Explainer video options compared: DIY, Fiverr, agencies, studios
4 min read · Updated June 17, 2026
There are five honest ways to get a SaaS explainer made, and no single one is right for everyone. Here's how they compare, including where we're the wrong choice.
The options at a glance
| Option | Price | Speed | Conversion focus | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIY AI tools | $0 to ~$90/mo | minutes | none | scrappy tests, pre-revenue |
| Fiverr / freelancers | low hundreds to ~$1,300 | days | rarely | one-off, tight budget |
| Us, conversion-first | $167 to $227 (founding) | days | yes, it's the point | funded SaaS that wants it to sell |
| Mid-market studio | ~$5k to $15k | weeks | sometimes | brand polish, no rush |
| Premium studio | $15k and up | weeks to months | sometimes | 3D, live-action, big budget |
DIY AI tools
Cheap, fast, and improving quickly. The catch is that they generate, they don't judge. You still have to decide what the video should say, which is the hard part, and the output often looks generic. Good for a throwaway test. Risky as your homepage's first impression.
Fiverr and freelancers
You can find real talent here, and you can find templates dressed up as custom work. Quality and turnaround are a lottery, and the conversion thinking is usually missing. Fine for a one-off if you can vet carefully and you own the message yourself.
Us
We do conversion and production for SaaS, which most shops don't combine. We start with the message, build from your URL, and ship 16:9 and 9:16 from one production with up to 5 rounds of revisions. Founding pricing is low while we build the portfolio. We're the right call if you want a video engineered to lift signups, fast, without a studio budget. The reasoning behind the price is in the pricing guide.
Where we're the wrong choice
We make high-quality 2D motion graphics and kinetic type. We do not do bespoke 3D, character animation, live-action shoots, or original scoring. If your brand needs any of those, a mid-market or premium studio is the right call and worth the wait and the budget. We'd rather tell you that than oversell.
Mid-market and premium studios
Excellent work, slower timelines, bigger invoices. Worth it when the video is a brand centerpiece and you have the runway for weeks of production. Overkill when you need a clear, converting explainer on the homepage this month.
How to choose
Match the option to the job. Throwaway test, use a tool. Brand film with 3D, use a studio. A conversion-first explainer for a funded SaaS that needs to ship soon, that's us. The longer framework is in the complete guide, and you can start here.