The opening sequence of a video is one of the most important parts of the production. It’s the first thing viewers see and can set the tone for the video content. A well-designed introduction or opener can capture the viewer’s attention and keep them engaged throughout the rest of the video.
Creating an opener from scratch can be difficult and time-consuming, especially if you’re unfamiliar with After Effects or on a tight deadline. Thankfully, many free, pre-designed templates and presets are available to help you create a professional intro or opener in a snap.
This collection includes some of the best free After Effects opener templates. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, these free AE templates are an excellent resource for creating engaging openers for your videos.
The free video templates come in various styles, themes, and designs, ranging from simple and minimalistic to complex and intricate, so choose the one that best suits your project’s aesthetic.
If you would like to learn some new skills in After Effects, you might like to take a look at our collection of tutorials.
How to Import Templates into After Effects
With these eight simple steps, you can easily import and use templates in After Effects to create stunning visual effects for your videos.
- Open After Effects and create a new project.
- Go to
File
and thenImport
and navigate to the template file that you want to use. - After selecting the file, click
Open
to import the template into your project. - Once the template has been imported, it will appear in the Project panel on the left side of the screen.
- Double-click on the template in the Project panel to open it in the Composition panel.
- Customize the template using the various layers and controls available.
- When you’re finished customizing the template, go to
Composition
>Add to Render Queue
to prepare it for rendering. - In the Render Queue panel, select your desired output settings and click
Render
to export your video with the template applied.
The Top Free Intro & Opener Templates for After Effects
Dynamic Instagram Opener After Effects Templates (Free)
Use this dynamic opener to engage your Instagram or YouTube following and stand out in their feed. The template comes with 27 image and video placeholders, 20 editable text layers, and one logo placeholder.
Colorful & Modern AE Opener Template
This creative and colorful opener template is perfect for travel, fashion, or kid’s brand. This opener is a great way to create simple video or photo slideshows, showreels, corporate presentations, or a family album.
Classic Youtube Opener After Effects Template (Free)
This classic YouTube opener can be used in business and corporate projects. It comes with full-color control, and you can easily change the text and other elements to make it your own.
Glitch Media Opener for After Effects
Check out this Glitch Media opener template for any grunge or retro-style video project you may be working on. The template includes a detailed help file, animated fonts, and complete color control, making it easy to customize the color schemes.
Mozaic Opener Template for After Effects
This versatile mosaic opener template can be used in various projects and industries. It features a unique mosaic design, and you can easily add your own text and adjust the colors.
3D Light After Effects Intro with Smoke (Free)
This modern intro template features bold typography and a bright neon color scheme as a starting point and then produces a stunning 3D text effect that’s smothered in smoke. This template would be perfect for a business that caters to a younger audience.
Dynamic & Fast After Effects Opener
This is another opener template that would work well for a company that advertises to a young crowd. It features a dynamic and fast animation style. It comes with 16 image or video placeholders and six text placeholders.
Parallax Opener After Effects Template (Free)
If you’re looking for a stylish and elegant opener, look no further than this parallax opener. The template includes a stunning parallax animation with eight editable text layers, eight photo or video placeholders, and one logo placeholder.
Dark & Light Glitch Effect Intro for After Effects (Free)
Looking for a sleek and edgy way to introduce your video? Check out this glitch template for After Effects. The best part is that no plugins are required – simply edit and render. Even if you’re new to After Effects, you’ll find this glitch intro template easy to customize to your needs.
Creative & Modern Opener
Try this template if you’re looking for a modern opener. It features a fast-paced animation in a slideshow style. You can easily change the colors and fonts, add your own elements, and render the project.
Big Bold Typography Intro or Opener
This free opener template, as the name suggests, offers overly large bold text, with some lovely clip transitions. It would be perfect as the opener or intro of any travel or vacation-related video.
Retro Wave Intro Template for After Effects (Free)
This free Retro Wave Intro template is perfect for any vintage or retro project. The template has a colorful design, two editable text layers, one logo placeholder, and a full-color controller.
Elegant Corporate Intro AE Template
This elegant intro template can be used in corporate-style videos, weddings, or fashion projects. It includes eight text and image placeholders.
Short Opener After Effects Template (Free)
If you need something simple to quickly create a video opener, this is the free After Effects intro template you need. The template is as simple as possible, and you can easily customize colors and add your chosen text.
Cyberpunk Intro Template for After Effects
If you’re a fan of the cyberpunk style, don’t miss this Cyberpunk Intro. This is an excellent choice if you want to have a cinematic look in your videos, and it would also be an ideal fit for a tech company.
Smooth After Effects Intro Template (Free)
This free intro template features bold titles and duotone colors. You will get five image or video placeholders, four text placeholders, one logo placeholder, and a custom color controller.
Bold & Modern Intro Template for After Effects
The Modern Intro template features a bold and modern design. The template includes several styles, and you can easily customize the text, colors, and other elements used in the introduction.
Photographic AE Intro Template
This cute intro is an excellent choice if you’re a photographer working on a video presentation of your work or trying to create a personal video presentation. Drop in your photos, change the colors, and you’re good to go.
Modern Website Presentation AE Template
If you need a creative and unique way to present your web design client work or graphic design portfolio, try this modern website presentation template. You can also use it to showcase your website templates or CMS themes.
Clean & Elegant After Effects Intro Templates (Free)
This free After Effects intro template comes with 15 different image placeholders and can be used for corporate videos or any video that promotes a fashion or a jewelry brand.
Scribble Logo Intro Project File for After Effects (Free)
This free After Effects template displays your logo with a touch of elegance. The animation starts by drawing the outline of your logo and gradually revealing the full design, creating a captivating effect. The simplicity of the animation adds to its beauty, making it a perfect choice for anyone looking for a refined and polished way to showcase their brand.
Corporate & Business Video Intro Template for After Effects (Free)
This bright and clean After Effects intro template has seven media and seven text placeholders. It features an elegant animation perfect for corporate or business video projects.
Top