Slideshow videos are one of the fastest, most effective ways to turn photos into engaging content. Whether you’re celebrating a milestone, telling a story, promoting a product, or sharing memories online, slideshow videos help you showcase visuals with music, motion, and meaning.
And the best part? You don’t need to be a video editor to make one. In this blog, we’ll compare the best user-friendly photo slideshow makers available today. Let’s dive in!
TLDR: Animoto is our top pick for creating stunning slideshow videos fast. Animoto stands out by offering two powerful slideshow tools—one for creating beautiful videos in seconds, and another for fully customizing colors, styles, and animations. Whether you need speed or creative control, Animoto makes professional-quality slideshows effortless for anyone.
1: Animoto’s photo slideshow maker
Animoto makes it easy for anyone to create stunning photo slideshows, offering two tools in one, designed to suit different needs and skill levels.
Our flagship tool, Animoto 3, gives you as much creative control over your videos as you want while still keeping things simple. With customizable templates and an intuitive drag-and-drop editor, you can easily adjust colors, fonts, transitions, and animations to match your brand or style. Despite its added flexibility, Animoto remains incredibly easy to use even for beginners.
Key features:
- Drag-and-drop functionality
- Hundreds of professional slideshow templates
- User-friendly text, color, and animation tools
- Massive stock library of videos, photos, and illustrations
- License-free music library
- One-click branding
If you just want a fast and easy way to turn your photos into a polished video, give Memories a try. It's a simple, no-fuss slideshow maker that lets you create beautifully animated videos in seconds. Just upload your photos, pick a style and soundtrack, and Animoto takes care of the rest.
Best of all, when you sign up, you get free access to both Memories and Animoto so you can choose the right tool for any project.
Pros
- Extensive template library: Animoto offers a wide variety of professionally designed slideshow templates for every occasion, from showcasing products to creating personal photo albums.
- Drag-and-drop easy: No experience required! Just drag and drop to create dynamic layouts that showcase your photos.
- Easy customization tools: Apply your colors, choose different animations, add a song, and create custom layouts easily.
Cons
- Some of the top features are only available with a paid subscription
2: Biteable
Biteable is an online video creation platform designed for users who want to produce professional-looking videos quickly and easily. It offers a wide range of pre-made templates, animations, and stock assets, making it especially popular among marketers, small businesses, and internal communications teams. While it's often used for explainer videos and presentations, it can also be used to create simple photo slideshows.
Pros
- Animation library: Fast and easy to create professional-looking animations.
- Essential video tools: Has basic video editing tools for cropping, adding audio, etc.
- High-quality templates: Offers a variety of well-designed templates.
Cons
- The interface can be overwhelming and confusing, especially for beginners.
3: Movavi
Movavi is a multimedia software company that offers a suite of tools for video editing, screen recording, and photo editing. Its Slideshow Maker is a desktop application designed to help users turn photos and videos into polished slideshows with transitions, music, and effects. Movavi is known for its advanced features, making it a popular choice for more experienced users.
Pros
- Rich editing features: Movavi offers a wide range of customization options.
- Offline access: Movavi doesn't require an internet connection once installed.
- Has more depth than some slideshow makers, which can be overwhelming for beginners.
Cons
- Unlike browser-based tools, Movavi must be downloaded and installed onto a device.
4: Icecream App
Icecream Slideshow Maker is a lightweight desktop application designed specifically for turning photos into simple, music-backed slideshows. Developed by Icecream Apps, it's aimed at users who want a straightforward, no-frills way to create slideshows without a steep learning curve. The tool supports various file formats and offers basic customization options.
Pros
- Simple and intuitive: Beginner-friendly and easy to navigate interface.
- Quick export options: Users can export videos in multiple formats and resolutions.
- Offline functionality: As a desktop tool, it works without an internet connection.
Cons
- Lacks editing capabilities like layered effects, animations, or text options.
- Icecream does not support cloud-based storage or collaboration.
5: Adobe Express
Adobe Express (formerly Adobe Spark) is a web-based design and content creation tool that allows users to produce graphics, videos, and social media content easily. It includes a video feature that can be used to create simple photo slideshows with music, text, and transitions. Aimed at individuals and educators, Adobe Express offers a blend of creative flexibility and ease of use, all within a browser or mobile app.
Pros
- Professional templates: Offers a wide selection of polished templates and design assets.
- Integrated Adobe ecosystem: Adobe Creative Cloud users can incorporate assets and move between tools.
Cons
- Adobe Express provides only basic control over slide timing and transitions.
- Audio editing is minimal; there’s no granular control for syncing transitions to music or adjusting volume levels per slide.
6: Clideo
Clideo is a browser-based video editing platform that offers a suite of simple tools for everyday video tasks like merging, compressing, trimming, and creating slideshows. Its Slideshow Maker lets users upload images, arrange them, add music, and export the result as a video file online. Clideo is aimed at casual users looking for quick, no-fuss video edits.
Pros
- Quick and simple workflow: The interface is clean and user-friendly, so you can produce basic photo slideshows quickly.
- Clideo accepts a wide range of image and audio formats.
Cons
- Customization options are basic, with fewer transitions, text effects, or animations.
- Some struggle with large file uploads and export times.
7: Clipchamp
Clipchamp is a browser-based video editor owned by Microsoft that combines ease of use with a range of professional features. It offers timeline editing, customizable templates, and a built-in stock library, making it suitable for both beginners and more advanced users. While Clipchamp is primarily used for video editing, it can also be used to create polished photo slideshows with transitions, music, and text.
Pros
- Flexible timeline editing: Clipchamp allows users to arrange and time photos precisely on a timeline.
- Templates and stock assets: The platform includes a large selection of slideshow templates, stock images, and music tracks.
Cons
- Performance can lag on lower-end devices or slower browsers.
- HD resolutions, branded content, and certain stock assets are locked behind a paid plan.
8: Veed
Veed.io is an online video editor known for its modern interface and easy-to-use tools tailored for content creators, marketers, and social media teams. While it’s often used for editing talking-head videos, it also offers features that make it possible to create photo slideshows with music, text overlays, and transitions. As a browser-based tool, Veed emphasizes accessibility and speed for quick video production.
Pros
- Text and branding tools: Users can easily add branded elements, subtitles, and stylized text.
- Cloud-based: Veed autosaves work in the cloud, which is great for remote or collaborative use.
Cons
- While Veed supports video editing, its features aren’t fully optimized for traditional photo slideshows.
- Editing within the browser can be laggy or slow with large slideshow projects.
9: Envato
Envato is a digital asset marketplace best known for Envato Elements, a subscription-based service that provides access to millions of creative assets, including slideshow templates for tools like After Effects, Premiere Pro, and PowerPoint. While it doesn't offer a standalone slideshow maker like some competitors, users can use Envato’s templates to build highly customized photo slideshows in compatible editing software. In addition, Envato Video Maker (formerly Placeit Video Maker) offers a simpler, browser-based solution for creating basic video content.
Pros
- Great for advanced users: Those comfortable with programs like After Effects or Premiere Pro can create standout slideshows easily.
- Unlimited downloads with subscription: With a subscription, users can download and test multiple slideshow styles.
Cons
- Most slideshow templates must be used with professional editing tools like Adobe Premiere Pro or After Effects.
- Users without experience in video editing software may find the learning curve steep and the setup time lengthy.
10: Video Candy
Video Candy is a free, browser-based video editing tool developed by the team behind Icecream Apps. It offers a suite of simple tools for merging videos, converting formats, trimming clips, and creating slideshows. The Slideshow Maker feature lets users upload images, choose music, and quickly generate a photo slideshow without needing advanced editing skills or software installation.
Pros
- Free and easy to use: The interface is clean and beginner-friendly, making it easy to create a basic photo slideshow.
- Quick for simple projects: Ideal for short, straightforward slideshows where speed matters more than customization.
Cons
- The tool offers minimal options for transitions, text, animation, or audio control.
- Users cannot save projects for later editing or access them across devices.
11: Flex Clip
FlexClip is an online video editor designed for ease of use, offering tools for creating promotional videos, social media content, and photo slideshows. It provides a drag-and-drop interface, customizable templates, royalty-free media, and basic editing features like transitions, text, and music. FlexClip is aimed at marketers, small business owners, and content creators who want to produce simple, polished videos quickly in a browser.
Pros
- Beginner-friendly interface: FlexClip’s drag-and-drop timeline makes it easy to add photos, transitions, text, and music.
- Template Library: The platform offers pre-made slideshow templates and access to royalty-free stock content.
Cons
- FlexClip lacks more advanced animation options or fine control over transitions and timing.
- Users may experience lag or slower performance with large projects.
How to create a custom slideshow with Animoto 3
Animoto is the ideal tool for beginners who want to turn photos into polished slideshow videos. With a wide range of professionally designed templates, you can create everything from personal photo albums to marketing content without starting from scratch.
Built-in music, stock photos, and video clips help speed up the process, so there’s no need to search for extras elsewhere. Ready to bring your photos to life? Sign up for a free account and create your first slideshow in just six simple steps.
Want to try Memories instead? Just skip ahead.
Step 1: Grab a template
Skip all the daunting, detail-oriented steps of creating your video and jump right in with a stunning template. Each one can be customized with new colors, animations, music, aspect ratios, and, of course, photos. Or, just add your photos and videos and share as-is!
Step 2: Add your media
Import your favorite photos and video clips from your device or cloud storage, then drag and drop them into your workspace to create your video. It’s that easy!
Need more room? You can add more blocks to fill with photos, or create a collage using media frames.
If you’re short on media or want filler content, you can pull from our Getty Images Stock Library.
Step 3: Add text
While the photos are the start of the show, you can add text to add time stamps, special quotes, and endearing details.
While you’re here, you can also use elements like frames, circle, stars, and underlines to highlight your favorite shots.
Step 4: Customize the look and feel
You might already be loving the style and colors of your video but if you want to personalize it even further, all it takes is a couple of clicks. Use a Theme to instantly apply new colors, animations, and fonts instantly. Or, add your own custom colors, brand elements, and more.
Step 5: Add a song
Nothing drives your story home like music! Every template comes with a license-free song so it’s ready to share anywhere. But if you want to change the vibe, just head over to the music library, browse by genre and tempo, and find the track you like.
Step 6: Publish and share
And just like that, you’re ready to share your slideshow video! Click export in the upper right corner and share all your favorite photos in one charming video.
Make a slideshow in 5 minutes with Animoto Memories
Not sure which Animoto tool to use? It all depends how creative you want to get. With Memories, you can create a beautiful slideshow video in just a few minutes. But if you want a bit more control over the aesthetics and pacing of you video, Animoto 3 might be the right choice.
Here’s a quick overview.
If you’re ready to start creating with Memories, just follow these quick steps or get even more detailed instruction on this step-by-step blog.
Step 1: Select Memories
First, sign up for a free account. Then, go to your Projects page, click “Create a video,” and choose Memories.
Step 2: Choose a video style
Pick a style to set the tone for your video. You can preview styles and switch later if needed.
Step 3: Upload your media
Click the plus sign to upload your photos and videos, or choose from the free stock library.
Step 4: Arrange and edit
Drag and drop to reorder your media. Trim clips, mute or keep audio, and spotlight key photos.
Optional: Add your logo
Upload your logo for an intro/outro and choose an animation. Add a short caption or CTA if needed.
Step 5: Add text and captions
Add captions to individual media or insert a title card to share a message on its own.
Step 6: Add music and adjust pacing
Select a song from the library or upload your own. Trim and adjust the pacing to match your video flow.
Step 7: Produce and share
Preview your video, make final edits, then click “Produce” to download and share your finished video.
The right photo slideshow maker makes all the difference
No matter your vision, whether it's a heartfelt tribute, a standout social media post, or a polished marketing video, the right slideshow maker can help you bring your photos to life with style and ease.
As you explore the best photo slideshow makers of 2025, keep in mind what matters most to you: speed, customization, design templates, music options, or branding tools. And if you want a platform that grows with your needs, Animoto offers the perfect balance of simplicity and creative flexibility, all in one place.
Ready to turn your favorite photos into something unforgettable? Sign up for Animoto and start creating your first slideshow video today, no experience needed.
