch your videos? If the answer is ‘because I can teach them to create delicious food’ or ‘because they want to learn about the latest iPhone’ then your thumbnail should include that food or that iPhone.

If part of the reason people want to watch your videos is you – your personality and your sense of humor – then you should be in your thumbnail.

Viewers who are on YouTube because they like seeing a creator’s personality like to feel the presence of that personality in the video thumbnail, and eye contact naturally draws attention and clicks.

#4. Add Small Graphics

Adding small graphics, like emojis or hearts, to your thumbnail can help you stand out in a couple different ways. First, if they’re being compared to thumbnails that are just screenshots from the video, your thumbnails will look a lot more polished. Second, they’ll add a splash of color which can draw eyes to your video in a search where other thumbnails are not using those same colors.

#5. Your Text Should Be Huge

Your thumbnail will end up being a fraction of the size it is while you’re creating it in your thumbnail maker, and that means that any text you use will end up being shrunk down. You could probably type a six-word sentence in a size 18 font and have it look fine while you’re making your thumbnail, but after you upload it there’s no way people will be able to read it at a glance.

Aim for a huge font size, and 3 words or less (so your thumbnail doesn’t end up looking crowded).

#6. Check Out The Competition

Type your video’s title or topic into the search engine on YouTube and look at the thumbnails for the videos that come up. These are your competition. You want to make a thumbnail that is similar enough to what comes up that viewers know it’s on the same topic, but different enough that it stands out.

Generally, if most of the thumbnails have the same layout, you’ll want to mimic that layout. Where you can break from the crowd is in the colors, fonts, and graphics you use.

Part 5: Animated YouTube Thumbnails

Whether or not you upload a custom thumbnail to YouTube, YouTube’s A.I will choose what it thinks are the 3 juiciest seconds of your video (you cannot choose for yourself) and play them as a GIF-like animation when people mouseover your video thumbnails.

As of now, this only works in the Google Chrome desktop browser. Videos have to be at least 30 seconds long to get moving thumbnails.

Alright, now that you know everything about YouTube thumbnails, go make one! Tell us in the comments what you’re going to do to make your video thumbnails stand out.

Touch Up YouTube Videos with Effects & Elements in Filmora

As one of the most widely used video editing software in YouTube video editing, Filmora provides lots of templates and effects with an intuitive interface. Download the free trial version and get started now.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

Search for any topic on YouTube and you’ll find thousands of videos. How do you decide which of them to watch? Thumbnails play a major role in what viewers decide to click on. They’re often more important than video titles.

Viewers click on thumbnails that both standout and feel relevant to their search. Your task when it comes to creating YouTube thumbnails is to make something that does both of those things while also maintaining your personal style.

1. How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail
2. How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail
3. YouTube Thumbnail Makers
4. How to Make Thumbnails that Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)
5. Animated YouTube Thumbnails

Part 1: How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail

In order to create a custom video thumbnail, you’ll need a program to put it together in. You can use an image editing program like Photoshop if you have one, but if you don’t you can check out these free thumbnail makers.

Here are some examples of popular thumbnail styles.

1. The Classic Thumbnail (Photo or Screenshot)

A photo that shows what happens in your video – whether that means the finished ‘look’ from your makeup tutorial or you posing in front of the landmark you shot your travel vlog in front of – is a great way to let viewers know what to expect. While curiosity can be a big motive behind clicking on a video thumbnail (or anything online), when people have searched for a specific topic they want to be convinced that your video has what they’re looking for.

#1. Choose Your Photo

To start off, either choose a still frame from your video or take a photograph while you’re still set up from your video. A separate photograph is usually a better idea because your video editor might not be able to export a high-quality snapshot, and also because you’re able to choose your facial expression.

Aim to make this shot a close-up or medium close-up and make sure you’re either in the center of the screen or off to one side, as per the ‘rule of thirds’. Many cameras allow you to bring an optional grid up onto your viewfinder. This will divide your screen into three equal segments both vertically and horizontally. Try to make sure your eyes line up with the top line, and if you’re going to be off to one side then make sure you’re on one of the vertical lines. This will ensure your image is visually appealing.

If you want to add text later, it’s a good idea to be off to one side.

Including your face is important for most types of YouTube videos. People are attracted to eye contact and are more likely to click on thumbnails that feature a face. Gamers might choose to use a picture of a video game character instead and it will have the same effect.

Some situations where it isn’t essential to include your face include tech reviews, where viewers will be more interested in seeing the product, and cooking videos where people are looking to be tempted by a yummy food pic.

#2. Add Text and/or Images

This part isn’t essential – in some cases, a photo is enough – but a lot of the thumbnails for the videos ranked highest in YouTube’s search results include either a couple of words of text, a simple graphic (i.e. an emoji), or both.

In some cases you might use text to make it clear what type of video you’ve made, i.e. ‘review’ or ‘tutorial’. It’s best to keep any text you use brief, but you could get a bit more descriptive and write something like ‘fall makeup tutorial’. Three words is probably the most you can get away with. Remember that your text will be shrunk down with the rest of your image; you need to make it big enough to read easily once it’s shrunk, and that means you don’t have a ton of room for text.

You should also avoid fonts that are harder to read. Fonts with a lot of curves can be harder to read, and you want to make sure you choose a color that stands out from your background. Yellow might work against black, but it probably won’t work against the beige wall of your sunny bedroom. Sans serif fonts tend to be best.

Another tactic used in successful thumbnails is to add small graphics, like emojis or small images (i.e. pumpkins for a Halloween video), which are related to your video’s content. As with text, you don’t want to overload your thumbnail with images, but they’re a great way to add something eye-catching that’s a bit different from competing thumbnails.

2. The Emotional Laser (Background + Face Reacting)

One increasingly popular style of YouTube thumbnail is what we’re going to call the ‘Emotional Laser’. It’s bright (like, blindingly bright), it communicates a clear feeling, and it creates high expectations for how exciting the video’s content is going to be.

The three main elements of the Emotional Laser thumbnail are a background (usually bright), your face on the right wearing an over-pronounced expression, and either the thing your expression is in reaction to (i.e. food, a product, the topic of your video in text) or reinforcement of your emotion (i.e an emoji or question marks) on the left.

#1. Ham It Up (Take Your Reaction Photo)

Take a high-quality photograph of yourself conveying strong emotion. Generally, you want to look extremely excited, disgusted, angry, or shocked depending on the theme of the video.

If there’s an object you want to include in your thumbnail, like a product you’ll be talking about, then it’s a good idea to hold it for this photo. Hold it to one side of your head, turn towards it slightly (but not so much that the camera can only see the side of your face) and put on the expression that’s supposed to be a reaction to the object.

It can be a good idea to take this photo in front of a solid color so you can remove the background easily with chroma key.

#2. Choose Your Background

Your background might be scenery, a solid color, or even the room you filmed the video in. Light or bright colors are popular. Make sure there’s nothing that will distract from your expression. If your background is a room, or anything else where there could be things like pictures hanging, you may want to add a blur effect in the next step.

#3. Put It Together

In your thumbnail maker or a program like Photoshop, you’ll need to put your photo and your background together. This will work differently depending on what program you use. If your program has a chroma key tool and your reaction photo was taken against a solid color then you can make that solid color transparent.

What if I don’t have a separate background? If you don’t have a background you want to use, but you still want your reaction to stand out the same way it would if you did, then you can use your photo editor’s blur tool to turn the normal background of your photo into something you can pop-out from.

#4. Add Extras (Text, Emojis, etc.)

If instead of an object you plan to fill the other side of your thumbnail with text, question marks, emojis, or some other graphic element then now is the time to add it.

Part 2: How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail

When you upload a new video to YouTube, you will see a Custom thumbnail option under Video thumbnails after your upload is complete.

If you want to add a custom thumbnail to a video that’s already up, that’s easy too.

1. Go to your Video Manager in the Creator Studio.
2. Find the video you want to change the thumbnail for and click Edit next to it.
3. Click Custom thumbnail on the right of the preview screen.
4. Upload your thumbnail and click Save changes.

Remember when you’re uploading custom thumbnails that you need to use a .JPG, .GIF, .BMP, or .PNG image with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and that your file size has to be under 2MB.

YouTube recommends that thumbnail images have a resolution of 1280x720px, and you cannot upload an image with a width of less than 640 pixels.

Make sure that all of your thumbnails adhere to YouTube’s Community guidelines. Anything sexually suggestive, violent, or otherwise graphic could result in your video being age-restricted.

Part 3: YouTube Thumbnail Makers

You don’t have to go out and buy a photo editor like Photoshop to make custom video thumbnails (although it’s a good thing to use if you already have it). Here are two free online programs you can use instead:

Canva is an intuitive option with templates for Thumbnails, Channel Art, and other social media graphics. There are stock photos and graphics provided, but not all of them are free (paid options cost $1 each). Canva’s templates do tend to include paid resources, so you may want to use them mostly for their layouts or as inspiration and replace everything they provide with your own images.

Generally, using Canva is as easy as dragging and dropping things where you want them. You’ll be able to set the dimensions for your project so the image you export is a perfect size. Adding text and changing the size, font, or color is easy too.

Adobe Spark also has templates for channel art, and it’s also very easy to use. The first time you use it helpful notes will pop up to guide you through the process. Using templates is especially simple because you just click on the elements in the pre-made thumbnail and replace them with your own photos/text.

You can make changes to the colors in your Spark thumbnail easily by selecting a new color scheme or filter. You can even toggle through layouts easily. When you choose a new layout, Spark will rearrange all the pieces of your current thumbnail to align with the new layout so you can quickly see what it looks like instead of having to rebuild.

Click to check more YouTube thumbnail makers

Part 4: How to Make Thumbnails That Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)

Here are the top 10 best practices for creating effective YouTube thumbnails:

#1. Show What Your Video Is About

Being mysterious and clickbaity can get you views, if you’re already big. For small YouTubers, it pays off to be clear about your video’s topic. You want people to click who want to watch the actual content of your video. Even if you manage to get some clicks by being mysterious, you’ll probably end up with low viewer retention because people are clicking away when they realize your video isn’t what they were looking for. That will make YouTube’s algorithm rank your video lower, and then even fewer people will find it.

If your video is a product review, show the product in the thumbnail and maybe even write ‘review’ on it. If your video is a makeup tutorial, show your face with the finished makeup and maybe even include pictures of the products you used. People want to know what they’re clicking on before they click.

#2. Use a Consistent Layout

As you grow, you’ll want people to be able to see one of your thumbnails and instantly know it’s yours. Building a recognizable brand is about consistency. Try to stick with one basic layout for all of your videos. You can still customize every individual thumbnail by using different facial expressions and different graphics, but try to use similar backgrounds, fonts, and general layouts (i.e. you to the right of the thumbnails, text to the left) over and over.

#3. Use Your Face

Why should people want to watch your videos? If the answer is ‘because I can teach them to create delicious food’ or ‘because they want to learn about the latest iPhone’ then your thumbnail should include that food or that iPhone.

If part of the reason people want to watch your videos is you – your personality and your sense of humor – then you should be in your thumbnail.

Viewers who are on YouTube because they like seeing a creator’s personality like to feel the presence of that personality in the video thumbnail, and eye contact naturally draws attention and clicks.

#4. Add Small Graphics

Adding small graphics, like emojis or hearts, to your thumbnail can help you stand out in a couple different ways. First, if they’re being compared to thumbnails that are just screenshots from the video, your thumbnails will look a lot more polished. Second, they’ll add a splash of color which can draw eyes to your video in a search where other thumbnails are not using those same colors.

#5. Your Text Should Be Huge

Your thumbnail will end up being a fraction of the size it is while you’re creating it in your thumbnail maker, and that means that any text you use will end up being shrunk down. You could probably type a six-word sentence in a size 18 font and have it look fine while you’re making your thumbnail, but after you upload it there’s no way people will be able to read it at a glance.

Aim for a huge font size, and 3 words or less (so your thumbnail doesn’t end up looking crowded).

#6. Check Out The Competition

Type your video’s title or topic into the search engine on YouTube and look at the thumbnails for the videos that come up. These are your competition. You want to make a thumbnail that is similar enough to what comes up that viewers know it’s on the same topic, but different enough that it stands out.

Generally, if most of the thumbnails have the same layout, you’ll want to mimic that layout. Where you can break from the crowd is in the colors, fonts, and graphics you use.

Part 5: Animated YouTube Thumbnails

Whether or not you upload a custom thumbnail to YouTube, YouTube’s A.I will choose what it thinks are the 3 juiciest seconds of your video (you cannot choose for yourself) and play them as a GIF-like animation when people mouseover your video thumbnails.

As of now, this only works in the Google Chrome desktop browser. Videos have to be at least 30 seconds long to get moving thumbnails.

Alright, now that you know everything about YouTube thumbnails, go make one! Tell us in the comments what you’re going to do to make your video thumbnails stand out.

Touch Up YouTube Videos with Effects & Elements in Filmora

As one of the most widely used video editing software in YouTube video editing, Filmora provides lots of templates and effects with an intuitive interface. Download the free trial version and get started now.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

Search for any topic on YouTube and you’ll find thousands of videos. How do you decide which of them to watch? Thumbnails play a major role in what viewers decide to click on. They’re often more important than video titles.

Viewers click on thumbnails that both standout and feel relevant to their search. Your task when it comes to creating YouTube thumbnails is to make something that does both of those things while also maintaining your personal style.

1. How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail
2. How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail
3. YouTube Thumbnail Makers
4. How to Make Thumbnails that Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)
5. Animated YouTube Thumbnails

Part 1: How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail

In order to create a custom video thumbnail, you’ll need a program to put it together in. You can use an image editing program like Photoshop if you have one, but if you don’t you can check out these free thumbnail makers.

Here are some examples of popular thumbnail styles.

1. The Classic Thumbnail (Photo or Screenshot)

A photo that shows what happens in your video – whether that means the finished ‘look’ from your makeup tutorial or you posing in front of the landmark you shot your travel vlog in front of – is a great way to let viewers know what to expect. While curiosity can be a big motive behind clicking on a video thumbnail (or anything online), when people have searched for a specific topic they want to be convinced that your video has what they’re looking for.

#1. Choose Your Photo

To start off, either choose a still frame from your video or take a photograph while you’re still set up from your video. A separate photograph is usually a better idea because your video editor might not be able to export a high-quality snapshot, and also because you’re able to choose your facial expression.

Aim to make this shot a close-up or medium close-up and make sure you’re either in the center of the screen or off to one side, as per the ‘rule of thirds’. Many cameras allow you to bring an optional grid up onto your viewfinder. This will divide your screen into three equal segments both vertically and horizontally. Try to make sure your eyes line up with the top line, and if you’re going to be off to one side then make sure you’re on one of the vertical lines. This will ensure your image is visually appealing.

If you want to add text later, it’s a good idea to be off to one side.

Including your face is important for most types of YouTube videos. People are attracted to eye contact and are more likely to click on thumbnails that feature a face. Gamers might choose to use a picture of a video game character instead and it will have the same effect.

Some situations where it isn’t essential to include your face include tech reviews, where viewers will be more interested in seeing the product, and cooking videos where people are looking to be tempted by a yummy food pic.

#2. Add Text and/or Images

This part isn’t essential – in some cases, a photo is enough – but a lot of the thumbnails for the videos ranked highest in YouTube’s search results include either a couple of words of text, a simple graphic (i.e. an emoji), or both.

In some cases you might use text to make it clear what type of video you’ve made, i.e. ‘review’ or ‘tutorial’. It’s best to keep any text you use brief, but you could get a bit more descriptive and write something like ‘fall makeup tutorial’. Three words is probably the most you can get away with. Remember that your text will be shrunk down with the rest of your image; you need to make it big enough to read easily once it’s shrunk, and that means you don’t have a ton of room for text.

You should also avoid fonts that are harder to read. Fonts with a lot of curves can be harder to read, and you want to make sure you choose a color that stands out from your background. Yellow might work against black, but it probably won’t work against the beige wall of your sunny bedroom. Sans serif fonts tend to be best.

Another tactic used in successful thumbnails is to add small graphics, like emojis or small images (i.e. pumpkins for a Halloween video), which are related to your video’s content. As with text, you don’t want to overload your thumbnail with images, but they’re a great way to add something eye-catching that’s a bit different from competing thumbnails.

2. The Emotional Laser (Background + Face Reacting)

One increasingly popular style of YouTube thumbnail is what we’re going to call the ‘Emotional Laser’. It’s bright (like, blindingly bright), it communicates a clear feeling, and it creates high expectations for how exciting the video’s content is going to be.

The three main elements of the Emotional Laser thumbnail are a background (usually bright), your face on the right wearing an over-pronounced expression, and either the thing your expression is in reaction to (i.e. food, a product, the topic of your video in text) or reinforcement of your emotion (i.e an emoji or question marks) on the left.

#1. Ham It Up (Take Your Reaction Photo)

Take a high-quality photograph of yourself conveying strong emotion. Generally, you want to look extremely excited, disgusted, angry, or shocked depending on the theme of the video.

If there’s an object you want to include in your thumbnail, like a product you’ll be talking about, then it’s a good idea to hold it for this photo. Hold it to one side of your head, turn towards it slightly (but not so much that the camera can only see the side of your face) and put on the expression that’s supposed to be a reaction to the object.

It can be a good idea to take this photo in front of a solid color so you can remove the background easily with chroma key.

#2. Choose Your Background

Your background might be scenery, a solid color, or even the room you filmed the video in. Light or bright colors are popular. Make sure there’s nothing that will distract from your expression. If your background is a room, or anything else where there could be things like pictures hanging, you may want to add a blur effect in the next step.

#3. Put It Together

In your thumbnail maker or a program like Photoshop, you’ll need to put your photo and your background together. This will work differently depending on what program you use. If your program has a chroma key tool and your reaction photo was taken against a solid color then you can make that solid color transparent.

What if I don’t have a separate background? If you don’t have a background you want to use, but you still want your reaction to stand out the same way it would if you did, then you can use your photo editor’s blur tool to turn the normal background of your photo into something you can pop-out from.

#4. Add Extras (Text, Emojis, etc.)

If instead of an object you plan to fill the other side of your thumbnail with text, question marks, emojis, or some other graphic element then now is the time to add it.

Part 2: How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail

When you upload a new video to YouTube, you will see a Custom thumbnail option under Video thumbnails after your upload is complete.

If you want to add a custom thumbnail to a video that’s already up, that’s easy too.

1. Go to your Video Manager in the Creator Studio.
2. Find the video you want to change the thumbnail for and click Edit next to it.
3. Click Custom thumbnail on the right of the preview screen.
4. Upload your thumbnail and click Save changes.

Remember when you’re uploading custom thumbnails that you need to use a .JPG, .GIF, .BMP, or .PNG image with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and that your file size has to be under 2MB.

YouTube recommends that thumbnail images have a resolution of 1280x720px, and you cannot upload an image with a width of less than 640 pixels.

Make sure that all of your thumbnails adhere to YouTube’s Community guidelines. Anything sexually suggestive, violent, or otherwise graphic could result in your video being age-restricted.

Part 3: YouTube Thumbnail Makers

You don’t have to go out and buy a photo editor like Photoshop to make custom video thumbnails (although it’s a good thing to use if you already have it). Here are two free online programs you can use instead:

Canva is an intuitive option with templates for Thumbnails, Channel Art, and other social media graphics. There are stock photos and graphics provided, but not all of them are free (paid options cost $1 each). Canva’s templates do tend to include paid resources, so you may want to use them mostly for their layouts or as inspiration and replace everything they provide with your own images.

Generally, using Canva is as easy as dragging and dropping things where you want them. You’ll be able to set the dimensions for your project so the image you export is a perfect size. Adding text and changing the size, font, or color is easy too.

Adobe Spark also has templates for channel art, and it’s also very easy to use. The first time you use it helpful notes will pop up to guide you through the process. Using templates is especially simple because you just click on the elements in the pre-made thumbnail and replace them with your own photos/text.

You can make changes to the colors in your Spark thumbnail easily by selecting a new color scheme or filter. You can even toggle through layouts easily. When you choose a new layout, Spark will rearrange all the pieces of your current thumbnail to align with the new layout so you can quickly see what it looks like instead of having to rebuild.

Click to check more YouTube thumbnail makers

Part 4: How to Make Thumbnails That Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)

Here are the top 10 best practices for creating effective YouTube thumbnails:

#1. Show What Your Video Is About

Being mysterious and clickbaity can get you views, if you’re already big. For small YouTubers, it pays off to be clear about your video’s topic. You want people to click who want to watch the actual content of your video. Even if you manage to get some clicks by being mysterious, you’ll probably end up with low viewer retention because people are clicking away when they realize your video isn’t what they were looking for. That will make YouTube’s algorithm rank your video lower, and then even fewer people will find it.

If your video is a product review, show the product in the thumbnail and maybe even write ‘review’ on it. If your video is a makeup tutorial, show your face with the finished makeup and maybe even include pictures of the products you used. People want to know what they’re clicking on before they click.

#2. Use a Consistent Layout

As you grow, you’ll want people to be able to see one of your thumbnails and instantly know it’s yours. Building a recognizable brand is about consistency. Try to stick with one basic layout for all of your videos. You can still customize every individual thumbnail by using different facial expressions and different graphics, but try to use similar backgrounds, fonts, and general layouts (i.e. you to the right of the thumbnails, text to the left) over and over.

#3. Use Your Face

Why should people want to watch your videos? If the answer is ‘because I can teach them to create delicious food’ or ‘because they want to learn about the latest iPhone’ then your thumbnail should include that food or that iPhone.

If part of the reason people want to watch your videos is you – your personality and your sense of humor – then you should be in your thumbnail.

Viewers who are on YouTube because they like seeing a creator’s personality like to feel the presence of that personality in the video thumbnail, and eye contact naturally draws attention and clicks.

#4. Add Small Graphics

Adding small graphics, like emojis or hearts, to your thumbnail can help you stand out in a couple different ways. First, if they’re being compared to thumbnails that are just screenshots from the video, your thumbnails will look a lot more polished. Second, they’ll add a splash of color which can draw eyes to your video in a search where other thumbnails are not using those same colors.

#5. Your Text Should Be Huge

Your thumbnail will end up being a fraction of the size it is while you’re creating it in your thumbnail maker, and that means that any text you use will end up being shrunk down. You could probably type a six-word sentence in a size 18 font and have it look fine while you’re making your thumbnail, but after you upload it there’s no way people will be able to read it at a glance.

Aim for a huge font size, and 3 words or less (so your thumbnail doesn’t end up looking crowded).

#6. Check Out The Competition

Type your video’s title or topic into the search engine on YouTube and look at the thumbnails for the videos that come up. These are your competition. You want to make a thumbnail that is similar enough to what comes up that viewers know it’s on the same topic, but different enough that it stands out.

Generally, if most of the thumbnails have the same layout, you’ll want to mimic that layout. Where you can break from the crowd is in the colors, fonts, and graphics you use.

Part 5: Animated YouTube Thumbnails

Whether or not you upload a custom thumbnail to YouTube, YouTube’s A.I will choose what it thinks are the 3 juiciest seconds of your video (you cannot choose for yourself) and play them as a GIF-like animation when people mouseover your video thumbnails.

As of now, this only works in the Google Chrome desktop browser. Videos have to be at least 30 seconds long to get moving thumbnails.

Alright, now that you know everything about YouTube thumbnails, go make one! Tell us in the comments what you’re going to do to make your video thumbnails stand out.

Touch Up YouTube Videos with Effects & Elements in Filmora

As one of the most widely used video editing software in YouTube video editing, Filmora provides lots of templates and effects with an intuitive interface. Download the free trial version and get started now.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

Search for any topic on YouTube and you’ll find thousands of videos. How do you decide which of them to watch? Thumbnails play a major role in what viewers decide to click on. They’re often more important than video titles.

Viewers click on thumbnails that both standout and feel relevant to their search. Your task when it comes to creating YouTube thumbnails is to make something that does both of those things while also maintaining your personal style.

1. How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail
2. How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail
3. YouTube Thumbnail Makers
4. How to Make Thumbnails that Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)
5. Animated YouTube Thumbnails

Part 1: How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail

In order to create a custom video thumbnail, you’ll need a program to put it together in. You can use an image editing program like Photoshop if you have one, but if you don’t you can check out these free thumbnail makers.

Here are some examples of popular thumbnail styles.

1. The Classic Thumbnail (Photo or Screenshot)

A photo that shows what happens in your video – whether that means the finished ‘look’ from your makeup tutorial or you posing in front of the landmark you shot your travel vlog in front of – is a great way to let viewers know what to expect. While curiosity can be a big motive behind clicking on a video thumbnail (or anything online), when people have searched for a specific topic they want to be convinced that your video has what they’re looking for.

#1. Choose Your Photo

To start off, either choose a still frame from your video or take a photograph while you’re still set up from your video. A separate photograph is usually a better idea because your video editor might not be able to export a high-quality snapshot, and also because you’re able to choose your facial expression.

Aim to make this shot a close-up or medium close-up and make sure you’re either in the center of the screen or off to one side, as per the ‘rule of thirds’. Many cameras allow you to bring an optional grid up onto your viewfinder. This will divide your screen into three equal segments both vertically and horizontally. Try to make sure your eyes line up with the top line, and if you’re going to be off to one side then make sure you’re on one of the vertical lines. This will ensure your image is visually appealing.

If you want to add text later, it’s a good idea to be off to one side.

Including your face is important for most types of YouTube videos. People are attracted to eye contact and are more likely to click on thumbnails that feature a face. Gamers might choose to use a picture of a video game character instead and it will have the same effect.

Some situations where it isn’t essential to include your face include tech reviews, where viewers will be more interested in seeing the product, and cooking videos where people are looking to be tempted by a yummy food pic.

#2. Add Text and/or Images

This part isn’t essential – in some cases, a photo is enough – but a lot of the thumbnails for the videos ranked highest in YouTube’s search results include either a couple of words of text, a simple graphic (i.e. an emoji), or both.

In some cases you might use text to make it clear what type of video you’ve made, i.e. ‘review’ or ‘tutorial’. It’s best to keep any text you use brief, but you could get a bit more descriptive and write something like ‘fall makeup tutorial’. Three words is probably the most you can get away with. Remember that your text will be shrunk down with the rest of your image; you need to make it big enough to read easily once it’s shrunk, and that means you don’t have a ton of room for text.

You should also avoid fonts that are harder to read. Fonts with a lot of curves can be harder to read, and you want to make sure you choose a color that stands out from your background. Yellow might work against black, but it probably won’t work against the beige wall of your sunny bedroom. Sans serif fonts tend to be best.

Another tactic used in successful thumbnails is to add small graphics, like emojis or small images (i.e. pumpkins for a Halloween video), which are related to your video’s content. As with text, you don’t want to overload your thumbnail with images, but they’re a great way to add something eye-catching that’s a bit different from competing thumbnails.

2. The Emotional Laser (Background + Face Reacting)

One increasingly popular style of YouTube thumbnail is what we’re going to call the ‘Emotional Laser’. It’s bright (like, blindingly bright), it communicates a clear feeling, and it creates high expectations for how exciting the video’s content is going to be.

The three main elements of the Emotional Laser thumbnail are a background (usually bright), your face on the right wearing an over-pronounced expression, and either the thing your expression is in reaction to (i.e. food, a product, the topic of your video in text) or reinforcement of your emotion (i.e an emoji or question marks) on the left.

#1. Ham It Up (Take Your Reaction Photo)

Take a high-quality photograph of yourself conveying strong emotion. Generally, you want to look extremely excited, disgusted, angry, or shocked depending on the theme of the video.

If there’s an object you want to include in your thumbnail, like a product you’ll be talking about, then it’s a good idea to hold it for this photo. Hold it to one side of your head, turn towards it slightly (but not so much that the camera can only see the side of your face) and put on the expression that’s supposed to be a reaction to the object.

It can be a good idea to take this photo in front of a solid color so you can remove the background easily with chroma key.

#2. Choose Your Background

Your background might be scenery, a solid color, or even the room you filmed the video in. Light or bright colors are popular. Make sure there’s nothing that will distract from your expression. If your background is a room, or anything else where there could be things like pictures hanging, you may want to add a blur effect in the next step.

#3. Put It Together

In your thumbnail maker or a program like Photoshop, you’ll need to put your photo and your background together. This will work differently depending on what program you use. If your program has a chroma key tool and your reaction photo was taken against a solid color then you can make that solid color transparent.

What if I don’t have a separate background? If you don’t have a background you want to use, but you still want your reaction to stand out the same way it would if you did, then you can use your photo editor’s blur tool to turn the normal background of your photo into something you can pop-out from.

#4. Add Extras (Text, Emojis, etc.)

If instead of an object you plan to fill the other side of your thumbnail with text, question marks, emojis, or some other graphic element then now is the time to add it.

Part 2: How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail

When you upload a new video to YouTube, you will see a Custom thumbnail option under Video thumbnails after your upload is complete.

If you want to add a custom thumbnail to a video that’s already up, that’s easy too.

1. Go to your Video Manager in the Creator Studio.
2. Find the video you want to change the thumbnail for and click Edit next to it.
3. Click Custom thumbnail on the right of the preview screen.
4. Upload your thumbnail and click Save changes.

Remember when you’re uploading custom thumbnails that you need to use a .JPG, .GIF, .BMP, or .PNG image with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and that your file size has to be under 2MB.

YouTube recommends that thumbnail images have a resolution of 1280x720px, and you cannot upload an image with a width of less than 640 pixels.

Make sure that all of your thumbnails adhere to YouTube’s Community guidelines. Anything sexually suggestive, violent, or otherwise graphic could result in your video being age-restricted.

Part 3: YouTube Thumbnail Makers

You don’t have to go out and buy a photo editor like Photoshop to make custom video thumbnails (although it’s a good thing to use if you already have it). Here are two free online programs you can use instead:

Canva is an intuitive option with templates for Thumbnails, Channel Art, and other social media graphics. There are stock photos and graphics provided, but not all of them are free (paid options cost $1 each). Canva’s templates do tend to include paid resources, so you may want to use them mostly for their layouts or as inspiration and replace everything they provide with your own images.

Generally, using Canva is as easy as dragging and dropping things where you want them. You’ll be able to set the dimensions for your project so the image you export is a perfect size. Adding text and changing the size, font, or color is easy too.

Adobe Spark also has templates for channel art, and it’s also very easy to use. The first time you use it helpful notes will pop up to guide you through the process. Using templates is especially simple because you just click on the elements in the pre-made thumbnail and replace them with your own photos/text.

You can make changes to the colors in your Spark thumbnail easily by selecting a new color scheme or filter. You can even toggle through layouts easily. When you choose a new layout, Spark will rearrange all the pieces of your current thumbnail to align with the new layout so you can quickly see what it looks like instead of having to rebuild.

Click to check more YouTube thumbnail makers

Part 4: How to Make Thumbnails That Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)

Here are the top 10 best practices for creating effective YouTube thumbnails:

#1. Show What Your Video Is About

Being mysterious and clickbaity can get you views, if you’re already big. For small YouTubers, it pays off to be clear about your video’s topic. You want people to click who want to watch the actual content of your video. Even if you manage to get some clicks by being mysterious, you’ll probably end up with low viewer retention because people are clicking away when they realize your video isn’t what they were looking for. That will make YouTube’s algorithm rank your video lower, and then even fewer people will find it.

If your video is a product review, show the product in the thumbnail and maybe even write ‘review’ on it. If your video is a makeup tutorial, show your face with the finished makeup and maybe even include pictures of the products you used. People want to know what they’re clicking on before they click.

#2. Use a Consistent Layout

As you grow, you’ll want people to be able to see one of your thumbnails and instantly know it’s yours. Building a recognizable brand is about consistency. Try to stick with one basic layout for all of your videos. You can still customize every individual thumbnail by using different facial expressions and different graphics, but try to use similar backgrounds, fonts, and general layouts (i.e. you to the right of the thumbnails, text to the left) over and over.

#3. Use Your Face

Why should people want to watch your videos? If the answer is ‘because I can teach them to create delicious food’ or ‘because they want to learn about the latest iPhone’ then your thumbnail should include that food or that iPhone.

If part of the reason people want to watch your videos is you – your personality and your sense of humor – then you should be in your thumbnail.

Viewers who are on YouTube because they like seeing a creator’s personality like to feel the presence of that personality in the video thumbnail, and eye contact naturally draws attention and clicks.

#4. Add Small Graphics

Adding small graphics, like emojis or hearts, to your thumbnail can help you stand out in a couple different ways. First, if they’re being compared to thumbnails that are just screenshots from the video, your thumbnails will look a lot more polished. Second, they’ll add a splash of color which can draw eyes to your video in a search where other thumbnails are not using those same colors.

#5. Your Text Should Be Huge

Your thumbnail will end up being a fraction of the size it is while you’re creating it in your thumbnail maker, and that means that any text you use will end up being shrunk down. You could probably type a six-word sentence in a size 18 font and have it look fine while you’re making your thumbnail, but after you upload it there’s no way people will be able to read it at a glance.

Aim for a huge font size, and 3 words or less (so your thumbnail doesn’t end up looking crowded).

#6. Check Out The Competition

Type your video’s title or topic into the search engine on YouTube and look at the thumbnails for the videos that come up. These are your competition. You want to make a thumbnail that is similar enough to what comes up that viewers know it’s on the same topic, but different enough that it stands out.

Generally, if most of the thumbnails have the same layout, you’ll want to mimic that layout. Where you can break from the crowd is in the colors, fonts, and graphics you use.

Part 5: Animated YouTube Thumbnails

Whether or not you upload a custom thumbnail to YouTube, YouTube’s A.I will choose what it thinks are the 3 juiciest seconds of your video (you cannot choose for yourself) and play them as a GIF-like animation when people mouseover your video thumbnails.

As of now, this only works in the Google Chrome desktop browser. Videos have to be at least 30 seconds long to get moving thumbnails.

Alright, now that you know everything about YouTube thumbnails, go make one! Tell us in the comments what you’re going to do to make your video thumbnails stand out.

Touch Up YouTube Videos with Effects & Elements in Filmora

As one of the most widely used video editing software in YouTube video editing, Filmora provides lots of templates and effects with an intuitive interface. Download the free trial version and get started now.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

EpicEditor Hub: Innovative PC Cutting with Tunes

The online world is steadily shifting from static photos to videos and it is quite evident from the social media users. Everyone prefers uploading short videos with music to get more attention rather than uploading a collection of photos. You can join multiple video clips and add background music as well as make a slideshow video with audio. You will require a video editor with music to get the job done.

There are different types of video editors available where you can upload photos and video clips along with songs and music. You turn them into an eye-catching music video instantly with different video effects and animations. Starting from online video editors with music to standalone video editing software, here is the list of the top 10 best video editors for creating and editing videos with music like a professional.

Part 1. Best music video editors for PC

1. Filmora

System compatibility: Windows 11/10/8/7 and Mac

Rating: 4.7/5

Wondershare Filmora is the best video editor with music. It is a premium software where you get all the features and functionalities you need to make and edit music videos like a pro. The software lets you capture screen video, webcam video, external audio as well as voiceover. Therefore, you can use your own music or song in the background of your video.

When it comes to video editing, all the standard tools are available for music video creation. There are loads of transitions, effects, elements, audio and titles available. Besides, there is a dedicated stock media library available. You can import and export different file formats and publish 4K videos as well. Here are the top features of Wondershare Filmora.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

• Drag and drop all media files for video creation.
• Easy timeline for organizing media files and editing them quickly.
• Crop, trim, split, cut, and combine media files.
• Wide range of video transitions and audio effects.
• Different motion elements, titles, and stock media files.
• Keyframing, noise removal, video stabilization options.
• Super intuitive user interface for all users.

2. Windows Movie Maker

System compatibility: Windows 11, 10

Rating: 4.0/5

If you are Windows user and you are looking for a free video editor with song, Windows Movie Maker is the perfect app you can get from Microsoft Store. Even though it comes free, the video editor is quite powerful. You can crop, trim, join video clips and add text and music to your video. There are image filters available for photo enhancement as well as transitions to apply in the video.

There are in-built music tracks available and it supports importing a wide range of media files. You can avail animated pan and zoom feature for photos and adjust volume and speed. There is also a Pro version available that supports 4K video and better project management as well as advanced tools. Here are the top features of Windows Movie Maker.

• Rotate, trim, flip, and join video clips to make music video.
• Make video from photos and add in-built or external music files.
• Add titles, credits, texts, stickers, as well as pan-zoom animation.
• Wide range of transition effects and photo filters available.
• Supports importing and exporting different file formats.
• Pro version supports 4K resolution and offers exclusive quick tools.

3. Blender

System compatibility: Windows 11, 10, 8.1 macOS 10.13+, Linux.

Rating: 4.5/5

If you are looking for an open-source video editor, Blender is the best choice. It is completely free to use and it comes with all the standard features for creating and editing music videos. The software is particularly popular for modelling, sculpting, rendering and creating animation-based videos. The video editor contains 32 slots where you can add your media files to create the video.

Blender allows you to change video speed, adjust different layers in the videos and add preferred transitions. Moreover, there are masks and filters available to enhance video content. The advance options of audio mixing and keyframing will surely come handy for advanced users. Here are the top features of Blender video editor.

• Cut, split, trim, and join videos clips.
• Color grading, photo filters and custom text options.
• Add effects, transitions, and animations to your video.
• Live visualization options for advanced users.
• Motion tracking, scene stabilization and compositing options.

4. Adobe Premiere Pro

System compatibility: Windows 10 and 11.

Rating: 4.5/5

Adobe Premiere Pro is the best video editor for professionals. The software has a slightly steep learning curve and it requires a high-end computer. Therefore, it is useful for you when you are serious about making professional-quality music video. In fact, Adobe Premiere Pro is widely used in the music video and video creation industry.

Adobe Premiere Pro is the perfect combination of standard and advanced video editing options. You can edit various video files at the same time. In fact, it is perfect for a team to work on your music video files. You can edit VR videos, multi-cam videos as well 3D videos. You can edit your photos, video clips and audio files perfectly as per your requirements. Here are the top features of Adobe Premiere Pro.

• Trim, split, crop, merge, adjust speed, color correction options.
• Edit video clips and audio files minutely with comparison view.
• Auto color correction, auto reframe, and configurable user interface.
• Editing advanced videos like VR and 3D as well as advance audio editor.
• Supports importing and exporting different media file formats.

5. Final Cut Pro

System compatibility: macOS 10.14 or higher

Rating: 4.4/5

Final Cut Pro for Mac users is equivalent to Adobe Premium Pro for Windows users. It is widely used by video creators to edit your videos and add effects and audio to get the desired result. You get the standard as well as the advanced video editing options and features. You can publish your music video at high resolution, and the software takes minimum time for rendering.

Final Cut Pro allows editing 3D, VR, multi-cam, and 360-degree videos. There are loads of effects, filters, and presets available to apply to your video clips and photos to create a music video. The presence of cinematic mode and object tracker could be useful for creating out-of-the-box videos. Here are the top features of Final Cut Pro.

• Trim, split, crop, change speed, color correction, and multi-cam video editing.
• Amazing cinematic mode to enhance music video content and quality.
• Add external music file and edit the music file as required.
• Proper organization tool for team to work collaboratively.
• Background rendering feature saves a lot of time in video processing.
• Publish your music video in high resolution without long processing time.

7. Clido

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS.

Rating: 4.5/5

Clido is an online platform where you get different tools for video editing. It is a premium online video editor with music and hence, it is suitable for all those who want to edit video with music on the go. There is no need to download any software and you can merge, compress, resize, cut and crop video as per your requirements.

You can even rotate and adjust speed to create slow-motion videos. To create your music video, you have to opt for its video maker where you can use photos, video clips, GIFs, and music. You can edit the duration for photos and video clips as per your preference. There is also a slideshow maker available for instant video creation with your photos. Here are the top features of Clido that you should be aware of.

• Flip, loop, reverse, crop, resize, and merge video clips.
• Create slideshow videos and add music of your choice instantly.
• Wide range of presets and video filters.
• Change aspect ratios to make videos for different platforms.
• Super intuitive user interface and secure platform.
• Compatible with popular browsers and suitable for PC and phone users

8. Adobe Express

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS.

Rating: 4.5/5

Adobe Express is an online video editor with song that is compatible with popular browsers and all devices. You can create stunning music videos in a few minutes. There are various templates available to get started and finish your stunning music video in a few steps. There is a wide range of stock images available from Adobe. You get access to effects, textures, overlays, and filters to enhance video quality.

You can also remove background from your photos to improve video content. There are various graphical elements available to add to your video. You can resize your video to be compatible with online platforms and different devices. The software allows you to play with texts and titles by offering various customization options. Here are the top features of Adobe Express.

• Loads of video templates for quick video creation.
• Resize photos, convert to different formats, and remove background.
• Trim and crop video clips, convert to GIFs, resize as required.
• Access to stock media library of Adobe and experiment with text.
• Make video for different online platforms and different devices.

9. VideoPad

System compatibility: Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista and XP & Mac OS X 10.5 or above.

Rating: 4.1/5

VideoPad from NCH Software is a simple but powerful video editor. You can create stunning music videos and edit them as per your requirements. The user interface is suitable for beginners and you can avail different video effects and transitions to apply to your video. There are also dedicated audio tools available to edit audio and music files.

The software supports editing 360-degree and 3D videos. In fact, it supports over 60 video file formats for importing them. The software is equally useful in video optimization and you can share the edited video on different online platforms as per your preference. Here are the top features of VideoPad.

• Standard video and audio editing options available.
• Mix music track, add audio effects, and record your narration.
• Wide range of templates for intro, outro and others for branding.
• Supports up to 4K resolution and lossless export.
• Video optimization, stabilization, color correction, and change speed.
• Upload videos directly to YouTube, Vimeo, and Flickr and cloud platforms.

Part 2. How to make a music video on my own?

In order to make a music video file, you will need a video editor, video clips or photos, and background music. We recommend Wondershare Filmora as the best video editor for music videos. Transfer the video clips or photos with which you want to make the music video from your phone to your computer. Choose and download the music file that you would want to add to the background of your video. You can also record your own song or music and use the same for background music. Here are the steps to make a music video on your own.

Step 1: Download and install Filmora as per your operating system. Launch the software and click on New Project.

Step 2: Drag and drop the video clips, photos, music and audio files on Project Media folder.

Step 3: Drag and drop the video clips or photos on Timeline and arrange them in order as you want in your video. You can stretch the duration of the photos and videos as per your requirements.

Step 4: Go to Transition option at the top bar and drag and drop the transition of your choice on the photos or video clips so that the transition is eye-catching and eye-soothing.

Step 5: Drag and drop the music file from Project Media folder on the Timeline below the photos or video clips. You can stretch or trim the music track to suit the video length. Check out Audio, Effects, Elements and Titles section at the top bar so that you can incorporate them in your music video to be more appealing and engaging.

Step 6: Preview the music video on Filmora and click on Export button to save it on your hard drive as per your selected file format.

Part 3. Related FAQs

1. How do I add music to video editor on PC?

Different video editor offers different options to add music. Some allow you to drag and drop music file from your hard drive to video editor directly. Otherwise, you have to browse and go to the location and select the music file. Online video editor also allows uploading music file from cloud storage.

2. What software is best for editing music videos?

Wondershare Filmora is the best video editor for editing music videos. This is because it is a premium software with all the features and functionalities that you need to edit your music video. The user interface is intuitive for everyone to enhance video content and quality.

3. What is the best app to put music to videos?

InShot is the best app to put music to videos for Android users. For iOS users, Video Maker with Music Editor is the best app to use where all the required features are readily available.

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

• Drag and drop all media files for video creation.
• Easy timeline for organizing media files and editing them quickly.
• Crop, trim, split, cut, and combine media files.
• Wide range of video transitions and audio effects.
• Different motion elements, titles, and stock media files.
• Keyframing, noise removal, video stabilization options.
• Super intuitive user interface for all users.

2. Windows Movie Maker

System compatibility: Windows 11, 10

Rating: 4.0/5

If you are Windows user and you are looking for a free video editor with song, Windows Movie Maker is the perfect app you can get from Microsoft Store. Even though it comes free, the video editor is quite powerful. You can crop, trim, join video clips and add text and music to your video. There are image filters available for photo enhancement as well as transitions to apply in the video.

There are in-built music tracks available and it supports importing a wide range of media files. You can avail animated pan and zoom feature for photos and adjust volume and speed. There is also a Pro version available that supports 4K video and better project management as well as advanced tools. Here are the top features of Windows Movie Maker.

• Rotate, trim, flip, and join video clips to make music video.
• Make video from photos and add in-built or external music files.
• Add titles, credits, texts, stickers, as well as pan-zoom animation.
• Wide range of transition effects and photo filters available.
• Supports importing and exporting different file formats.
• Pro version supports 4K resolution and offers exclusive quick tools.

3. Blender

System compatibility: Windows 11, 10, 8.1 macOS 10.13+, Linux.

Rating: 4.5/5

If you are looking for an open-source video editor, Blender is the best choice. It is completely free to use and it comes with all the standard features for creating and editing music videos. The software is particularly popular for modelling, sculpting, rendering and creating animation-based videos. The video editor contains 32 slots where you can add your media files to create the video.

Blender allows you to change video speed, adjust different layers in the videos and add preferred transitions. Moreover, there are masks and filters available to enhance video content. The advance options of audio mixing and keyframing will surely come handy for advanced users. Here are the top features of Blender video editor.

• Cut, split, trim, and join videos clips.
• Color grading, photo filters and custom text options.
• Add effects, transitions, and animations to your video.
• Live visualization options for advanced users.
• Motion tracking, scene stabilization and compositing options.

4. Adobe Premiere Pro

System compatibility: Windows 10 and 11.

Rating: 4.5/5

Adobe Premiere Pro is the best video editor for professionals. The software has a slightly steep learning curve and it requires a high-end computer. Therefore, it is useful for you when you are serious about making professional-quality music video. In fact, Adobe Premiere Pro is widely used in the music video and video creation industry.

Adobe Premiere Pro is the perfect combination of standard and advanced video editing options. You can edit various video files at the same time. In fact, it is perfect for a team to work on your music video files. You can edit VR videos, multi-cam videos as well 3D videos. You can edit your photos, video clips and audio files perfectly as per your requirements. Here are the top features of Adobe Premiere Pro.

• Trim, split, crop, merge, adjust speed, color correction options.
• Edit video clips and audio files minutely with comparison view.
• Auto color correction, auto reframe, and configurable user interface.
• Editing advanced videos like VR and 3D as well as advance audio editor.
• Supports importing and exporting different media file formats.

5. Final Cut Pro

System compatibility: macOS 10.14 or higher

Rating: 4.4/5

Final Cut Pro for Mac users is equivalent to Adobe Premium Pro for Windows users. It is widely used by video creators to edit your videos and add effects and audio to get the desired result. You get the standard as well as the advanced video editing options and features. You can publish your music video at high resolution, and the software takes minimum time for rendering.

Final Cut Pro allows editing 3D, VR, multi-cam, and 360-degree videos. There are loads of effects, filters, and presets available to apply to your video clips and photos to create a music video. The presence of cinematic mode and object tracker could be useful for creating out-of-the-box videos. Here are the top features of Final Cut Pro.

• Trim, split, crop, change speed, color correction, and multi-cam video editing.
• Amazing cinematic mode to enhance music video content and quality.
• Add external music file and edit the music file as required.
• Proper organization tool for team to work collaboratively.
• Background rendering feature saves a lot of time in video processing.
• Publish your music video in high resolution without long processing time.

7. Clido

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS.

Rating: 4.5/5

Clido is an online platform where you get different tools for video editing. It is a premium online video editor with music and hence, it is suitable for all those who want to edit video with music on the go. There is no need to download any software and you can merge, compress, resize, cut and crop video as per your requirements.

You can even rotate and adjust speed to create slow-motion videos. To create your music video, you have to opt for its video maker where you can use photos, video clips, GIFs, and music. You can edit the duration for photos and video clips as per your preference. There is also a slideshow maker available for instant video creation with your photos. Here are the top features of Clido that you should be aware of.

• Flip, loop, reverse, crop, resize, and merge video clips.
• Create slideshow videos and add music of your choice instantly.
• Wide range of presets and video filters.
• Change aspect ratios to make videos for different platforms.
• Super intuitive user interface and secure platform.
• Compatible with popular browsers and suitable for PC and phone users

8. Adobe Express

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS.

Rating: 4.5/5

Adobe Express is an online video editor with song that is compatible with popular browsers and all devices. You can create stunning music videos in a few minutes. There are various templates available to get started and finish your stunning music video in a few steps. There is a wide range of stock images available from Adobe. You get access to effects, textures, overlays, and filters to enhance video quality.

You can also remove background from your photos to improve video content. There are various graphical elements available to add to your video. You can resize your video to be compatible with online platforms and different devices. The software allows you to play with texts and titles by offering various customization options. Here are the top features of Adobe Express.

• Loads of video templates for quick video creation.
• Resize photos, convert to different formats, and remove background.
• Trim and crop video clips, convert to GIFs, resize as required.
• Access to stock media library of Adobe and experiment with text.
• Make video for different online platforms and different devices.

9. VideoPad

System compatibility: Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista and XP & Mac OS X 10.5 or above.

Rating: 4.1/5

VideoPad from NCH Software is a simple but powerful video editor. You can create stunning music videos and edit them as per your requirements. The user interface is suitable for beginners and you can avail different video effects and transitions to apply to your video. There are also dedicated audio tools available to edit audio and music files.

The software supports editing 360-degree and 3D videos. In fact, it supports over 60 video file formats for importing them. The software is equally useful in video optimization and you can share the edited video on different online platforms as per your preference. Here are the top features of VideoPad.

• Standard video and audio editing options available.
• Mix music track, add audio effects, and record your narration.
• Wide range of templates for intro, outro and others for branding.
• Supports up to 4K resolution and lossless export.
• Video optimization, stabilization, color correction, and change speed.
• Upload videos directly to YouTube, Vimeo, and Flickr and cloud platforms.

Part 2. How to make a music video on my own?

In order to make a music video file, you will need a video editor, video clips or photos, and background music. We recommend Wondershare Filmora as the best video editor for music videos. Transfer the video clips or photos with which you want to make the music video from your phone to your computer. Choose and download the music file that you would want to add to the background of your video. You can also record your own song or music and use the same for background music. Here are the steps to make a music video on your own.

Step 1: Download and install Filmora as per your operating system. Launch the software and click on New Project.

Step 2: Drag and drop the video clips, photos, music and audio files on Project Media folder.

Step 3: Drag and drop the video clips or photos on Timeline and arrange them in order as you want in your video. You can stretch the duration of the photos and videos as per your requirements.

Step 4: Go to Transition option at the top bar and drag and drop the transition of your choice on the photos or video clips so that the transition is eye-catching and eye-soothing.

Step 5: Drag and drop the music file from Project Media folder on the Timeline below the photos or video clips. You can stretch or trim the music track to suit the video length. Check out Audio, Effects, Elements and Titles section at the top bar so that you can incorporate them in your music video to be more appealing and engaging.

Step 6: Preview the music video on Filmora and click on Export button to save it on your hard drive as per your selected file format.

Part 3. Related FAQs

1. How do I add music to video editor on PC?

Different video editor offers different options to add music. Some allow you to drag and drop music file from your hard drive to video editor directly. Otherwise, you have to browse and go to the location and select the music file. Online video editor also allows uploading music file from cloud storage.

2. What software is best for editing music videos?

Wondershare Filmora is the best video editor for editing music videos. This is because it is a premium software with all the features and functionalities that you need to edit your music video. The user interface is intuitive for everyone to enhance video content and quality.

3. What is the best app to put music to videos?

InShot is the best app to put music to videos for Android users. For iOS users, Video Maker with Music Editor is the best app to use where all the required features are readily available.

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

• Drag and drop all media files for video creation.
• Easy timeline for organizing media files and editing them quickly.
• Crop, trim, split, cut, and combine media files.
• Wide range of video transitions and audio effects.
• Different motion elements, titles, and stock media files.
• Keyframing, noise removal, video stabilization options.
• Super intuitive user interface for all users.

2. Windows Movie Maker

System compatibility: Windows 11, 10

Rating: 4.0/5

If you are Windows user and you are looking for a free video editor with song, Windows Movie Maker is the perfect app you can get from Microsoft Store. Even though it comes free, the video editor is quite powerful. You can crop, trim, join video clips and add text and music to your video. There are image filters available for photo enhancement as well as transitions to apply in the video.

There are in-built music tracks available and it supports importing a wide range of media files. You can avail animated pan and zoom feature for photos and adjust volume and speed. There is also a Pro version available that supports 4K video and better project management as well as advanced tools. Here are the top features of Windows Movie Maker.

• Rotate, trim, flip, and join video clips to make music video.
• Make video from photos and add in-built or external music files.
• Add titles, credits, texts, stickers, as well as pan-zoom animation.
• Wide range of transition effects and photo filters available.
• Supports importing and exporting different file formats.
• Pro version supports 4K resolution and offers exclusive quick tools.

3. Blender

System compatibility: Windows 11, 10, 8.1 macOS 10.13+, Linux.

Rating: 4.5/5

If you are looking for an open-source video editor, Blender is the best choice. It is completely free to use and it comes with all the standard features for creating and editing music videos. The software is particularly popular for modelling, sculpting, rendering and creating animation-based videos. The video editor contains 32 slots where you can add your media files to create the video.

Blender allows you to change video speed, adjust different layers in the videos and add preferred transitions. Moreover, there are masks and filters available to enhance video content. The advance options of audio mixing and keyframing will surely come handy for advanced users. Here are the top features of Blender video editor.

• Cut, split, trim, and join videos clips.
• Color grading, photo filters and custom text options.
• Add effects, transitions, and animations to your video.
• Live visualization options for advanced users.
• Motion tracking, scene stabilization and compositing options.

4. Adobe Premiere Pro

System compatibility: Windows 10 and 11.

Rating: 4.5/5

Adobe Premiere Pro is the best video editor for professionals. The software has a slightly steep learning curve and it requires a high-end computer. Therefore, it is useful for you when you are serious about making professional-quality music video. In fact, Adobe Premiere Pro is widely used in the music video and video creation industry.

Adobe Premiere Pro is the perfect combination of standard and advanced video editing options. You can edit various video files at the same time. In fact, it is perfect for a team to work on your music video files. You can edit VR videos, multi-cam videos as well 3D videos. You can edit your photos, video clips and audio files perfectly as per your requirements. Here are the top features of Adobe Premiere Pro.

• Trim, split, crop, merge, adjust speed, color correction options.
• Edit video clips and audio files minutely with comparison view.
• Auto color correction, auto reframe, and configurable user interface.
• Editing advanced videos like VR and 3D as well as advance audio editor.
• Supports importing and exporting different media file formats.

5. Final Cut Pro

System compatibility: macOS 10.14 or higher

Rating: 4.4/5

Final Cut Pro for Mac users is equivalent to Adobe Premium Pro for Windows users. It is widely used by video creators to edit your videos and add effects and audio to get the desired result. You get the standard as well as the advanced video editing options and features. You can publish your music video at high resolution, and the software takes minimum time for rendering.

Final Cut Pro allows editing 3D, VR, multi-cam, and 360-degree videos. There are loads of effects, filters, and presets available to apply to your video clips and photos to create a music video. The presence of cinematic mode and object tracker could be useful for creating out-of-the-box videos. Here are the top features of Final Cut Pro.

• Trim, split, crop, change speed, color correction, and multi-cam video editing.
• Amazing cinematic mode to enhance music video content and quality.
• Add external music file and edit the music file as required.
• Proper organization tool for team to work collaboratively.
• Background rendering feature saves a lot of time in video processing.
• Publish your music video in high resolution without long processing time.

7. Clido

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS.

Rating: 4.5/5

Clido is an online platform where you get different tools for video editing. It is a premium online video editor with music and hence, it is suitable for all those who want to edit video with music on the go. There is no need to download any software and you can merge, compress, resize, cut and crop video as per your requirements.

You can even rotate and adjust speed to create slow-motion videos. To create your music video, you have to opt for its video maker where you can use photos, video clips, GIFs, and music. You can edit the duration for photos and video clips as per your preference. There is also a slideshow maker available for instant video creation with your photos. Here are the top features of Clido that you should be aware of.

• Flip, loop, reverse, crop, resize, and merge video clips.
• Create slideshow videos and add music of your choice instantly.
• Wide range of presets and video filters.
• Change aspect ratios to make videos for different platforms.
• Super intuitive user interface and secure platform.
• Compatible with popular browsers and suitable for PC and phone users

8. Adobe Express

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS.

Rating: 4.5/5

Adobe Express is an online video editor with song that is compatible with popular browsers and all devices. You can create stunning music videos in a few minutes. There are various templates available to get started and finish your stunning music video in a few steps. There is a wide range of stock images available from Adobe. You get access to effects, textures, overlays, and filters to enhance video quality.

You can also remove background from your photos to improve video content. There are various graphical elements available to add to your video. You can resize your video to be compatible with online platforms and different devices. The software allows you to play with texts and titles by offering various customization options. Here are the top features of Adobe Express.

• Loads of video templates for quick video creation.
• Resize photos, convert to different formats, and remove background.
• Trim and crop video clips, convert to GIFs, resize as required.
• Access to stock media library of Adobe and experiment with text.
• Make video for different online platforms and different devices.

9. VideoPad

System compatibility: Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista and XP & Mac OS X 10.5 or above.

Rating: 4.1/5

VideoPad from NCH Software is a simple but powerful video editor. You can create stunning music videos and edit them as per your requirements. The user interface is suitable for beginners and you can avail different video effects and transitions to apply to your video. There are also dedicated audio tools available to edit audio and music files.

The software supports editing 360-degree and 3D videos. In fact, it supports over 60 video file formats for importing them. The software is equally useful in video optimization and you can share the edited video on different online platforms as per your preference. Here are the top features of VideoPad.

• Standard video and audio editing options available.
• Mix music track, add audio effects, and record your narration.
• Wide range of templates for intro, outro and others for branding.
• Supports up to 4K resolution and lossless export.
• Video optimization, stabilization, color correction, and change speed.
• Upload videos directly to YouTube, Vimeo, and Flickr and cloud platforms.

Part 2. How to make a music video on my own?

In order to make a music video file, you will need a video editor, video clips or photos, and background music. We recommend Wondershare Filmora as the best video editor for music videos. Transfer the video clips or photos with which you want to make the music video from your phone to your computer. Choose and download the music file that you would want to add to the background of your video. You can also record your own song or music and use the same for background music. Here are the steps to make a music video on your own.

Step 1: Download and install Filmora as per your operating system. Launch the software and click on New Project.

Step 2: Drag and drop the video clips, photos, music and audio files on Project Media folder.

Step 3: Drag and drop the video clips or photos on Timeline and arrange them in order as you want in your video. You can stretch the duration of the photos and videos as per your requirements.

Step 4: Go to Transition option at the top bar and drag and drop the transition of your choice on the photos or video clips so that the transition is eye-catching and eye-soothing.

Step 5: Drag and drop the music file from Project Media folder on the Timeline below the photos or video clips. You can stretch or trim the music track to suit the video length. Check out Audio, Effects, Elements and Titles section at the top bar so that you can incorporate them in your music video to be more appealing and engaging.

Step 6: Preview the music video on Filmora and click on Export button to save it on your hard drive as per your selected file format.

Part 3. Related FAQs

1. How do I add music to video editor on PC?

Different video editor offers different options to add music. Some allow you to drag and drop music file from your hard drive to video editor directly. Otherwise, you have to browse and go to the location and select the music file. Online video editor also allows uploading music file from cloud storage.

2. What software is best for editing music videos?

Wondershare Filmora is the best video editor for editing music videos. This is because it is a premium software with all the features and functionalities that you need to edit your music video. The user interface is intuitive for everyone to enhance video content and quality.

3. What is the best app to put music to videos?

InShot is the best app to put music to videos for Android users. For iOS users, Video Maker with Music Editor is the best app to use where all the required features are readily available.

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

• Drag and drop all media files for video creation.
• Easy timeline for organizing media files and editing them quickly.
• Crop, trim, split, cut, and combine media files.
• Wide range of video transitions and audio effects.
• Different motion elements, titles, and stock media files.
• Keyframing, noise removal, video stabilization options.
• Super intuitive user interface for all users.

2. Windows Movie Maker

System compatibility: Windows 11, 10

Rating: 4.0/5

If you are Windows user and you are looking for a free video editor with song, Windows Movie Maker is the perfect app you can get from Microsoft Store. Even though it comes free, the video editor is quite powerful. You can crop, trim, join video clips and add text and music to your video. There are image filters available for photo enhancement as well as transitions to apply in the video.

There are in-built music tracks available and it supports importing a wide range of media files. You can avail animated pan and zoom feature for photos and adjust volume and speed. There is also a Pro version available that supports 4K video and better project management as well as advanced tools. Here are the top features of Windows Movie Maker.

• Rotate, trim, flip, and join video clips to make music video.
• Make video from photos and add in-built or external music files.
• Add titles, credits, texts, stickers, as well as pan-zoom animation.
• Wide range of transition effects and photo filters available.
• Supports importing and exporting different file formats.
• Pro version supports 4K resolution and offers exclusive quick tools.

3. Blender

System compatibility: Windows 11, 10, 8.1 macOS 10.13+, Linux.

Rating: 4.5/5

If you are looking for an open-source video editor, Blender is the best choice. It is completely free to use and it comes with all the standard features for creating and editing music videos. The software is particularly popular for modelling, sculpting, rendering and creating animation-based videos. The video editor contains 32 slots where you can add your media files to create the video.

Blender allows you to change video speed, adjust different layers in the videos and add preferred transitions. Moreover, there are masks and filters available to enhance video content. The advance options of audio mixing and keyframing will surely come handy for advanced users. Here are the top features of Blender video editor.

• Cut, split, trim, and join videos clips.
• Color grading, photo filters and custom text options.
• Add effects, transitions, and animations to your video.
• Live visualization options for advanced users.
• Motion tracking, scene stabilization and compositing options.

4. Adobe Premiere Pro

System compatibility: Windows 10 and 11.

Rating: 4.5/5

Adobe Premiere Pro is the best video editor for professionals. The software has a slightly steep learning curve and it requires a high-end computer. Therefore, it is useful for you when you are serious about making professional-quality music video. In fact, Adobe Premiere Pro is widely used in the music video and video creation industry.

Adobe Premiere Pro is the perfect combination of standard and advanced video editing options. You can edit various video files at the same time. In fact, it is perfect for a team to work on your music video files. You can edit VR videos, multi-cam videos as well 3D videos. You can edit your photos, video clips and audio files perfectly as per your requirements. Here are the top features of Adobe Premiere Pro.

• Trim, split, crop, merge, adjust speed, color correction options.
• Edit video clips and audio files minutely with comparison view.
• Auto color correction, auto reframe, and configurable user interface.
• Editing advanced videos like VR and 3D as well as advance audio editor.
• Supports importing and exporting different media file formats.

5. Final Cut Pro

System compatibility: macOS 10.14 or higher

Rating: 4.4/5

Final Cut Pro for Mac users is equivalent to Adobe Premium Pro for Windows users. It is widely used by video creators to edit your videos and add effects and audio to get the desired result. You get the standard as well as the advanced video editing options and features. You can publish your music video at high resolution, and the software takes minimum time for rendering.

Final Cut Pro allows editing 3D, VR, multi-cam, and 360-degree videos. There are loads of effects, filters, and presets available to apply to your video clips and photos to create a music video. The presence of cinematic mode and object tracker could be useful for creating out-of-the-box videos. Here are the top features of Final Cut Pro.

• Trim, split, crop, change speed, color correction, and multi-cam video editing.
• Amazing cinematic mode to enhance music video content and quality.
• Add external music file and edit the music file as required.
• Proper organization tool for team to work collaboratively.
• Background rendering feature saves a lot of time in video processing.
• Publish your music video in high resolution without long processing time.

7. Clido

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS.

Rating: 4.5/5

Clido is an online platform where you get different tools for video editing. It is a premium online video editor with music and hence, it is suitable for all those who want to edit video with music on the go. There is no need to download any software and you can merge, compress, resize, cut and crop video as per your requirements.

You can even rotate and adjust speed to create slow-motion videos. To create your music video, you have to opt for its video maker where you can use photos, video clips, GIFs, and music. You can edit the duration for photos and video clips as per your preference. There is also a slideshow maker available for instant video creation with your photos. Here are the top features of Clido that you should be aware of.

• Flip, loop, reverse, crop, resize, and merge video clips.
• Create slideshow videos and add music of your choice instantly.
• Wide range of presets and video filters.
• Change aspect ratios to make videos for different platforms.
• Super intuitive user interface and secure platform.
• Compatible with popular browsers and suitable for PC and phone users

8. Adobe Express

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS.

Rating: 4.5/5

Adobe Express is an online video editor with song that is compatible with popular browsers and all devices. You can create stunning music videos in a few minutes. There are various templates available to get started and finish your stunning music video in a few steps. There is a wide range of stock images available from Adobe. You get access to effects, textures, overlays, and filters to enhance video quality.

You can also remove background from your photos to improve video content. There are various graphical elements available to add to your video. You can resize your video to be compatible with online platforms and different devices. The software allows you to play with texts and titles by offering various customization options. Here are the top features of Adobe Express.

• Loads of video templates for quick video creation.
• Resize photos, convert to different formats, and remove background.
• Trim and crop video clips, convert to GIFs, resize as required.
• Access to stock media library of Adobe and experiment with text.
• Make video for different online platforms and different devices.

9. VideoPad

System compatibility: Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista and XP & Mac OS X 10.5 or above.

Rating: 4.1/5

VideoPad from NCH Software is a simple but powerful video editor. You can create stunning music videos and edit them as per your requirements. The user interface is suitable for beginners and you can avail different video effects and transitions to apply to your video. There are also dedicated audio tools available to edit audio and music files.

The software supports editing 360-degree and 3D videos. In fact, it supports over 60 video file formats for importing them. The software is equally useful in video optimization and you can share the edited video on different online platforms as per your preference. Here are the top features of VideoPad.

• Standard video and audio editing options available.
• Mix music track, add audio effects, and record your narration.
• Wide range of templates for intro, outro and others for branding.
• Supports up to 4K resolution and lossless export.
• Video optimization, stabilization, color correction, and change speed.
• Upload videos directly to YouTube, Vimeo, and Flickr and cloud platforms.

Part 2. How to make a music video on my own?

In order to make a music video file, you will need a video editor, video clips or photos, and background music. We recommend Wondershare Filmora as the best video editor for music videos. Transfer the video clips or photos with which you want to make the music video from your phone to your computer. Choose and download the music file that you would want to add to the background of your video. You can also record your own song or music and use the same for background music. Here are the steps to make a music video on your own.

Step 1: Download and install Filmora as per your operating system. Launch the software and click on New Project.

Step 2: Drag and drop the video clips, photos, music and audio files on Project Media folder.

Step 3: Drag and drop the video clips or photos on Timeline and arrange them in order as you want in your video. You can stretch the duration of the photos and videos as per your requirements.

Step 4: Go to Transition option at the top bar and drag and drop the transition of your choice on the photos or video clips so that the transition is eye-catching and eye-soothing.

Step 5: Drag and drop the music file from Project Media folder on the Timeline below the photos or video clips. You can stretch or trim the music track to suit the video length. Check out Audio, Effects, Elements and Titles section at the top bar so that you can incorporate them in your music video to be more appealing and engaging.

Step 6: Preview the music video on Filmora and click on Export button to save it on your hard drive as per your selected file format.

Part 3. Related FAQs

1. How do I add music to video editor on PC?

Different video editor offers different options to add music. Some allow you to drag and drop music file from your hard drive to video editor directly. Otherwise, you have to browse and go to the location and select the music file. Online video editor also allows uploading music file from cloud storage.

2. What software is best for editing music videos?

Wondershare Filmora is the best video editor for editing music videos. This is because it is a premium software with all the features and functionalities that you need to edit your music video. The user interface is intuitive for everyone to enhance video content and quality.

3. What is the best app to put music to videos?

InShot is the best app to put music to videos for Android users. For iOS users, Video Maker with Music Editor is the best app to use where all the required features are readily available.

Also read: