Guide
How much does an explainer video cost?
It depends mostly on four things: how the studio prices (per minute, per project or a fixed package), the length, the style (character animation, live action or screens from your product) and what is included, such as the script, voiceover, revisions and extra formats. Compare quotes on the same brief, item by item.
Ask five studios what an explainer video costs and you can get five very different answers. That is not because some are honest and some are not. They price in different ways, make different styles of film and include different things. This guide explains what drives the price, so you can compare quotes fairly.
We do not quote market averages here, because they vary too much by country, style and studio to be useful. This is our own guidance from making product films for software teams, plus our own prices, which are fixed and public.
How studios price an explainer video
There are four common ways:
- Per minute of finished video. Common for animation studios. The price grows with length, because more scenes need designing, animating and voicing.
- A quote per project. The studio reads your brief and prices the whole job. Flexible, but harder to compare.
- Fixed packages. A set price for a set length and set deliverables. Easy to compare and nothing to negotiate.
- Hourly, from freelancers. You pay for time. The total depends on how many rounds of changes you need.
None of these is better in itself. What matters is what the price includes, which is where quotes really differ.
What drives the cost
- Length. A 30 second film needs fewer scenes than a 90 second one. Most SaaS homepages need 30 seconds or less. See how long a product video should be.
- Style. Custom character animation and live-action shoots take the most work. A film built from your real product screens takes less, and for software it often explains more, because viewers see the actual product.
- Script. Some quotes assume you supply the script. Writing it is real work, so check who does it.
- Voiceover. A professional voice actor, extra languages or a celebrity voice all add cost.
- Music. Stock music may need a licence with limits on where you can use the film. Original music avoids that.
- Revisions. One round of changes or four makes a big difference to the final price.
- Formats. A landscape film plus vertical and square versions, each laid out for its shape, is more work than one landscape file.
- Speed. Rush delivery usually costs extra.
The costs that do not appear on the quote
Your own time is the biggest one: briefing calls, script reviews and feedback rounds. Then there are extra formats you discover you need on launch day, revisions beyond the ones included, and updates when your interface changes and the film goes out of date. Our video cost calculator adds your time to each option, so you can compare making it yourself, a freelancer, an agency and us on equal terms.
How to compare quotes fairly
Send every studio the same brief. Our product video brief template lists what to include. Then put the answers side by side:
| Ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Who writes the script? | It may be extra, or left to you |
| Is the voiceover included, and in how many languages? | Voice talent is often priced separately |
| How is the music licensed? | Licences can limit ads or renewals |
| How many revision rounds are included? | Extra rounds add up fast |
| Which formats do I get? | Vertical and square versions are often extra |
| When do I pay, and what do I see first? | Paying before you see anything is a risk |
Our questions to ask before hiring a video studio has the full list.
What we charge
Our prices are fixed, in US dollars, and include the storyboard, script, voiceover, a music-only version, captions and 16:9, 9:16 and 1:1 versions:
- One Film, $199: a 20 to 30 second film, such as a short explainer, with 2 revisions.
- Launch Day, $449: the film plus short cuts, a GIF and launch copy, with 3 revisions.
- Launch + Ads, $899: adds a 60 second film and ad openings, with 4 revisions.
- A 60 to 90 second film, +$299: on any package.
You get a free storyboard first and watch a private preview before you pay. See the SaaS explainer video page for examples.
Frequently asked questions
Why do some studios price explainer videos per minute?
Because most of the work grows with length: more scenes to design, animate, voice and review. Per-minute pricing makes that easy to quote, but it can hide extras such as the script, voice talent, music licences or extra formats. Ask what one minute includes before you compare.
Is a cheaper explainer video always worse?
Not always. Price follows the style and the process as much as the quality. A short explainer made from your real product screens costs less to make than one with custom character animation, and for software it often explains more. Judge the samples and what is included, not the price alone.
How much does a 60 second explainer cost with Overnight Cut?
A 60 second film comes inside Launch + Ads, at $899, with the launch film and ad cuts. You can also add a 60 to 90 second film to any package for $299, so the lowest price for a longer explainer is One Film plus the add-on.
Do I pay separately for the script and the voiceover?
It depends on the studio, so ask. Some quote animation only and charge for the script, voice talent and music on top. Our prices include the storyboard, script, voiceover, a music-only version, captions and every format.
What hidden costs should I look out for?
Extra revision rounds, extra formats such as vertical and square, music licence terms, rush fees, translations and updates when your interface changes. Your own time on calls, scripts and reviews is a cost too. Ask each studio to list what is and is not included.
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Product video cost calculator
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Launch video script and storyboard builder
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Keep reading
Questions to ask before hiring a video studio
The questions to ask a video studio before you hire it: process, approvals, what the price includes, who owns the files, and how changes work.
A product video brief template you can copy
A free product video brief template with the questions a studio needs answered. Fill it in once, then send it to any studio or use it as your own plan.
Want it made for you? SaaS explainer video, from $199
Your product's how-it-works, step by step, with the real interface filling in as each step happens. For your homepage, sales emails and onboarding. The storyboard is free, and you watch a private preview before you pay.
See saas explainer video examples and prices or get a free storyboard →