Short answer: a professional explainer video typically costs $1,000 to $10,000+ from an agency, $300 to $2,000 from a freelancer, $15–$90/month with DIY software, or essentially free with an AI explainer video maker.
“How much does an explainer video cost?” is one of the most common questions marketers ask — and the honest answer is: it depends enormously on how you make it. The same 60-second explainer video can cost $8,000 from an agency or a few dollars with an AI tool. This guide breaks down real 2026 explainer video prices by production method, what actually drives the cost, and how to get a great video for the least money.
Explainer video cost at a glance
Here are the typical explainer video prices in 2026 for a standard 60–90 second video, by how you produce it:
| Production method | Typical explainer video cost | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Professional video agency | $2,000 – $10,000+ | 3–6 weeks |
| Freelancer (Fiverr / Upwork) | $300 – $2,000 | 1–3 weeks |
| DIY software subscription | $15 – $90 / month | Hours to days (you do the work) |
| AI explainer video maker | Free – $20 / month | Minutes |
As you can see, the cost of an explainer video spans three orders of magnitude. The price you pay is mostly a trade-off between how much of the work you hand off and how custom you need it to be.
Explainer video cost by style
The animation style is the single biggest driver of explainer video pricing. Agencies usually quote a price per finished minute:
| Explainer video style | Typical cost per finished minute (agency) |
|---|---|
| Whiteboard / doodle animation | $1,000 – $4,000 |
| 2D animated explainer | $3,000 – $8,000 |
| Motion graphics | $2,000 – $6,000 |
| Live-action explainer | $2,000 – $10,000+ |
| AI-generated (DIY) | A few dollars |
Whiteboard and doodle explainer videos are consistently among the most affordable professional styles — and with AI they are now the cheapest to make at scale. (See our dedicated guide on how much a whiteboard video costs.)
What affects the cost of an explainer video?
Whatever route you choose, these factors move explainer video costs up or down:
- Length. Most explainer videos are 60–90 seconds. Every extra 30 seconds adds script, illustration and voiceover work — and cost.
- Animation complexity. Custom character animation and 3D cost far more than a clean whiteboard or doodle style.
- Script & storyboard. Agencies often bill scriptwriting and storyboarding separately, sometimes $300–$1,500 on their own.
- Voiceover. A professional human voice actor runs $100–$500+ per video; AI voiceover is included free in most modern tools.
- Revisions. Extra rounds of changes are one of the biggest hidden explainer video costs with agencies and freelancers.
- Music & licensing. Licensed background music and stock assets add fees; many DIY and AI tools bundle royalty-free music.
- Rush delivery. Need it this week? Expect a 25–50% rush surcharge from studios.
Agency vs freelancer vs DIY vs AI
Agencies deliver the most polished, fully custom result — and charge the most. Great if you have a five-figure budget and weeks to spare.
Freelancers cut the price significantly, but quality and reliability vary, and you manage the project yourself.
DIY software (VideoScribe, Powtoon, Vyond, Animaker) trades money for time: you pay $15–$90/month and do all the dragging, timing and voice recording by hand.
AI explainer video makers are the newest and cheapest option. You describe your idea and the AI writes the script, creates the illustrations, adds a voiceover and animates the video for you — in minutes, for free to about $20/month.
The cheapest way to make an explainer video in 2026
If your goal is a professional explainer video without the professional price tag, an AI whiteboard video maker is now the best value by a wide margin. Here is how it compares to the traditional route:
| Traditional (agency/DIY) | Whiteboard Video (AI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | $300 – $10,000+ | Free first video, then $9.99–$19.99/mo |
| Time to finish | Days to weeks | Minutes |
| Script writing | You or paid extra | Written by AI |
| Illustrations | You or paid extra | Generated by AI |
| Voiceover | $100–$500+ | AI, 30+ languages, included |
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Whiteboard Video turns any prompt, PDF or URL into a narrated whiteboard explainer video in minutes — the script, illustrations and voiceover are all done for you. No credit card, no design skills. Try it free →
How to save money on explainer videos
- Keep it to 60–90 seconds — the sweet spot for attention and cost.
- Choose a whiteboard or doodle style; it is affordable and highly effective.
- Use AI voiceover instead of hiring a voice actor.
- Lock your script before production to avoid paid revision rounds.
- Start with an AI whiteboard video maker and only pay an agency if you need something fully bespoke.
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Create my free video →Frequently asked questions
How much does a 1-minute explainer video cost?
A one-minute explainer video typically costs $1,000–$5,000 from an agency, $300–$1,500 from a freelancer, or just a few dollars if you make it yourself with an AI explainer video maker. Whiteboard and doodle styles sit at the lower end.
Why are explainer videos so expensive from agencies?
Agency pricing covers scriptwriting, storyboarding, custom illustration, professional voiceover, animation, revisions and project management — plus their margin. That is why the same video can cost a fraction of the price with DIY or AI tools.
What is the cheapest way to make an explainer video?
The cheapest way in 2026 is an AI explainer video maker. Tools like Whiteboard Video generate the script, illustrations and voiceover automatically, so a professional-looking video costs from free to about $20 per month instead of thousands.
Is a whiteboard explainer video cheaper than animation?
Yes. Whiteboard and doodle explainer videos are among the most affordable styles, and they are the cheapest of all to produce with AI, while still being highly engaging and easy to understand.
Do explainer videos include voiceover in the price?
With agencies and freelancers, professional voiceover is often an add-on of $100–$500+. Most DIY and AI tools include AI voiceover for free, in many languages.