Cost of an Explainer Video: Agency, Freelancer or DIY?
The cost of an explainer video depends on who makes it. A 2026 pricing guide from Yum Yum Videos puts freelancers at $1,000 to $5,000 and full-service video companies at $8,000 to $25,000. Making it yourself with an online explainer video maker costs a subscription plus your time.
If you need explainers often, see how to make an explainer video yourself before you request quotes.
Make your explainer video free for 7 days →
TL;DR
- There are three routes: an agency, a freelancer or doing it yourself.
- Length, style, script, voice over, revisions and turnaround drive the price.
- DIY costs a subscription plus your time, and each extra video lowers the cost per video.
- Hire out for a one-off brand film. Make it yourself for regular product, service and how-to explainers.
What drives the cost of an explainer video?
Who makes the video sets the starting price. After that, seven things move the quote up or down. Ask every provider how each one affects your price.
- Length. Vidico’s 2026 pricing guide says each extra 30 seconds adds roughly 25% to 40% to the total cost.
- Style. 2D character animation, motion graphics, live action and custom illustration all take different amounts of work.
- Script writing. Some quotes include it and some charge extra. You can also write it yourself with our explainer video script sample.
- Voice over. Professional voice talent may be a separate line on the quote. AI Voice Over is included in a Biteable subscription.
- Music licensing. Ask whether the music is licensed for every place you plan to use the video.
- Revisions. Check how many rounds of changes are included.
- Turnaround. Vidico says rush projects under three weeks typically carry a 30% to 50% premium.
Explainer video production: what agencies and freelancers charge
Price ranges vary by source, so this table shows two 2026 pricing guides side by side. Both come from companies that sell explainer video production.
| Route | Typical price range | What’s usually included | Typical turnaround | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-service agency | $8,000 to $25,000 for a custom 60-second explainer (Yum Yum Videos, 2026); $10,000 to $50,000+ (Vidico, 2026) | Strategy, scriptwriting, design, animation, sound and project management (Yum Yum Videos) | 6 to 8 weeks for a custom animated explainer (Yum Yum Videos); 4 to 8 weeks for 60 seconds (Vidico) | A one-off brand film or custom character animation |
| Small studio | $3,000 to $8,000 (Yum Yum Videos, 2026); $3,000 to $10,000 per minute (Vidico, 2026) | A smaller team and a more customized process (Yum Yum Videos) | Varies, get quotes | A custom video on a mid-size budget |
| Freelancer | $1,000 to $5,000 (Yum Yum Videos, 2026); $500 to $3,000 per minute (Vidico, 2026) | Varies by freelancer. You usually manage the brief, feedback and timeline yourself (Vidico) | Varies, get quotes | A single video with a clear brief |
| Do it yourself with Biteable | From $15 a month billed yearly, or $29 billed monthly. See pricing | Templates, animated scenes, AI Assisted Videos, AI Voice Over, branding, one share link | As fast as you work | Small businesses and teams that need explainers regularly |
For a benchmark on one video, Yum Yum Videos contacted 125 production companies in July 2026. The 61 usable quotes for a custom 60-second animated explainer ran from $2,800 to $27,000, with a median of $9,680. An older Wyzowl survey (data from late 2022) got 116 quotes for a one-minute animated explainer, from $600 to $250,000, with a median of $5,400.
Before you sign, ask an agency or freelancer these questions:
- How many rounds of revisions are included, and what does an extra round cost?
- Is the music licensed for ads, social media and my website?
- What does it cost to change the video after delivery?
- Do I get the source files?
How much does it cost to make an explainer video yourself?
The explainer video cost for doing it yourself is a subscription plus your time. Biteable’s Pro plan is $15 a month billed yearly ($180 a year) or $29 billed monthly, for one user. Premium is $49 a month billed yearly or $99 billed monthly, with three users, AI Captions and 4K exports. Check current pricing, or start with a free 7-day trial. No credit card needed, though downloading a video file needs a paid plan.
Your time goes into a few steps: write a short script, start from a template or AI Assisted Videos, apply your brand, add a voice over and captions, then share. The animated explainer guide walks through each one.
What the subscription covers:
- AI Assisted Videos writes the script and builds an editable storyboard.
- AI Voice Over reads your script.
- AI Captions are editable and download as SRT and VTT files (Premium and Business).
- Branding fetches your colors and logo from your website URL.
- One share link you can keep updating after you send it.
See how Biteable’s explainer video maker works.
How to choose between an agency, a freelancer and DIY
- Decide how many explainer videos you need this year.
- Decide the length and style each one needs.
- Decide who writes the script.
- Get two or three quotes for one video from an agency or a freelancer.
- Compare those quotes with a year of subscription plus your time.
- Pick the route that fits the number of videos and your budget.
When hiring an agency is worth it
An agency makes sense for a one-off flagship brand film, fully custom character design or a team with no time to make video at all. For regular product, service, onboarding and how-to explainers, doing it yourself keeps the cost per video down. For more budget ideas, read marketing videos on a budget and video ads on a tight budget.
Why Biteable
Templates and animated scenes cover the design work, AI Assisted Videos drafts the script, AI Voice Over reads it, and your brand applies in one click. Biteable is trusted by over 9 million users at 10,000+ companies, including Nike, Amazon and Siemens.
Explainer video cost FAQ
How much does a 60-second explainer video cost?
From a production company, a custom 60-second animated explainer had a median quote of $9,680 in Yum Yum Videos’ July 2026 research, with quotes from $2,800 to $27,000. Freelancers usually charge less. Making it yourself costs a subscription, from $15 a month billed yearly on Biteable’s Pro plan.
Why do explainer video prices vary so much?
Prices depend on who makes the video and what you ask for. Length, animation style, script writing, voice over, music licensing, revision rounds and deadline all change the quote. Vidico, for example, says a rush deadline under three weeks can add 30% to 50%.
Is it cheaper to make an explainer video yourself?
For most small businesses that need more than one video, yes. An agency or freelancer charges for each video. A subscription covers every video you make, so each extra video lowers your cost per video. The trade-off is your own time.
Do I have to pay extra for a voice over?
With an agency or freelancer, ask, since voice talent may be billed separately. In Biteable, AI Voice Over is built in. Pro includes 100 AI voice over clips a month, and Premium includes unlimited. The free 7-day trial includes all of Biteable’s premium AI features.
What should a good explainer video include?
One problem, how your product or service fixes it and one call to action. Aim for 30 to 90 seconds. Add captions for sound-off viewing. See explainer video examples by type, with a template for each.
What is an explainer video?
A short video that explains one product, service or process. For a full definition and ways to make one, see Biteable’s explainer video maker page.
Price out your own explainer
Build one explainer on a free trial, then compare it with the quotes you’ve received. Downloading the finished video needs a paid plan.