5 Best Explainer Video Software For 2024 (Detailed Review)

OK, let's not waste time discussing why explainer videos are so great and jump straight into the tools themselves.

With so many explainer video software tools available, it can be tough to choose the right one.

That’s why I have tested a variety of options and curated a list of the best ones to meet your needs.

Different video styles require different tools of course, and these were my guiding questions when making the selection:

• Does it include a human element (camera recorder, characters, avatars, etc.)?
• Does it offer templates so that users don't have to start from scratch?
• Is it trustworthy, with social proof and real users?
• Bonus points if it leverages AI to make the video creation even smoother.

Want to know more? Let's analyze them one by one. ⬇️

1. Synthesia - best explainer video software for videos with AI avatars

Ok, this type of explainer video is fairly new.

I’m talking about explainer videos that feature a realistic human presenter (a talking head) who’s actually an AI avatar.

It’s a great way to humanize your explainer video without having to record anyone, as the AI avatars only need your text input.

What is the best video software to use for this type of video?

Synthesia.

It’s an AI video generation platform that uses AI presenters based on real people – and you can also have your own avatar created.

It's super user-friendly, even if you've never edited a video before, and it supports over 130 languages and accents.

You can currently choose from over 140 diverse AI avatars, and they’re constantly adding more.

Here's how it looks:

How does it work?

First, you need a script, which you can type in the editor, paste, or generate with the integrated AI text generator.

Then, you choose an avatar, edit your video, and it will be generated in just a few minutes. 📹

You can also record your screen and upload your own branded assets to make your explainer video on-brand.

Here's a short product tour:

Top features

• 140+ AI avatars: You can choose from a wide range of AI avatars, including different ages, styles, and attitudes. You can even make them wink, nod, and frown.
• 130+ languages and accents: The avatars can speak more than 120 languages in various accents and tones. All you have to do is provide the script.
• AI script generation: If you’re not into writing, you can generate your script with AI directly within the tool. You define the parameters and have it generated in seconds.
• Screen recording: If you want to demonstrate a process or show something specific, you can use the screen recorder without having to leave Synthesia.
• Collaboration features: You can collaborate with the team in workspaces, comment on explainer videos in the making, and edit them together.
• Examples and templates: You can start creating your explainer videos from scratch or use one of the 60+ customizable templates. There’s also an extensive library of cloneable video examples made entirely with Synthesia.

We're using Synthesia to create product demo videos that add the more interactive AI avatar element, which has shown to significantly improve our engagement metrics. We're particularly impressed by the ease of use of their platform and the wealth of different AI actors we can use to diversify our videos. - Ulrik S. on G2

Pricing

• Free demo
• Free plan
• Starter plan: $29/month
• Creator plan: $67/month
• Enterprise plan: custom prices

Find out more about pricing options and features here.

2. PowToon - best explainer video software for animated videos

If you think cartoons are for kids… you might be wrong.

In fact, adults love them too!

Animated explainer videos are so effective due to their ability to simplify complex information through engaging visuals and audio.

They also offer the versatility to be customized and include fun and engaging animated characters and scenarios to keep viewers' attention.

Best explainer video software for animated videos?

Powtoon.

The tool makes it incredibly easy to create explainer videos and is a comprehensive solution for DIY videos. 🎨

I especially like their “character builder” feature – it offers numerous possibilities for creating animated characters that align with your brand. You can customize their clothes, skin tone, hairstyle, accessories, and more.  

How does it work?

To make an animated video in Powtoon, start by choosing a template or creating a new project from scratch.

Then, add scenes, characters, props, and text to your project, and animate them using the drag-and-drop editor and timeline.

And voila – your video is ready!

• Customizable character builder: The animated characters can be tailored with unlimited clothing combinations, skin tones, hairstyles, and accessories.
• Powtoon capture feature: Your screen, webcam, or both can be recorded with PowToon’s capture feature to enhance your animated videos.
• Over 40 templates: More than 40 explainer video templates are available for various use cases, which can be beneficial if you're not a designer.‍
• Collaboration capability: You can team up with others on your video presentations to share ideas and foster creativity

This web-based program allows users to create individual unique characters, provides a variety of backgrounds, stock video and photos and music. It also provides a ton of different movements for the characters and unique characteristics that can build a specific scene you're looking for. - Gillian W. on G2

Pricing

• Lite plan: $50/month for 5 exports per month
• Professional plan: $190/month for unlimited premium exports
  

3. VideoScribe - best software tool for whiteboard explainer videos

Whiteboard videos are another awesome option for creating explainer videos.

I'm talking about those hand-drawn videos where something is quickly drawn in front of your eyes. ✍️

They use a visually captivating technique that makes complicated information simple to understand.

Quick drawing and erasing on a whiteboard helps viewers remember and retain the material better – and it’s a super effective way of grabbing attention.

I’ve checked out different whiteboard animation tools, and VideoScribe seems like the best option.

It's designed specifically for making whiteboard videos, so it offers a wide range of customization tools and also allows you to upload your own assets.

How does it work?

To make a whiteboard explainer video in VideoScribe, begin by selecting a background and adding images and text to your project.

Then, use the software's hand-drawn animation feature to create a whiteboard explainer video.

You can create it based on scenes or a timeline (I prefer scenes as they’re easier to use). 😉

You can see how it works in this short video:

Top features

• Library of professional video templates: Fully customizable templates for different explainer videos.
• A diverse range of drawing hands, pens and erasers: This allows you to create explainer videos in distinct styles, or use a mixture of styles within a single video. 
• Different aspect ratios: VideoScribe offers a range of different video sizes (16:9, 1:1, 19:6) for different distribution channels. ‍
• Voiceover recording tools: You can record a voiceover directly in the software or import it from your computer.

Thanks to Videoscribe I have made a number of whiteboard videos. They are very funny and people get attention. I have made videos to explain how something works in the company, also to demonstrate a new product and many times a dedication to my parents or a relative. - Danny V. on Capterra

Pricing

• Free trial
• Monthly plan: €39/month
• Annual plan: €17/month
  

4. Runway - best video editor for live action explainers

Live action explainers can be really fun to watch.

They are a powerful way to showcase real people, products, and processes, and create an emotional connection with the audience.

But unlike other mediums, live action explainer videos cannot be fully digitized (yet). 🎞

That means you still need to properly edit the footage once it’s filmed, and this requires a good video editor that will turn your video into a nice explainer.

For that, I’d suggest you to use Runway.ml.

It’s a comprehensive, professional video editing software that allows you to edit live-action videos.

Plus, you can also generate entirely new video content with its integrated AI-powered solutions.

How does it work?

To edit a video with Runway, simply upload your video file to the platform, and use the intuitive editing tools to trim, cut, add effects, and enhance the footage. ✂️

You can also take advantage of the AI tools to automate certain aspects of the video creation process:

Top features

• Integrated video generator: Using Gen-2, a multimodal AI system, you can generate novel video content from text, images, or video clips.
• Eraser: You can erase objects from your videos with a simple brush stroke.
• Background remover: You can remove the background from any video with a single click.
• Numerous filters and effects: From slow-motion to VHS style to colorization, Runway offers many options to change the visual style of your video. 
• Real-time collaboration: You can share assets and projects, and collaborate with your team in real-time.

I’ve done a shot in five minutes, which normally would have taken me five hours. You're not going through it frame by frame, you're just tapping a couple of things and it's done. - Ryan M.

Pricing

• Starter plan: free
• Pro plan: $15/month
• Team plan: $35/month

5. Loom - best software for screencast videos

Sometimes, the easiest way to explain something is to simply share your screen while you demonstrate a process.

Such explainer videos are also known as screencast videos. 🖥

They are especially great for software tutorials, product demos, and instructional videos.

But sharing just a screen can be a bit boring, and adding a recording of yourself explaining step-by-step processes can be a nice addition.

And for that, the best explainer video software in my opinion is Loom.

How does it work?

With Loom, you can start recording your screen using either their desktop app or Chrome extension.

Record your screen and camera, and take as many takes as it takes. 🗣

Once recorded, you can share the video with a link and keep the conversation going using reactions and time-stamped comments.

Top features

• Screen recorder: Obviously a must-have feature for screencast explainer videos – it allows you to easily record your screen, camera, or both.
• Engagement insights: Get insights into the effectiveness of your explainer videos by seeing who watched your video, how long they watched it, and monitor CTA performance.‍
• Rich reactions: Enable comments and reactions with emojis to receive feedback on your explainer video, which can help you improve the content.

Instead of writing a long email to share an idea or a solution, I can use the Loom system to record thoughts and illustrate the ideas. The Loom system is also great for documenting systems and sharing them with others to follow a step-by-step process. - Kenneth P. on G2

Pricing

• Starter plan: Free
• Business plan: $8/month
• Enterprise plan: Custom prices

Time to choose your explainer video software now!

So there you have it – a list of tools that can help you create stunning explainer videos in different styles. 😊

These are some of the best explainer video software tools out there, but the choice really depends on your specific needs and preferences.

The good news is that most of them offer a free trial or demo, so you can try them out before committing.

And now that you've (hopefully) found your perfect fit, it's time to start creating videos. 📹

Try this AI explainer video maker by Synthesia to get started.