The right explainer video company for a startup or SaaS team is one that can make your product clear in a short video and price the job in a way you can plan around. Some studios sell fixed packages, some quote every project and some work only with software companies, so pick the type first and the studio second. Ten studios follow, with a quick way to brief them and a test you can run in an hour.
How to brief and shortlist an explainer studio in a week
A good explainer video starts long before anyone animates a frame. Here's an order that gets you from idea to a shortlist of studios without losing a month to calls:
- Write one paragraph on what your product does, who buys it and the problem it solves.
- Decide where the video will live, such as your homepage, sales deck, ads or onboarding, as that shapes length and style.
- Choose a style to start from: 2D animation, 3D, live action or a demo built from your real product screens.
- Pick three studios from the groups further down and send each the same brief on the same day.
- Compare replies on script, revisions, voiceover, music and file ownership, not only the total.
Before the profiles, a few questions on price, scope and revisions are worth putting to every studio you talk to.
Price, scope and revision questions for every studio
Most explainer studios don't publish a full price. A few list fixed packages, and many quote each project once they've seen your brief, because scope, style and length change the cost so much. A higher quote isn't a sign of better or poorer value on its own. So ask every studio for a written quote against the same brief, ask what's in and what's extra, and compare like with like.
- How many rounds of script and animation changes are included?
- Is voiceover, music and sound design in the price, or extra?
- Do I own the final files and the source files?
- Can you make shorter cut-downs for ads and social from the main video?
- Who writes the script, and how much input do you need from my team?
A one-hour test before you commit
Here's a quick test you can run this afternoon. Write a three-line brief: what your product does, who it's for and where the video will live. Send that same brief to three studios from the list below, one fixed-package studio, one custom-quote studio and one SaaS-only boutique. Then, when the replies come in, score each one on three things:
- How many questions they ask about your product and your buyer before talking about the script.
- Whether the quote says clearly what's included: revisions, voiceover, music and file ownership.
- Whether they give you a timeline with sign-off points, or only a delivery date.
The studio that asks the sharpest questions about your buyer is usually the one that'll write the clearest script. Writing the brief takes ten minutes; reading and scoring the replies takes the rest of the hour.
Once it's made, think about where it'll earn its keep. This piece on polishing explainer videos for conversion covers what to do after delivery.
Ten explainer studios as their sites describe them
Each studio below is described from what its own site says.
Yum Yum Videos
Miami studio making 2D, whiteboard and mixed-media explainers, with an instant cost calculator that gives a rough estimate before you speak to anyone.
Explainify
Built around hard-to-explain B2B products, this studio publishes a defined process page so you can see every step before you sign.
Epipheo
Cincinnati studio covering explainers, 3D and live-action video, and replying to enquiries with a tailored range instead of pushing a sales call.
Breadnbeyond
Animated explainers and 3D work sold in set packages, with a stated delivery target in weeks, which suits teams wanting predictable scope.
Vidico
Tech and SaaS video studio that states a performance guarantee and offers first-time clients a free script, with offices in Sydney, Melbourne and New York.
Demo Duck
Collaborative partner for single videos or full campaigns, pitching concepts at different scopes and budgets, mainly for tech product companies.
SaaS Explain
Boutique that makes only B2B software video, writing the story and script before animation and selling fixed packages so scope is clear from the start.
Represent Studio
Grown from marketing a hard-to-explain workflow tool, it positions itself against awards-reel style work and may suit SaaS marketers wanting practical video.
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Pixel Studios Inc.
Brooklyn studio building each video from the customer's real interface, brand system and buyer personas, which matters when your product screens are the story.
Myna Studio
Serving software teams in the US and Europe, it follows a clear order from script to voiceover, storyboard and animation, giving sign-off points early.
Material a studio will ask you for
Have your brand guidelines, logo files, product screenshots or a demo login, and a short list of the questions prospects ask most often. Add two or three videos you like and one you don't, with a line on why. If you've got a target date, such as a product launch, say so in the first email. Studios can only quote fairly when they know what they're working with and when it's due.
Fixed packages, custom quotes and SaaS-only boutiques
With the profiles read and your material gathered, it helps to sort the ten by how they price and who they serve.
Fixed-price packages come from SaaS Explain and Breadnbeyond. You know the scope and timing up front, which helps with budgeting, though you'll want to check what happens if you need extra revisions.
Custom-quote studios are Epipheo, Yum Yum Videos, Explainify and Demo Duck. They price each project to its scope, which gives more room for unusual ideas, live action or campaigns with several videos. If you're thinking about depth or a more premium look, this guide to 3D explainer videos shows what that route involves.
SaaS-only boutiques include SaaS Explain again, Represent Studio, Pixel Studios Inc. and Myna Studio. Each works mainly or only with software companies, so they're used to showing product screens and explaining workflows. Vidico sits slightly apart as the one studio here that states a performance guarantee.
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Frequently asked questions
What is an explainer video?
It's a short video that explains what a product or service does and why it matters, usually with animation, live action or product screens. Companies use them on homepages, in sales decks, ads and onboarding.
How much does an explainer video cost?
Fees are mostly unpublished, and the cost moves with length, style and how much the studio handles, from script to voiceover. Some studios list packages and others quote each project, so compare what's included.
How long should an explainer video be?
Most are kept short so viewers stay to the end, and many SaaS studios focus on brief videos. The right length depends on where it'll be shown and how complex the product is.
Animation or live action for an explainer?
Animation suits software ideas that are hard to film. Live action works well when people, places or physical products are the story. Several studios here offer both.
How long does it take to make an explainer video?
It depends on the studio and the scope, as script, voiceover, storyboard and animation all take time. Ask each studio for a timeline with sign-off points.
Should I use a SaaS-only video studio?
A SaaS-focused studio is used to showing interfaces and explaining workflows, which can speed things up. A broader studio may bring more styles. Ask both for samples from software companies.
