Where to Buy Animated Explainer Videos (And What to Watch Out For)

If you want to buy an explainer video, you have four main options: DIY tools, freelancer marketplaces, video production studios, or full-service agencies. Each has a different cost, quality ceiling, and risk profile. This guide maps out every option so you can make a confident decision — and avoid the traps that waste thousands of dollars on a video that doesn't work.

Option 1: DIY Video Platforms

Best for: Pre-revenue startups, internal communications, social media experiments.
Cost: $15–$149/month subscription.

Tools like Animaker, Vyond, Powtoon, and Canva let you build animated videos yourself with pre-made templates. You choose characters, drag them onto a timeline, add text, and export.

Pros: Cheap, fast, no production lead time. You can update videos yourself whenever you need to.

Cons: Recognizable template aesthetic. Viewers know when a video is built from a stock library — and it signals "small budget" whether you intend it to or not. Templates also date quickly; styles from 2022 already look old. And the biggest hidden cost is your time: most non-designers spend 15–25 hours to produce a 60-second video they're not fully happy with.

Bottom line: Fine for getting something on your site now while you build budget. Not a long-term brand asset.

Option 2: Freelancer Marketplaces

Best for: Businesses with tight budgets who can invest time in vetting.
Cost: $200–$2,500 per video.

Platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and 99designs connect you with individual animators. Quality ranges from excellent ($1,000–$2,500 from senior animators) to poor ($200–$400 from template resellers).

How to buy an explainer video on Fiverr (and not regret it)

The key is vetting. Before hiring anyone on a freelancer platform:

• Watch at least 5 videos in their portfolio. Are they all in the same style? That's a template animator.
• Check their order count vs. review count. Many "200 orders" are stock templates resold.
• Ask them to describe your script back to you in their own words before placing an order. If they can't, they're not reading briefs carefully.
• Avoid anyone who doesn't ask questions about your brand before starting.
• Start with a small test project if you're unsure.

The biggest risk with freelancers isn't quality — it's project management. A single animator juggling multiple clients can miss deadlines, go quiet, or deliver something that requires three rounds of back-and-forth because there was no structured brief process. Budget extra time (4–6 weeks instead of 2) when buying through freelancer marketplaces.

Option 3: Video Production Studios

Best for: Businesses that want professional results without enterprise overhead.
Cost: $299–$6,000 per video.

A production studio — like us at ExpansionVideos — brings a structured team and process to your project. You work with a dedicated producer who manages scripting, animation, voiceover, and delivery. There's accountability, a defined timeline, and a quality bar the studio needs to protect.

At this tier, you should expect:

• A proper briefing process (we use a detailed questionnaire + discovery call)
• Professional scriptwriting included
• Storyboard approval before animation begins
• Professional voiceover selection (male/female, accent options)
• Custom animation — not stock template characters
• Unlimited revisions until you're satisfied
• Source file delivery at the end

We've produced 500+ explainer videos since 2015 for companies including Toyota, Deloitte, Veritas, and MAPS. Our process has been refined to make production as smooth as possible, even for clients who've never done a video project before.

Our packages start at $299 for an AI-assisted explainer video (delivered in 5–7 days) and $799 for full custom 2D animation. See our full pricing here →

Option 4: Full-Service Agencies

Best for: Enterprises, complex multi-video campaigns, heavily regulated industries.
Cost: $10,000–$50,000+ per video.

Large video agencies offer everything a studio does, plus strategic planning, multi-format delivery, distribution strategy, and dedicated account teams. The overhead is significant, and most of the premium you pay goes toward account management rather than animation quality. For most SMBs and startups, a boutique studio produces comparable visual quality at 20–30% of the agency cost.

When does a full-service agency make sense? When your video project requires: legal compliance review at each production stage, simultaneous production in 10+ languages, integration with a larger campaign buy, or when a wrong decision carries significant brand risk at scale (Fortune 500 launch campaigns, IPO explainers, etc.).

Questions to Ask Before You Buy an Explainer Video

Whether you're buying from a freelancer or a studio, ask these questions before you commit:

1. "Can you show me 3 examples in a similar style to what you're proposing for us?" — If they can't, they're promising something they haven't done before.
2. "What's your revision policy?" — Avoid anything with revision limits. Unlimited revisions are standard at quality studios.
3. "Who specifically will work on our project?" — Agencies often pitch with senior talent and deliver with juniors.
4. "What do we own at the end?" — You should receive all source files and have full commercial rights to the video.
5. "What's your cancellation/refund policy?" — A money-back guarantee signals confidence in the work.
6. "How many projects are you running simultaneously?" — A freelancer managing 20 projects isn't giving yours much attention.

The Smart Way to Buy an Animated Explainer Video

Here's our recommended approach based on budget:

• Under $500: Start with our AI Video package ($299). Professional quality, fast delivery, no risk.
• $500–$3,000: Invest in a boutique studio. At this level, custom 2D animation is accessible and will serve your brand for 3+ years.
• $3,000–$10,000: Premium boutique studio or small agency. Multiple creative concepts, senior production team, priority turnaround.
• $10,000+: Full-service agency for complex campaigns.

The biggest mistake companies make when buying explainer videos is optimizing for price alone. A $400 video that doesn't convert costs you more than a $2,000 video that does — especially when your homepage video is seen by every single visitor.