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Best Explainer Video Software · 2026

Best Explainer Video Software

We tested the top explainer video tools for marketers, educators, and creators. Here are the 8 best options ranked by animation quality, ease of use, and value for money.

Our #1 Pick: Voomly Cloud

Voomly Cloud is the only platform that bundles both whiteboard animation (Doodly) and cartoon explainer tools (Toonly), plus AI voiceover via Talkia, video hosting with lead capture, and three more tools — all for $49/month.

Try Voomly Cloud Free
Rankings

The 8 Best Explainer Video Tools in 2026

#1

Voomly Cloud (Doodly + Toonly)

Whiteboard + Cartoon AI Voiceover Video Hosting

Best for: Marketers who need both whiteboard AND cartoon explainer videos, plus hosting and lead capture.

Our Score9.0 / 10

Key Features

  • Doodly for whiteboard animation (Smart Draw technology)
  • Toonly for cartoon explainers (510+ character images, 81 backgrounds)
  • Talkia AI voiceover (400+ voices, 70+ languages)
  • People Builder (52M+ character combinations)
  • Voomly Hosting (7TB CDN, lead capture, video funnels)
  • Pyks for graphics and thumbnails

Pros & Cons

  • Two animation engines (whiteboard + cartoon) in one bundle
  • AI voiceover included — no separate subscription
  • Built-in video hosting with marketing features
  • Best overall value — 6 tools for the price of one
  • Desktop apps for animation tools (not browser-based)
  • No free tier (14-day trial + 30-day money-back guarantee)
Price: $49/mo (Cloud) or $79/mo (Pro) — all 6 tools included
Try Voomly Cloud Free Read our Doodly review and Toonly review
#2

Vyond

2D Character Animation Enterprise

Best for: Enterprise teams needing polished, professional 2D character animation.

Our Score7.5 / 10

Key Features

  • Professional 2D character animation
  • Team collaboration and shared workspaces
  • Enterprise security and SSO
  • Pre-built templates and asset library

Pros & Cons

  • Enterprise-grade with team collaboration
  • Polished animation output
  • Good template library
  • Expensive per-seat pricing
  • No whiteboard animation mode
  • No video hosting or marketing tools
Price: From $49/mo per seat
#3

Powtoon

Template-Driven Presentations

Best for: Quick, template-driven explainer videos for presentations and social media.

Our Score7.0 / 10

Key Features

  • Drag-and-drop video builder
  • PowerPoint and Google Slides integration
  • Character animation with pre-built poses
  • Large template library

Pros & Cons

  • Easy to learn
  • Good template library
  • Presentation integration
  • Template-dependent results
  • Limited customization
  • No video hosting included
Price: Free (watermarked) / From $15/mo
See our Toonly vs Powtoon comparison
#4

Animaker

Multi-Style Animation Browser-Based

Best for: Teams wanting multiple animation styles (2D, whiteboard, infographic) in one browser-based tool.

Our Score7.0 / 10

Key Features

  • Multiple animation modes (2D, whiteboard, infographic)
  • Character builder with customization
  • AI voiceover integration
  • Free tier available

Pros & Cons

  • Versatile animation styles
  • Free tier to get started
  • Fully browser-based
  • Jack of all trades, master of none
  • Whiteboard quality lags behind Doodly
  • Free tier heavily limited
Price: Free (watermarked) / $19/mo / $49/mo
See our Doodly vs Animaker and Toonly vs Animaker comparisons
#5

Animoto

Video Ads Social Media

Best for: Small businesses creating video ads and social media explainers quickly.

Our Score6.5 / 10

Key Features

  • Template-first video creation
  • Stock footage library
  • Auto-resize for social platforms
  • Brand customization

Pros & Cons

  • Very easy to use
  • Affordable pricing
  • Social media optimized
  • Not true animation (template and footage-based)
  • Limited customization options
Price: Free (watermarked) / $8/mo / $15/mo
#6

Canva

Design Platform Basic Animation

Best for: Non-designers who already use Canva and want basic animated explainers.

Our Score6.5 / 10

Key Features

  • Drag-and-drop editor
  • Massive template library
  • Brand kit for consistency
  • Animation effects on elements

Pros & Cons

  • Affordable — generous free tier
  • Huge template library
  • All-in-one design platform
  • Animation is basic (not character animation)
  • Limited explainer-specific features
Price: Free / $12.99/mo (Pro)
#7

VEED.IO

Video Editor Subtitles

Best for: Creators who need quick video editing with subtitles and basic animation.

Our Score6.0 / 10

Key Features

  • Browser-based video editor
  • Auto subtitle generation
  • Screen recording
  • Video templates

Pros & Cons

  • Browser-based — no install required
  • Excellent subtitle tools
  • Easy to use
  • More of an editor than an animator
  • Limited animation capabilities
Price: Free (watermarked) / $18/mo
#8

Lumen5

AI Blog-to-Video Content Repurposing

Best for: Content marketers converting blog posts into video summaries.

Our Score6.0 / 10

Key Features

  • AI-powered blog-to-video conversion
  • Stock media library
  • Brand customization and colors
  • Auto scene generation from text

Pros & Cons

  • AI content conversion saves time
  • Good for repurposing written content
  • Template-driven output
  • Not true animation
  • Expensive for what it offers
Price: Free (watermarked) / $29/mo
Side-by-Side

Comparison Table

Tool Our Score Starting Price Best For Animation Types Free Tier Video Hosting AI Voiceover
Voomly Cloud 9.0 $49/mo Whiteboard + Cartoon + Hosting Whiteboard, Cartoon
Vyond 7.5 $49/mo/seat Enterprise 2D animation 2D Character
Powtoon 7.0 Free / $15/mo Presentations & social 2D, Templates
Animaker 7.0 Free / $19/mo Multi-style animation 2D, Whiteboard, Infographic
Animoto 6.5 Free / $8/mo Social video ads Template / Footage
Canva 6.5 Free / $12.99/mo Basic animated explainers Basic Animation
VEED.IO 6.0 Free / $18/mo Video editing + subtitles Basic Animation
Lumen5 6.0 Free / $29/mo Blog-to-video conversion Template / AI
Our Top Pick

Why Voomly Cloud Is Our #1 Pick

Two Animation Engines in One

Doodly handles whiteboard animation while Toonly covers cartoon explainers — the two most popular explainer video styles, bundled together. No other platform offers both.

AI Voiceover Built In

Talkia provides 400+ AI voices in 70+ languages, eliminating the need for separate voiceover software or expensive freelance narrators.

Video Hosting with Marketing Tools

Most competitors export to file only. Voomly Hosting includes a 7TB CDN, lead capture forms, video funnels, and analytics — no third-party hosting required.

Unmatched Value

All six tools for $49/month. Cobbling together equivalent standalone tools (animation + voiceover + hosting + graphics) would cost $150+/month or more.

Try Voomly Cloud Free
Learn

Types of Explainer Videos

Not every explainer video is the same. Understanding the different styles will help you pick the right software for your goals.

Whiteboard Animation

Best for: Complex topics, education, step-by-step explanations

A hand appears to draw illustrations on a white surface. This style keeps viewers focused and is proven to boost information retention. Doodly is the leading whiteboard tool.

Cartoon / 2D Animation

Best for: Brand storytelling, product demos, marketing videos

Colorful characters and scenes tell your story in an engaging, brand-aligned way. Toonly makes cartoon explainers accessible to non-animators.

Screen Recordings

Best for: Software tutorials, SaaS onboarding, walkthroughs

Capture your screen to show exactly how something works. Voomly Hosting is ideal for hosting these with lead capture and analytics.

Template-Based Videos

Best for: Social media, quick turnaround, non-designers

Pre-designed templates let you swap in your text and branding in minutes. Tools like Animoto, Canva, and Lumen5 excel here, but offer less creative control.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Voomly Cloud is our top pick for 2026. It is the only platform that includes both whiteboard animation (Doodly) and cartoon explainer video creation (Toonly), plus AI voiceover via Talkia and enterprise video hosting with lead capture. All six tools are included starting at $49/month. If Toonly specifically isn't right for your use case, see our Toonly alternatives guide ranked by need.

Explainer video software ranges from free (with watermarks and limited features) to $79/month for professional suites. Voomly Cloud offers the best overall value at $49/month, bundling six tools — two animation engines, AI voiceover, character builder, graphics tool, and video hosting — that would cost $150+ if purchased separately.

Yes. Modern explainer video tools use drag-and-drop interfaces that require zero animation experience. Toonly and Doodly are especially beginner-friendly — Toonly offers pre-built character poses and scenes, while Doodly’s Smart Draw technology handles the animation timing for you.

Whiteboard animation simulates a hand drawing images on a white surface — it is ideal for educational content and complex topic breakdowns. Cartoon explainer videos use colorful character animation for brand storytelling and product demos. Voomly Cloud includes both styles via Doodly (whiteboard) and Toonly (cartoon). See our Doodly vs Toonly comparison for a detailed breakdown.

Most explainer video tools export to file only, meaning you need to upload to YouTube or pay for a third-party video host. Voomly Cloud is the exception — it includes enterprise video hosting with a 7TB CDN, lead capture forms, video funnels, and detailed analytics. This makes it the only all-in-one solution for creating and distributing explainer videos.

Create Explainer Videos That Convert

Doodly + Toonly + 4 more tools for $49/month. Whiteboard animation, cartoon explainers, AI voiceover, and video hosting — all in one platform.

Try Voomly Cloud Free

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