Want to make an explainer video yourself, but don’t know what to use? Good news: In 2026, the tools are better and in some cases cheaper than ever before. Bad news: The choice is huge and the differences are great.
This guide shows you the 8 best options, honestly evaluated, with current prices and a clear recommendation as to which tool is right for you.
Making Your Own Explainer Video – Is It Worth It?
Short answer: If you have a limited budget, need a simple format and are willing to invest time.
What you should realistically plan for:
No individual style. DIY tools work with ready-made templates, characters and animation modules. The result looks solid, but also like a hundred other videos. A visual language that really suits your brand is almost impossible to achieve.
At Videodesign, every video is drawn by hand and designed from scratch. Every illustration, every animation is unique. No template, no kit.
The time required is almost always underestimated. A 90-second video with a new tool usually takes 4 to 8 hours until the result looks really good. If you have high standards in terms of quality, timing and brand voice, you quickly realize that the road from “passable” to “convincing” is a long one. And the time is then lost elsewhere.
Would you rather have a finished explainer video in four to six weeks without any effort? Request a free consultation now.
The result depends very much on your requirements. DIY tools can be perfectly adequate for an internal training video or a simple social media post. For a video that needs to be convincing in the initial contact with potential customers, it is worth comparing it with a professional solution.
Storytelling is up to you. The tool animates. You have to come up with the concept, script and dramaturgy yourself. We recommend our storytelling guide for this.
The 8 Best Tools in 2026
1. Canva
Ideal for: Beginners, social media, quick results
Canva 2026 is much more than just a graphics program. With the integrated video editor, you can create animated explainer videos directly in the browser, with thousands of templates, AI-supported text generation and automatic subtitles.
The big advantage: you probably already have an account. The learning curve is flat and the results look modern.
Prices: Free (with limited features) / from CHF 15/month (Pro)
2. Vyond
Ideal for: Companies, HR videos, Corporate content
Vyond is the standard for professional animated explainer videos in the business environment. Character animations, lip-sync, extensive asset library and, since 2024, AI-supported scripting. The result looks professional. And so does the price.
Prices: from $49/mth (Essential) / $125/mth (Business)
3. Animaker
Ideal for: Marketing teams, social media, lower budget
Animaker offers one of the largest character and animation pools of any tool on this list. The user interface is intuitive and the tutorials are good. For teams that regularly produce animated content, it is solid value for money.
Prices: from $15/mth (Basic) / $49/mth (Pro)
4. Renderforest
Ideal for: Inexpensive entry, short videos, logos and intros
Renderforest is the cheapest tool with the widest range of applications. In addition to explanatory videos, you can also use it to create logos, websites and mockups. There is even a free version for short videos under one minute, albeit with a watermark.
Prices: Free (with watermark) / from €9.99/mth (Lite) / €29.99/mth (Business)
5. Synthesia
Ideal for: AI avatars, multilingual videos, onboarding and training
Synthesia is the leading AI tool for explainer videos with AI avatars. You enter text and the avatar speaks it in over 140 languages. No filming, no voiceover, no studio.
Especially strong for internal communication, training videos and onboarding – wherever you need the same content in different languages. More on this in the article on AI storytelling.
Prices: from $22/mth (Starter) / $67/mth (Creator)
6. Powtoon
Ideal for: Presentations, education, simple animations
Powtoon is one of the oldest tools on this list and has changed a lot. The new version focuses on AI features such as text-to-video and AI avatars. Still a solid choice for simple animated presentations and educational videos. Prices have risen significantly since 2023.
Prices: from $49/mth (Lite) / $125/mth (Advanced)
7. CapCut
Ideal for: Social media, reels, TikTok, quick short videos
CapCut is primarily a video editor, with strong AI features: automatic subtitles, text-to-speech, AI avatars and templates for short videos. If your explainer video is for Instagram, TikTok or LinkedIn, CapCut is the fastest and most affordable tool on this list.
Prices: Free (very functional) / from $9.99/mth (Pro)
8. Descript
Ideal for: Screencasts, software tutorials, technical explanatory videos
Descript combines video editor, screen recording and AI. Particularly practical: you edit the video sound directly as text. Delete slips of the tongue with Backspace. Hard to beat for software demos and tutorial videos.
Prices: Free (limited) / from $24/mth (Creator)
Bonus: Samsa AI – When Brand Consistency Matters
Samsa AI does not make complete explanatory videos. But it solves a problem that many teams are familiar with: Brand-compliant visuals in a short time.
Samsa learns your branding once (colors, style, products, people) and then creates consistent images and short videos in seconds. No briefing, no correction loops, no waiting for design resources.
What this means in concrete terms: From the idea to the finished asset in under 60 seconds. Every image automatically remains brand-compliant, no matter who in the team creates it.
Especially strong for teams that regularly need social media content, campaign visuals or presentation images and don’t want to risk deviating from the brand style.
Samsa AI was developed by Videodesign and is hosted on GDPR-compliant servers in Frankfurt. Find out more at samsa.ai
Which Tool Is Right for You?
| Goal | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Quick & easy to start | Canva |
| Social Media / Reels | CapCut |
| Professional corporate videos | Vyond |
| AI avatar, multilingual | Synthesia |
| Software / Screencasts | Descript |
| Favorable budget | Renderforest |
| Brand-compliant image material | Samsa AI |
You now know which tools are available. If you want to save yourself time: We create your explainer video from A to Z, customized, produced in 4 to 6 weeks from kick-off to handover, at a fixed price. Have your explainer video made
When Is an Agency Worth It?
Honest answer: not always. For an internal training video, a simple social media post or a quick screencast, a tool from this list is perfectly sufficient.
An agency is worth it when more is at stake: when the video represents your brand in the first contact with customers, when you need a visual language of your own instead of templates, when several language versions are planned — or when nobody on the team has the four to eight hours a good DIY video takes at a minimum.
At Videodesign we have been creating explainer videos since 2012 — over 6,500 projects, every illustration hand-drawn, in your corporate identity. Production takes four to six weeks, from kick-off to handover. And you know the price beforehand: fixed prices from CHF 7’500, all packages transparent on our pricing page. What you get for it: have your explainer video made.
Not sure whether DIY is enough for your project? Talk to us briefly — free of charge and without obligation.
Arrange a free consultation with our video experts. Together we simplify your communication.
Photo Credits: Canva, Vyond, Renderforest