Explaindio Review
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| Explaindio Review |
Explaindio.
Effectiveness: Making videos is possible, but it takes time.
Price: relatively less expensive than alternatives.
Easy to use yet with a complicated UI.
Assistance: A few lessons, and delayed email responses.
Price: relatively less expensive than alternatives.
Easy to use yet with a complicated UI.
Assistance: A few lessons, and delayed email responses.
Summary
No other software on the market is as affordable and adaptable, according to Explaindio. Although it's possible that this isn't the case, it does provide a wide range of resources for anyone wishing to create animated or explainer videos in a whiteboard or cartoon style.
It is appropriate to refer to the software as an internet marketer's tool in its primary advertising. You'd be better off with VideoScribe, another whiteboard animation product that is more expensive but also easier to use for educators or other non-business groups.
Learning Explaindio can be difficult and time-consuming. Furthermore, it only provides a yearly payment plan. You will have access to updates but not upgrades after purchasing the program.
The collection of pre-made animated scenes is what I like. The elements can be controlled precisely within the timeline. Add your own assets, including typefaces and 3D artwork.
What I don't like: The user interface is confusing. limited library of free media. The audio quality is poor.
Explaindio: What is it?
It may be used to make animated videos and is flexible. You can use items in a variety of designs, such as a whiteboard, 3D figures, photos, or other presets. The user interface is built on drag and drop.
Primary characteristics are:
Make instructional or promotional videos.
Use many file formats or styles in a single project.
Utilize their collection of materials or your own.
Export the completed project in a variety of file types.
Is it safe to use Explaindio?
The software Explaindio is safe, yes. They have a sizable consumer base and have been in business since roughly 2014. Norton Safe Web scans show that the website is safe to use and that the installed program poses no threat to your computer.
The ZIP folder is simple to access from your apps, and its main interaction with your computer is to export or import the files you specify.
Explaindio: Is it free?
No, Explaindio is not free, and there is no free trial available. They provide two subscription plans: a commercial license and a personal license. The only thing separating the two is an extra $10 a year and the opportunity to claim ownership of the movies you create using the software.
You get a year's worth of access after paying for the program. You will be charged again for another year of access after the first twelve months. This is really affordable when compared to other tools, but Explaindio does not provide a one-time purchase option or a monthly membership. You must pay for the entire year, even if you only want the program for a few months.
How do I get Explaindio to download?
You cannot download Explaindio unless you pay for the software. After making a purchase, you will get login information through email and must visit the member site at https://account.explaindio.com. Since this link is not on their website, non-users will have a difficult time finding it You'll be welcomed with an account details page where you can download the program after logging in Select Explaindio from the list of "Active Resources" and browse the advertisements until you come across the download link.
Some ZIP files start downloading right away. You must open the PKG file and complete the installation after zipping. You must click through six stages to complete this installation, which is different from the more recent DMG installation you may be accustomed to The application will be in your application folder once the installation is complete. The procedure will alter if you're using a Windows machine and is exclusive to Macs.
The first time you open Explaindio, do so from the programs folder. I immediately anticipated a login screen. I was informed that I needed to apply for an update instead. Given that any program you download should have the latest version, this was highly confusing Within 30 seconds, the application had updated, and when I launched it again, I was presented with a login screen where I had to copy the license key from the email confirming my account The primary editing screen of the application then opened, and I was prepared to begin testing and experimenting.
Which is superior between VideoScribe and Explaindio?
To compare VideoScribe and Explaindio, I created my own chart. The software you choose depends on your intended purpose for it, not on its specific features. Indeed, VideoScribe does not support 3D, although Explaindio does. But neither piece of software may assert that the other is "inflexible".
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| Explaindio Review |
VideoScribe would be a better option for an educator who needs a single video specifically in the whiteboard style and has very little free time to learn a complex program, whereas Explaindio may be a better fit for an internet marketer in a long-term position with a client who wants extremely difficult animations.
Users shouldn't undervalue the elegance of a tool made for a more focused purpose just because Explaindio appears to be more adaptable on the surface. Within the context of the project you're aiming to finish, take into account each program.
Why You Should Trust My Explaindio Review
Hello, my name is Talal, and I'm an engineer who loves to write about and explain how things operate. I have spent more than ten years researching, developing, and utilizing diverse computer hardware and applications.
That's why I'm writing these reviews and including screenshots from my actual usage of the program. I've spent several days trying Explaindio out to see how it fits. To understand more about the program's support, I even emailed their customer care department (see more about this in the "Reasons Behind My Review Ratings" section or the "Using Media > Visuals" section). I've tried to use practically every option I could find.
As you can see in the screenshot, Explaindio was totally paid for by me; I was in no way encouraged to give this program a favorable review.
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| Explaindio Review |
Review of Explaindio in Detail
Over a few days, I figured out how to operate the application through tutorials and practice. Everything that follows is a compilation of my knowledge. However, if you are using a PC as opposed to a Mac computer, some information or screenshots can appear somewhat different.
Scenes, timeline, and user interface
The interface of Explaindio is intimidating when you first launch it. There are about 20 distinct buttons in the menu bar at the top. Just below this is the timeline, where you may add scenes and edit material. The canvas and editing panel are located on the screen's bottom. Keep in mind that based on what you are working on, this section will alter.
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| Explaindio Review |
Until you click "Create Project" on the top left, nothing will be possible. To return to the UI you saw earlier, you will be prompted to name your project.
The first thing you should do is create a scene by selecting the button that resembles a film strip with a plus sign in the center. You'll be asked to add a scene from your personal library or make a new slide. The second one can only be used if you've previously saved it in a specified format, so pick the first one.
Now that you are editing a scene, the editor's bottom half will adjust to reflect this. To add media in a variety of formats, utilize the buttons down the editor's bottom.
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| Explaindio Review |
To leave the drag-and-drop media-add interface and return to the main editor, select "close canvas".
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| Explaindio Review |
Depending on the type of media that has been added to the scene, you will have options in this section. You can change several animation characteristics by using the "image" tab, which is located on the left side of the screen. You must first choose other scene components in the timeline to access the editor's editing choices.
Here, you can also edit scene-wide elements like the voiceover and background.
For such a low-cost program, the timeframe is incredibly flexible. Media within scenes can be rearranged, overlapping animations are supported, and gaps can be made as needed.
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| Explaindio Review |
On the timeline, each element of a scene occupies one row. You can drag the gray bar along the timeline to adjust the length of the media's animation and the timing of when it shows on the screen. The arrangement of the gray bars controls which pieces animate and appear first, but the order in which each media item appears vertically corresponds to the order in which it appears to be stacked (i.e., the topmost things are the most forward and visible).
Media from one scene cannot be moved to animation in another since each scene has its own media stacking.
Media usage
In Explaindio, media is available in numerous formats and for various purposes. The media that makes up your film, including voiceovers, text, and graphics, makes it. Here is an explanation of how it functions within the application and what features or restrictions you could encounter.
Visuals
Multiple formats are available for visual material. The first is the simplest: SVG sketch files for making animated characters and icons that resemble whiteboards. These can be found in a good free library on Explaindio:
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When you click one, it will be added to your canvas along with any pre-made animations. As an alternative, you might add a non-vector or bitmap picture to your project. JPEGs and PNGs are bitmap images.
It can be added from either your PC or Pixabay, which Explaindio has integrated. With a photo of a globe map, I used this feature, and the outcomes were excellent. Explaindio actually constructed a path for the image and drew it in a manner that was very comparable to an SVG, unlike many other whiteboard apps.
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| Explaindio Review |
The fact that the entire image didn't show up on the upload screen when I was importing confused me, but I was pleasantly impressed by the outcomes.
As you can see, a drawn animation in the form of a whiteboard was created from a bitmap JPEG. I attempted to import a GIF as well, but I had less success. The actual moving components of the GIF did not animate, and the image stayed static even though it appeared to have been created and animated in the application like an SVG or JPEG.
I then attempted to include an MP4 video. When I first noticed the following white screen, I initially believed it had failed:
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| Explaindio Review |
But I quickly realized that the preview was actually only the first frame of my video, which was completely white. The movie played inside the Explaindio project I had made and appeared in the timeline of the actual animation.
I then tried to use the "Animation/Slide" media. I had the choice of importing a Flash animation or an Explaindio slide. I chose the Explaindio slide and was taken to a library of presets because I don't have any flash animations and didn't know where to go for one.
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| Explaindio Review |
The majority of the ready-made choices were actually rather great. I was unable to alter them so that I could add my own content instead of the filler, though. I emailed support about this uncertainty using the button in the program's upper-right corner.
After I opened a ticket, I received an automated email inviting me to register with the customer service department so that I could check the status of my issue. The email also stated:
"A support agent is going to look over your request and reply to you personally. (Typically between 24 and 72 hours.) Over the weekend and during product launches, the response can take longer.
At around 2:00 PM on a Saturday, I turned in my ticket. When I didn't hear back within a day, I put it down to the weekend. It wasn't until the following Wednesday that I finally received an answer, and even then, it wasn't very helpful. They linked a few user-made videos from YouTube and pointed me to the FAQ, which I had already read.
Not precisely excellent assistance. After replying, they also closed the ticket. The entire experience was disappointing.
Finally, I played around with the 3D file function. When I attempted to import a file, I was met with a preset library of six files, each of which had an unfamiliar file extension and no preview option.
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| Explaindio Review |
I added each one to a different slide and cut the play time for each animation to a few seconds.
The video demonstrates how each animation seemed crazier than the previous one. When may I request a 3D animation of a hinge joining two wooden planks? Their applications appeared oddly narrow, and I'm still baffled as to why Explaindio would ever advertise this feature so heavily on their website.
I would anticipate that it would be simple to locate third-party files as a replacement for such a meager collection of pre-made clips, but even having used several CAD applications, I have no idea what a ".zf3d" file is. You won't find this file in a database of free stock. To really utilize the 3D feature, I assume the idea is to get you to buy a different program that connects to Explaindio.
Audio
Your video will come to life with sound. It's a crucial type of media for each video you produce. In this video from the member lessons, Explaindio actually does a really good job of describing how their sound functions operate.
I'd like to add a couple more things. First off, there are no second chances if you record your audio inside the program. If you make a mistake, you must correct it right away or start over from scratch. To fix this, you should make an MP3 for the voiceover using a third-party application like Quicktime or Audacity.
Second, I can't say that I enjoy the standard background music either. You would at least expect some variation with only 15 tunes to choose from. Instead, fifteen tracks are given to you that are so dramatic they could never be utilized in a commercial.
Titles like "Battle Hymn" and "Epic Theme" ought to provide a clear indication that Explaindio wants you to click "Get More Tracks" and buy something from their marketplace.
Here is a tune from YouTube that is similar to the free music that Explaindio offers.
You're on your own when it comes to the program's audio. You can either pay to purchase tracks from their marketplace, record your own voice-over and audio using a different application, or look for royalty-free tracks online.
Text
Although the text in your video might not be the most interesting part, it is necessary for charts, signs, captions, statistics, descriptions, and much more.
The text feature in Explaindio is fairly flexible. The typeface, animation/FX, color, and other elements are all customizable.
The level of personalization varies with each of these choices. For instance, while using color, you could feel constrained by the available palette.
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| Explaindio Review |
However, because these colors are displayed as HEX codes, you can select a specific color and copy the code by using a tool like Google's HEX Color Picker.
You can import your font as a TTF file if the one you desire isn't available. If you're not satisfied with the hand-drawn look, you can animate the text to move from one location to another or utilize one of the countless entry and exit animations.
The lack of alignment tools is the only issue I observed with the text. No matter how many lines there are or how many words there are, all text is centered. Although unpleasant, this is still manageable.
This two-minute instructional training video does a respectable job of explaining the text in more detail.
Share and export
You should export your video whenever you've finished editing your scenes and finishing your video.
There are just two options for export that I can see. Either the entire movie or a specific scene can be exported. Choose "create video" from the menu bar if you wish to export an entire movie. A dialog box with export options will appear as a result.
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| Explaindio Review |
We do have some choices, as you can see. First, disregard the box titled "Export Path and Filename," which you can alter later and will be updated automatically. The options for video size and quality vary from "perfect" to "good" up to full HD at 1080p. Your computer's export speed is a major determining factor, but you have a variety of options that trade off speed or quality for the other.
You can use a PNG file containing your logo to add a watermark as well. For protecting creative work or demo videos, this would be helpful. The option labeled "export project for online presenter" directly above this one is a little more enigmatic. When I exported a video, checking the box didn't appear to have any effect. I couldn't locate any information on what it does.
After selecting your options, select "Start Export" to bring up a new dialog window.
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| Explaindio Review |
Here, you can modify the project's name. The choice of the appropriate "where" is the most crucial. You should click it and select your usual saving location since the default folder is some odd application directory. When you click "Save," your video will begin exporting, and a gray progress meter will appear.
A scene can be exported virtually exactly the same way. Selecting "create video from this scene" in the editor area will bring up a dialog box very similar to the project exporter.
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| Explaindio Review |
You must follow the identical steps for exporting a project; the only distinction is that it says "Export Scene" rather than "Export Project." The file will then appear where you specified it would.
Reasons for My Review Scores
3.5/5 for effectiveness.
Explaindio promotes several key characteristics, including the capacity to produce animated movies, a variety of animation types (explainer, whiteboard, cartoon, etc.), the integration of 2D and 3D graphics, a collection of free assets, and the tools required to bring it all together. It doesn't, in my opinion, deliver on everything it promises. While there are many tools to help you produce animated videos, the program doesn't offer a lot of free content, especially when it comes to 3D and music. To utilize the program efficiently, the user must look elsewhere or purchase more resources.
Price: 4/5
Explaindio is incredibly affordable in comparison to other solutions. The best subscription they provide is only $67 for a year, compared to upwards of $200 for programs like VideoScribe or Adobe Animate. The program, however, does not provide the same level of price freedom as other plans. You cannot merely pay for a few months if you get the software. Furthermore, you are unable to test the program without paying first and asking for a refund within 30 days.
Usefulness: 3/5
Working with this program wasn't easy at all. Important tools are concealed under less-important ones in their layered, cluttered layout. I believed that practically all of Explaindio's features required their own tutorials. The natural movements and logical sequences that make up good UI are what Explaindio lacks, which makes using it tedious. You could ultimately learn to use and be proficient with this type of program, but it will take a lot of practice.
3.5/5 for support.
Stars Explaindio offers its customers several tutorials and FAQs like many other apps do. However, access to these resources is restricted to those who have paid for the program, and once you do, you will find that they are terribly disorganized. There is no index, and only one page scrolls seemingly forever with a list of the 28 tutorial videos. The already lengthy page is crowded with ads for various programs.
Since none of the tutorials are posted, YouTube cannot be searched for them. Their email support states that they will respond between "24 and 72 hours," but weekends can cause delays. When I emailed assistance on a Saturday, I didn't hear back from them until Monday for a straightforward issue and until Wednesday for a feature-related query. I consider this to be somewhat excessive, especially given the subpar answer I received and the fact that these two were sent barely 30 minutes apart.
substitutes for Explaindio
VideoScribe (Windows and Mac)
VideoScribe is the program you use if you want to make whiteboard videos exclusively. There are plenty of options for creating a professional-looking film, and it is reasonably priced at $168 per year. To learn more about the program, check out our VideoScribe review here.
Adobe Animate CC (Windows and Mac)
In the creative sector, the Adobe name has a certain weight of authority. You can control your movie creation precisely with Animate, but some of the other tools' simplicity will be lost. Additionally, you'll pay roughly $20 each month. Visit our Adobe Animate review to learn more about what Animate CC can achieve.
Powtoon (online)
Powtoon is a fantastic web-based option for whiteboard and cartoon variety without downloading anything. The software features a vast media library and drag-and-drop functionality. To learn more, see our whole Powtoon review.
Doodly (Windows and Mac)
Doodly is a program that has excellent third-party picture integration and excellent whiteboard animations that you might wish to take into consideration. It is far more expensive than Explaindio, but it also provides a lot of free resources and the tools you need to create a fantastic explainer film. If you want additional details about the program, you might want to read this Doodly review.
For additional information, you can also read our recent evaluation of whiteboard animation software.
Conclusion
Explaindio is a program with a ton of choices that will help you finish any animated videos you need to make for marketing. The program is fairly well-made in terms of the timeline, canvas, and editing features while having a few issues with audio and 3D. Even though it may take some time, you'll end up with a high-quality video for a reasonable fee.
So, how helpful do you find this Explaindio review? Post your comments below.