Countdown
Five to one, then live · 0:10
Countdown Video Maker
Make a 5, 10 or 15 second countdown video for a launch, a live stream, a sale or a show. Pick a countdown template or describe it in one line, then export an MP4, a GIF or a transparent overlay.
Countdown video templates
Launch, live stream, sale and event countdowns in 16:9, 9:16 and 1:1, from 5 to 15 seconds, each made with Potto.
10 templates in Countdown
Countdown
Ten then the sale opens · 0:15
Countdown
Eight seconds, then live · 0:15
Countdown
Vertical 3, 2, 1 · 0:05
Countdown
Five beats, then silence · 0:05
Countdown
Five to doors open · 0:10
Countdown
Four then the take starts · 0:05
Countdown
Six seconds, then depart · 0:10
Countdown
Three, then we're open · 0:05
Countdown
Three beats, then live · 0:05
Every countdown video template above was made with Potto's countdown video maker. Play one to see the numbers land, copy its prompt, or open it as a template and change the brand name, the numbers and the last line.
What is a countdown video?
A countdown video is a short clip that counts down from a number to zero or one and then lands on a moment: a product going live, a stream starting, doors opening or a sale ending. The numbers build anticipation, and the last frame tells viewers what happens next.
Potto's countdown maker builds that clip from a brief: the starting number, the brand or event name and the final line. You choose the length, the ratio and the style, the AI animates each number, and you change the countdown animation by describing what to do differently.
5, 10 or 15 seconds: how far to count
The countdown video maker offers three lengths, and the length sets how many numbers fit with time left for the final line.
| Length | Typical count | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 5 seconds | 3, 2, 1 or 5 to 1 at a fast pace | Stories, Reels, Shorts and the seconds before a live stream |
| 10 seconds | 5 to 1 with a hold on the last line, or a 10 second countdown at one number per second | Launch announcements, event openers and YouTube countdown intros |
| 15 seconds | 10 to 1 with room for a brand line at the end | Sale endings, premieres and a countdown that plays before a show |
Countdown animation styles you can ask for
Describe the look in your brief and the countdown video maker builds each number in that style. These are the styles behind the countdown video templates above.
Oversized numbers on a color field
Each number fills most of the frame on a bold background color, which reads well on a phone in a feed or a story.
Numbers on a dark grid
A technical countdown with numbers on a dark grid, then the event name and Doors open, suited to conferences and launches.
Quiet editorial type
Calm numbers in a magazine-style font on a paper background, for brands that want a countdown without a loud look.
Neon and gradient
Numbers that glow on a dark purple or warm sunset gradient, for drops, parties and evening events.
Count to a final line
Any countdown can end on a line of text, such as We're live, Sale ends now or a product name, so the last frame tells viewers what happens next.
How to make a countdown video
Pick a countdown template
Open a countdown video template above and choose Use this template, or describe your own, such as a 5-second 9:16 countdown for a live stream that ends on Going live now.
Set the numbers and the final line
Say where the count starts and what the last frame should read: a product name, a date, Doors open or We're live. Add your brand name so it stays on screen.
Choose the length, ratio and style
A countdown starts at 5 seconds in 16:9. Switch to 10 or 15 seconds, or to 9:16 for vertical video and 1:1 for feed posts, and pick a style or use your brand kit colors.
Preview and export
Watch the preview, ask for changes such as bigger numbers or a slower pace, then export an MP4, a GIF or a transparent WebM or MOV. Previews and edits are free; credits are used only when you export.
Where a countdown video works
Product launches
Count down to the moment a product goes live and land on its name, then post the clip on launch day or play it at the start of a launch video.
Live streams and premieres
Play a 5 or 10 second countdown right before the stream or a YouTube premiere starts, so the audience knows it is about to begin.
Sales and drops
Count down the last seconds of a sale teaser or a product drop in 1:1 or 9:16, and end on the shop name and the offer.
Events and presentations
Open a conference session, a webinar or a show with a countdown on the screen while the room settles, then cut to the first speaker.
YouTube intro maker
Open and close a video with your channel name and logo.
Lower third maker
Name the speaker once the stream or talk begins.
AI motion graphics templates
Browse every template made with Potto.
Countdown video FAQs
What is a countdown video?
A countdown video is a short clip that counts down numbers on screen and ends on a moment, such as a launch, the start of a stream or the end of a sale. It builds anticipation for whatever comes next and is usually a few seconds long.
What is a countdown maker?
A countdown maker is a tool for creating a countdown, either a live timer to a date or an animated countdown video. Potto is a countdown video maker: it uses AI to animate the numbers and the final line from your brief or a countdown template, and you export the result as a video file.
Is Potto a live countdown timer?
No. Potto is a countdown video maker: it makes short countdown videos that you download and play; it does not run a live timer to a date or embed a ticking clock on a website.
How long can a countdown video be?
A countdown video can be 5, 10 or 15 seconds long, and it starts at 5 seconds. A 10 second countdown fits ten numbers at one per second, and a 15 second one leaves time for a final brand line after counting from 10.
Can I make a 60 second countdown?
No. The longest countdown video Potto makes is 15 seconds. For a longer countdown, use the 15 second clip as the final part and run a timer before it in your editor or streaming software.
Can I make a YouTube countdown or a vertical countdown?
Yes. Use 16:9 for a YouTube countdown before a premiere or a stream, 9:16 for Stories, Reels and Shorts, and 1:1 for feed posts.
Which formats can I export a countdown in?
You can export a countdown video as an MP4 with music, as a GIF of up to 15 seconds at 720 pixels on the short side, or as a transparent WebM or MOV to lay the numbers over other footage. Transparent files have no sound.
Can I change the countdown after the first preview?
Yes. Describe the change in the chat, for example start from 10, use larger numbers or change the last line, and Potto renders a new preview. Each change is a round you can undo, and previewing and editing never use credits.
How much does a countdown video cost?
A countdown video costs credits only when you export it: 25 credits for 5 seconds, 50 for 10 seconds and 75 for 15 seconds. MP4, GIF and transparent WebM or MOV cost the same.
Make your countdown video
Open the countdown video maker, pick a countdown template, set the numbers and the last line, and preview it before you spend any credits. You only pay when you export.