Launch video vs explainer video: what's the difference?
People use the terms interchangeably, but a launch video and an explainer video do different jobs, and mixing them up is a common reason a video falls flat.
| Launch video | Explainer video | |
|---|---|---|
| Job | Make people notice something new | Make people understand how something works |
| Length | 15 to 60 seconds | Often one to three minutes |
| Tone | Energetic, confident, rhythmic | Calm, clear, step by step |
| Where | Launch posts, Product Hunt, social, ads | Landing pages, help centres, onboarding |
| Lifespan | A launch window | As long as the product works that way |
Cost
Explainers are what most agency pricing is quoted for: HubSpot, citing a Wyzowl survey, puts the average animated explainer at $10,983 (HubSpot). Launch videos are shorter but often needed more often, for every release.
Which one first?
If you're launching, make the launch video: it's what gets attention in the first place, and short videos hold attention best (Wistia). Add an explainer once people are arriving and asking how it works. Teasr makes launch-style videos from your website in about 10 minutes, from €39.
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