Brat vs Brat Flash vs Brat Single Word: Which Brat Template Wins
Epitrite has four templates in the Brat family. Same flat-color, lowercase, fuzzy-edge DNA. Different energy. The picker shows them as separate templates, but most users only pick one and never try the others. Mistake.
This post is the comparison. Side-by-side, what each one is, when it hits, when it doesn't.
The Four Brat Templates
| Template | What it is |
|---|---|
| Brat (Black Text) | The classic. Brat green background, black lowercase text, clustered 2-3 word groups across multiple lines |
| Brat (White Text) | Same layout, inverted. Black-ish background, white text |
| Brat (Single Word) | One word at a time, full screen, hard cut between words. Black bg + white text by default |
| Brat Flash | Same clustered layout as Black/White Text, but every visible word strobes between two colors at a user-set speed |
All four use the same Arial Narrow font stack (with Archivo Narrow as the Linux render-server fallback), the same fuzzy-edge text effect, the same lowercase styling.
Side-by-Side: When Each Hits
Brat (Black Text) — the default
Hits on: pop with attitude, hyperpop with restraint, indie pop that wants to feel of-the-moment. The clustered layout reads multiple words per frame, so the song can have busy lyrics and the template keeps up.
Skip when: the song is slow and sustained. The fuzzy black-on-green can feel oppressive on ballads.
Brat (White Text) — the inverted one
Hits on: late-night versions of the same song. Same DNA but cooler, more contemplative. The white-on-black reads as "sad version of brat."
Skip when: you want energy. White Text is the lower-energy member of the family.
Brat (Single Word) — the spotlight
Hits on: songs with quotable lyrics. Single-word reveals make every word matter. Fast songs (130+ BPM) where the cuts feel like the rhythm. Songs you want viewers to mouth along to.
Skip when: lyrics are dense or metaphor-heavy. Single words lose context fast.
Brat Flash — the loud one
Hits on: hyperpop, dance-pop, anything that benefits from strobing visuals. The clustered layout AND strobing color is double the activity.
Skip when: the song is calm. Brat Flash is photosensitive-content-warning territory by design.
Decision Tree
If you can only run the song through one template, here's how to pick fast:
| The song is... | Pick |
|---|---|
| Mid-tempo, lyrics matter, default-coded | Brat (Black Text) |
| Slow, contemplative, "the sad version" | Brat (White Text) |
| Has a hook line, fast tempo, very quotable | Brat (Single Word) |
| Loud, club-coded, max energy | Brat Flash |
The Charli Test
The four templates map roughly to Charli XCX's own song-by-song range on the brat album:
- Brat (Black Text) → "365" or "Apple" — busy lyrics, default energy
- Brat (White Text) → "i think about it all the time" — the slow, sincere version
- Brat (Single Word) → "Talk talk" — the hook-driven, quotable version
- Brat Flash → "Sympathy is a knife" or "B2b" — the loud, strobing version
If your song fits one of those lanes, the matching template fits. If it doesn't fit any of them, brat probably isn't your visual language and you want a different template family (Notepad for songwriter folk, Mixtape for lo-fi, Country Postcard for country).
How They Look Stacked
If you want the actual visual difference, here's a quick gut-feel summary:
- Black Text: noisy, busy, default brat. Reads like a Charli album track.
- White Text: melancholy version of the same. Reads like a brat deluxe bonus track.
- Single Word: dramatic, weight-on-each-word. Reads like a brat single dropping with a viral hook.
- Brat Flash: club-coded, max-energy. Reads like a brat remix in a strobe-lit room.
Pacing Differences
Default settings differ slightly across the four:
| Template | wordDelayMs | Animation duration (frames) | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Text | 300 | 30 | #8ACE00 (Brat green) |
| White Text | 300 | 30 | dark |
| Single Word | 300 | 18 (faster, single-word punch) | #000000 (black) |
| Brat Flash | 300 | 30 | #8ACE00 (Brat green) |
For songs over 140 BPM, drop word delay to 200-250ms on any of them. For songs under 80 BPM, push to 450-550ms.
Can You Mix Them?
Yes. Some pairing patterns that work for a single release:
- Black Text for the chorus + White Text for the verse: keeps the brat aesthetic but lets the song breathe
- Single Word for the hook + Black Text for the rest: spotlights the hook line
- Brat Flash for the bridge + Black Text for the verses: builds energy without losing identity
- Brat Flash for the chorus + Single Word for the verse: max contrast, max impact
Pick a primary template, then layer one or two others for specific song sections.
Color Decisions
The default green works hard. Some alternates that still feel brat:
| Background | Text | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| #8ACE00 (default) | Black | Classic brat |
| #FF6BA8 | Black or white | Hot pink brat |
| #2D3500 | Brat green | Inverted brat |
| #F5E50A | Black | Acid yellow brat |
| #000000 | White | Anti-brat (Single Word default) |
Don't gradient. Brat is flat color. Gradients break the aesthetic.
Common Questions
Which is the most popular Brat template at Epitrite right now?
Black Text is the default for most users. Single Word picks up for hook-driven tracks. Brat Flash is gaining ground in hyperpop. White Text is the underused one — most artists overlook it.
Can I switch between Brat templates mid-project?
Yes. Apply one, then switch in the template picker. Your timing data persists; only the typography and animation switch.
Does Brat Flash count as the "loud" version of all four?
Yes. If you want the loudest possible Brat output, it's Brat Flash. If you want the quietest, it's White Text.
Are all four templates free?
Yes. Every Brat template ships on the free tier, no upgrade needed (free exports carry a small "Made with Epitrite" credit that Pro removes).
Takeaway
Four Brat templates. Black Text is the default. White Text is the slow version. Single Word is the hook version. Brat Flash is the club version. Pick by song energy, mix across sections for a release campaign, and don't sleep on White Text just because it's not the obvious choice.
Try every Brat template free — all four ship on the free tier.
