Facebook offers a text overlay tool that allows users to add text boxes over photos and videos when creating posts. This tool provides a quick and easy way to add captions, headings, or other text elements without having to use a separate editing program. However, some users may be looking for alternatives to the built-in text overlay for various reasons.
Why look for alternatives?
There are a few potential reasons someone may want an alternative to the default Facebook text overlay tool:
- More formatting options – The built-in tool has limited formatting capabilities for the text boxes. Users cannot adjust text color, size, or add other styling elements beyond bold, italic, and underline.
- Positioning issues – The Facebook overlay tool can be tricky when trying to get the text box perfectly positioned over an image or video. An advanced editing tool would provide more precision.
- Integrating graphics – The text overlay does not allow inserting shapes, logos, or other graphics alongside the text box. An alternative tool would enable integrating graphical elements.
- Animated text – The default tool only supports static text. Users who want animated or kinetic typography will need a different solution.
For users who want more creative freedom with text overlays, an external editing program may be required rather than relying solely on the built-in Facebook tool.
Image and video editing software
One option is to use photo, image, or video editing software that includes text overlay capabilities. Some examples include:
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Premiere
- Apple Final Cut Pro
- Apple iMovie
- Canva
- Corel PaintShop Pro
- Microsoft Photos
The advantage of using one of these programs is it provides more advanced features for working with text overlays. Users can fine-tune text formatting, positioning, graphic elements, animations, and more before exporting the image or video file to post on Facebook.
The downside is these programs require an upfront investment, either to purchase outright or pay a subscription fee. There is also a learning curve to become proficient at using them.
| Program | Price |
|---|---|
| Adobe Photoshop | $10-$80 per month subscription depending on plan |
| Apple Final Cut Pro | $299.99 one-time purchase |
| Canva | Free or $12.99 per month for Canva Pro subscription |
Online design platforms
For a simpler option than advanced editing software, users can turn to online graphic design platforms. These web and mobile apps make it easy to customize text overlays for images and videos with drag-and-drop functionality.
Some top options include:
- Adobe Express
- Canva
- Crello
- Design Wizard
- PicMonkey
- PosterMyWall
- Snapseed
Most of these platforms follow a similar workflow. Users can upload a photo or video from their device, choose an overlay template or start from scratch, customize the text, positioning, colors and more in a simple editor, then export the finished design to post on social media.
Benefits of online design platforms include:
- Intuitive drag-and-drop interface
- Many fonts, graphics, and design elements to choose from
- No software downloads required
- Often free or low-cost subscription options
- Export overlays for multiple formats and uses
The functionality is not as advanced as desktop design software, but online platforms provide easy text overlay creation for casual Facebook users’ needs in most cases.
Top online design platforms
Canva
Canva is one of the most full-featured online design platforms available with capabilities for creating text overlays, social media graphics, presentations, posters, documents, and more. The free tier provides access to 100,000+ design elements and fonts to enhance text overlays.
Adobe Express
Adobe’s web and mobile design app has customizable templates for text overlays, logos, flyers, cards, and other visual content. Users can access Adobe fonts and 175 million stock photos and images to elevate overlay designs.
PicMonkey
PicMonkey focuses specifically on editing images with overlays, graphics, effects and touch up tools. The intuitive interface makes it easy to add and style text boxes over photos or videos destined for Facebook and other platforms.
Text overlay browser extensions
There are also a few text overlay tools available as browser extensions or add-ons. These allow creating and editing overlays right within the Facebook post composer.
Examples include:
- Text on Photo for Facebook Chrome Extension
- WP Overlays Chrome Extension
- Photo Text Editor Firefox Add-on
After installing one of these browser extensions, users can access the text overlay editor directly within the Facebook post composer. They can add text boxes, customize fonts, position, color and more.
Key features of Facebook text overlay browser extensions:
- Add text overlays without leaving Facebook
- Drag and drop positioning
- Resize text boxes
- Change text font, size, color
- Adjust transparency
- Text animation effects
The main advantages are convenience and quick access to basic text overlay tools without needing to go to an outside platform. However, the capabilities may still be limited compared to standalone design apps.
Facebook collage apps
An indirect alternative for text overlays is using a Facebook collage app. These tools allow combining multiple photos into a single collage image with customized layouts and borders.
Users can add text captions to individual images before merging them into the collage. The end result when posted on Facebook mimics the look of a single photo overlaid with text boxes.
Some collage apps to check out include:
- PicCollage
- Collageable
- Collage Maker
- Photo Grid
Benefits of the collage approach for text overlays:
- Full control over text size, color, fonts on individual images
- More flexibility with image placement and angles
- Add decorative borders and shapes
- Easily swap out individual images later
Downsides include somewhat limited layout options compared to true graphic overlays and no ability to overlay text directly on videos.
Collage apps comparison
| App | Platforms | Number of Layouts |
|---|---|---|
| PicCollage | iOS, Android | 50+ |
| Collageable | iOS | 70+ |
| Collage Maker | Android | 100+ |
DIY solutions
For the most customization options, crafty users can take text overlays into their own hands with do-it-yourself solutions. This could involve using physical materials or household objects to manually create text overlays on photos printed on paper.
Some DIY text overlay methods include:
- Print out photo, add text captions with markers, pens, etc. then reshoot.
- Type text on transparent acetate sheets and position over printed photo.
- Use letter stickers or rub-on transparency film to add text captions.
- Cut text out of colored paper and paste onto photo prints.
DIY overlays allow for flexibility with fonts, materials, colors, and placement. Users can place text boxes, shapes, doodles, or illustrations wherever they prefer over the photo or video still.
Once the DIY overlay piece is complete, it simply needs to be photographed and uploaded as the final image to Facebook. Some creativity and crafting skills are required.
Third-party apps
There are also various third-party apps in app stores that offer text overlay creation. These apps are not affiliated with Facebook but allow exporting overlays to post on social media or use elsewhere.
Some examples include:
- Over – Video Overlays (iOS)
- Videoleap (iOS)
- Video & Photo Editor with Music (Android)
- VivaVideo (Android/iOS)
Benefits of third-party overlay apps:
- Designed specifically for overlays
- Tools optimized for social media
- Capabilites tailored to mobile
- Access outside of Facebook
- Some free options available
Look for apps with features like multiple text boxes, fonts, colors, positioning, borders, animations, and support for exporting high resolution videos and images to use on Facebook.
Conclusion
The default text overlay tool built into Facebook offers a quick and convenient way to add simple captions to photos and videos. However, users looking for more advanced creative options do have various alternative solutions at their disposal.
Standalone image/video editing software provides the most robust set of overlay features, while online design platforms offer intuitive browser-based tools. Browser extensions, collage apps, DIY methods and third-party mobile apps also present diverse approaches to overlays.
Factors like budget, technical skill level, time investment and specific overlay needs will determine which solution makes the most sense for each individual user. But the range of options available enables creating customized text overlays for Facebook posts that go well beyond the basic built-in tool.