Ijharul Islam
To make an explainer video, decide the one question it answers, write a script of 150 to 300 words (60 to 120 seconds), sketch a storyboard of one visual per sentence or two, choose a style (screen recording, animation, live action, stock footage or AI-generated shots), record or generate the voiceover, assemble it with captions and music, and test it on people who don’t know your product.
Most of the quality comes from the first two steps. The rest is production, and tools now make that part cheap. This guide walks through all seven steps with a sample script.
The short answer
Pick the one question your viewer has, write a 60-120 second script (problem, solution, how it works, next step), storyboard one visual per line, choose a style that fits your budget, record or generate a clear voiceover, add captions and quiet music, and show it to three people who don’t know the product before you publish.
Key takeaways
- One explainer answers one question. A second question is a second video.
- 60 to 120 seconds is the usual range; at about 150 words a minute that is 150 to 300 words.
- Write the script before you choose a style or a tool.
- Screen recordings suit software; animation suits abstract ideas; live action suits physical products.
- Captions and a single clear call to action matter more than visual polish.
Disclosure: we make QuickVeed and show how to do this in it, along with other ways. Details about other products come from their public pages, checked in October 2026 and linked at the end.
Step 1: Decide what the explainer video must answer
Write down the question a viewer has when they land on the page where the video will live. “What does this app do?” “How does the subscription work?” “Why is this better than a spreadsheet?” Pick one. A video that answers three questions answers none well.
Then write the one thing you want them to do after watching: start a trial, book a call, read the pricing page. That action is the last line of the script.
Also decide where it will play, because that sets the shape and length: a 16:9 video for a website or YouTube, a 9:16 version for Reels and TikTok, and a square version for some feeds. Our social media video size guide lists the shapes.
Step 2: Write the explainer video script
A four-part structure works for almost every explainer:
| Part | Job | Share of the script | Example line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Problem | Show you understand the viewer | 15-20% | “Chasing late invoices eats your Friday afternoons.” |
| Solution | Name what you offer in plain words | 15-20% | “Paylane sends reminders and takes card payments for you.” |
| How it works | Two or three concrete steps | 40-50% | “Connect your accounting app, choose a reminder schedule, and you’re done.” |
| Next step | One clear action | 10-15% | “Try it free for 14 days at paylane.example.” |
Keep sentences short and concrete. Replace “streamline your workflow” with what actually happens: “invoices go out at 9 a.m. without you.” Use one number if you have a real one. Read it aloud and time it; our words to minutes calculator gives a quick estimate.
Sample 60-second explainer script (about 140 words)
“Chasing late invoices eats your Friday afternoons. You send a polite email, then a less polite one, then you call. Paylane does the chasing for you. Connect your accounting app in two clicks. Pick a reminder schedule: a friendly nudge three days before the due date, a firmer one the day after. Each reminder has a pay-now button, so clients pay by card in under a minute. You see who has paid, who has opened the email, and who needs a call, all on one screen. Small agencies use it to stop doing admin on Fridays. Try Paylane free for 14 days. No setup call needed.” (Paylane is a made-up example.)
Step 3: Storyboard one visual per line
Make a two-column table: script on the left, what the viewer sees on the right. One row per sentence or two. This is your storyboard, and it reveals problems early, such as three sentences in a row with nothing to show.
| Script line | Visual |
|---|---|
| Chasing late invoices eats your Friday afternoons. | Clock ticking past 4 p.m. over an inbox full of unpaid invoices |
| Paylane does the chasing for you. | Logo, then the app dashboard |
| Connect your accounting app in two clicks. | Screen recording of the connect button, zoomed in |
| Each reminder has a pay-now button. | Phone showing the email, thumb tapping Pay |
| Try Paylane free for 14 days. | End card: logo, URL, button |
Step 4: Choose an explainer video style
| Style | Best for | Cost and effort | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen recording | Software and apps | Low: a free recorder and an editor | Tiny text; zoom into what matters |
| Motion graphics / animation | Abstract ideas, services, finance | Medium to high: templates or an animator | Generic stock characters |
| Live action | Physical products, local services | Medium: camera, light, a person | Sound quality, reshoots for changes |
| Stock footage + voiceover | Broad ideas, quick social versions | Low | Clips that match a keyword, not the meaning |
| AI-generated shots | Scenes you can’t film, product shots from a photo | Low to medium, per clip | Consistency between shots; check every frame |
| AI presenter | A face explaining the offer | Low per clip | Length limits, disclosure |
You can mix them. A common software explainer opens on a short stock or AI-generated scene for the problem, cuts to screen recordings for how it works, and ends on a branded card.
Step 5: Voiceover, music and captions
The voiceover carries an explainer. Record it yourself in a quiet room or use an AI voice; either way, record the full script in one session so the tone stays consistent. Lay the voice down first, then cut the visuals to it. See how to add a voiceover to a video for recording and mixing tips.
Music should sit well under the voice. Use tracks you have a licence for; most editors include a library.
Add captions last, from the final voiceover. They help viewers who watch muted, and they help everyone follow product names and numbers. Keep them large and inside the platform’s safe area.
Making the explainer with QuickVeed
QuickVeed won’t storyboard or edit the whole video for you, but it covers the pieces that usually cost the most time:
- Voiceover: AI voice reads your script (up to 10,000 characters) with one of 9 models, from 7 to 25 credits per 1,000 characters. A 60-second script is about 7 to 25 credits.
- Shots you can’t film: the AI video generator makes 2-15 second clips from a text prompt or a product photo with 15+ models, at 16:9, 9:16 or 1:1. A 5-second 720p Kling v3 clip is 210 credits; a 2-second Vidu Q3 Turbo clip is 20.
- A presenter intro: AI avatars make a clip of up to 30 seconds for 63 credits per 10 seconds.
- Captions: 1.5 credits a minute to transcribe, 1 a minute to burn in one of 11 styles, and translation into 32 languages.
You assemble the pieces in your editor. As a rough budget, a 60-second explainer with an AI voiceover (25 credits), four 5-second generated shots on a mid-priced model (around 840 credits on Kling v3 720p, or far less on cheaper models) and burned-in captions (5 credits) fits inside Starter’s 1,000 monthly credits.
Common explainer video mistakes
| Mistake | Why it hurts | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Starting with the company story | Viewers came with a question, not for your history | Open with their problem in one sentence |
| Too many features | Nothing sticks | Pick the two or three steps that answer the question |
| Jargon | People stop listening at the first word they don’t know | Say what happens, in words a customer uses |
| Visuals that don’t match the words | The eye and ear compete | One visual per line, shown as it’s said |
| A long logo intro | Viewers leave before the point | Logo at the end, or a 1-second sting at most |
| Several calls to action | No one action gets done | One action, said and shown |
| No captions | Muted viewers miss everything | Burn them in or upload a caption file |
Most of these are script problems, which is why the script comes before any tool. A plain explainer with a sharp script beats a polished animation of a vague one.
Plan for updates too. Products change, and an explainer with an old screen in it quietly loses trust. Keep the script, the voiceover file and the project in one folder, and note which shots show the interface. When the product changes, you can re-record those shots and regenerate the affected lines of voiceover instead of starting again. AI voices make that kind of partial update much easier than booking the same narrator months later.
Step 6 and 7: Test it, then publish in each shape
Before publishing, show the video to three people who don’t know the product. Afterwards, ask them one question: “What does it do?” If they can’t say it in one sentence, the script needs work, not the visuals.
Then export a version for each place it will live: 16:9 for the website and YouTube, 9:16 for Reels, Shorts and TikTok. Put the website version near the top of the page it explains, add a thumbnail that shows the product, and write a one-line description under it for people who won’t press play.
Frequently asked questions
How long should an explainer video be?
Usually 60 to 120 seconds. Shorter (30-60 s) for social and ads; up to 2-3 minutes only if each extra step is needed to answer the question.
How many words is a 60-second explainer video script?
About 140 to 160 words at a normal speaking pace. Time it by reading aloud.
How do I make an explainer video for free?
Write the script, record your screen with a free tool such as OBS Studio, record the voiceover on your phone, and edit in a free editor like CapCut, iMovie or DaVinci Resolve.
What makes a good explainer video?
One clear question answered, a concrete script, visuals that show exactly what’s being said, a clear voice, captions and one call to action.
Can AI make an explainer video?
AI can write a first draft of the script, generate the voiceover, make shots you can’t film and add captions. You still need to decide the message and check every scene.
Try it with your own video
Generate the voiceover and a few shots for your explainer in QuickVeed, then assemble them in your editor. Paste your script, generate a voiceover and one shot, and judge them for yourself. QuickVeed plans start at $18/month, and new accounts get a 14-day trial with 75 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.
