Ijharul Islam
The main explainer video makers in 2026 are Vyond and Animaker for character animation, Powtoon and Biteable for template-based animated explainers, Renderforest for templates and branding, Synthesia for an AI presenter, and QuickVeed for the voice over, AI shots and captions around your own screen recordings. Prices start free (watermarked) and run to about $199 a month.
We read each vendor's pricing page on 27 October 2026. Where a page didn't show a price we could read, we say so instead of guessing. The right tool depends mostly on the style of explainer you want; see what an explainer video is for the types, and our video marketing guides for the rest.
Key takeaways
- Pick the style first: character animation (Vyond, Animaker), template animation (Powtoon, Biteable, Renderforest), AI presenter (Synthesia) or screen recording plus AI voice (QuickVeed).
- Free plans exist at Animaker, Powtoon and Synthesia, but they watermark the video or limit downloads.
- Vyond is the most expensive self-serve option at $99 a month ($58 billed yearly) and has no free plan.
- Most tools discount yearly billing by 40-50%; compare monthly prices if you only need one video.
- None of them writes a good script for you. Write and time the script before you choose.
Disclosure: we make QuickVeed, one of the tools on this list. Every other product's details come from its public pages or published reviews, checked in October 2026 and linked at the end. We include each tool's real strengths, and say who it suits better than us.
How we compared them
We picked tools that people searching for an explainer video maker actually compare, across the main styles, and read each vendor's own pricing page on 27 October 2026. We list the monthly price, the yearly price per month, the longest video each plan allows and whether the free plan adds a watermark.
Canva also makes animated videos, but its pricing page didn't load for us, so we left it out rather than quote a second-hand price.
At a glance
| Tool | Style | Free plan | Paid from (monthly / yearly per month) | Longest video on entry plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vyond | Character and motion animation | Free trial only | $99 / $58 | 25 minutes |
| Animaker | Character animation, templates | Yes, watermarked | $27 / $15 | 5 minutes |
| Powtoon | Template animation, whiteboard | Yes, watermarked, 3 min, 720p | Monthly not published / $15 | 10 minutes |
| Biteable | Template animation and stock | 7-day trial | $29 / $15 | 10 minutes |
| Renderforest | Templates, logo and intro animation | Free access to some tools | Not shown on its page when we checked | Not verified |
| Synthesia | AI presenter (avatar) | Yes, 10 min a month, watermarked, no downloads | $19 / $14 | Credit-based |
| QuickVeed | AI voice, AI shots, avatars, captions around your footage | 14-day trial, 250 credits | $18 (1,000 credits) | Avatar clips up to 30 s; you assemble in your editor |
The explainer video makers, one by one
1. Vyond
Best for: Teams that make character-animated explainers and training videos regularly
Price: Starter $99/month or $58/month billed yearly ($699); Professional $199 or $100 yearly ($1,199); Enterprise and Agency yearly only. Prices are per user.
Vyond is built for animated business video: characters, scenes and motion graphics you put together from a large asset library. Its entry plan allows videos up to 25 minutes in 1080p MP4, and Professional up to 40 minutes.
There is no free plan, only a free trial, and it's the priciest self-serve tool here, so it makes sense if you'll produce explainers every month rather than once.
Where it shines: Consistent character animation without an animator; long video limits.
Watch out for: No free plan; $99 a month billed monthly; still takes time to learn and to animate well.
2. Animaker
Best for: Character-animated explainers on a smaller budget
Price: Free (watermarked); Basic $27/month or $15/month yearly; Starter $45 or $25; Pro $79 or $43; Enterprise custom.
Animaker offers animated characters and templates with a drag-and-drop editor. The paid plans differ mostly in video length and resolution: Basic allows up to 5 minutes in HD, Starter 15 minutes in 1080p and Pro 30 minutes in 2K. Its FAQ says paid plans have no watermark.
One caution: parts of Animaker's pricing page still showed older, lower prices when we checked, so confirm the price at checkout.
Where it shines: A free plan to try character animation; cheaper than Vyond for similar styles.
Watch out for: Free exports are watermarked; Basic caps videos at 5 minutes; inconsistent prices on its own page.
3. Powtoon
Best for: Quick template-based explainers, whiteboard and presentation-style videos
Price: Free; Lite $15/month billed yearly; Professional $40/month yearly; Advanced $125/month yearly; monthly-billing prices not published.
Powtoon has a long-running library of explainer templates, characters and whiteboard styles. The free plan allows 3 minutes at 720p with a Powtoon watermark. Lite allows 10 minutes at 1080p with 5 exports a month, and Professional 20 minutes with unlimited exports.
Powtoon's own guide recommends 60 to 90 seconds for an explainer, which suits its template approach well.
Where it shines: Fast to start from a template; whiteboard style built in.
Watch out for: Lite limits exports to 5 a month; monthly prices aren't shown on the pricing page.
4. Biteable
Best for: Simple animated and stock-footage explainers for teams
Price: Pro $29/month or $15/month yearly ($180); Premium (3 users) $99 or $49 yearly; Business on request.
Biteable combines animated scenes, stock footage and templates. Pro allows videos up to 10 minutes in 1080p; Premium raises that to 20 minutes and adds 4K export. There's no free plan, but a 7-day trial without a card.
Where it shines: Simple editor; stock and animation in one place; 4K on Premium.
Watch out for: No free plan; character animation is less flexible than Vyond or Animaker.
5. Renderforest
Best for: Template explainers alongside logo animations and intros
Price: Its pricing page didn't show plan prices when we checked; check it directly.
Renderforest's help centre describes free access to some tools and three paid tiers: Lite with 720p exports and 400 credits a month, Pro with 1080p and 1,600 credits, and Business with 4K and 3,000 credits. It's useful if you also want a logo sting or intro from the same place.
Where it shines: Broad template library, including logo and intro animations; 4K on Business.
Watch out for: Prices weren't visible on its page when we checked; credit-based exports take some working out.
6. Synthesia
Best for: Explainers presented by an AI avatar, especially training and internal video
Price: Basic free (10 minutes a month, watermarked, no downloads); Starter $19/month or $14/month yearly; Pro $89 or $59 yearly; Enterprise custom.
Synthesia turns a script into a video presented by an AI avatar. Paid plans add credits: video uses 100 credits a minute, so Starter's 1,250 monthly credits buy about 12 extra minutes. It suits explainers where a presenter matters more than animation. Our Synthesia pricing guide works out the cost per minute.
Where it shines: A presenter on screen without filming anyone; many languages.
Watch out for: Avatar-led videos can feel stiff for brand explainers; the free plan can't download.
7. QuickVeed
Best for: Software and service explainers built from your own screen recordings, an AI voice over and AI shots
Price: $18/month (1,000 credits), $42 (2,500) or $114 (6,000); 14-day trial with 250 credits, no card.
QuickVeed is our product. It doesn't do character animation or templates, and there's no timeline: you assemble the final cut in your own editor. What it covers is the voice over (AI voice generator, 9 models, 7 to 25 credits per 1,000 characters), short shots you can't film (AI video generator, 2-15 second clips), a presenter intro of up to 30 seconds (AI avatars) and captions (auto subtitles). The browser free screen recorder is free with no watermark.
A 60-second explainer with an AI voice over (about 7 to 23 credits) and burned-in captions (5 credits) costs well under 100 credits; generated shots add the most, from about 20 credits for a short clip to 210 for a 5-second Kling v3 clip at 720p.
Where it shines: Cheap, fast voice overs and captions; real product footage instead of stock characters; dubbing into other languages.
Watch out for: No animation, templates or timeline editor; avatar clips max out at 30 seconds; new, with no independent reviews yet.
How to choose
- Software or app: screen recordings with a good voice over usually beat animation. QuickVeed or any screen recorder plus an editor.
- Service, finance or an abstract idea: character or motion animation. Vyond if you'll make many, Animaker or Powtoon if you'll make a few.
- Training and internal updates: an AI presenter (Synthesia) or an AI voice over screen recordings.
- One flagship homepage video: consider a studio instead; see how to brief a custom explainer and what explainer videos cost.
- Try before you pay: make the same 60-second script in two tools' free plans or trials and show both to three people who don't know your product.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best explainer video maker?
It depends on the style. Vyond leads for character animation at a higher price, Animaker and Powtoon are cheaper template options, Synthesia suits AI presenters, and screen recording plus an AI voice suits software.
Is there a free explainer video maker?
Animaker, Powtoon and Synthesia have free plans, but they add a watermark or, in Synthesia's case, don't allow downloads. Powtoon's free plan is limited to 3 minutes at 720p.
How much does explainer video software cost?
Entry plans we checked run from $14 to $58 a month billed yearly, and $19 to $99 billed monthly. Vyond is the most expensive self-serve option.
Can I make an explainer video with AI?
Yes. AI can draft the script, generate the voice over, create short shots and presenters, and add captions. You still decide the message and check every scene.
Should I use a tool or hire a studio?
Use a tool for updates, social versions, training and tests. Hire a studio for a homepage or launch video that many people will see for years.
Try it with your own video
If your explainer is about software or a service, record the product and let QuickVeed handle the voice over and captions. Describe the video or paste your script, pick a voice, and judge the first draft for yourself. QuickVeed plans start at $18/month, and new accounts get a 14-day trial with 250 credits, no card needed. Sign up or see pricing.
Sources
Competitor details in this post were checked against these public pages in October 2026. Products and prices change, so confirm with each vendor before you decide.
