6 Ways to Get a Free Subscribe Button for YouTube Videos

A lot of creators add a subscribe button element to their YouTube videos. And depending on the editing software you use, these visual additions are relatively easy to include. Today, we’ll look at a few sites that offer a subscribe button visual you can use right now.

Keep in mind I am only focusing on royalty-free websites. I’ll create a separate list for premium companies that use trial and paid services at a later date.

For now, though, these are all video elements you can add immediately without upfront costs.

What is a YouTube Subscribe Button Video Element?

A YouTube subscribe button element is an image or animation file that you add to your videos. It’s essentially an on-screen reminder for people who watch your videos to subscribe to your channel.

There are a number of ways you can make an on-screen subscribe button. However, most prefer an animation because it is more eye-catching and suggestive.

How you use the button and what works best is entirely up to you. Every audience is different, and it may take a bit of trial and error to find the right image, video element, or on-screen position to engage your viewers.

Free Sites to Get a Subscribe Button for YouTube

The Internet is full of places to download all kinds of visual elements for YouTube. You can literally create an amazing channel using nothing more than free art, animations, and imagery.

It all comes down to what you’re trying to create and for whom.

Let’s dive into the list of sites that can help you find some amazing designs and artwork.

1. Canva

Canva is probably one of my most favorite free graphic app sites. You can create everything from channel banner art to an animated YouTube subscribe button.

Currently, there are over 4,600 subscribe button templates of all shapes and sizes. You can go with the traditional red button and bell animation or add a bit of flair to your outro.

These templates include animated layouts as well as still images you can use within your video. And if you know your editing software, it’s not all that difficult to “animate” a still image.

If you use the filter option, you can arrange the subscribe button templates according to “Free.”

2. Pixabay

Another one of my favorite sites for royalty-free assets is Pixabay. At the time of this post, there are more than 280 videos for the subscribe button and outros for YouTube.

I’ve used a few of these in the past, and they were quite easy to add to videos by using the Ultra Key in Adobe Premiere. However, some aren’t as crisp as others when removing the “green screen” of the file.

In addition, Pixabay is often linked with Canva, so you can easily edit these elements within the Canva editor. Well, to an extent. The animations themselves can’t be edited, obviously.

In any case, Pixabay is a good source for several YouTube templates.

3. Pexels

Pexels is similar to Pixabay in that it also has royalty-free stock images and videos. In fact, its layout is damn near identical to Pixabay. Unfortunately, this also means that some of the templates are the same as well.

That’s because creators will often place their images and animations on multiple sites to get more exposure.

In any case, there are several choices for a YouTube subscribe button video that you can download. A nice feature is that you don’t need to sign up with an account on Pexels to download the video.

While Pexels isn’t as robust as something like Canva, you can still find something that fits your channel and download it immediately.

4. Vecteezy

Like some of the others on this list, Vecteezy has a collection of various videos and images you can use for any purpose. In this case, it has eight pages of subscribe buttons you can download and use right away.

Although the “Login” screen appears for you to create a free account on the platform, you can simply close that window and still download the file.

One thing to keep in mind is that Vecteezy requires attribution when using the free elements. This means mentioning or otherwise linking back to Vecteezy.com when producing your finished product.

In other words, you can add the link to Vecteezy in the video’s description.

Perhaps the biggest difference between Vecteezy and some of the other sites is the ads. To keep the site free, you’ll have to deal with the anchor ads that appear on the sides and bottom.

5. Freepik

Freepik has both free and premium licensed images available for creating a YouTube subscribe button on your video. However, it doesn’t have the biggest selection of animated or video elements.

The trade-off is that you have over 70 pages full of various vector designs that can easily be added as a video element. And some of them are nothing short of amazing.

Another aspect you might want to consider is the social elements designs available. You can show your accounts on sites such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and more in style.

Freepik is another site that requires attribution if you use its free assets. In most cases, it’s simply adding a link back to the website within the video description.

6. Dribble

Dribble not only provides free assets for YouTube, but you can also hire creatives directly from the site.

Dribble is also one of the few on this list that requires a free account before you can download files. It’s a bit of a process as you have to answer a few questions to get started.

Nonetheless, some of the GIFS for subscribe buttons might be worth the trouble.

One thing I’d like to point out is that there are a lot of different YouTube assets on Dribble. But as for a basic YouTube subscribe button, there are better sites on this list.

Perhaps the best way to view Dribble is as a platform to hire someone to help you create assets for YouTube. The free sampling is just a bit lacking compared to other sites on the Internet.

Does a Subscribe Button Element Really Work on YouTube?

There is a bit of a debate around whether a subscribe button in your video really matters on YouTube. While some state that there is a significant increase in subscriptions, others don’t really notice a difference.

This is probably one of those things that center around the type of content you create and your target audience.

In the case of my writing channel, I get more subscribers without the button visual in the video. But that’s because of the topic of the video itself.

That’s actually the most vital part of gaining subscribers in the first place. It’s all about giving your audience what they want to watch while providing a binge-worthy experience.

Because if you don’t put out videos people want to watch, no one will subscribe to the channel. It’s as simple as that, and no flashy subscribe button is going to do any good if your videos aren’t up to par.

Still, there’s nothing wrong with adding an animation that may help inspire a few people to subscribe.

Would You Use a Subscribe Button for YouTube Videos?

Depending on the type of content you create on YouTube and your audience, adding a subscribe button might tip the scale in your favor. As some of these are quite easy to add, you don’t lose anything other than a few moments to test it out.

Keep an eye on videos with and without the subscribe element over the next few months. Then, compare them to see if there is a difference in subscriber numbers.

This can help you identify whether adding the button is worth the trouble.

What is your favorite website for YouTube video elements, in general?