4,517 Text Overlay Ad Examples
Text overlay ads put the message in words on top of a photo or a clip. Browse the examples below, then read how brands choose the line, the size and the spot so it reads at scroll speed.
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What are Text Overlay ads?
A text overlay ad lays text over footage or a photo, and the text carries the message. The image sets the scene or shows the product, while a headline, a question or a short claim sits on top of it. Many people watch with the sound off, so overlaid words are often the real hook, and the format is one of the most common in any ad library for that reason.
When to use Text Overlay ads
- Viewers will watch with the sound off and need the hook in words within the first second or two.
- You have footage or a photo that is good but silent about the benefit, and want to add the angle without reshooting.
- You are testing several hooks on the same visual and want a format where changing the line is the whole edit.
- Your message is a claim, a question or a number that is clearer written than spoken.
- You study competitor ads and want to see which opening lines brands put on screen, and where.
Text Overlay ad best practices
Write the hook as the first line
The overlay is the headline. Open with the benefit, the question or the surprising line, and keep it short enough to read in the time it takes a thumb to move.
Protect contrast and legibility
White text on a busy image disappears. Use a shadow, a solid band or a darker area of the frame so the words stay readable on a small phone screen.
Keep it out of the platform's blind spots
Interface elements cover the top, bottom and edges in stories and reels. Place the text in the safe middle zone so the buttons and captions do not hide it.
Limit the words, not the ideas
Two short lines beat a paragraph. If the overlay needs more, split the idea across a few frames in a video, one line at a time, instead of stacking text on one frame.
Make the image and text agree
The picture should support the line, not fight it. A claim about speed over a still, calm photo sends mixed signals, while a matching clip makes the line feel earned.
Brands running Text Overlay ads
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Text Overlay ads: frequently asked questions
What is a text overlay ad?
A text overlay ad is a creative where written text is placed over a photo or a video and carries the main message. The visual gives context and the overlaid words give the hook, the claim or the offer.
Why do brands use text overlays on video ads?
Many viewers scroll with the sound off, so on-screen words make sure the hook lands anyway. They also make a clip easy to localise or retest by changing the line while the footage stays the same.
Where should the text go on a text overlay ad?
In the safe middle of the frame, away from the edges where interface buttons and captions sit. Place it over a calm area of the image so the contrast stays high at phone size.
Is a text overlay the same as a graphic overlay?
No. A text overlay is words over the image. A graphic overlay adds graphics, stickers or shapes, which may or may not include text. Many ads use both.
How do I find text overlay ad examples?
The gallery above lists text overlay ads from real brands. Sign in for free to open the first 100 ads of every list, or ask your AI agent to pull them and group the opening lines by tactic.