The 15 Best Explainer Videos of All Time (That are Super Effective)

Explainer videos are one of the most effective forms of video marketing for brands. They let you communicate your product or service and its benefits in a short and engaging way.

And in a world where marketing strategies are taken over by video, explainer videos are a necessity.

With the vast scope that explainer videos offer, it can become hectic coming up with a concept or idea for your own product or service. Trust me, I’ve been there too.

That’s why I’ve taken the time to help you out and create this curated list of the 15 Best Explainer Videos. And it’s not just a hi-bye look at these explainer video examples. We’ll also be taking a closer look at:

How they implemented the idea?
Why do they work?
What key points can you take home?

On that note, let’s get this article started by answering this important question.

Why use explainer videos?

The reason why so many businesses are choosing to make an explainer video is that they combine audio and visual elements to explain a concept in a simple and understandable way. All your information is condensed into a matter of seconds with enormous potential to communicate what your company offers, and why you’re the best alternative to help your customers solve their problems.

They’re also a one-time investment. You just need to make one good explainer video! Whoever wants to know about you simply has to take a look at your video. Job done!

Moreover, an explainer videos is a very effective tool to deliver the best sales pitch. They help in improving conversions and sales, with 64% of business owners stating that explainer videos have boosted theirs.

Because explainer videos are customized to fit your brand’s personality, they serve as amazing tools to build brand awareness.

What’s more, explainer videos increase online visibility. When you have an explainer video on your website landing page, your audience is encouraged to stay longer. This, in turn, means you rank higher on Google search results.

Got it? Now that you’ve understood why they’re so widely used, let’s get into what you came here for.

Best Explainer Videos

I’m sure you’ve come across some stellar explainer videos and wondered, “How did they make it work?”

It worked because every video is unique and engaging to their target audience. And it’s that unique element which makes a successful explainer video.

So without further ado, here’s the inspiration you need to make your own killer explainer video.

Google Calender
Zendesk
Mesosphere
Slack
Coin
Asana
Next Door
Dollar Shave Club
Atoka
Notarize
Kano
Dissolve
Headspace
Adobe CMO
Mint

1. Google Calendar

This is the explainer video for the once-new Google Calendar that was launched back in 2014.

Well, what can I say? It’s simple, it’s neat and it’s beautiful.

To start off, the narration. I love that they’ve completely avoided unnecessary words. Using very basic sentences, the narration utilizes the visuals to guide the viewer.

The video uses the product screen and user interface to show exactly what the user experience looks like. And in the background are people acting out the scenarios, again keeping it plain and minimal.

This effortless blend of simplicity and visuals is proof that you don’t need elaborate and complicated narratives to get the message across.

The music too is well suited for this video. With the entire video being slightly fast-paced, the energetic background track complemented the vibe effortlessly.

At the end of the day, it conveys how the software can simplify any viewer’s life and add value — which customers love! There’s no question that this video by Google is of the best instructional videos out there.

This explainer video format is great if you want to highlight your product screen while showcasing real-time scenarios and applications.

Key Takeaways: You don’t always need an elaborate narrative to lead the viewer. If you think you can effectively explain your product with a visual focus, you can afford to keep your script short and simple.

2. Zendesk

If you have a slightly higher budget, this professional explainer video by Zendesk can be a great inspiration. It’s a stunning combination of live-action, motion graphics, and screencasts.

Real people add that human touch to this video, while the graphics and product create a storyline and engage the audience.

This software explainer video excellently demonstrates what Zendesk is all about by highlighting the range of features it offers. The motion graphics and screencasts effectively show the product interface and user experience, as well as its capabilities.

I also love that it showcases a bunch of different perspectives — support executives, managers and even customers. They recreate relatable scenarios by replicating the exact personas of Zendesk’s clients.

This allows customers to easily relate to the video because anyone in the field can actually see themselves using the product.

From addressing queries to quality checks and data analysis, the 90-second video covers it all.

Key Takeaways: Remember that when you’re making your video, you don’t have to stick to one visual style. Just like what Zendesk did, you could try to blend multiple styles and find the right balance between them.

3. Mesosphere/D2iQ

This corporate explainer video is honestly a treat for the eyes. It is what you would call, seamless.

On a side note, the company was initially known as Mesosphere and still was when this video was made. Now, however, they’re called D2iQ.

With regard to the video content provided, they’ve done a very good job. What their business does can seem pretty complicated, but this video does a marvelous job of simplifying that for the audience. By the end of the video, it’s easy to deduce how exactly their product helps.

The voiceover use is direct and charming, and effectively explains everything about the service.

Now for the best part. The animation. This how-it-works video follows an isometric animation style, and it is absolutely fantastic. Every scene is attractive to look at thanks to the symmetry with the transitions being as smooth as butter.

The color scheme follows a very simple pattern, using minimal colors and shades to make it easy on the eye. As I said, this video is eye-candy, making it one of the best-animated explainer videos on this list.

Key Takeaways: Abstract concepts like cloud computing , AI etc., are a lot easier to show with animation than with live-action explainer videos. And though this is a 2D video, the isometric animation adds a subtle illusion of depth, making it feel like a 3D animated video. If your product falls under the same category, consider this technique.

4. Slack

‍Slack has a knack for creating some of the best explainer videos out there. And this video is no exception.

For Saas products such as Slack, the best way to explain it is by showing the user interface, i.e., screencasting.

Using nothing but high-quality screen recording of the app in use, they’ve presented the experience of using it. It’s an A-Z tour of all the functions and features of Slack.

The only other aid here is the merry voiceover that follows the actions of the video. By the end of every feature and every scene, you know exactly what it’s all about.

The music is very cheerful, which works seamlessly with the content of the video.

But why do I love this video so much? Because of its duality.

This funny instructional video acts as both a product explainer video and a product demo video! It shows what the app does AND how to use it without any difficulty. That’s one video for two situations!

Key Takeaways: A screencast video doesn't have to be boring, as Slack has shown. If you’re video is screencast, think about how you can use relatable activities and humor to make it more engaging.

5. Coin

“One coin for all your cards.”

You know a video is a great explainer video when you know exactly what the tagline means by the end of it. This one by Coin is one such video.

This mildly humorous video takes you on a neat tour of the product in question -Coin. It’s a single credit card-sized device that stored a collection of credit and debit cards that users could toggle through.

It’s a pretty straightforward concept, and that’s made clear in the video. The product is explained painlessly. Right from its applications to features to security options, it’s a 360-degree view of the product’s capabilities.

Because it involves real-life scenarios that everyone goes through, it makes the video very relatable. And the way it’s been portrayed feels very human.

To add to the experience is the upbeat background music that goes well with the quirky character in the video.

Key Takeaways: If the subject of your explainer video is a physical product like Coin, a live-action video with real-time use of the product is a good way to go about it. Showing is better than telling and if your product allows that, do it.

6. Asana

‍Asana is a web and mobile application designed to help teams organize, track, and manage their work.

That being said, this animated explainer video of theirs is just as organized as they are.

While this would’ve been a great place to use screencast, Asana decided to take a more fun approach with animation instead. This allowed them to zoom in on the new “Timeline” feature of their product in a simplified manner - by using animated screen mockups.

The vivid, bright illustrations and the beautifully designed characters really compliment each other very well. I absolutely love the colors in this cartoon explainer video. They make it pop!

If I’m honest, the background track made all the difference to me. I mean sure, the animations and transitions are on point, but the music really sets the vibe.

It’s jumpy and heartening to listen to, while also being perfect for every scene. Add that to the chirpy voiceover, and you have this vibrant and jolly animated explainer video.

Key Takeaways: If your product is one that changes its interface with every major update, an animated mockup is a better solution than the actual product screens. They let you generalize the overall idea of it while still giving users a glimpse of the product experience.

7. Next Door

Human to human interaction is something we all complain about these days. There isn’t enough.

Nextdoor chose to change that with their free networking service, and this app explainer video does justice to the beautiful concept.

Information wise, the video is very easy to comprehend. The language used is neat and the voiceover does a pleasant job at delivering the message.

The scenarios depicted are all relatable, especially if you’ve lived a community lifestyle. From getting the word out about a lost dog to looking for a plumber, they’re all something we’ve experienced. This makes it easy for them to connect with their audience on an emotional level.

Following a simple line style animation, this video a delight to watch. The subtle colors and minimalistic designs are very easy on the eye. What makes this video seamless is the transitions that create this sleek, exquisite flow from scene to scene.

It’s almost a storyboard come to life.

Like, literally!

The music is upbeat and soothing at the same thing. It just oozes positive vibes, something you’d expect from a video about helpful neighborhood communication. The sound effects are present wherever necessary and it really adds to the experience of watching the video.

And let’s not forget the closing sentence, “When neighbors start talking, good things happen.” What a beautiful way to end something.

Key Takeaways: You don’t always need exquisite animation to beautify your video. If there is a way to deliver the same effect with minimalistic illustrations, try that. It not only saves time and money, but it also makes it easy on the eye for the viewer.

8. Dollar Shave Club

Between you and me, let’s face it. You can’t talk about the best explainer videos without mentioning Dollar Shave Club.

Under normal circumstances, the use of swears or risque humor in your explainer video can be risky. Unless it’s done well, this provocative approach can lead to a very different route.

However, in the case of DSC, they pulled it off. They understood their audience and took full advantage of dry humor to deliver the message.

Long story short, the video became viral successfully. So successful to the point that the company was bought by Unilever for $1 billion! All thanks to a $4,500 YouTube video!

This video’s got it all. The bizarre lead (Michael Dublin, founder), swearing, dicey references, visual gags and even a polio reference!

It takes you through their factory as the founder explains what, why and how they’re better than their competitors. And personally, I’m convinced.

At the end of the day, this went on to become one of the best and most famous explainer videos of all time. It still is. This video shows you why thinking outside the box can be a huge benefactor when it comes to this industry.

Key Takeaways: This video shows you the power dry humor can have on an audience, especially if the main topic doesn’t catch attention - razor blades in this case. When it comes to your video, think about how you can use humor to lighten the vibe of your video, thereby making it likeable.

9. Atoka

This 2d animated explainer video by Atoka follows the classic problem-solution story approach.

It starts by stating a user pain point - in this case, a data mining problem for salesmen and marketers. For viewers in this segment of work, it’s bound to catch their attention, because now they’re probably thinking, “You know what? That is so true!”

The narrative then goes on to introduce Atoka, a bold new search platform that is the perfect solution for their problems, along with the benefits and features of the product.

The eye-catching animations, polished transitions, eccentric music, and natural sound effects - everything is on point.

Atoka’s website content is vast and to break down technical information in a way that their audience could easily comprehend, so you can understand why animation was chosen over live-action. It offered them the best route to blend different characters, scenes, and visuals to tell Atoka’s story in the most engaging way possible.

For a subject such as this, I love the fact that the language is so simple to understand. It simplifies complex concepts so that they’re digestible and really easy to follow.

This 2d explainer video serves as great inspiration for brands looking to make B2B and SaaS explainer videos.

Key Takeaways: If you have a complex product, think about how you can use simple design and language to make your video explainer easily understandable.

10. Notarize

Let’s be honest here. ‘Notarizing documents’, as a topic, is a pretty mundane one. So when a company called Notarize created an app that lets you legally sign and notarize documents 100% online, they had to think outside the box for explainer video ideas.

And boy did they! This explainer video of theirs is a delight to watch.

Notarizing a document is a tedious task and they make that clear right at the beginning. Their app eliminates that pain.

That’s more than enough to convince anyone right? This funny informative video takes it one step further.

It’s a live-action video that uses a combination of history, facts, and product features to drive the story. This gave them enough room for information that can support the cause of their product. And they’ve explained it all in fascinating and enjoyable fashion.

This explainer video’s greatest strength is its humor. That aspect of goofiness and playfulness, right from the narration to the acting, really makes this video a must-watch.

The best part is that despite these elements, they’ve convincingly explained the need for the product by hitting the right pain points.

Key Takeaways: This explainer video is another great example of how humor can work wonders to a mundane concept that normally wouldn’t catch much attention - in this case, notarizing. If there is ever a way you can use humor in your video, do not hesitate.

11. Kano

Kano is a company that lets you build your own laptop, learn to code and play. You heard me right. You can build your own computer!

The concept in itself is intriguing. Now they had to make a video that works.

Rather than plainly explaining the features and benefits of the product, Kano took a different approach by focusing on trending activities that kids love. It properly showed how their technology helps kids interact on a higher level with many of the things that pique their interest.

Whatever scenario is depicted in the video is something that children enjoy. Building, technology, painting, music, Minecraft - forget them, I love doing these things!

The bright colors used in the video ooze a childish excitement when you watch the video. To add to that, the background music is just as energetic as the visual aspect of the video.

The bottom line is this explainer video by Kano hit the nail on the head. They’ve shown how their technology helps children interact in a better way, they’ve shown instances that all children will love and they’ve made it exciting to watch.

Key Takeaways: Focusing on trending activities that people love to do is a brilliant way to capture attention and interest. Make sure the activities correlate with both your product and what your customers like to do, just like how Kano used Minecraft and painting for children.

12. Dissolve

Dissolve is a company that offers exclusive stock footage and photography to customers. And this business explainer video of theirs is extraordinary.

This video is made entirely with stock footage from Dissolve, and the best part about it is the cynical humor. This hilariously impressive video pokes fun at the same cliched footage used in so many marketing videos today.

The interesting thing about this is that if you look close enough, that’s exactly what they do. So in a way, they’re making fun of themselves too and funnily, this is what made the video so loveable.

The video, visually, is stunning. All the footage that is used is of a high-resolution and beautiful to watch. The scenes shift fast, but every portion is eye-candy.

Adding to the whole atmosphere of the video is the lovely, upbeat background track. Played throughout the video, the track really makes sure the mood of the video never changes.

Personally, my favorite aspect of this video is the voiceover. That deep, rough texture of his voice, and that equally rugged accent was an oddly satisfying fit for Dissolve’s explainer video.

Dissolve have used a humorous approach to showcase their offering - stock footage and photography.

Key Takeaway: The video strongly resonates with anyone involved in video production and marketing - Dissolve’s target audience. Understanding your target audience - their likes, dislikes and pain points are fundamental to create an amazing explainer video.

13. Headspace

Headspace is an English-American online healthcare company, specializing in meditation.

Launched in 2018, this adorable 2D animated video uses playful humor to explain the Headspace app.

The video takes you through different scenarios of everyday life. It’s something we’ve all experienced. And it’s this familiarity that makes this animated explanation video so relatable.

Then, of course, there are the illustrations and doodle characters that are cute and quirky enough to make anyone smile.

The transitions from scene to scene are smooth and easy to follow, with a crisp voiceover that explains the functionality of the app.

This cool how-to video also wonderfully explains the working of the app with the help of screen mockups. They cover all the important steps you need to keep track of. This video is information-packed!

And I don’t know if it’s just me, but the entire tone of the video was so relaxing, even though there is no background track. Using just sound effects like birds chirping or someone snoring, it somehow manages to send out the calmest of vibes.

Key Takeaways: When it comes to your explainer video, understand that you don’t always need to include all the elements. If you can create an engaging effect using just the ones you need, as this video has with just a voiceover and sound effects, go for it.

14. Adobe CMO

Concept-driven explainer videos, when done right, can be some of the most engaging and visually stunning videos to watch. Well, Adobe gave it a hand, and they did not disappoint. No sir!

This website explainer video revolves around Adobe’s CMO. It is a software that shows digital trends, insights, expertise, and inspiration to help business leaders.

Straight away, this video’s prime feature is the visual style. Blending fantastic motion graphics and animation, they’ve created an absolutely stunning flow. The transitions are as smooth as the motion graphic elements.

The animations and motion graphics make all the difference here.

The next thing that makes this video great is the selection of the perfect voiceover. It goes in accordance to what’s happening on the screen. Even though the voiceover is quite fast, the timing and modulations are on point. And honestly, it’s that quick pace and timing that gives the video its oomph.

Overall, this video is a stunning treat for the eye, and it covers everything you need to know about Adobe CMO.

Key Takeaways: While this video could have been done using screencasts, but that might not have been the most exciting to watch. If your product falls along those lines, think about how you can use visuals to enhance the viewer experience.

15. Mint

You’ve heard enough number of times to create simple explainer videos. That’s because it’s easier for your viewers to understand the message you’re conveying.

That being said, this explainer video by Mint is what you’d call simplicity.

Mint is a free web-based financial management service. It’s a fairly simple concept indeed. The video plays along with that fact.

It starts off with a powerful problem statement. Well, a daily inconvenience, rather. We all know what maintaining an account feels like. As soon as the video starts you’re hooked because the statement is so relatable and effective.

The video takes you on a side-scrolling journey of all the features and benefits that Mint offers. For a topic as significant as this, they’ve included all the crucial information, everything that you need to be aware of.

And it’s all explained so clearly and simply, a toddler could understand it!

Even visually, the video is as simple as it can get. The color scheme is minimal, and the animations are just enough to aid the viewer through the journey.

Key Takeaways: Your explainer video doesn’t need to be extravagant. Sometimes simplicity is key, and this explanatory video shows you how. Think about keeping your video as simple as possible, because a much wider audience can relate and understand your point.

That’s about it!

Now that we’ve taken a good look at 15 of the top explainer videos out there, we can both agree on one thing.

An explainer video is great only when it has the right blend of ingredients. No recipe will ever be the same and that uniqueness is what gives an explainer video its charm, regardless of the power element - storyline, illustrations, design, music, voiceover, setting, etc.

We hope this article has allowed your imagination and artistry to spiral upwards. It’s time for you to open your mind, experiment and create your very own explainer video.

Which of the above explainer videos really stole your heart? Do let us know in the comments.

And if you’re looking for some outside help to make an explainer video, feel free to reach out to us. We’d love to help you on your journey.