What is the best animation software?

Comparative Research on Whiteboard Animation Software

How to identify the best video animation software

The creation of a whiteboard video – also commonly known as “video scribing” or “animated doodling” – reflects a specific presentation type where a series of draw pictures on a whiteboard are recorded in sequence and then played back as an animated presentation. This kind of video animation is primarily used by businesses, educators and explainer video companies and has various styles:

  • Company story-telling videos;

Corporate video refers to any type of non-advertisement based video content created for and commissioned by a business, company, corporation, or organization. Examples of corporate video include Corporate overview videos, staff training and safety videos, promotional/brand films, investor relations and shareholder videos, market updates, testimonial videos, product videos and executive proposal videos. As an ‘explain video’ becomes a more integral part of a company’s communication strategy, often companies will release corporate explainer videos with press release announcements, newsletters and other forms of communication to bolster the message reach and effectiveness. Corporate Animated Video Production companies leverage a company’s marketing material, guidance from their communication director, and content specific copy to produce a corporate explainer video. The time and scale of a corporate whiteboard animated video production can vary greatly based on complexity and messaging. Some corporate whiteboard videos may use only minimal crew and basic equipment, while others elect for higher quality content and contract with corporate explainer video production specialists whose core focus is on creating B2B corporate 3D animation video content.

  • Explainer videos coming in various different explainer video styles

    Each one of them has its specific benefits and choosing the right match for a specific purpose can be challenging. Let’s take a sales video for example and let’s reveal the answer to the question: Do explainer videos work in sales?  Yes they do. Interactive sketch video skyrockets engagement and sales compared to a traditional written sales letter. Therefore an animated explainer video represents best advice for any markteter.

  • Educational videos made with animated handwriting video software;

An educational video is a film, video or movie whose primary purpose is to educate. Educational videos have been used in classrooms as an alternative to other teaching methods. The huge advantage over other means of information delivery online video can be paused and rewound easily with the ability of the individual to control the speed of the delivery of information.

  • Commercials made with animated marketing video software;

Drawing is frequently used in commercial illustration, animation, architecture, engineering and technical drawing. A quick, freehand drawing, usually not intended as a finished work, is also commonly known as a sketch.

  • Animated videos for business;

Whiteboard animation has been used in a few TV spots and on internet video sites such as YouTube and Vimeo. Early types were UPS Whiteboard Commercials. Many companies and firms of all sectors and sizes are incorporating this style into their modus operandi to teach company employees different company policies or demonstrate a new software or product to consumers.

  • Customer Testimonials;

Online Businesses have used Web video in communicating with people and in driving traffic to their sites. Customer testimonials – among video success stories, video case studies and man-on-the -street interviews and market research – is one of the most common applications for animated video productions.

  • Product videos;

Product explainer videos are created with the main purpose of selling a product and offer an opportunity to communicate all of the highlights and features of a product which are typically written on the product page in text but with the added bonus of showcasing glamour shots of the product. The most effective product videos are typically whiteboard animated and between 2 to 3 minutes in duration, balancing the amount of information provided while keeping the audience engaged and entertained.

  • Process videos;

One of the main process video applications is Business process modeling (BPM). In business process management and systems engineering BPM is the activity of representing processes of an enterprise, so that the current process may be analysed, improved, and automated. BPM is typically performed by business analysts using whiteboard animation, who provide expertise in the modeling discipline either by means of flowcharts or whiteboard animated explainer videos; by subject matter experts, who have specialized knowledge of the processes being modelled by means of explainer videos; or more commonly by a team comprising both.

  • Sales training videos;

Sales training is teaching, or developing in oneself or others, sales skills and specified and general knowledge that relate to selling a product or service. Sales training has specific goals of improving one’s capability, capacity, productivity and sales performance and can be done and leveraged best by means of whiteboard animated explainer videos.

  • Personal videos, e.g. funny zoo animal videos – also made with doodle whiteboard animation software

The sketch video production process of how to make a whiteboard drawing video

Whether we are talking about the explainer video production process or any other video animation style, the cronology is always the same:

  1. Topic selection;
  2. Script writing;
  3. Rough animation draft creation;
  4. Setting up the inventive bearing and timing of the movement;
  5. Content composition;
  6. voiceover recording;
  7. Animations;
  8. Making Guides;
  9. Video recording;
  10. Music inclusion;
  11. Upload to video hosting platform for animated video streaming e.g. YouTube
  12. Sharing.

With whiteboard animation software the entire whiteboard animated video production process has become shorter and more efficient.

online text animation video

Competitive Analysis: Which one is the best explainer video software?

This comparitive research will focus on the major whiteboard animation software programs which are currently available in the market. It is not taking into account the actual animated video production cost. We will take a thorough look at the key points of these sketch video software solutions, such as general information, features, benefits, pricing and support, which will help us to compare one with the other.

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best explainer video companies

  1. VideoScribe

URL : https://www.videoscribe.co/

Whiteboard video software supplier: Sparkol UK (https://www.sparkol.com/)

About:

VideoScribe is software for creating whiteboard animations automatically. It was launched in 2012 by UK company Sparkol. By April 2014 it had more than 250,000 users in 135 countries around the world. VideoScribe is developed in Adobe Flash and produces QuickTime movies and Flash videos. It is systems-based software that optionally uses cloud-based storage for project files. In addition to Quicktime and Flash video output, scribes can also be rendered to image sequences in JPEG and PNG format.

VideoScribe is available as a desktop version, an iPad app and an Android app on Google Play. The desktop version allows a seven day free trial after which users can buy VideoScribe Pro on monthly, yearly or one-off subscriptions, which gives users rights for commercial and resell use. There are multi-user discounts for businesses and education establishments.

Features:

  • Online library of thousands of images
  • Users can import own logos or artwork
  • Users can add their own or tracks from available online library
  • Scale, rotate and arrange images and text
  • Users can add full colour, outline, black and white effects
  • Users can add filters such as blur, glow, drop-shadow
  • Variety of left and right hands with different drawing implements
  • Move-in drawing style option (where images are placed on canvas by a hand rather than drawn)
  • Change the paper texture and colour
  • Export to YouTube, Facebook & hard drives.
  • Share scribes with VideoScribe PC/Mac & iPhone

Benefits:

  • Affordable – Videoscribe provides different plans according to the needs of the customers, like business and personal. Customers can get it for as low as $29.00 per month.
  • Easy to Use – The interface of the software is very easy to use, making it easier for new users to get a hang of the software quickly. Also there are wide variety of tutorials available on the website.
  • Multi Platform – It is available on multiple platforms like Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android and Kindle.

Pricing:

It is available in the following price options:

  • $29.00 Per month
  • Onetime payment of $665
  • Businesses have different multi-user plans.

Support:

Videoscribe offers variety of support for its users. Users can have access to Videoscribe community where they can discuss various topics and get suggestions. If users are unable to find information at the FAQ page or the forum, they can quickly get answers with Instant Answer support. It also hosts live workshops to users who are interested to learn by professionals.

What improvements can be done?

  • Ipad version of the app needs improvements as it is known to crash very frequently.
  • There is no whiteboard animation software online version like the competitors have; users need to download it first in order to use this tool. An online version should be made available to keep up with the competition.
whiteboard explanation videos

  1. Powtoon

URL : https://www.powtoon.com/

Whiteboard video software supplier : Powtoon, London UK.

About:

PowToon is a cloud-based software for creating animated presentations and animated videos. PowToon was founded in January 2012. The company released a beta version in August 2012 and has seen fast subscriber growth since.

Powtoon uses an Adobe Flex engine to generate an XML file that can be played in the Powtoon online viewer, exported to YouTube or downloaded as an MP4 file. Powtoon allows users to create variety of animations and presentations in colored, cartoonized and whiteboard styles. Powtoon is an cloud based online application so it can be used over any platform. This online animation software was perfected for storytelling and creating simple Flash style movies and presentations. Creating motion is simple which is great for first time users, but it also means that complex powerful motion graphics are not quite what this program is for. This online application is targeted towards small business owners, presenters and marketers, rather than studio animators.

Features:

Powtoon offers following features:

  • Users can add voice over and music to the animation. Volume can be toggled for each.
  • Users can add from different hand images for the animation.
  • Features a library which hosts variety of characters that can be added to the animation.
  • Direct export option to Youtube

Benefits:

Powtoon offers following benefits:

  • Easy to use – It offers simple layout which makes it easy for first time and novice users to make animations and presentations.
  • Cloud Based – It is an cloud based online application which makes it possible to use on any platform.
  • Pre-Set Templates makes it easier for users to make animation without hassle.
  • Free Option – Powtoon is also available for free, with limited but feature backed offering.

Pricing:

  • Free version, with option to remove Powtoon logo for $14 per export.
  • Unlimited professional plan at $19 per month. HD quality & up-to 15 min video length. For personal business use.
  • Agency Account at $57 per month. All the features of professional plan + 60 min length.

Support:

Powtoon does not offers a very interactive support like Videoscribe but it offers variety of easy to learn video tutorials on its website. It also features a library of articles featuring all the topics related to the software and extra.

What improvements can be done?

  • Animations, although very well managed, are limited to entrance and exit animations. The simple addition of something akin to PowerPoint’s motion paths would enable users to truly visualize stories and create far more engaging videos.
  • A desktop version should be made available for offline usage.
  • PowToon suffers from a few bugs, such as issues when resizing text boxes or not saving animations. Again, we expect these to be resolved in the next phase of development.
easy way to make animated videos

  1. Vyond – formerly called Go!Animate 2007-2013

On September 16, 2013, GoAnimate changed its logo, being the removal of the exclamation mark. On May 6, 2018, GoAnimate was renamed to Vyond after the company has revealed its launching to occur at an exhibition in San Diego a day later. The trading name for Vyond remains as “GoAnimate, Inc.”

URL : https://www.vyond.com/

Whiteboard video software supplier: GoAnimate Inc., San Mateo CA USA. In early 2011, GoAnimate became a founding partner of YouTube Create – a suite of apps available to content creators within YouTube.

About:

GoAnimate is a cloud-based platform for creating and distributing animated videos. It allows users to develop both narrative videos, in which characters speak with lip-sync and move around, and video presentations, in which a voice-over narrator speaks over images and props, which may also move around. The service is provided on a freemium basis to consumers, and has multiple subscription levels available for businesses. GoAnimate provides users with drag-and-drop tools that the company’s website indicates can be used to access thousands of character models, backdrops, and other assets to create scenario-based videos

Features:

  • Online Video Maker which works on every platform.
  • Drag and drop backgrounds and characters.
  • Multiple video styles like: Whiteboard, 2D Animated Videos, Infographic videos etc.
  • Ability to make customized characters.
  • One click ability to export videos on multiple video platforms including youtube.
  • Automated lip-syncing

Benefits:

  • Go!Animate is a web-based service, meaning that it works straight out of your web browser with no need to install any applications.
  • Drag and drop feature makes it easy for the user to make a video in an instant. Unlike other whiteboard softwares which requires users to custom animate each and every bit.
  • Automatic Lip-sync gives out a professional results which in the case of other softwares would require lot of effort.

Pricing:

  • GO Publish at $39/month or $299/year
  • GO Premium at $79/month or $599/year
  • GO Team starting at $250/month or $2,000/year for 3 users

Support:

GoAnimate offers forums for users of GoAnimate community to discuss various topics. It also has a help center where users can get answers to their queries. Video tutorials are also featured on the website.

What improvements can be done?

  • GoAnimate offers a slightly clunky setup for action sequencing, which needs improvement.
  • Paid version of this tool seems a little expensive when compared to other tools, so pricing needs to be revised.
  • Lacks ability to make custom animations like its competitors. Should provide ability where users can create customized animated videos.
explainer video cost

  1. Moovly

URL : https://www.moovly.com/

Whiteboard video software supplier: Z.1 Researchpark 310 Zellik, 1731 BEL

About:

Moovly is an online SaaS platform that allows users to make multimedia content creation online. With Moovly users can create animated content like animated videos, banner ads, presentations beyond slideware,video clips, e-cards, infographics or any other animation.

Moovly is a cloud-based digital media and content creation platform. The company was founded in 2013 but the idea to democratize animated videos originated earlier within Instruxion, a company specialized in custom high-impact digital content

Features:

  • Access to a library of templates
  • Added various export video formats (Pro license): MP4, WMV, MOV, FLV, SWF, OGV
  • Corporate set-up of Moovly: enable companies and organizations to have their own style library, fonts and colors
  • Multiple media content creation like : Banners, Videos, Animations etc.
  • Contest system: use Moovly to run video contests and allow participants to publish their video to a contest landing page
  • Video-based elements: uploaded video objects (Plus & Pro), transparent video objects and other effects to support music video clips
  • Export to Youtube functionality
  • Pay per video export facility

Benefits:

  • For those who desire a solution with more features, Moovly is a great, web-based alternative. Compared to others, Moovly is slightly less user friendly but allows for more impressive visuals with a format more akin to standard video editing software.
  • It makes it possible for users to create different type of media content like: animated videos, banner ads, presentations beyond slideware, video clips, e-cards, infographics etc.
  • Being a cloud based SaaS it is not restricted to any particular platform.

Pricing:

  • Free version is limited to 10 min. length and with a watermark.
  • Plus version $9.95 per month with HD Quality @ 720p and 30 min. length.
  • Pro Version $24.95 per month with HD 1080p quality and unlimited length.
  • Different enquire only price options available for organizations.

Support:

Moovly has a very limited support system for its retail users and offers basic support like FAQ and User guide. For organizations Moovly offers on-site training programs.

What improvements can be done?

  • Moovly is not so easy to use by new users, a simple interface would help users who have just started using this tool.
  • A much interactive support should be offered for retail users too.
  • A desktop version should be made available for offline use.
  • Image library has very limited and basic shapes. More shapes and images can be added to library.
best explainer video software

  1. Prezi

URL : http://prezi.com/

Whiteboard video software supplier : Prezi, Budapest, Hungary.

About:

Prezi is a cloud-based (SaaS) presentation software and storytelling tool for presenting ideas on a virtual canvas. It is available in both offline and online version, for both desktop and mobile devices. Prezi is developed in Adobe Flash, Adobe AIR and built on top of Django. It is therefore compatible with most modern computers and web browsers.

Prezi was created by the support of Kitchen Budapest and Magyar Telekom in 2008 in order to replace the ordinary slide based presentations. Today the project is assisted by Sunstone Capital. The actual development was done by Zui Labs led by its three Hungarian founders Péter Árvai, Szabolcs Somlai-Fischer and Péter Halácsy. The word prezi is the Hungarian short form of presentation.

Prezi uses the freemium model. Customers who use the product’s Public license must publish their work on the Prezi.com website, which is publicly viewable. Customers who pay for a Prezi Enjoy or Prezi Pro can make their presentations privately. Only Pro license users have access to Prezi Desktop, which enables offline editing. Prezi also offers an educational license for students and educators.

Features:

  • Insert pictures, videos, power point
  • Add custom shapes and texts
  • Zooming user interface.
  • Interactive templates
  • Multi platform availability

Benefits:

  • Prezi tries to change traditional presentations by turning them into a wide-open canvas on which you can draw your ideas spatially, and then presenting them by zooming and panning all over the canvas. Used well, the end result feels cinematic and engaging in a way traditional presentations rarely are.
  • It is very easy to use; Prezi’s canvas-based nature means that you create the presentation where you’ll be showing it.
  • Though it might not really be suitable for large-scale or every day scenarios, but it stands out as a great tool for educational and light usage.

Pricing:

  • Prezi Enjoy at First month free, then $4.92/month ($59 billed annually)500 MB cloud storage
  • Prezi Pro at First month free, then $13.25/month ($159 billed annually) 2GB cloud storage
  • Prezi Team at Volume-based pricing (billed annually) 2GB Cloud Storage

Support:

Prezi hosts a full-fledged support system which includes:

  • Community forum to discuss with other users and experts.
  • Prezi Experts to consult with Independent Prezi design and training professionals.
  • Online Training facility

What improvements can be done?

  • Prezi should offer functionality where users can make their customized animation videos rather than just animated slides.
  • Prezi lacks a custom audio timeline, this is an area where improvements can be made.
custom whiteboard videos

  1. Wideo

URL : https://wideo.co/

Whiteboard video software supplier : Buenos Aires, Argentina

About:

Wideo is an online video creation platform that enables users to create, edit, and share online videos free of charge. Wideo’s platform allows individuals who do not have previous video making or design experience to create explainer videos, animated presentations, video e-cards and more.

Users can choose (or upload their own) images, backgrounds, and sounds in order to create their own personalized video.That video can then be shared on social networks or embedded in websites or blogs. Wideo provides its users with a library of elements, objects, and fonts. Users can drag-and-drop elements into place in the Wideo editor then set the sequence of animations within their specific scenes. Each element can be re-used and the timing of the animation of each image can be individually adjusted. Wideo offers its services on a freemium income model, where customers can use the tool and share or embed their videos free of charge. However, should the user wish to remove the Wideo watermark branding, or download the video directly to their computer, they can choose between three paid packages.

Features:

  • Has library of characters and background templates.
  • Upload custom images, audio and voiceover.
  • Easy to use drag drop animation.

Benefits:

  • This is one of the easiest animation software you can find, though it is still lacking a lot of functionality compared to its competitor but this product has a much nicer and simpler user interface.
  • It is fully free to use but free version of the videos have a watermark.

Pricing:

  • Free to use with watermark.
  • Startup at $9/month or $79 /year (Downloadable Videos)
  • Pro at $49 /month or $399 /year (Downloadable Videos)
  • Enterprise plans are query only

Support:

  • There are not many options of support for retail users. There are video tutorials which provide basic information required.
  • Special training and priority support is available for enterprise users.

What improvements can be done?

  • Though very easy to use, Wideo lacks functionality to make professional quality videos. This seems an area where improvements can be done.
  • A support system with a dedicated forum to discuss projects or troubleshoot issues.
  • Requires more advanced audio controls, like an audio timeline and editing capabilities; that way voice could be added strategically.
  • A desktop version should be made available for offline usage.
cartoon explainer video

  1. Easy Sketch Pro

URL : http://targetingmasters.com/easysketchpro/video.php

Whiteboard video software supplier : Paul Lynch, Andrew Fox & Com Mirza

About:

Easy Sketch Pro is a whiteboard animation software that helps to make animated doodles and sketch in a very short time. The software provides a very easy to use drag and drop functionality which helps first time user to easily use and make creative videos in an instant.

The explainer video software is available in both Windows and Macintosh pc platform.

Features:

  • Clear canvas display with timeline
  • Built in music library
  • Image library
  • Export to Youtube option
  • Drag drop functionality
  • Convert video to animation software
  • Compatibility: whiteboard animation software MAC version and video animation software for PC available.

Benefits:

  • Though it lacks a whiteboard animation software online version and mobile platform, Easy Sketch Pro provides an easy to use and install software which can be used in an offline environment, hosting variety of features.
  • This whiteboard video software is the cheapest option as it offers whole lot of functionality at one time pay and no recurring costs.

Pricing:

  • Available at a special offer at $27 onetime payment for the software.

Support:

  • As compared to the competitors it offers a very limited support system. Users can get support by creating a support ticket on the support page of the website. Apart from that FAQ are available.

What improvements can be done?

  • There should be a cloud-based or multiplatform version made available, in order to cover the wide customer base.
  • A dedicated support system should be developed including a forum where users can discuss issues, queries and projects.
learn how to make animated videos

  1. Wiz Scriber

URL : https://wordpress.org/plugins/wizscriber-video-scribing-banner-ads/

Whiteboard video software supplier: IMW Enterprises (www.IMWenterprises.com)

About:

Wiz scriber is a WordPress plugin to create whiteboard animations, doodles, messages etc. The major utility of this tool is to create ad banners and explanatory messages. The plugin is limited to wordpress platform.

Features:

  • Add a message and make it look as if it’s a real hand drawing.
  • Enable clickable link at the end of the video
  • Enter seconds when you want the video start playing.
  • Specify where you want wizScriber appear.
  • You can add unlimited messages
  • You can use it on more than one page or post

Benefits:

  • The major benefit of this tool is that it is free to use on any WordPress website.

Pricing:

  • Free to use

Support:

  • There is a limited support available. Users can post their issues or queries on their WordPress page in order to get it resolved.

What improvements can be done?

  • There should be multi platform or cloud based version made available rather than being wordpress only.
  • A dedicated support system and FAQ for the tool should be made available.
  • Audio & image libraries should be made available.
corporate explainer videos

  1. Desktop Whiteboard

URL : http://www.maddocman.com/whiteboard/

Whiteboard video software supplier: MADDOCMAN, Berlin, Germany

About:

Desktop Whiteboard is a free to use lightweight software application built specifically for helping users to create sketches, animations and take notes in an intuitive and interactive working environment. This software is much more of a traditional whiteboard rather than a full-flesh whiteboard animation maker.

Desktop Whiteboard does not host a very easy to use platform, like drag and drop, inbuilt animations and templates. It is limited to windows platform and available only as a offline software. However, Desktop Whiteboard provides a handy set of parameters for helping you draw sketches and take notes. Its intuitive layout makes it an ideal tool for beginners and professionals alike.

Features:

  • Import images in all standard formats with resize and scaling options
  • Multi-screen support
  • Animation playback with loop, reverse and custom frame settings (10 FPS to 1 FPM)
  • Extensive keyboard shortcut support
  • 12 color palettes each with 7 customizable colors (84 customizable pens in total per project)
  • 9 customizable tabbed whiteboards per project, complete with toolbox, persistence and editing options
  • 9 sizable note boxes (high capacity notepads), one for each whiteboard with edit, search, font and opacity options

Benefits:

  • If you are looking for how to make animated videos free then this is for you. Apart from that there are not many benefits of this software.

Pricing:

  • Freeware

Support:

  • There is no dedicated support available.

What improvements can be done?

  • More functionality like drag and drop animation.
  • Needs image and audio libraries like competition
  • A dedicated support system which can resolve issues of the users.
  • Multi-Platform versions should be made available.
  • Export to YouTube options.
  • Pre-Installed templates should be made available.
whiteboard animation software online

  1. Moviesoup

URL : http://moviesoup.co.uk/

Whiteboard video software supplier: Fluxtime, Brighton, UK (http://info.fluxtime.com/)

About:

Moviesoup is a basic whiteboard animation software which was developed to provide a easy to use animation platform for beginners. This software feels very old when compared to the competitors but provides a simple working interface for first time users. This software hosts a basic draw and move animation system which is very well suited for students or personal projects, but won’t be an obvious choice for professionals. It is only available for windows pc.

Features:

  • animate clipart, drawings, shapes, text, photos
  • move, scale, rotate, mirror, flip, z-order
  • animate shape and color transitions
  • use transparent .png and .gif images
  • real-time audio recording for voice-overs
  • free fully editable clipart libraries
  • record-stop-play workflow

Benefits:

  • This software is very easy to use and can be used easily by first time users.

Pricing:

  • GBP 49 for single user license.
  • GBP 129 for school site license.

Support:

  • There are many video tutorials available on the website, apart from that no dedicated support is offered.

What improvements can be done?

  • Moviesoup feels very outdated in terms of interface and features when compared to its competitors.
  • There should be online versions and multi-platform versions for other platforms rather than being windows only.
  • A dedicated support system should be made available.
whiteboard animation software online

How to Select a Suitable Doodle Whiteboard Animation Software
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