Content creation is a crucial part of any business’ marketing strategy. When done well, it can produce a wide variety of results: increased traffic to your website, higher rankings on search engines, and more conversions from leads. The problem is that creating content can be time-consuming and difficult. It takes skill and practice to know how to write compelling content that resonates with your audience.
We’ve created this software with one thing in mind: helping you create better content faster than ever before. Our software does all the hard work for you, so all you need to do is sit back and watch as our tools automatically generate content for you based on your specifications.
Table of Contents
Fast Content Creation Software
There’s no doubt about it – we live in a visual age. That means if you don’t have a visual content creation strategy, you’re losing your audience.
The stats prove it:
Video gets lots of online attention across all age groups and is predicted to be 82% of online traffic by 2021
Content with images gets more views and more shares than other content
Images help your marketing convert, increasing signups in one case by as much as 329%
Video can help boost customer retention, as in the case of Tiger Fitness, who had a 60% returning customer rate
The bottom line: if you’re going to stay ahead of the marketing game, you need to use visual content marketing.
But not everybody’s a design whiz. We totally get that.
If creating visuals is a stretch, you’re going to need some help. That’s why we’ve put together this list of digital content creation software. It contains the tools you need to nail visual content creation, and there’s an added bonus.
All of the visual content creation tools listed below are free.
That means you can use visuals to get visitors’ attention without blowing a hole in your budget, and get the benefits of more attention, more leads, and ultimately, more sales.
Recommended Resource: Need to jumpstart your content marketing results? Get more traffic and conversions with our Ultimate Guide to Content Marketing in 2020.
We’ve divided the tools into categories, so you can easily find the visual content creation tools you need first:
Image Creation Tools
Video Creation Tools
Animation Tools
Infographic Creation Tools
Screen Capture Tools
Meme Creation Tools
GIF Creation Tools
Presentation Creation Tools
Image Creation Tools
Let’s start our list of digital content creation tools with some tools focused on creating and editing images.
- Adobe Spark
adobe spark – digital content creation software
Adobe Spark is a fast content creation software that lets you easily combine text, images, and video content for better storytelling online.
- BeFunky Graphic Designer
be funky fast content creation software
If you’re looking for a way to quickly create collages and other photos, BeFunky Graphic Designer can help. You can also make cards, banners, brochures, and posters with this fast content creation software package.
- Canva
content creation tools for social media imclude canva
Canva is one of our favorite tools, making it easy to create and edit customized images for sharing on social media, illustrating blog posts, and much more. It’s an essential content marketing tool for many professionals.
- Fotor
free content marketing tools – fotor
Looking for photo editing, photo effects, and image retouching? Try the templates and tools from Fotor to make graphic design easy.
- Image Quote
handle content creation for social media with Image Quote
As the name suggests, Image Quote (previously known as Instaquote) is all about helping you create quote graphics by adding words to images. This is a mobile app, available for both iOS and Android.
- Pablo
6 Pablo by Buffer – digital content creation tools
If you’re looking for content creation tools for social media, then Pablo, by Buffer, is a good choice. It makes it easy to combine beautiful images with text, and includes filters. You can add your own logo, too.
- Photo Collage
photo collage is digital content creation software
Photo Collage opens with a blank canvas where you can add your photos and arrange them. You can also add text. It includes a handy tool to create your collage automatically if you don’t want the hassle of arranging the images yourself.
- Pixlr
8 Pixlr Web Apps
Pixlr is another useful free content creation tool. It’s available in three flavors:
A quick tool for adding fun filters
Pixlr Express, which includes more image editing
The full Pixlr Editor, which has many of the same functions as professional image editing software like Photoshop
- Quotes Cover
content creation for social media with quotes cover
You don’t have to login or sign up to use Quotes Cover. This free digital content creation tool lets you easily create quote graphics online. And you can use their designs as a starting point, making the process pretty quick.
- Quozio
quozio is fast content creation software
Quozio is another tool to help you speed up content creation for social media by making it easy to create quote graphics. Just enter your text in a box, say who said it, and you’ll soon have plenty of choices with different backgrounds and fonts. Sharing buttons are available just below, which keeps the process simple.
- Snappa
content creation tools for social media – snappa
The next on our list of free content marketing tools is Snappa. This web app is a full-featured drag and drop image editor, which lets you add and edit effects with a slider. You can upload your own graphics, and save designs in folders.
- Stencil
Stencil content creation tools
Stencil streamlines content creation for social media. This fast, simple app lets you easily combine photos, icons, and more to create your own images. And it includes templates and quote graphic templates, too.
Video Creation Tools
Our next selection of free visual content creation tools is all about video.
- Animaker
content creation tools – animaker
Want to get the effect of a studio-created animated video without the hefty price tag? That’s what Animaker offers. You can create multiple video types including explainer videos, whiteboard videos, and even infographic videos.
- iMovie
visual content creation tools – imovie
If you’re using iOS or MacOS, then iMovie is likely one of the best free content creation tools you can use. This app makes it easy to create and share videos, and to make Hollywood-style video trailers.
- Lumen5
lumen5 is a visual content tool
Lumen5 is one of the more interesting visual content creation tools on our list. That’s because it uses artificial intelligence to let you create a video from text. Enter a URL and the software will create videos to match, including photos and music. This is definitely one to keep an eye on.
- RawShorts
use rawshorts as a visual content creation tool
RawShorts is a drag and drop video editor designed to make it easy to create animated and explainer videos. It includes templates for many industries which users can select and customize. And it’s easy to add other media, transitions, and audio to your video creation.
- Soapbox
Soapbox by wistia
Soapbox is a Chrome extension from video hosting service Wistia. It lets you create and share videos in your browser window, with no technical skills required. The extension also includes a split-screen view, allowing you to record your webcam and your screen at the same time.
- VideoShop
digital content creation tools – videoshops
VideoShop lets you add music, sound effects, and voiceovers to your videos. You can also combine and edit clips, and add filters and transitions. Plus it’s easy to share your creations on social media. This app is available on iOS and Android.
Tools to Use: 11 Best Instagram Video Editing Tools Compared (Free and Paid)
Animation Tools
Want to make short animations to liven up your content marketing? These content creation tools will help.
- Boomerang
Boomerang from Instagram
Boomerang is a video app from Instagram, available both as a standalone app and within the Instagram app itself. It allows you to take short stop motion videos, and share them on Instagram. These are a highly engaging and popular content format on that platform.
- Biteable
biteable visual content creation
Biteable lets you create up to 5 videos per month in its free plan, and publish them to YouTube and Facebook. It says it’s the simplest way to create a video. You can easily choose from pre-made templates, styles, and soundtracks, or create your own. And you need just one click to share to your favorite social media platform.
- Google Photos
free content marketing tools – google photos
Google Photos has a built-in Assistant that works with the photos you upload to automatically create short movies and animations. If you want more control, you can also create them yourself from within the cross-platform app.
- Powtoon
powtoon is a well known visual content creation tool
Powtoon bridges the gap between videos and presentations, making it easy to create appealing visual content in only a few minutes. These are an excellent way to get attention and engage your audience.
- Renderforest
Renderforest
If you’re looking for a way to create visual content fast, RenderForest is a good option. This cloud-based animation and video maker helps you quickly make intro videos, explainer videos, presentations, infographics, and much more.
- RendrFX
RendrFX
RendrFX is a paid service, but you can create up to 3 watermarked videos for free. Add your content to the site’s many templates, and you’ll soon have an engaging video you can use anywhere.
Infographic Creation Tools
Next, it’s time to look at tools for infographics, which are one of the most engaging visual content formats.
- Easel.ly
easelly is one of the free content creation tools
Easel.ly aims to make it simple to create infographics by using pre-made templates and adding photos, images, and charts. The free version gives you access to 10 templates, but you’ll get hundreds more with a paid plan.
- Google Charts
google charts
While Google Charts doesn’t exactly let you create infographics, it’s a great tool to support infographic creation. That’s because it lets you visualize data by creating and customizing multiple chart formats.
- Infogram
infogram
If you’re looking for interactive visual content creation tools, Infogram is worth a try. In the free version, you get access to 37 types of interactive infographics plus 13 types of maps, and you can use drag and drop to create a stunning infographic.
- ThingLink
free content marketing tools – thinglink
ThingLink is another piece of digital content creation software with a focus on interactivity. You can embed images, video, 360° content, maps and more for a truly immersive experience.
- Venngage
Venngage
Venngage makes it easy to create infographics via a three-step process. First, choose a template, then add elements, and finally, customize your design. Some functionality is reduced in the free plan.
- Visme
use visme for visual content creation
If you want to get started with infographics, Visme has a lot to offer. It includes several templates, charts and widgets that you can use to create your infographic. However, you’ll need to upgrade for an even wider range and additional organizational features.
Screen Capture Tools
If you need fast content creation software, a screen capture tool’s a great way to illustrate something for your audience. Here are some worth checking out.
- CloudApp
use CloudApp for visual content creation
CloudApp is a favorite on the OptinMonster team because it’s the tool we use for creating screenshots, screen recordings, and animated GIFs. It’s simple to use and allows unlimited screenshots, even in the free version. You can also easily share and store images.
- Awesome Screenshot Awesome screenshot
Awesome Screenshot is a browser extension available for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari that lets you quickly capture web pages and add annotations. You can store, organize, and share images, too. - Firefox Screenshots Firefox Screenshots
Recent versions of the Firefox web browser include the built-in Firefox Screenshots tool. This lets you take a photo of a part of the screen, the visible screen area or the whole web page with just a couple of clicks. You get online storage for images, too. - Kap
digital content creation tools – kap
If you need a digital content creation tool for MacOS, then Kap could be useful. It’s an open-source screen recorder that’s fast, functional, and easy to use.
- Nimbus Capture
Nimbus Capture
Nimbus Capture is another browser screenshot tool that allows you to capture and edit screenshots. It works with Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Edge, as well as on Android, PCs, and Macs.
- Windows Snipping Tool
windows snipping tool
The Snipping Tool built into Windows is another easy way to create screenshots. You can use different types of screen captures and can highlight, annotate, and remove URLs from snips.
Meme Creation Tools
Whether they’re cat pictures or screenshots from movies, it’s hard to imagine the web without memes, so here are some visual content creation tools to help you create your own.
- iMeme
imeme visual content creation software
iMeme is a digital content creation software for making memes. It includes 50 common memes, or you can use your own photos. You can also customize the text. There’s just one downside: there’s no built-in sharing. You’ll have to download your newly created meme and share it manually.
- Kapwing
Kapwing
If you’re looking for a simple meme creator, Kapwing is worth a look. Just upload or paste a link to an image, video, or GIF; add your text; then share your new meme.
- Make a Meme
visual content creation tools – make a meme
With Make a Meme, you can upload an image, add text via the onscreen input boxes, then press a button to create your meme. If you’re happy with the meme preview, it’s then easy to share from the preview page.
- Meme Buddy
use meme buddy as a visual content creation tool
Meme Buddy is an online meme generator with a difference: it lets you make a meme by voice via an integration with Google Assistant. You can choose images, add text, translate memes, and much more, all without having to touch a keyboard.
- Meme Generator
Meme Generator for visual content creation
The meme creation process in the Meme Generator is pretty simple. You search for or add an image, add some text, and then share your meme. It’s pretty quick, making it easy to get started with meme creation.
GIF Creation Tools
A little bit of animation is great for getting visitors’ attention, so it doesn’t hurt to add GIFs to your digital content creation mix. Here are some tools to help you get started.
- Ezgif
ezgif
Want to create a GIF fast? With Ezgif you can upload a series of images and it’ll create the GIF for you. You can adjust the order of uploaded images, change the GIF size, and tweak animation settings, too.
- GIFMaker GIF Maker
GIFMaker lets you upload up to 300 images to create a new animated GIF. You can use the online GIF creator to change the canvas size and animation speed. There’s also the option to add music from YouTube to make your GIF even more appealing. - Giphy
giphy is a visual content creation tool
Giphy is one of the best-known content creation tools for social media. It integrates with multiple apps to help people find the right GIF to share. But it also includes an online GIF creator. Just upload a photo or a video, set your animation speed, and add some decorative effects, then your GIF is ready to upload and share.
- Imgflip
imgflip is a digital content creation tool
Like other online meme generators, Imgflip works with existing memes or lets you upload your own image. Once that’s done, you can easily add text to the top, bottom or both to create your meme.
- Google Slides
Google Slides
If you’re already using other Google services, then Google Slides is a useful part of the suite. It allows you to quickly create visually appealing presentations using pre-made templates. You can also use Slides to work with imported PowerPoint presentations or to export your creations to PowerPoint. Best of all, you never lose your work since everything auto-saves.
- Emaze
emaze is fast content creation software
Emaze is an online presentation tool, with templates for design, business and education in a variety of categories. Just choose a template and start editing, and you’ll soon have an attractive presentation. You can also create other visual content, as well as websites, with this software.
- Prezi
Prezi
Prezi offers presentation design for non-designers, letting you get started quickly with templates relating to different niches. This fast content creation software also makes it easy to change how you navigate through a presentation based on your audience. And it provides stats on audience interaction. The free version has some limitations.
- SlideDog
SlideDog presentation software
SlideDog lets you create and play presentations and media playlists. There’s just one catch: in the free version, you can only use Pro features for 15 minutes at a time. Presentations are interactive, and you can livestream and share content. SlideDog integrates with all common presentation and media software.
- Slides
slides is a free visual content creation tool
Slides is a browser-based presentation tool that offers a live presentation mode. It includes vertical slides, and lets you create private slide decks by default. And it includes the ability to embed presentations and to get data on viewer activity.
- Sway
Sway
Sway is an online presentation tool from Microsoft that lets you create presentations from existing templates or documents. It’ll also help you get started by gathering resources related to your chosen topic.
That’s it! With these visual content creation tools, you have everything you need to grab visitors’ attention. Next, see our list of the best WordPress plugins to grow your business.
But don’t stop there – use the videos, presentations, memes, GIFs and more to improve your OptinMonster marketing campaigns.
OptinMonster customer Sportique doubled conversions by using an edited image as part of an optin form and combining it with OptinMonster’s exit-intent technology to get visitors’ attention just before they clicked away from the site.
free online content creation tools
To the outside world, creating posts for social media may seem easy. But, marketers and brands know there’s a lot more to social media content creation and editing than meets the eye, particularly in today’s social media landscape.
From choosing the perfect image to representing your point of view, to creating the perfect Twitter hashtag to making a video for TikTok, here are some great content creation tools to help you along the way.
- Canva
11 Social Media Tools Every Content Creator Needs
A social media tools list wouldn’t be complete without Canva. One of the most popular tools for creating social media graphics, Canva allows users to create high-quality images quickly using layouts, templates and design elements.
The free version of the tool is extremely comprehensive, but those who want more can invest €11.99 per month (up to 5 people) or go with pro or enterprise pricing if it’s the best fit for the business. It is free for education and non-profits.
How to Create Beautiful Graphics with Canva:
Search Canva’s amazing library of templates and choose to use them as-is or to customize for your needs. There is a section dedicated to social media graphics for an array of content formats across platforms.
Choose your unique elements to make the graphic your own.
Share your new visual on any social media platform!
- Crello
11 Social Media Tools Every Content Creator Needs
Similar to Canva, Crello is a graphic design tool that makes it easy for certified social media marketers to create stunning graphics without a lot of design knowledge.
Crello’s advantage over Canva is that it offers more than 30,000 free design templates, 180 million photos, 32,000 videos and 15,000 illustrations. You can also design as a team by inviting members (up to 10), animate your designs and choose from a music library. Like Canva, a variety of different image types are offered, including templates specifically for social media. Crello is free for users, with limited usage, and pro plan starts at $9.99 a month.
How to Build Graphics Quickly with Crello:
Use Crello’s ‘Create’ tab to find a free design template or templates that work for your brand.
Simply click on a design template you love, and customize it using the Crello editor.
Save your finished product, and/or share it across your social media sites.
3 Hashtagify.me
11 Social Media Tools Every Content Creator Needs
Hashtagify.me is a free tool (with paid add-on features) that allows you to search for hashtags. Once you’ve searched for a hashtag, you can determine its popularity and how it’s used. The tool is simple to use: in the search box, type in a hashtag you are curious about, and search to find out its performance and related hashtags on Twitter and Instagram. You’ll also see the top influencers for that hashtag, as well as recent tweets using that hashtag and other demographics. Paid users can sign up for alerts on particular hashtags, track influencers and usage patterns, and more.
- Prezi and Flipsnack
11 Social Media Tools Every Content Creator Needs
Prezi allows you to create stand-alone presentations, appear alongside a presentation, and design awesome interactive graphics and charts. Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, presenting and collaborating from home has become hugely important and the platform has capitalized on its technology to make it seamless while looking good!
Check out this Coronavirus handbook for social media managers to get more insight.
Prezi can be integrated with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Webdex and has an ‘Inspiration’ section where you can see what other brands have done to engage their audiences. You can also get reusable designs and templates so you don’t need to start from scratch. An individual subscription starts at $3 a month.
11 Social Media Tools Every Content Creator Needs
If you’re looking to take your PDFs or ebooks to the next level, look no further than Flipsnack (previously known as SlideSnack. This tool has a flip book maker that allows you to create, share and embed online flip page formats.
For your mobile visitors, you can convert PDFs to HTML5 to make a book that’s fully mobile responsive and create mobile friendly content that engages.
- Grammarly
11 Social Media Tools Every Content Creator Needs
Grammarly is an all-in-one spellcheck and grammar tool. It helps users write error-free copy on Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and almost anywhere else on the web.
Grammarly works by using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to scan your text for common and complex grammatical mistakes, including everything from subject-verb agreement to article use and modifier placement. It also goes beyond regular checking to provide users with explanations and helps them improve their writing skills. The plugin is free for individual users, with premium and business plans also available.
- Typeform
11 Social Media Tools Every Content Creator Needs
Asking questions is a great way to prompt engagement on social media. But sometimes asking one question isn’t enough to get the response you want from your audience. That’s where Typeform comes in.
Typeform is a user-friendly quiz, form and survey builder that allows you to ask your audience questions in different formats, including image-based, multiple choice, short answer, yes or no, and more.
Once you have your quiz in place, you can share it across multiple social media networks in the formats that work best for your audience. 10 questions and 10 responses per month are free, and Basic, Plus, and Business versions with additional features are also available.
- Anchor
11 Social Media Tools Every Content Creator Needs
Anchor is one of the most popular platforms for creating, distributing and monetizing your podcast. All for free! It integrates with all key podcasting outlets and free social media platforms for audio. Its easy distribution with Spotify – the great audio disruptor allows you to analyze podcast performance through analytics through engagement insights. We use it at the DMI for distributing our own digital marketing podcast, Ahead of the Game.
With the Anchor app, users can easily create videos and audio recordings that are perfect for sharing on social media.
- CapCut
11 Social Media Tools Every Content Creator Needs
There are many free graphics tools that allow users to easily create beautiful images for social media, but most of them aren’t available (or aren’t very intuitive) on your smartphone.
CapCut (previously known as ViaMaker) is a free all-in-one editing app for iOs and Android developed by the creators of TikTok, ByteDance. What makes it popular is the ease of use and a big music library. Like TikTok, the app has advanced filters along with stickers and fonts along with a range of magical effects.
CapCut recently topped the U.S app store so it must be doing something right. Best of all, CapCut is free to use so get editing and sharing!
- PowToon
11 Social Media Tools Every Content Creator Needs
Video is the most popular medium on social media networks. The problem is, many companies rely on expensive external agencies to create these videos. The finished product can look too contrived, miss the message mark, and really drain the budget.
A tool like PowToon means you don’t have to be a video master to create engaging videos, especially for presentation purposes. The platform allows you to choose from several templates and customize them according to your business. You can simply plug and play your content and share across your social media networks. Free and paid versions are available from $19 to $99 per month.
Interested in learning more about video? Check out this guide to video marketing on social media.
- Animoto
11 Social Media Tools Every Content Creator Needs
Animoto is another great video platform that allows non-experts to create captivating multimedia. Animoto allows you to turn existing video clips and images into video slideshows with little effort. You can either use one of their existing storyboard templates or build a video from scratch depending on how much time you have and your ambition!
Animoto does offer a free version, if you don’t mind having their branding on your videos. Other plans are at €28 or €69 per month based on your business’s needs. Annual subscriptions offer significant discounts.
How to Create Quick Videos with Animoto:
Use one of the many storyboards provided by Animoto to speed up your video creation process. Each comes with a song, a style, and a particular structure.
Replace the existing template content with your own text, video clips, and photos.
After you create your video, you can download it in various formats and levels of quality and upload it directly to your social media platforms. There are many ways to use video in your social media marketing, so make sure you do some research to find out the best route for you.
Knowing how to create a great video is one thing but understanding how to create good marketing videos is another. Consider a social media and marketing course to use video to its full potential!
- Placeit
11 Social Media Tools Every Content Creator Needs
One more video tool in this list is PlaceIt. This image and video tool allows brands to showcase their products and digital designs in realistic web/video environments. It can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars on externally sourced product videos and images.
A one-time purchase on the platform costs a few dollars, or you can choose to pay $14.95 per month, or $89.69 yearly, depending on your brand’s needs.
How to Create Video mock-ups with Placeit:
Search for your desired environment. Tip: include your preferred device (e.g. iPhone or Mac) and background (e.g. office or cafe).
Upload your image or enter a URL to grab a screenshot. Placeit will automatically place your image in your selected environment.
Once you have your product images, you have the tools you need to promote your products on social media via organic or paid posts.
Looking for a social media and marketing course that ups your game?
Whatever social media content you want to create, these 11 tools will prove invaluable. With DMI’s Social Media Marketing course you will learn how to share, tweet and pin your way to success using engaging content that sets your brand above the competition. Plus you’ll learn how to research, plan and strategize along the way!
Conclusion
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