YouTube Shorts End Screens and CTAs: A Creator’s Guide
7/9/2025
|Team CapsAI
YouTube Shorts may only be 60 seconds long, but what you do in the last 5 seconds can make or break your growth. That’s where End Screens and Calls-to-Action (CTAs) come in. These features are your golden opportunity to drive subscribers, promote longer videos, or funnel traffic to your other content.
In this guide, you'll learn how to master end screens and CTAs in YouTube Shorts - and how to supercharge them with tools like Capsai.co.
Why End Screens Matter on YouTube Shorts
YouTube recently made end screens available for Shorts viewed on desktop and TV. While they don't yet appear in the mobile Shorts feed, they still offer a strategic advantage:
- Encourage binge-watching: Suggest another video to keep the viewer on your channel.
- Promote long-form content: Link to a deeper video that expands on the Short's topic.
- Boost subscribers: Add a subscribe button in the final frames.
These end screen elements are shown in the final 5 seconds of your video. That means your content must smoothly lead into the CTA without breaking the flow.
CTA Basics: What Makes Viewers Click?
A CTA (Call to Action) is simply telling your viewers what to do next. In a YouTube Short, your CTA should be:
- Visual: Most viewers watch on mute. Use on-screen text, emojis, or animation.
- Clear: Say exactly what you want: "Subscribe for more hacks!", "Watch the full video!"
- Timed right: Appear within the last 5-10 seconds.
This is where Capsai.co becomes essential. Capsai lets you add animated, on-brand text CTAs that are visually engaging and optimized for mobile viewers. Whether you want a bold "Subscribe Now" sticker or a dynamic end screen with multiple links, Capsai makes it click-worthy and consistent.
How to Add End Screens to Your YouTube Shorts
- Upload your Short via desktop.
- In YouTube Studio, go to the Video Details page.
- Click on End Screen.
- Add:
- A Subscribe button
- A related video or playlist
- Or a link to a long-form video
- Drag the element to the last 5 seconds of your video.
Pro Tip: Plan for this during editing. Leave clean space in your video’s last frame where the end screen won't block visuals.
Example: CTA Script + Visual Hook
Video Topic: "3 Gmail Settings That Save You Hours Every Week"
- Final Clip (Seconds 55-60):
- Visual CTA (via Capsai.co): "Want more Gmail hacks? ☞ Watch the full video!"
- End Screen: Link to a 5-min Gmail tutorial
- Audio: "That’s just the start. Tap here for my full Gmail productivity setup."
Don't Just Ask. Show & Animate.
Static CTAs are easy to ignore. Use movement and bold fonts to keep viewers engaged. With Capsai.co, you can:
- Auto-generate end screen text with animation presets
- Choose trending fonts and effects from top creators
- Ensure subtitle and CTA placement stays in the "safe zone" (not blocked by YouTube UI)
This is especially useful if you're cross-posting to Instagram Reels or Facebook Reels. Learn more in our guide: How to Cross-Promote Shorts on Instagram & Facebook.
Best Practices for Shorts End Screens & CTAs
- ✅ Keep it short: 3-5 words max.
- ✅ Use a contrast color to grab attention.
- ✅ Match your tone - funny, bold, urgent, etc.
- ✅ Be consistent across videos (use templates in Capsai.co)
- ❌ Don’t overload: Stick to one CTA per Short.
Final Thoughts: CTAs Are Your Growth Engine
Creating great content is step one. Telling viewers what to do next is step two - and that’s what turns casual scrollers into subscribers.
Using tools like Capsai.co ensures your CTAs are not just seen but acted on. Add movement, clarity, and personality to your final frames. Combine that with strategic end screen placement, and your Shorts become engines for real, compounding channel growth.
YouTube Shorts may only be 60 seconds long, but what you do in the last 5 seconds can make or break your growth. That’s where End Screens and Calls-to-Action (CTAs) come in. These features are your golden opportunity to drive subscribers, promote longer videos, or funnel traffic to your other content.
In this guide, you'll learn how to master end screens and CTAs in YouTube Shorts - and how to supercharge them with tools like Capsai.co.
Why End Screens Matter on YouTube Shorts
YouTube recently made end screens available for Shorts viewed on desktop and TV. While they don't yet appear in the mobile Shorts feed, they still offer a strategic advantage:
- Encourage binge-watching: Suggest another video to keep the viewer on your channel.
- Promote long-form content: Link to a deeper video that expands on the Short's topic.
- Boost subscribers: Add a subscribe button in the final frames.
These end screen elements are shown in the final 5 seconds of your video. That means your content must smoothly lead into the CTA without breaking the flow.
CTA Basics: What Makes Viewers Click?
A CTA (Call to Action) is simply telling your viewers what to do next. In a YouTube Short, your CTA should be:
- Visual: Most viewers watch on mute. Use on-screen text, emojis, or animation.
- Clear: Say exactly what you want: "Subscribe for more hacks!", "Watch the full video!"
- Timed right: Appear within the last 5-10 seconds.
This is where Capsai.co becomes essential. Capsai lets you add animated, on-brand text CTAs that are visually engaging and optimized for mobile viewers. Whether you want a bold "Subscribe Now" sticker or a dynamic end screen with multiple links, Capsai makes it click-worthy and consistent.
How to Add End Screens to Your YouTube Shorts
- Upload your Short via desktop.
- In YouTube Studio, go to the Video Details page.
- Click on End Screen.
- Add:
- A Subscribe button
- A related video or playlist
- Or a link to a long-form video
- Drag the element to the last 5 seconds of your video.
Pro Tip: Plan for this during editing. Leave clean space in your video’s last frame where the end screen won't block visuals.
Example: CTA Script + Visual Hook
Video Topic: "3 Gmail Settings That Save You Hours Every Week"
- Final Clip (Seconds 55-60):
- Visual CTA (via Capsai.co): "Want more Gmail hacks? ☞ Watch the full video!"
- End Screen: Link to a 5-min Gmail tutorial
- Audio: "That’s just the start. Tap here for my full Gmail productivity setup."
Don't Just Ask. Show & Animate.
Static CTAs are easy to ignore. Use movement and bold fonts to keep viewers engaged. With Capsai.co, you can:
- Auto-generate end screen text with animation presets
- Choose trending fonts and effects from top creators
- Ensure subtitle and CTA placement stays in the "safe zone" (not blocked by YouTube UI)
This is especially useful if you're cross-posting to Instagram Reels or Facebook Reels. Learn more in our guide: How to Cross-Promote Shorts on Instagram & Facebook.
Best Practices for Shorts End Screens & CTAs
- ✅ Keep it short: 3-5 words max.
- ✅ Use a contrast color to grab attention.
- ✅ Match your tone - funny, bold, urgent, etc.
- ✅ Be consistent across videos (use templates in Capsai.co)
- ❌ Don’t overload: Stick to one CTA per Short.
Final Thoughts: CTAs Are Your Growth Engine
Creating great content is step one. Telling viewers what to do next is step two - and that’s what turns casual scrollers into subscribers.
Using tools like Capsai.co ensures your CTAs are not just seen but acted on. Add movement, clarity, and personality to your final frames. Combine that with strategic end screen placement, and your Shorts become engines for real, compounding channel growth.