Make Viral YouTube Videos with Free AI Tools

How to Make Viral YouTube Videos with Free AI Tools (Step-by-Step Guide)

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In today’s digital age, creating viral YouTube videos doesn’t have to cost a fortune. With the right tools and strategy, you can produce high-quality, attention-grabbing content using free AI tools. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced creator, this guide will walk you through the entire process of making viral YouTube videos from start to finish.

Tools You’ll Need (All Free)

To begin, gather these powerful tools:

Step-by-Step Process to Make Viral YouTube Videos with Free AI Tools

1. Identify Viral Trends

Creating a viral YouTube video begins with choosing the right topic, and that starts by identifying what’s currently trending. If your content isn’t aligned with what your audience is already interested in, no amount of editing or graphics will make it viral. That’s where Google Trends comes in.

What is Google Trends?

Google Trends is a free tool by Google that shows you what people are searching for in real time. It provides data on search interest over time for specific keywords and helps you compare the popularity of different topics.

How to Use Google Trends to Identify Viral Content:

1. Explore What’s Trending in Your Niche

  • Visit Google Trends.

  • Type in keywords related to your niche (e.g., “personal finance”, “tech gadgets”, “self-improvement”, etc.).

  • Switch the location filter to your target audience’s region (e.g., United States, India, Nepal).

  • Check the Trending Searches and Related Queries section to discover rising topics.

  • Analyze the interest over time graph to ensure the trend is growing and not declining.

2. Choose Topics Aligned with Your Audience

  • Ask yourself: What does my audience care about right now?

  • Filter topics based on categories (e.g., Health, Business, Entertainment, etc.).

  • Pick a topic that:

    • Matches your channel’s theme.

    • Is gaining momentum.

    • Has low competition but high interest (a “sweet spot” for going viral).

2. Generate Video Script

Once you’ve identified a trending topic using Google Trends, the next step is to transform that idea into a compelling video script. This is where ChatGPT becomes your secret weapon.

A well-written script is the backbone of any viral video. It ensures your content flows smoothly, hooks the audience early, delivers value, and ends with a memorable takeaway or call to action.

Why Use ChatGPT?

ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, is a powerful AI language model that can:

  • Generate natural, conversational text.

  • Help structure your ideas.

  • Save hours of scriptwriting time.

  • Tailor content to different tones, styles, and audiences.

You can access it for free at chat.openai.com.

How to Generate a Script with ChatGPT (Step-by-Step)

1. Feed the Trending Topic to ChatGPT

Open ChatGPT and provide a clear instruction like:

“Write a YouTube video script on the topic: ‘Top 5 Free AI Tools for YouTubers in 2025.’ The script should be informative, engaging, and suitable for a 5-minute video.”

The AI will quickly generate a script with an introduction, body, and conclusion.

2. Use a Proven Script Prompt Template

To make your script even more structured and engaging, use a prompt like this:

Prompt Template:
*“Create a YouTube video script with the following format:

  • Hook (10 seconds)

  • Introduction (30 seconds)

  • Main Content (3-4 minutes, 3-5 points)

  • Call to Action (Subscribe, Like, Comment)

  • Outro (Thank you message)”*

3. Create Video Content

Once you have a well-written video script (thanks to ChatGPT), the next step is to bring it to life — and you can do that without any advanced editing skills or expensive software. Enter: Pictory.ai — an AI-powered video creation tool that turns scripts or voiceovers into fully edited, professional-quality videos in minutes.

What is Pictory.ai?

Pictory is a cloud-based AI tool that:

  • Converts your text scripts into engaging videos.

  • Lets you upload your voiceover or use AI-generated voices.

  • Automatically adds stock footage, music, transitions, and even subtitles.

  • Offers templates and customization options to match your brand or style.

Perfect for YouTubers, content creators, educators, and marketers!

How to Use Pictory.ai to Create Your Video (Step-by-Step)

✅ Step 1: Sign Up for Free

  • Visit Pictory.ai and create a free account.

  • No credit card needed for the basic plan, which includes most essential features.

✅ Step 2: Choose a Creation Mode

You’ll see a few options:

  • Script to Video – Ideal if you have a script ready from ChatGPT.

  • Article to Video – Great for bloggers turning blog posts into videos.

  • Edit Videos Using Text – Useful for repurposing long-form content.

For this blog post, select “Script to Video.”

✅ Step 3: Paste Your Script

  • Copy the script you generated with ChatGPT.

  • Paste it into the input box.

  • Pictory will automatically break the script into scenes and start matching them with relevant stock visuals.

✅ Step 4: Customize the Video

You can now:

  • Choose a video aspect ratio (16:9 for YouTube, 9:16 for Shorts, etc.).

  • Select a theme and font style.

  • Change or upload background music.

  • Add or replace stock video clips and images.

  • Upload your voiceover, or select an AI voice from Pictory’s library.

✅ Step 5: Preview and Export

  • Review the full video preview.

  • Make any final adjustments to timing, visuals, or text.

  • Click Export, and Pictory will generate a fully edited MP4 video.

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4. Create AI Voiceover

Once your script is ready and visuals are in place, it’s time to add the final touch that brings your video to life — the voiceover. Not everyone is comfortable recording their own voice, and hiring professional voice actors can be expensive and time-consuming.

This is where ElevenLabs.io steps in — offering realistic, human-like AI voiceovers with just a few clicks.

What is ElevenLabs.io?

ElevenLabs is one of the most advanced AI text-to-speech platforms available today. It uses deep learning to create natural-sounding voiceovers in various tones, accents, and speaking styles — indistinguishable from real human voices.

It’s perfect for:

  • YouTube videos

  • Audiobooks

  • Podcasts

  • Narrated tutorials

  • Multilingual voiceovers

How to Use ElevenLabs for Your YouTube Voiceover (Step-by-Step)

✅ Step 1: Sign Up

  • Go to ElevenLabs.io.

  • Sign up for a free or paid account.

  • Even the free tier gives you access to several voice options and enough credits to get started.

✅ Step 2: Paste Your Script

  • Go to the “Text to Speech” section.

  • Paste the video script you created earlier with ChatGPT.

✅ Step 3: Choose a Voice

  • Choose from a library of default voices, or explore community-generated voices.

  • You can also adjust voice settings, such as:

    • Stability (more natural or more expressive)

    • Clarity and style (for storytelling, news reading, etc.)

    • Speaking speed and pauses

🔊 Tip: Pick a voice that matches your video’s tone — professional, friendly, exciting, or calming.

✅ Step 4: Generate the Voiceover

  • Click “Generate”, and ElevenLabs will convert your text into spoken audio within seconds.

  • Review the voiceover using the playback option.

  • Make any edits to the script or settings if needed.

✅ Step 5: Download the Audio

  • Once you’re satisfied, click Download to save the voiceover as an MP3 or WAV file.

  • Use this audio file directly in your video editor or tools like Pictory.ai or CapCut.

5. Enhance Audio Quality

Even with a high-quality AI-generated voiceover from ElevenLabs, refining your audio is crucial to ensure it sounds clean, professional, and pleasing to the ears. This is where Audacity — a powerful and free audio editing tool — becomes your best friend.

Audacity helps you:

  • Remove unwanted noise

  • Balance volume levels

  • Add effects like compression or EQ

  • Ensure studio-quality audio for your videos

What is Audacity?

Audacity is a free, open-source digital audio editor that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It’s widely used by podcasters, YouTubers, voiceover artists, and musicians for its robust audio cleanup and editing features.

No fancy gear or technical background needed — it’s perfect for beginners and pros alike.

How to Use Audacity to Improve Your AI Voiceover (Step-by-Step)

✅ Step 1: Download and Install Audacity

✅ Step 2: Import Your Voiceover

  • Go to File > Import > Audio and select your MP3 or WAV file (downloaded from ElevenLabs).

  • The waveform of your voiceover will now appear in the Audacity timeline.

✅ Step 3: Remove Background Noise

If there’s any ambient noise (rare with AI voices, but still worth checking):

  1. Select a section of silent audio (a pause).

  2. Go to Effect > Noise Reduction > Click Get Noise Profile.

  3. Select the whole track (Ctrl+A) > Go back to Effect > Noise Reduction.

  4. Apply with default settings or tweak if necessary.

✅ Step 4: Normalize & Balance Levels

  1. Select the full track (Ctrl+A).

  2. Go to Effect > Normalize:

    • Normalize peak amplitude to -1.0 dB

    • Remove DC offset (if checked)

  3. This step ensures your audio volume is consistent and won’t clip.

✅ Step 5: Equalize and Compress (Optional)

  • Equalization (EQ): Boosts or reduces certain frequencies.

    • Go to Effect > Filter Curve EQ.

    • Use a preset like “Bass Boost” or “Treble Boost” depending on your voice needs.

  • Compression: Evens out volume levels across the track.

    • Go to Effect > Compressor.

    • Set threshold around -18 dB, and ratio between 2:1 to 4:1 for most voiceovers.

✅ Step 6: Preview & Export

  • Hit the Play button to preview the edited audio.

  • When satisfied, go to:

    • File > Export > Export as MP3 or WAV (depending on what your video editor accepts).

  • Save with a meaningful name like final_voiceover_cleaned.mp3.

6. Add Visual Effects

Once you’ve polished your voiceover and generated your video content, the next step is to make your video visually engaging and interactive. This is where Canva comes in — a simple yet powerful design tool that helps you add eye-catching visual effects, text, transitions, and animations to make your content pop.

What is Canva?

Canva is a free, drag-and-drop graphic design platform that’s ideal for non-designers and professionals alike. Its video editing features have grown significantly, making it a great option for creating YouTube Shorts, Reels, Stories, and long-form content — with no complicated software needed.

You can use Canva to:

  • Add dynamic text animations

  • Insert stickers, emojis, or icons

  • Include transitions between scenes

  • Overlay voiceover audio or music

  • Create smooth and polished video presentations

How to Add Visual Effects to Your Video Using Canva

✅ Step 1: Sign In and Create a Video Project

  • Visit Canva.com and log in.

  • Search for “Video” or choose a format like YouTube Short, Instagram Reel, or 1080p video.

  • Click “Create a blank video” to begin.

✅ Step 2: Upload Your Voiceover and Video Clips

  • Use the Uploads tab to drag and drop:

    • Your cleaned voiceover file from Audacity

    • Video content from Pictory or other editors

    • Images or B-roll clips, if needed

✅ Step 3: Add Engaging Text & Animations

  • Click on “Text” > Add a heading or subheading.

  • Write a bold hook or key message aligned with your script.

  • Use text effects like:

    • Typewriter

    • Neon Glow

    • Pop Animation

  • Choose matching fonts and colors for brand consistency.

💡 Pro Tip: Use text to emphasize keywords or emotions in your narration.

✅ Step 4: Insert Images, Stickers, and Graphics

  • Use the Elements tab to search for:

    • Icons

    • Emojis

    • Arrows

    • Illustrations or GIPHY stickers

  • You can also import branded visuals or logos to personalize your content.

✅ Step 5: Add Smooth Transitions Between Scenes

  • Click between two clips in your timeline.

  • Click “Add Transition”, and choose from:

    • Dissolve

    • Slide

    • Circle wipe

    • Match & move (for seamless flow)

Transitions help your video look cinematic and professional.

✅ Step 6: Add Background Music (Optional)

  • Go to the Audio tab in Canva.

  • Choose royalty-free tracks from Canva’s library.

  • Adjust volume so it doesn’t overpower the voiceover.

✅ Step 7: Preview and Download

  • Hit the play button to watch the full video.

  • Make adjustments to timing, animations, or audio sync.

  • Once satisfied, click “Download” > Select MP4.

7. Design an Eye-Catching Thumbnail

The thumbnail is one of the most important elements in attracting viewers to your video. It’s the first thing people see before they click, and it needs to grab their attention. Canva makes this process super easy with its intuitive design tools.

What is Canva for Thumbnails?

Canva is an easy-to-use design platform that allows you to create stunning visuals in minutes, even if you don’t have graphic design experience. With its range of templates, fonts, and design elements, Canva is perfect for making thumbnails that stand out.

You can use Canva to:

  • Customize YouTube thumbnail templates

  • Choose bold, legible fonts

  • Add eye-catching colors and graphics

  • Use high-resolution images or screenshots

  • Maintain brand consistency with your logo

How to Design an Eye-Catching Thumbnail Using Canva

✅ Step 1: Sign In and Choose a Template Go to Canva.com and log in.

Search for “YouTube Thumbnail” in the search bar, or click the “Create a design” button and select the “YouTube Thumbnail” template.

✅ Step 2: Select a Template or Start from Scratch You can start with one of Canva’s pre-made thumbnail templates or design your own from scratch. These templates are already sized perfectly for YouTube, so you don’t need to worry about dimensions.

✅ Step 3: Customize the Design Change the background to a bold color or image that represents your video content.

Use large, readable fonts to add the main message, hook, or title.

For example, if your video is about “Top 5 Tech Gadgets,” use bold text like “Must-Have Gadgets 2025” with a modern, tech-inspired font.

✅ Step 4: Add Graphics and Icons Search Canva’s Elements tab for relevant icons, shapes, or images. You can add:

  • Emojis

  • Illustrations

  • Logos or product images

These add visual interest and make your thumbnail more dynamic.

✅ Step 5: Play with Colors and Fonts Use contrasting colors to make the text pop. Choose colors that align with your brand and are visible against the background.

Keep the text large and simple for readability, even on small screens.

✅ Step 6: Adjust and Fine-Tune Use Canva’s alignment tools to center your text and images. Ensure that everything is balanced and easy to view.

You can also apply a slight shadow effect to the text to make it stand out even more.

✅ Step 7: Export the Thumbnail Once you’re satisfied with your design, click “Download” > select PNG or JPG for high-quality resolution.

8. Compress the Video

Once your video is ready for upload, the next step is to compress it. Video compression reduces the file size, making it easier and faster to upload, without compromising the video’s quality. HandBrake is a powerful, free tool for video compression that ensures your video looks great while being smaller in size.

What is HandBrake?

HandBrake is a free, open-source video transcoder that allows you to compress large video files. It’s ideal for reducing video size for platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, and other social media sites. By adjusting settings properly, you can reduce file size significantly without noticeable loss of quality.

You can use HandBrake to:

  • Compress videos for faster upload speeds

  • Reduce file sizes for easier sharing

  • Adjust video settings for optimized quality

  • Convert videos into a more manageable format

How to Compress Your Video Using HandBrake

✅ Step 1: Download and Install HandBrake If you don’t have HandBrake installed yet, visit HandBrake.fr and download it for your operating system.

Once installed, open HandBrake.

✅ Step 2: Open Your Video File Click on the “Open Source” button in HandBrake and select the video file you want to compress.

✅ Step 3: Choose a Preset On the right side of the screen, you’ll see a list of presets. Select a preset depending on your needs:

  • For YouTube, select “Fast 1080p30” for a good balance of quality and file size.

  • For general social media use, select the “Fast 720p30” preset.

HandBrake will automatically adjust settings for these options.

✅ Step 4: Adjust Video Settings (Optional) If you want to tweak further, you can adjust:

  • Video Codec: Use H.264 for a good balance of compression and quality.

  • Resolution: Ensure the resolution matches your original video or reduce it slightly if you want to compress more.

  • Frame Rate: Keep the original frame rate (or adjust slightly to reduce size).

  • Bitrate: Lowering the bitrate can reduce size, but be cautious not to lose too much quality.

✅ Step 5: Set the Output Destination At the bottom of the HandBrake window, click on “Browse” to choose where you want to save the compressed video.

✅ Step 6: Start Compression Click on the “Start Encode” button. HandBrake will begin compressing your video. This may take a few minutes depending on your video size and the settings you’ve chosen.

✅ Step 7: Preview and Check the File Size Once compression is complete, check the video file’s size and quality. If you’re satisfied, you’re ready to upload. If it’s still too large, you can adjust the settings and try again.

9. Upload to YouTube

  • Go to YouTube Studio > “Create” > “Upload Video”.

  • Add your video, title, description, tags, and the custom thumbnail.

  • Publish your video.

10. Optimize for SEO

To make sure your video gets discovered by the right audience, optimizing for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is crucial. TubeBuddy is a fantastic browser extension that helps streamline the SEO process, improving your video’s visibility on YouTube and search engines.

What is TubeBuddy?

TubeBuddy is a powerful YouTube optimization tool that offers a suite of features to help you refine your video’s metadata, improve keywords, tags, and overall SEO. It’s designed to help YouTubers of all levels grow their channels by optimizing their content for maximum reach.

You can use TubeBuddy to:

  • Research keywords and find trending topics

  • Optimize your video title, description, and tags

  • Suggest relevant tags to increase discoverability

  • Get insights into the best time to upload

  • Analyze competitors’ videos to find SEO opportunities

How to Optimize Your Video for SEO Using TubeBuddy

✅ Step 1: Install TubeBuddy Extension Go to TubeBuddy.com and download the browser extension for Chrome or Firefox.

Once installed, sign in with your YouTube account.

✅ Step 2: Access TubeBuddy on YouTube Studio After installing, TubeBuddy will show up as a sidebar in YouTube Studio. Open your video in YouTube Studio, and you’ll see the TubeBuddy options under the video details.

✅ Step 3: Refine Your Metadata TubeBuddy’s SEO Studio feature will guide you step-by-step to optimize:

  • Title: Ensure your title is clear and includes relevant keywords. TubeBuddy helps you analyze if your title is SEO-friendly and suggests improvements.

  • Description: TubeBuddy provides a checklist for a well-optimized description, ensuring you include relevant keywords, a call-to-action, and links.

  • Tags: TubeBuddy suggests tags based on your video’s content. Use its keyword research tool to find popular search terms related to your video.

✅ Step 4: Research and Add Keywords Click on the “Keyword Explorer” tool within TubeBuddy to find high-performing keywords related to your video. It provides data on search volume, competition, and overall keyword effectiveness.

  • Select long-tail keywords with high search volume and low competition for better reach.

  • Use these keywords in your title, description, and tags.

✅ Step 5: Optimize Thumbnail and Video Metadata TubeBuddy also allows you to:

  • Test different thumbnails with A/B testing (Premium feature).

  • Ensure your video metadata (like categories and playlists) are optimized for relevance.

✅ Step 6: Monitor Performance and Adjust SEO Use TubeBuddy’s Video SEO Audit tool to review your video’s SEO score. It will provide suggestions for improving your rankings.

✅ Step 7: Utilize TubeBuddy’s Suggested Tags TubeBuddy will suggest relevant tags that are currently trending or commonly used for similar videos. Incorporating these can help improve the video’s searchability.

11. Monitor Performance and Analytics

  • Dive into YouTube Analytics to:

    • Track views, watch time, and viewer retention.

    • Study engagement and optimize future videos accordingly.

Final Tips for Going Viral

  • Consistency is key. Upload regularly.

  • Focus on solving your viewers’ problems.

  • Use compelling titles and descriptions.

  • Create emotionally engaging content.

  • Share across social media platforms for more reach.

Conclusion:

Creating viral YouTube videos is no longer about having a massive budget. With the combination of free AI tools and a clear process, you can produce professional-level videos that attract attention and grow your channel.

📌 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

❓1. Can I really make viral YouTube videos using only free AI tools?

Yes, you absolutely can! This step-by-step guide uses free tools like Google Trends, ChatGPT, Pictory, Canva, Eleven Labs, and more to help you create high-quality, engaging videos without spending a single dollar.

❓2. What is the most important factor in making a YouTube video go viral?

The key to virality lies in trending topics, engaging storytelling, strong visuals, and optimized SEO. This guide helps you combine all of these using AI tools effectively.

❓3. How do I find trending video topics?

Use Google Trends to explore what’s currently popular. Look for high-interest topics relevant to your target audience.

❓4. Is ChatGPT free to use for generating video scripts?

Yes, ChatGPT has a free version that you can use to generate scripts. However, a paid version offers more advanced features if you need them.

❓5. How does Pictory help in video creation?

Pictory.ai converts your script or voiceover into a full video by automatically adding visuals, transitions, and background music, making video creation effortless.

❓6. Can I use Eleven Labs for voiceovers without a paid plan?

Eleven Labs offers a free plan that allows you to generate a limited number of voiceovers. It’s ideal for short-form videos or testing out the platform.

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