Short answer
Use an explainer video maker (DIY software) for internal videos, quick tests and simple social clips where your own time is cheap and a template look is fine. Hire a studio for customer-facing videos such as your homepage, sales and investor explainers, where the script, original visuals and a set process matter more than the subscription price.
An explainer video maker is software you use to build a video yourself; a studio is a team you brief to build it for you. Both can produce a watchable explainer. The real decision is about three things: how much your own time is worth, how original the video needs to look, and how much the script and story will make or break the result.
What explainer video makers do well
- Speed for simple videos. Templates and drag-and-drop scenes let you assemble a basic video quickly.
- Low upfront cost. Most tools are sold as monthly or annual subscriptions.
- Easy updates. You can change a line of text or a screenshot yourself when the product changes.
- AI assistance. Many tools now draft scripts, generate voices and suggest scenes.
AI is now part of most video workflows: in Wyzowl's 2026 survey, 63% of video marketers said they have used AI video tools to help create or edit marketing videos, up from 51% a year earlier (Wyzowl, 2026).
Where DIY tools fall short
- The script is still on you. Software cannot decide what your one message is or which three benefits matter to your buyer.
- Template look. Stock characters and scenes are shared by every other user of the tool, so videos can look generic.
- Your time. Scripting, building scenes, choosing a voice and revising can take a team member days, not hours.
- Product accuracy. Showing your real interface or workflow clearly usually means custom visuals, not templates.
What a studio adds
A studio turns your brief into a finished video with a set process: scriptwriting, storyboard, original illustration and animation, voice-over, music and revisions. You approve the key stages instead of building them. Businesses use both routes: Wyzowl's 2026 report notes that most companies create at least some video in-house, while 42% rely on external video creators in some capacity (Wyzowl, 2026).
Explainer video maker vs studio: side by side
| Explainer video maker (DIY) | Studio | |
|---|---|---|
| Who writes the script | You (sometimes with an AI draft) | The studio, with your approval |
| Visual style | Templates and stock assets | Original illustration in your brand style |
| Your time | High: you build every scene | Low: brief, feedback and approvals |
| Voice-over | Text-to-speech or your own recording | Included or arranged by the studio |
| Revisions | Unlimited, but you do them | Set rounds, done for you |
| Best for | Internal videos, quick tests, social clips | Homepage, sales, launch and investor videos |
A simple way to decide
- Who will watch it? If it is customers, investors or your homepage visitors, lean toward custom. If it is your own team, DIY is usually fine.
- Who owns the script? If nobody on the team can write a clear 150-word script, the software will not fix that.
- What is an hour of your time worth? Compare a few days of a founder's or marketer's time with a fixed studio price.
- How often will it change? Fast-changing UI may suit a tool you can edit, or a short, focused explainer that avoids detailed screens.
The middle route: a studio with fixed, published prices
Custom video used to mean long quotes and big budgets. At Clickcode Media we publish our prices: a complete 2D explainer is $199 USD for 30 seconds, $349 USD for 60 seconds and $499 USD for 90 seconds, including script, AI voice-over, original animation, music, 2 script revision rounds and 2 video revision rounds. Delivery takes 7 to 10, 11 to 15 or 13 to 17 business days by length. You can see our work in the portfolio and start with a free 10-second teaser before you commit.
New to the format? Start with what an explainer video is and how to make one, or compare costs in how much an explainer video costs in 2026.
Explainer video makers vs studios: FAQs
What is an explainer video maker?
An explainer video maker is software that helps you build an animated video yourself, usually from templates, stock characters, icons and music. Many now add AI features such as script drafts, text-to-speech voices or automatic scene generation.
Is it cheaper to use an explainer video maker than to hire a studio?
The subscription is usually cheaper than a custom video, but it is not free: you pay with your own time for scripting, building scenes, voice and revisions. If your team's hours are expensive or the video is customer-facing, a fixed-price studio can end up better value.
Can AI make an explainer video for me?
AI tools can generate scripts, voices and even full draft videos from a prompt. They are useful for drafts and internal content. For a customer-facing explainer, you still need a clear message, accurate product visuals and on-brand design, which usually means human review and editing.
When should I hire a studio instead of using software?
Hire a studio when the video is for your homepage, sales or investors, when it needs original illustration in your brand style, or when nobody on the team has time to own scripting and animation. Use software for internal updates, quick tests and simple social clips.
How much does a studio explainer video cost?
Studio prices vary widely. Clickcode Media publishes fixed prices: $199 USD for 30 seconds, $349 USD for 60 seconds, $499 USD for 90 seconds, $649 USD for 2 minutes and $899 USD for 3 minutes, each including script, AI voice-over, original 2D animation, music and 2 script plus 2 video revision rounds.
Sources
- Wyzowl, Video Marketing Statistics 2026:https://wyzowl.com/video-marketing-statistics/