What they are, the main styles, what they cost, how long they should be and how they’re made, from a studio that’s produced 3,000+ since 2011.
Yes, this is an explainer video about making explainer videos. Very meta.
An explainer video is a short video, usually 60–90 seconds, that explains a product, service, process or idea in simple terms. Most use animation or AI-generated visuals, a professional voiceover and music to walk viewers through a problem, the solution and one clear next step. Businesses put them on homepages, landing pages, sales emails and social media to help people understand what they do, fast. New to the jargon? Our explainer video glossary covers 40 terms, and a short history of explainer videos shows how the format grew from whiteboard to AI.
| Quick facts | Typical answer |
|---|---|
| Typical length | 60–90 seconds (30 seconds for ads and social) |
| Script length | About 150 words per minute: roughly 150 words for 60 seconds, 225 for 90 (check yours with our Script Timer) |
| Common styles | 2D animation, motion graphics, 3D, mixed media, kinetic typography and cinematic AI |
| Production time | 4–6 weeks for custom animation (2–3 with a rush option); 1–2 weeks for AI video |
| Cost at Gisteo | Custom animation from $3,500 per 60 seconds; cinematic AI video from $3,500 for 60–90 seconds |
| Where they’re used | Homepages, landing pages, sales outreach, onboarding, trade shows and social media |
Most explainer videos use one of these six styles. Click any example below to watch it, or browse our full portfolio.
Every good explainer goes through the same five stages, whether it’s hand-animated or made with AI (see how we work):
More help: free Script Timer · explainer video script guide · free script session · pricing
Both start with the same script and story work. The difference is how the visuals get made. For more, read AI avatar vs. animated explainer and is AI video good enough for business?, or see our AI video production services.
| Step | Custom animation | Cinematic AI video |
|---|---|---|
| Script | Written by Gisteo, approved by you before production | Written by Gisteo, approved by you before production |
| Visuals | Hand-designed illustration and animation, built frame by frame | AI-generated cinematic scenes, directed and edited by our team |
| Look | Illustrated, fully custom brand style | A live-action film look or stylized AI animation, with no shoot |
| On screen | Animated characters, icons and diagrams | Real-looking people and places, stylized AI animation, or a custom AI clone of your spokesperson |
| Voice | Professional voiceover artist | Cutting-edge AI voices, or your AI clone’s voice |
| Turnaround | 4–6 weeks (2–3 weeks with VIP Fast Pass) | Typically 1–2 weeks |
| Revisions | Unlimited within each stage | 2 rounds |
| Updating later | Re-animating scenes takes design time | Swap a line, a product shot or a language quickly |
| Best for | Brand-defining videos, characters and precise technical diagrams | A live-action look, campaigns, video series and fast launches |
Not sure which fits? We make both, and we’ll tell you honestly on a free consultation. Book a call or see pricing.
We’ve seen these sink otherwise good videos (more in why explainer videos fail). Do this instead:
Checking your length? Try our free Script Timer.
The right explainer depends on three things: the style that fits your brand, the job your video has to do and who needs to see it. Pick a card for examples and pricing.
Animation styles
By goal
By length and speed
By industry
Want to go deeper? These are the most-read guides on the Gisteo blog, followed by quick comparisons to help you choose a style, a format and a studio.
Most read
AnimationAnimation Styles: 10 Popular Types With ExamplesRead the guide →
Examples15 Best Animated Explainer Video ExamplesRead the guide →
Examples20 Great Animated Ads You’ll Actually EnjoyRead the guide →
AI videoThe Best AI-Generated CommercialsRead the guide →
AI videoBest AI Video Generators: 12 Tools ComparedRead the guide →
MarketingProduct Advertisement Examples and TemplatesRead the guide →
Buyer’s guide30 Great Explainer Video Companies in 2026Read the guide →
AnimationWhat Is 2.5D Animation? Techniques and TrendsRead the guide →Quick comparisons
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Tell us what you need to explain. We’ll suggest a style, length and budget that fit.
An explainer video is a short video, usually 60–90 seconds, that explains a product, service, process or idea in simple terms. Most use animation or AI-generated visuals, a voiceover and music to walk viewers through a problem, the solution and one clear next step.
A good explainer video opens with the viewer’s problem, sticks to one message, runs 60–90 seconds, uses plain language and ends with one clear call to action. The script matters most: lock the script before any visuals.
Most explainer videos run 60–90 seconds. Ads and social cuts are often 15–30 seconds, while onboarding or training explainers can run 2–3 minutes. Shorter is almost always better. See what 3,000 projects taught us about scripts.
About 150 words, at a natural voiceover pace of roughly 150 words per minute. A 90-second video needs about 225 words. Paste your draft into our free Script Timer to check.
It depends on style, length and who makes it. At Gisteo, custom animation starts at $3,500 for 60 seconds (or $4,000 with our scriptwriting included), and 60–90 second cinematic AI videos start at $3,500, with volume discounts on shorter videos and social campaigns.
Custom animation typically takes 4–6 weeks, or 2–3 weeks with our VIP Fast Pass. AI explainer videos usually take 1–2 weeks.
The most common styles are 2D animation, motion graphics, 3D animation, whiteboard, mixed media, kinetic typography and, more and more, cinematic AI video.
Yes. A whiteboard video is an explainer style where drawings appear as if sketched by hand on a whiteboard. It works well for education and step-by-step processes. Read our whiteboard explainer guide.
An explainer video shows why your product matters, usually problem to solution, for people who don’t know you yet. A demo video shows how the product works in detail for buyers who are already evaluating it. More in demo vs. explainer.
Animation is best for software, abstract ideas and anything you’ll update later, with no shoot needed. Live action is best when people, places or trust are central. Cinematic AI video gives a live-action look without a shoot.
Yes, when they’re built on a strong script and directed by people. Gisteo writes the script, directs the AI scenes, edits the video and uses cutting-edge AI voices, usually in 1–2 weeks. See our AI explainer video service.
Start with your homepage, near the top. Then use it on landing pages, in sales emails, on social media, in onboarding and at events. Start with these hero video tips.
They can. A video can keep visitors on a page longer and appear in Google video results. Add a short summary or transcript and video schema so search engines understand it. We also tested whether AI search cites video.
