How to Make an Explainer Video (Fast, 2026)
Vorec Team · 2026-07-29 · 9 min read
An explainer video is a short video — usually 30 seconds to a few minutes — that explains a product, feature, concept, or process in a clear, simple way. Companies use them on landing pages, in onboarding, for support, and in sales because a good explainer communicates in a minute what a wall of text cannot.
The catch: explainer videos have a reputation for being slow and expensive to make — scripting, voiceover, animation, editing. This guide breaks down the types of explainer video, a simple process to make one, and the fastest path for the most common kind: the software/product explainer, which you can produce from a screen recording without editing.
Not every explainer needs animation. For software and product explainers, a screen recording with clear narration outperforms an expensive animated video — it shows the real product, builds trust, and can be produced in minutes instead of weeks.
Types of Explainer Video
| Type | What it shows | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Screen-recorded / product | The real software in action | SaaS demos, feature explainers, how-tos |
| Animated / motion graphic | Illustrated concepts | Abstract ideas, brand stories |
| Whiteboard | Hand-drawn sequence | Education, step-by-step concepts |
| Live-action | Real people | Brand and emotional storytelling |
For most software companies, the screen-recorded product explainer is the workhorse: it is the cheapest to make, the most honest (it shows the actual product), and the easiest to keep current.
How to Make an Explainer Video (Step by Step)
1. Define one goal and one audience
An explainer does one job: explain one thing to one audience. "Show new users how our dashboard works," not "cover everything."
2. Write a tight script (or let AI write it)
Keep it short — aim for the fewest words that make it clear. Lead with the problem, show the solution, end with one call to action. For software explainers, the script should follow what happens on screen.
3. Record or create the visuals
For a product explainer, record your screen performing the workflow. For animated or whiteboard styles, storyboard the key frames.
4. Add narration
Record a voiceover, or generate one with AI. Narration is what carries an explainer — it should explain why, not just describe what is on screen.
5. Edit for pace
Cut dead air, add light emphasis (zooms, highlights) on key moments, and keep it moving. Shorter almost always wins.
6. Add a call to action
End with one clear next step — sign up, learn more, try it.
The Fast Path: Software Explainers Without Editing
Most explainer-video advice assumes you will script, record voiceover, and edit — the slow, expensive path. For a software or product explainer, you can skip almost all of it.
With Vorec, you record the workflow once (silently is fine), upload it, and AI detects each action, writes the explainer script to match what is on screen, generates a natural voiceover, and syncs the timing — then exports a finished explainer video plus a written version. No scriptwriting, no microphone, no timeline editing. When the product changes, you re-record the flow instead of re-editing, and you can generate the explainer in 30+ languages without redoing the voiceover.
Match the format to the message. If you are explaining an abstract concept or telling a brand story, animation may be worth the cost. If you are explaining how a product or feature works, a narrated screen recording is faster, cheaper, and more convincing — because viewers see the real thing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an explainer video?
An explainer video is a short video that clearly explains a product, feature, concept, or process. It is commonly used on landing pages, in onboarding, and in support to communicate quickly what would take a lot of text to describe.
How long should an explainer video be?
Most effective explainers are 30 seconds to about two minutes. Shorter is usually better — cover one idea and end with a single call to action.
How much does it cost to make an explainer video?
Animated explainers from an agency can cost thousands and take weeks. A screen-recorded product explainer made with an AI tool can cost almost nothing and take minutes — Vorec starts free with 200 credits.
How do I make an explainer video without editing?
For a software explainer, record your screen and use an AI tool that writes and voices the narration and assembles the video for you. Vorec produces a finished explainer plus a written version from one recording, with no timeline editing.
What is the best type of explainer video for software?
A screen-recorded product explainer, because it shows the real product in action, builds trust, is cheap to produce, and is easy to keep current as the software changes.
Make a software explainer without scripting, recording voiceover, or editing. Upload a screen recording to Vorec — AI writes and voices it for you. 200 free credits.