Year-in-review videos offer compelling can transform a year's worth of data and memories into a single, emotionally resonant narrative.
For businesses, these videos are a powerful strategic asset. They boost internal morale by celebrating team milestones, build external trust by humanizing the brand, and efficiently communicate annual achievements like growth statistics and product launches. For individuals, they become a cherished keepsake of major life events and a fun way to reflect on the past year and share memories with loved ones.
Choosing the best tool to recap your year can be tough, but you need a video maker that makes the process fast and delivers professional results.
Here is a breakdown of why Animoto is our top choice and how it stacks up against the competition.
TLDR: Animoto is the best all-around video maker for year-in-review videos because it specializes in turning photos into high-quality videos quickly. With drag-and-drop functionality and hundreds of templates, you can easily create a polished recap without hours of editing.
Best year in review video maker: Animoto
Animoto is a first-of-its-kind video maker that specializes in turning photos into professional videos. With drag-and-drop functionality, hundreds of templates to choose from, and hassle-free asset collection, creating videos is fast and easy. Just collect your photos and videos from the past year, upload them to a template, drag them into your project, apply your brand, and share away.
Here are two year-in-review videos that were made in Animoto:
Key features:
- Easy shareable asset collection links to collect media from anyone
- Drag-and-drop templates so anyone can create a video, no experience required
- Seamless uploads from your phone
- Variety of “Year in Review” video templates
- One-click branding tool
Pros:
- One of the best tools to easily make a video with pictures
- Video templates save you time on the design and layout
- Makes it easy to collect photos and videos from friends, family, colleagues, clients, and more
Cons:
- Some features only available with a paid plan
Other alternatives
Biteable
Biteable is a rapid video creation platform that makes producing a professional-looking Year in Review video simple and fast. It offers a wide selection of high-quality templates and a massive library of animations and stock footage, making it an ideal choice for marketers and businesses looking to recap their achievements quickly. While it has essential editing tools, its real strength is providing polished, animated visuals right out of the box.
Pros:
- Has basic video editing tools for cropping, adding audio, etc.
- Offers a variety of well-designed templates.
Cons
- The interface can be overwhelming and confusing, especially for beginners.
- It’s best used for animation rather than photo-led videos.
Movavi
Movavi Slideshow Maker is a desktop application perfect for creating highly customized, feature-rich Year in Review videos. It provides extensive editing features to customize transitions, music, and effects. It's a top choice for those who want more control than a simple web app offers, making it ideal for crafting a detailed, high-quality recap.
Pros:
- Provides a wide array of customization options for a truly personalized annual recap.
- Edit and refine your video anywhere without needing an internet connection.
Cons:
- Unlike cloud-based tools, you must download and install the software before you can start working on your video.
Adobe Express
Aimed at individuals and educators, Adobe Express is perfect for turning a year's worth of photos into a simple slideshow with music and text. It offers creative flexibility and is accessible across both your browser and mobile device, making it easy to build your Year in Review on the go.
Pros:
- Get your video done quickly with simple drag-and-drop functionality.
- Work on your recap using the browser or the mobile app.
Cons:
- The tool provides minimal audio editing, lacking granular control for tasks like syncing transitions to your music's beat or adjusting volume per slide.
How to create your “2025 wrapped” video with Animoto
Step 1: Start your Animoto project
First things first, sign up for a free Animoto account and select a template that matches your goal. The colors, size, media, music, and more can all be edited easily, so just choose the one that feels right for you.
Templates for businesses
Templates for individuals
Step 2: Choose your photos and videos
Now it’s time to choose the photos that recap your year.
For personal use, select photos from:
- Holidays
- Milestones
- Travels
- Cherished memories
For business use, collect images and clips from:
- Team events
- Happy hours
- Product launches
- Presentations
If you want to upload photos from your phone, just scan the QR code, select your photos and videos, and add them to your project. To make it more of a group project, you can send an upload link to clients, coworkers, friends, and family and they can add media directly to your project.
Step 3: Add your media
Now that your media is in Animoto, all you have to is drag and drop the clips and photos into the template blocks. You can use existing layouts or add new blocks and media frames to create collages.
For a quick “slideshow” of photos, add a Photo Burst block.
Step 4: Add your message
Customize the text in the template to tell your unique story. You can include key statistics, personal messages, or thank you notes to your team or customers. Remember that your photos and clips are the star of the show, so only use text to emphasize key points and drive your story forward.
Step 5: Personalize the look and feel
If desired, you can change the music, colors, or font to personalize the video further. If you’re creating a video for your brand, you can add your brand colors, logo, and custom font.
Once finalized, export your video and share it with friends and family on social media, or with your team via email or at a holiday party.
