Who Makes Explainer Videos? 6 Options and Real Costs

James Crawford

Published September 17, 202610 min readUpdated September 17, 2026

You need an explainer video, but you don't know who makes explainer videos or how much one costs. Ask five companies and you'll get five different prices, from $99 to $50,000. That gap makes it hard to trust any single quote you get. This guide walks you through six real ways to get an explainer video made, what each one costs, and how to pick the right fit for your business.

Six types of providers make explainer videos: DIY software, freelancers, AI-assisted studios, boutique animation studios, full-service agencies, and fixed-price done-for-you services. Prices range from about $99 for a self-made video to $50,000 or more for a custom enterprise film. Your best pick depends on your budget, your timeline, and how much work you want to do yourself.

Who Makes Explainer Videos?

Six kinds of people and companies make explainer videos: DIY software, freelancers, AI-assisted studios, boutique animation studios, full-service agencies, and fixed-price done-for-you services. Each one gives you a different mix of price, speed, and how much work lands on your desk.

DIY software is a tool, like Vyond or Powtoon, that lets you build the video yourself. You write the script, record or generate the voice, and edit the scenes on your own.
Freelance animator or scriptwriter is one person who takes on part or all of the job for a flat fee or hourly rate. You act as the project manager, sending notes and chasing files.
AI-assisted studio is a small team that uses AI tools to speed up the art and voice work, then has a human check and polish the final cut. You still deal with real people, just a smaller team.
Boutique animation studio is a small creative team that hand-builds a fully custom video. You get more say in the art style, but more rounds of back-and-forth too.
Full-service agency is a larger company that handles strategy, script, animation, and sometimes your whole marketing campaign. You get many services in one place, and a bigger invoice to match.
Fixed-price done-for-you service is a package that bundles script, voiceover, and animation into one flat fee set before work starts. You know the total cost the day you sign up.

The next few sections break down what each option costs, who writes your script, and which one fits your business best.

Need an explainer video? Get a 30-second explainer for $297 → We write the script, record the voiceover and animate it, delivered in 7 days.

Freelancer, Studio, or AI Tool: What Does Each One Deliver?

A DIY tool leaves the script, voice, and editing to you, while a full-service agency handles all of it but takes weeks to deliver. An AI-assisted studio sits in the middle: it uses AI to speed up the art and voice work, then has a person check the final video before you see it.

According to Yum Yum Videos, explainer video prices span from about $99 for DIY tools to $50,000 or more for enterprise brand films, depending on style and provider. Creamy Animation puts AI-assisted studio pricing at roughly $1,500 to $4,000 per video. Vidico reports that a custom 60-second animated explainer from a North American studio usually runs $5,000 to $10,000, with premium 3D or character work pushing past $10,000.

Provider type	Typical price	Delivery time	Who writes the script	Revisions
DIY software	$99+	Hours to days (self-paced)	You	Unlimited, it's your project
Freelancer	$300-$2,000	1-3 weeks	You and the freelancer	Negotiated, often limited
AI-assisted studio	$1,500-$4,000	1-2 weeks	Studio drafts, you approve	Usually 1-2 rounds
Boutique animation studio	$5,000-$10,000	3-6 weeks	Studio	Usually 2-3 rounds
Full-service agency	$10,000-$50,000+	4-8+ weeks	Agency	Varies by contract
Fixed-price done-for-you	Flat fee, set before you start	As fast as 7 days	Included in the price	3 rounds on our packages

None of these is automatically the right one for every business. The best fit depends on your budget, your deadline, and whether you'd rather spend hours or dollars.

How Much Does Each Type of Provider Charge?

Prices for an explainer video range from about $99 for a DIY tool to $50,000 or more for a full-service agency, based on who makes it and how custom the animation is. Understanding who makes explainer videos helps explain why that range is so wide.

DIY tools start near $99. Freelancers usually land between $300 and $2,000. AI-assisted studios run $1,500 to $4,000, and boutique or agency work can climb from $5,000 past $50,000 for enterprise brand films.

Prices climb once you add custom character art, 3D animation, or a senior creative team billing by the hour. A studio charging $10,000 or more is usually paying several artists, a director, and a project manager for weeks of work, not just one animator.

A fixed-price done-for-you service skips the hourly quote process. Instead of guessing what a custom quote will cost, you pick a package and know the total upfront.

At 30 Second Productions, a 30-second explainer video costs $297 (regularly $497). It includes a written script, a human voiceover, and full animation, delivered in 7 days with 3 revision rounds and a money-back guarantee. The 60-second version is priced at that same regular rate, and custom videos with 3D animation or extra length start at $1,299, planned on a free 30-minute call with a fixed quote within 24 hours. You can see the full breakdown on our 30-second explainer video page.

Which Provider Fits a Plumber, Dentist, or Law Firm?

A plumber or HVAC company usually does best with a fast, low-cost whiteboard-style video that walks customers through a service step by step. A dentist or med spa often needs a warmer, more polished 2D video since trust and comfort matter more to that buyer.

According to Pexo, whiteboard animation is a style that looks like someone drawing on a whiteboard while a voice explains each step, and it works well for budget-friendly, step-by-step teaching. 2D motion graphics is a flatter, illustrated style that fits most businesses. Live action is a video using real people and real locations, which adds a personal touch when you want a real face on screen.

Law firms and accountants tend to need a short, professional-tone video, not flashy 3D characters. A calm 2D or whiteboard style can explain a process, like what happens after a car accident, without looking like a toy.

Plumbers, HVAC, roofers: whiteboard or simple 2D, fast turnaround matters more than fancy style.
Dentists, med spas, gyms: warmer 2D animation, sometimes with a real photo or logo worked in.
Law firms, accountants, coaches: clean 2D or whiteboard, professional tone, no cartoon characters.
Realtors, restaurants: 2D with local scenery or product shots, live action if you want a real face on screen.

What Do You Give Up When You Pick the Cheapest Provider?

The cheapest option almost always costs you time or certainty instead of dollars. A DIY tool saves money but means you write the script, record or generate the voice, and edit every scene yourself, often over several evenings.

A freelancer can vanish mid-project, miss a deadline, or turn in a rush job if you're their lowest-paying client that month. Quality also swings a lot from one freelancer to the next, since there's no team checking their work before it reaches you.

Watch for hidden costs too, like stock music licenses, paid stock footage, or extra fees for a second or third round of changes. Some contracts don't mention a money-back guarantee at all, so you carry the risk if you don't like the result.

A fixed-price package removes most of that guesswork. Script, voiceover, and animation come bundled into one fee, with revision rounds and the timeline spelled out before you pay anything.

How Do You Move From Choosing a Provider to a Finished Video?

Once you pick a provider, four steps take you from a quote to a finished explainer video: get the price in writing, approve the script first, confirm your revision rounds, and lock in the delivery date.

Step 1: Get the price and deliverables in writing

Ask for a written quote that lists the exact price, what's included (script, voiceover, animation, music), and what costs extra. A verbal "around $2,000" is not a quote you can hold anyone to.

Step 2: Approve the script before anyone animates anything

Read the full script out loud before animation starts, since fixing a script after animation is done costs more time and money. A 60-second script runs about 140 to 160 words, based on roughly 150 spoken words per minute of finished video.

Step 3: Confirm how many revision rounds you get

Ask exactly how many rounds of changes are included and what happens if you need one more. Our 30-second and 60-second packages both include 3 revision rounds at no extra charge.

Step 4: Lock in the delivery date and file ownership

Get a written delivery date and confirm you'll own the final video files once you pay. Without this in writing, some providers keep the source files or charge extra to hand them over.

Want something bigger? Book a free 30-minute video call → We plan your custom video with you and send a fixed quote within 24 hours.

Does It Matter Who Makes the Video for Your Sales Results?

The provider type you pick matters less than how clear and specific your script is. A cheap video with a sharp, simple message often outperforms an expensive video with a vague one.

You may have read that adding video to a landing page lifts conversions by 80% to 86%. According to Foundry CRO, that number comes from data collected before 2020, and modern results range from a 10% drop to a 100% lift depending on where you place the video and how relevant it is.

Even with that wide range, video still tends to pay off. In Wyzowl's 2026 survey, cited by Levitate Media, 82% of video marketers report a positive return on their video spend, and explainer videos were the single most common video type made, with 73% of marketers having produced one.

That's a sign explainer videos are a safe bet no matter who makes yours, as long as the script does its job.

Which Option Should You Pick Today?

The question of who makes explainer videos matters less than which option fits your budget and timeline today. If you're tight on both, a fixed-price done-for-you service is the fastest path to a finished video. If you enjoy tools and have a few evenings free, a DIY tool can work. If you need custom 3D characters or a full brand film, an agency is worth the higher price and longer wait.

Tight budget, tight deadline, no time to learn software: pick a fixed-price done-for-you service.
Comfortable with software and have several hours to spare: try a DIY tool first.
Need a custom look, 3D animation, or a full campaign: talk to an agency or book a planning call.

At 30 Second Productions, our fastest option is a 30-second explainer video priced at $297, with a 60-second version and custom quotes also available. You can lock in the current rate on our 30-second explainer video page, or book a free planning call for a custom quote on our video planning call page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make an explainer video myself for free?

Not entirely for free, but close. Free plans on DIY tools like Powtoon or Canva let you build a short video with watermarks and limited scenes, while a paid plan removes the watermark and unlocks more assets. You'll still need to write your own script and record or generate a voiceover.

Is it safe to hire a freelancer from Fiverr or Upwork for my video?

It can be safe if you check reviews, ask for past explainer video samples rather than any animation clip, and get a written scope before you pay. Freelancer quality varies widely, so a low price with no samples or reviews is a bigger risk than a slightly higher price with a proven track record.

Do I need a separate voiceover artist and animator, or can one provider do both?

Many providers, including fixed-price services and full studios, handle both the voiceover and the animation under one fee. DIY tools and some freelancers only cover one part of the job, so check exactly what's included before you assume voice work is bundled in.

How do I know if a video company is legit before I pay?

Ask to see full finished videos, not just short clips, and check that the price, timeline, and revision count are written down before you pay anything. A company that won't put its price or delivery date in writing is a warning sign, no matter how polished its website looks.

Can I switch providers halfway through if I'm not happy with the script?

Yes, but you may lose any money already paid for work done, so check the refund policy before you start. Some fixed-price services, including ours, include a money-back guarantee, which removes most of that risk if the finished video isn't right.

The short version

Six kinds of providers can make your explainer video: DIY software, a freelancer, an AI-assisted studio, a boutique studio, a full-service agency, or a fixed-price done-for-you service. Prices run from about $99 for a tool you build yourself to $50,000 or more for a custom enterprise brand film, so the honest answer to who makes explainer videos is whoever fits your budget and your deadline. What matters most isn't the provider type, it's a clear script and a price you got in writing before work started. If you want the fastest option with a locked-in price, a 30-second explainer video is a solid pick. If your project needs something bigger, a free 30-minute call gets you a fixed quote within 24 hours.

Ready to get your own video made? Order a 30-second explainer for $297 and have it in 7 days, or book a free call if you want a custom video from $1,299.

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