Mobile app promo video templates

Four structures that keep appearing in app ads that run for months. Timing per beat, where the caption goes, and which verified example to study.

Problem → solution demo (15 s)

Best for: Utility, health, finance apps with one clear job.

Time	Beat
0–2 s	The problem, as a typed or spoken line ('I keep forgetting my meds').
2–5 s	App opens on the outcome screen (the finished state).
5–12 s	Three taps that get there, each with a two-word caption.
12–15 s	Outcome again + store CTA.

Study: opal screen time, myfitnesspal ai coach

Use this template

Feature spotlight (10–12 s)

Best for: Existing apps launching one feature; retargeting.

Time	Beat
0–1 s	Feature name on screen, phone centred on a flat gradient.
1–8 s	Only that feature, mocked at 1.3× zoom so text reads at feed size.
8–12 s	One-line benefit + CTA.

Study: tinder music mode

Use this template

UGC review (20–30 s)

Best for: Consumer apps where trust is the objection.

Time	Beat
0–2 s	Creator face, question hook ('is this the easiest way to…?').
2–6 s	The objection, said out loud.
6–20 s	Hand-held phone + screen recording answering it.
20–30 s	Verdict, soft CTA ('link in bio' / store name).

Study: picsart easiest edit, flo anonymous mode, cashapp tag ios

Not in the editor: it needs a person on camera. Film it yourself; the timing above still applies.

Before / after (8–10 s)

Best for: Editing, cleaning, planning, any visible transformation.

Time	Beat
0–2 s	'Before' held for a full second with a caption.
2–7 s	The in-app action, sped up 1.5–2×.
7–10 s	'After' + CTA.

Study: picsart easiest edit

Use this template

Production checklist

Record at the device's native resolution; export 1080×1920 H.264, 30 fps, under 30 MB.
Hide notifications and the status bar time, or crop them out.
Keep text to 7 words per caption and 2 lines maximum.
Run the finished file through the safe-zone checker with every placement selected.
Name the file with the structure and hook so you can read results later: demo_problem-solution_forget-meds_v1.mp4.

Questions

How long should a mobile app promo video be?

For paid social, 8–15 seconds carries most of the value; UGC-style reviews can run 20–30 seconds because the talking head holds attention. App Store and Play previews have their own rules (iOS 15–30 s, Play 30 s to 2 min) and are not ads.

Where do captions go?

In the middle band of the frame, inside every platform's safe zone. Check placement with the safe-zone checker; the default bottom position in most caption tools is covered on TikTok and Reels.

Do I need a voice-over?

Most viewers watch muted at first. Captions carry the message; a voice-over helps the UGC format and is optional for demos.

Can I get these as editable files?

The structures are free to use. Three of them open in the app demo video maker as editable projects on your own screen recording; export an MP4, change a word, export again. The UGC review needs a person on camera, which the editor doesn't make.