Disclosure: we make Whiteboard Video, a competing AI whiteboard video maker. We compared the tools on their official pricing and feature pages (checked October 2026) and kept the verdicts fair — where a competitor is the better choice, we say so. Prices and offers change; check the vendor before you buy.
- VideoScribe — the closest like-for-like replacement, cheaper (from $91/year), browser-based, with AI tools;
- Whiteboard Video — if you want AI to write, draw and narrate the whole video from a prompt, PDF or link, with a free plan;
- Instadoodle — AI-generated doodles in a cloud editor, with 4K export;
- Animaker — if you also need cartoon, infographic and other animation styles, with a free plan.
Why people look for a Doodly alternative
- Price and packaging: Doodly is now sold mainly through Voomly — Voomly Cloud at $49/month or $490/year includes Doodly Standard — which is a lot if you only need doodle videos.
- Manual work: you drag every character and prop onto the canvas, set the draw order and sync audio yourself. A good two-minute video can take an afternoon.
- No AI: Doodly's product page lists no AI script, image or voice generation.
- Desktop only: it must be installed on Mac or PC; there's no browser version.
- Library fatigue: after a few videos, the same characters start to repeat.
Doodly alternatives at a glance
| Feature | Doodly | VideoScribe | Whiteboard Video | Instadoodle | Animaker |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browser-based | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Free trial | 14 days | 7 days | — | No | — |
| AI writes the script | No | Yes | Yes | Partly | Partly |
| AI-generated drawings | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partly |
| AI voiceover | Partly | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Builds the whole video from a PDF / link | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Ready-made character library | Yes — best | Yes | No | Partly | Yes |
| Manual scene control | Yes — best | Yes — best | Partly | Yes | Yes |
| Max export | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 4K | 4K |
| Entry price | $49/mo (Voomly) | $91/yr | Free · $9.99/mo | $47/mo* | Free · $15/mo |
* Instadoodle has also shown a one-time offer at checkout; terms vary.
1. VideoScribe — best like-for-like replacement
Better than Doodly at: price, browser access and AI. VideoScribe runs in the browser (or as a desktop app), has 9,000+ images (5 million premium on Core and Max) and adds AI script writing, AI images and AI voices. Price: Lite $91/year, Core $155/year, Max $195/year; 7-day free trial with 3 watermarked downloads. Weaker than Doodly at: consistent characters — its library mixes styles. Choose it if you like Doodly's hands-on workflow but want it cheaper and in the browser. Full comparison: VideoScribe vs Doodly.
2. Whiteboard Video — best if you don't want to build scenes
Better than Doodly at: speed and automation. You describe the video or upload a PDF, Word file or link; the AI writes the script, draws an original illustration for every scene, animates it being hand-drawn and narrates it in one of 15 languages. Up to 10 minutes, HD, landscape or vertical. Price: free plan (1 AI video, plus 5 free Studio videos every day using your own script and pictures — 720p, watermark); paid from $9.99/month, 1 credit = 1 minute of video. Weaker than Doodly at: manual control — no character library or timeline, and 1080p maximum. Choose it if you make videos often and want them done in minutes. (This is our product.)
3. Instadoodle — best for AI-generated doodles with editing control
Better than Doodly at: AI and resolution. It generates doodle characters, elements and backgrounds from prompts, turns photos and logos into sketches, adds AI voiceovers, and exports up to 4K on Pro. Price: listed at $47 / $67 / $127 per month (a one-time offer has also appeared at checkout); no free version or trial; 60-day money-back guarantee. Weaker than Doodly at: you can't try it first, and pricing is confusing. Choose it if you want AI help but still want to arrange scenes yourself. Full comparison: Doodly vs Instadoodle.
4. Animaker — best all-in-one animation suite
Better than Doodly at: versatility and getting started. Browser-based, with a free plan, and whiteboard is just one of its styles alongside 2D cartoon, infographic and typography videos; AI text-to-speech, subtitles and generative credits on paid plans. Price: free plan (watermark); Basic $15/month billed yearly ($27 monthly), Starter $25/month yearly, Pro $43/month yearly. Weaker than Doodly at: the authentic hand-drawn feel — whiteboard is one feature among many. Choose it if your team needs several animation styles in one tool. Full comparison: Doodly vs Animaker.
When to stay with Doodly
Doodly is still a good choice if you make character-driven story videos and want the same cast in consistent poses across many videos, if you prefer an offline desktop app, or if you'll use the rest of the Voomly bundle (Toonly, Talkia, People Builder). Its 14-day trial makes it easy to check.
Which Doodly alternative should you choose?
- If you want the same hands-on workflow, cheaper and in the browser, choose VideoScribe.
- If you want AI to make the whole video from a prompt, document or link, choose Whiteboard Video.
- If you want a free plan, choose Whiteboard Video or Animaker.
- If you want AI-generated doodles plus 4K, choose Instadoodle.
- If you need many animation styles, choose Animaker.
- If you need a consistent character library offline, stay with Doodly.
Sources: doodly.com, voomly.com, videoscribe.co, instadoodle.com, animaker.com — official pages, checked October 13, 2026.