Correction, 2026-10-02: the cost table assembled the video with Merge Videos (the canvas Montage node, 10 credits), which joins 2 to 10 video clips and cuts each to at most 15 seconds, so it cannot assemble twelve stills, three diagrams and a 90-second voiceover. Assembly now happens on the timeline of 8frame's Video Editor mode, and the generated parts total about 222 credits, not 232. The description promised the video "for under $2", which even the old total did not support. The "230 words in 90 seconds" figure had no source; it is now tied to the 160 words a minute that 8frame's caption tool assumes. We removed claims we had not measured or sourced: that free tools handle visuals "perfectly well", a ranking of visuals "in order of effectiveness", that Nano Banana Pro gets the text right, that synthetic narration is "genuinely good" and "follows punctuation literally", that "most views are muted", and that an avatar "subtracts trust". New: how the Video Editor builds captions from a pasted script (no transcription, no SRT export), that the Wan tool opens at 1080p (95 credits) so 480p has to be picked, the picker name Seedream 5 Lite, that a new 8frame account starts with no credits, and that the Montage node's merged file has no sound.
An explainer video is a script with pictures attached. The script decides whether anyone understands the thing; the visuals decide whether they keep watching long enough to find out. Free tools cover a lot of the visual layer, so put the effort into the script and the voice.
For software in particular, start with a screen recording of the real product before you generate anything. Disclosure: 8frame is our product and it is not a free generator. A new account starts with no credits, and every 8frame price below is paid.
TL;DR
- Script first. 8frame's caption tool assumes 160 words a minute, which puts 90 seconds at about 240 words. Write 220 to 240, and treat that limit as the useful part
- For software, record the screen. Show the real interface, not a generated version of it
- Voice: ElevenLabs TTS at 13 credits per started 1,000 characters, so a script of about 1,400 characters is 26 credits
- Visuals: Seedream 5 Lite stills at 6 credits each with motion added in the edit, or Wan 3.0 plates at 24 credits per 5 seconds at 480p
- Captions: 8frame's Video Editor mode turns your pasted script into a caption layer; it does not transcribe the voiceover
- The generated parts of a 90-second explainer: about 222 credits, about $2.22
Write the script to a word count
At 160 words a minute, the rate 8frame's caption tool assumes, 90 seconds holds about 240 words. Aim for 220 to 240 so the read is not rushed. Writing to that number forces the decisions that make an explainer work.
Five beats to write to:
- The problem, in one sentence the viewer would recognise as theirs. Not your product's category. Their Tuesday.
- Why the existing solution is annoying. One sentence, specific.
- What your thing does, stated plainly, no metaphor.
- One concrete example of it working. Do not skip it.
- What to do next. One action.
Five beats, about 230 words. Anything that does not fit one of the five is cut.
Four kinds of visual
1. A screen recording of the real product. You record it yourself, it shows the real thing, and it cannot misrepresent the product. If the product is software, start here.
2. Simple diagrams and text cards. Try three boxes and two arrows before an illustration of a concept. Build them in your editor, or generate them with Nano Banana Pro at 21 credits if you want the text inside the image; proofread every word before it ships.
3. Generated stills with motion added in the edit. 6 credits each on Seedream 5 Lite, then a slow push. They fill runtime and set tone.
4. Generated video plates. Wan 3.0 at 480p, 24 credits per 5 seconds. The Wan tool opens at 1080p (95 credits), so pick 480p first. Use plates for atmosphere between sections rather than for the explanation itself.
The list runs from least to most generated. Start at the top and move down only when the option above cannot show what you need.
What it costs
Canon 8frame prices; a credit is about $0.01 at pack rate. The generated parts of a 90-second explainer:
| Element | Route | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Voiceover, ~1,400 characters | ElevenLabs TTS at 13 per started 1,000 | 26 |
| 12 illustrative stills | Seedream 5 Lite at 6 | 72 |
| 3 diagrams with generated text | Nano Banana Pro at 21 | 63 |
| 2 atmosphere plates, 5 seconds each | Wan 3.0 at 480p, 24 each | 48 |
| 30 seconds of music bed | Lyria 2, 13 per 30-second generation | 13 |
| Total | ~222 credits, about $2.22 |
That is under a quarter of a Starter plan's 1,000 monthly credits.
Assembly happens on a timeline. 8frame's Video Editor mode has video, text, caption and sound layers, and takes images and videos from your 8frame media; any editor you already use works too. The canvas Montage node (10 credits a run) joins 2 to 10 video clips and cuts each to a maximum length you set between 1 and 15 seconds, and the merged file has no sound. That suits a quick cut of generated plates, not a 90-second explainer built around a screen recording and a voiceover.
The voice decision
An explainer's register is informational rather than emotional, which makes it a reasonable place to try synthetic narration. Listen to a full take before you decide.
What to get right: punctuate for breath, because punctuation is how you steer pacing in a text-to-speech read (the ElevenLabs tool's own tips say to use punctuation for natural speech patterns). Write numbers as words where pronunciation matters. Listen to the whole track once and check product names and jargon above all, because those are your most important words. One generation takes up to 5,000 characters, so a 90-second script fits in one.
When to use your own voice instead: when the explainer is about you or your company's judgement rather than a mechanism. A founder explaining why they built something should be audible as a person.
Captions, from the script
Plan captions from the start, for viewers who watch with the sound off. In 8frame's Video Editor mode, "Generate captions" turns a pasted script into a caption layer timed at an estimated 160 words a minute. It does not transcribe the voiceover and does not export an SRT file, so check the caption timing against the narration before you export, and use another tool if a platform asks for SRT. More on caption style in how to caption video for silent viewing.
What not to do
Do not generate a presenter. In our view an avatar explaining your product puts something between the viewer and the product. Narrate over visuals or film yourself.
Do not generate a fake interface. A plausible-looking UI that is not your UI misrepresents the product and disappoints on first use.
Do not stretch to three minutes. If the script does not fit 90 seconds, it may be two explainers.
Do not leave captions to the end. Write them from the same script, as above.
FAQ
What is the best free explainer video maker? For software, start with a screen recorder and a free editor. Template tools suit the animated-diagram style. 8frame is not a free option: a new account has no credits, and generation is paid.
How long should an explainer be? 90 seconds. 60 if you can.
Should I use an AI voice? For informational narration, try one and listen to the whole take. For anything about your judgement or your company, use your own.
Can 8frame caption the explainer? From the script, yes: the Video Editor mode's "Generate captions" makes a caption layer from pasted text at an estimated 160 words a minute. It does not transcribe audio and does not export SRT.
How much does it cost? About 222 credits, about $2.22 at pack rate, for the generated parts of the 90-second example above.
Sources
- 8frame prices: ElevenLabs TTS (13 per started 1,000 characters, up to 5,000 characters per generation), Seedream 5 Lite (6), Nano Banana Pro (21), Wan 3.0 (calculateWan3Cost: 24 for 5 seconds at 480p; the tool opens at 1080p, 95), Lyria 2 (13 per 30-second generation), Montage / Merge Videos (10 per run, 2 to 10 clips, each cut to 1 to 15 seconds), Starter plan (1,000 credits a month): 8frame tool registry and content fact sheet, checked 2026-10-02
- Video Editor mode (timeline with video, text, caption and sound layers; images and videos from your 8frame media; "Generate captions" from a pasted script at an estimated 160 words a minute, no transcription, no SRT export) and the ElevenLabs tool tips: 8frame front-end code, checked 2026-10-02
- New accounts start with no credits: 8frame content fact sheet, checked 2026-10-02
Write 230 words, record the screen, narrate it.
Try it without signing up: the 8frame canvas opens on a real board. The canvas is free and unlimited; generation is paid from $19/month.