Text That Pops: 15 Best Apps for Adding Text to Instagram Stories
Words matter on Instagram Stories—whether you’re sharing a quote, highlighting a sale, or adding context to a moment. But with so many Stories competing for attention, plain text just won’t cut it. The right app can help you add animated, stylish, or branded text overlays that grab attention, boost engagement, and make your Stories truly memorable. In this guide, discover the 15 best apps for adding text to Instagram Stories, with detailed reviews, feature comparisons, and expert tips for making your words stand out.
"Great Stories don’t just show—they tell. With the right text app, your message can be as eye-catching as your visuals."
Why Use a Dedicated App to Add Text to Instagram Stories?
- Stand out instantly: Use custom fonts, animated text, and creative effects to make your message pop.
- Stay on brand: Match your brand’s colors, fonts, and style for a cohesive look across all Stories.
- Save time: Pre-made templates and drag-and-drop editors make pro-level design fast and easy.
- Unlock creativity: Experiment with text animations, stickers, and overlays to bring your ideas to life.
- Boost engagement: Add captions, calls to action, and interactive elements to spark conversations.
How We Picked the Best Instagram Story Text Apps
- Available on iOS and Android (unless noted)
- Rich font libraries and text animation options
- Templates, overlays, and design tools for Stories
- User-friendly interface and workflow
- Free and premium options
- Positive reviews and active updates
Tip: Try several apps to find the one that matches your style, workflow, and brand needs. Most offer free versions with plenty of features to get started.
The 15 Best Apps for Adding Text to Instagram Stories (Reviewed)
1
Canva
Canva is a design powerhouse for Instagram Stories, offering thousands of templates, a massive font library, and drag-and-drop text tools. Easily add animated or static text, customize colors, and match your brand style. Canva’s Magic Studio AI tools automate background removal and text effects, and you can schedule Stories or export them for instant posting. It’s perfect for anyone who wants professional, on-brand text overlays in minutes.
Pricing
- Free
- Pro: $14.99/mo or $119/yr
Features
- Thousands of templates
- Animated/static text
- Brand kits
- AI Magic Studio
- Story scheduling
Pros
- Huge font library
- Easy to use
- Great for branding
- AI-powered
Cons
- Some premium fonts
- Learning curve for deep edits
2
Unfold
Unfold is known for its elegant, minimalist templates and clean text overlays. It’s ideal for creators who want a polished, editorial look. Add trendy captions, quotes, or CTAs with a wide range of fonts and layouts. Unfold also supports video and image Stories, and you can upgrade to Unfold+ for the full template and font library.
Pricing
- Free (with limited templates)
- Unfold+: $19.99/yr
Features
- Minimalist templates
- Wide font selection
- Video & image support
- Scheduling
Pros
- Elegant designs
- Easy to use
- Great for quotes
Cons
- Most fonts/templates paid
- Limited animation
3
Over (now GoDaddy Studio)
Over (now GoDaddy Studio) is built for creators who want total control over text design. Choose from hundreds of fonts, add shadows, outlines, and effects, and layer text over photos or videos. Over offers animated text, brand kits, and a huge template library. It’s perfect for businesses and influencers who want to create bespoke Story captions and branded content.
Pricing
- Free
- Pro: $14.99/mo
Features
- Hundreds of fonts
- Text effects
- Animated text
- Brand kits
- Templates
Pros
- Professional typography
- Branding tools
- Easy overlays
Cons
- Some features paid
- Busy interface
4
InShot
InShot is a full-featured video and photo editor with powerful text tools. Add captions, animated titles, and creative fonts to both images and videos. InShot’s timeline editor lets you control when and where text appears, and you can layer multiple text boxes for complex layouts. It’s especially good for adding captions to video Stories and Reels.
Pricing
- Free (with watermark)
- Pro: $3.99/mo or $14.99/yr
Features
- Animated/static text
- Timeline editor
- Fonts & stickers
- Photo/video support
Pros
- Great for video captions
- Easy to use
- Lots of effects
Cons
- Watermark in free plan
- Some fonts paid
5
StoryArt
StoryArt is the highest-rated Instagram Story editor for animated text, offering 3,000+ templates, unique fonts, and weekly updates. Add animated captions, GIFs, and stickers to any template, or design your own highlight covers. StoryArt’s text tools are perfect for creating influencer-style Stories that boost engagement.
Pricing
- Free (with limited templates)
- Pro: $2.99/mo or $9.99/yr
Features
- 3,000+ templates
- Animated text
- Highlight covers
- GIFs & stickers
Pros
- Huge template library
- Animated captions
- Regular updates
Cons
- Some fonts paid
- Limited color editing
6
Typorama
Typorama is built for text-driven Stories. Choose from hundreds of fonts and text styles, add shadows, gradients, or 3D effects, and overlay your message on any photo or video. Typorama is especially popular for quote Stories and announcements, with easy one-tap export to Instagram.
Pricing
- Free
- Pro available
Features
- Hundreds of fonts
- Text effects
- Quote templates
- Photo/video overlays
Pros
- Best for text Stories
- Creative fonts
- Easy overlays
Cons
- Some features paid
- Limited templates
7
Mojo
Mojo is the go-to app for animated text on Stories, with hundreds of dynamic templates, animated fonts, and trendy effects. Add music, transitions, and custom colors for eye-catching results. Mojo is perfect for creators who want to make their captions move and stand out.
Pricing
- Free (with watermark)
- Pro: $9.99/mo or $39.99/yr
Features
- Animated text
- Dynamic templates
- Music & transitions
- Custom fonts
Pros
- Best for animation
- Trendy designs
- Easy customization
Cons
- Watermark in free plan
- Pro is pricey
8
Vont
Vont specializes in overlaying text on video, with over 400 fonts and full customization of color, size, and shape. It’s ideal for adding captions to video Stories, especially since most viewers watch Stories with the sound off. Vont is simple, fast, and perfect for creators who want to add clear, readable text to their videos.
Pricing
- Free
- In-app purchases
Features
- 400+ fonts
- Full text customization
- Video overlays
Pros
- Great for video captions
- Easy to use
- Lots of fonts
Cons
- Basic interface
- No templates
9
StoryLab
StoryLab is a robust Story creator app with over 100 handwriting fonts, animated text, and customizable backgrounds. Decorate your Stories with fashion or retro stickers, light leak overlays, and unique textures. StoryLab is perfect for creators who want to experiment with text styles, backgrounds, and effects for a personalized look.
Pricing
- Free
- Pro available
Features
- 100+ handwriting fonts
- Animated text
- Custom backgrounds
- Stickers & overlays
Pros
- Lots of fonts
- Creative effects
- Unique textures
Cons
- Some features paid
- Ads in free plan
10
Adobe Express
Adobe Express (formerly Spark Post) offers a wide range of fonts, animated text effects, and design elements for Instagram Stories. Add captions, CTAs, or quotes with professional quality, and sync projects across mobile and desktop. Adobe Express is perfect for businesses and creators who want to elevate their Story text.
Pricing
- Free
- Pro: $9.99/mo
Features
- Animated/static text
- Design templates
- Brand kits
- Cross-device sync
Pros
- Professional quality
- Easy animation
- Branding tools
Cons
- Some features paid
- Learning curve
11
Graphionica
Graphionica is a stylish Story app with award-winning templates, multi-layer editing, and a wide selection of fonts and lettering styles. Add text overlays, erase objects, and create collages with ease. Graphionica is great for creators who want to experiment with different lettering and design styles.
Pricing
- Free
- Pro available
Features
- Multi-layer editing
- Lettering styles
- Collages
- Object eraser
Pros
- Creative fonts
- Layered editing
- Award-winning templates
Cons
- Learning curve
- Some features paid
12
CutStory
CutStory is designed for video Stories, letting you add text overlays and automatically split long videos into 15-second Instagram-ready clips. Add captions, titles, and creative fonts to your video Stories, then export in the perfect format for Instagram.
Pricing
- Free
- Pro available
Features
- Text overlays
- Video splitting
- Custom fonts
- Export for Stories
Pros
- Great for video Stories
- Easy to use
- Saves time
Cons
- Some features paid
- Basic design tools
13
Story Maker (Unistory/InStory)
Story Maker (Unistory/InStory) offers chic templates, neon popups, and a wide range of stickers and backgrounds. Add creative text effects to your Stories for a modern, eye-catching look. Story Maker is perfect for users who want trendy, customizable Story text.
Pricing
- Free
- Pro available
Features
- Chic templates
- Text effects
- Stickers & backgrounds
- Highlight covers
Pros
- Trendy designs
- Easy to use
- Lots of stickers
Cons
- Some features paid
- Ads in free version
14
PhotoGrid
PhotoGrid is a collage and Story maker app with a huge selection of templates, stickers, and filters. Add text overlays to both photos and videos, and choose from a wide range of fonts and styles. PhotoGrid is beginner-friendly and offers a generous free plan.
Pricing
- Free
- Pro available
Features
- Collage maker
- Text overlays
- Stickers & filters
- Photo/video editing
Pros
- Great for collages
- Easy to use
- Lots of free content
Cons
- Ads in free plan
- Some templates paid
15
Write On Photos
Write On Photos is a simple yet effective app for overlaying text on your Instagram Stories. Choose from a variety of fonts, colors, and effects to create captions that match your aesthetic. The app is lightweight and perfect for quick, creative text additions.
Pricing
- Free
- In-app purchases
Features
- Text overlays
- Font effects
- Design tools
Pros
- Simple and fast
- Creative effects
- Beginner-friendly
Cons
- Limited advanced features
- Ads in free version
How to Choose the Right Text App for Instagram Stories
- For branding and templates: Canva, Over (GoDaddy Studio), and Adobe Express are top picks.
- For animated text: Mojo, StoryArt, and InShot offer dynamic effects and trendy fonts.
- For quotes and creative fonts: Typorama, Unfold, and Graphionica are excellent choices.
- For video captions: InShot, Vont, and CutStory make it easy to add readable text to your videos.
- For simple, fast overlays: Write On Photos and PhotoGrid are beginner-friendly and effective.
Experiment with a few apps to find the one that fits your workflow and creative vision. Many offer free trials or robust free plans.
Pro Tips for Adding Text to Instagram Stories
- Keep text concise and readable—use large fonts and high contrast for mobile screens.
- Use animated text or effects to draw attention to key messages or calls to action.
- Stay on-brand with consistent fonts, colors, and logo placement.
- Preview your Story before posting to ensure text placement and readability.
- Mix static and animated text for a dynamic, engaging Story flow.
- Use captions on video Stories—most viewers watch with the sound off.
Pro Tip: Save your favorite text styles or templates as presets to speed up your workflow and keep your Stories visually consistent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mojo, StoryArt, and InShot are top picks for animated text, offering dynamic templates and trendy effects.
Yes! Canva, InShot, StoryArt, Typorama, and Write On Photos all offer free plans with plenty of text tools and effects.
InShot, Vont, and CutStory are excellent for adding captions and text overlays to video Stories, with full control over font, color, and timing.
Yes, most of these apps support exporting Stories in formats suitable for TikTok, Facebook, and other platforms.
Use the same fonts, colors, and logo placement across all Stories. Canva, Over, and Adobe Express offer brand kits to save your style.
Conclusion: Make Every Word Count on Instagram Stories
With the right app, adding text to Instagram Stories isn’t just easy—it’s an opportunity to boost engagement, reinforce your brand, and turn every Story into a conversation starter. Experiment with fonts, animations, and effects to find your signature style, and watch your Stories—and your audience—grow.
