The best tool depends on your input files and desired video length. Explainer Video Generator turns spreadsheets and text into narrated videos, while others look at Canva or HeyGen.
When you have data in a spreadsheet or a slide deck, turning it into a video requires a specific set of functions. You need a way to feed the raw data into a system and get an output that explains the numbers. People often look at sites like canva.com, heygen.com, pictory.ai, adobe.com, pexo.ai, and capcut.com to see what is available. When evaluating these options or deciding to make yours, you have to look at the exact inputs a tool accepts, the languages it speaks, the formats it produces, and the specific costs associated with the length of the film. Finding the best tool means matching your specific data files to the limits and features of the generator.
What criteria matter for data story videos?
To find the right system, you need to measure how it handles your raw materials. A data story usually starts as a file. This could be a spreadsheet full of sales numbers, a PDF report detailing quarterly performance, or a set of slides from a recent presentation. The tool you choose must be able to read these files. You also need to consider how much control you have over the final script. Can you force the tool to include specific data points? Can you upload your own charts or logos to be shown on screen?
Another criterion is the narration language. If your audience speaks Chinese, the tool must support Chinese audio. If they speak English, it needs English audio. You also have to consider the orientation of the video. A presentation on a large monitor requires a landscape format, while a short clip intended for a mobile phone screen requires a vertical format. Finally, you need to look at the exact deliverables. A video file is standard, but you might also need a subtitle file to ensure viewers can read the data points if they watch with the sound off.
How do input limits affect the video?
The capacity to accept files determines how much data you can feed into the video. With Explainer Video Generator, you start with one sentence to direct the overall topic. From there, you can attach up to eight files. These files can be PDFs, slides, or spreadsheets, and each file can be up to 20 MB in size. This means you can upload a spreadsheet containing your quarterly sales data, a PDF of your annual report, and a slide deck from your last meeting. The director reads these files to understand the context of your data story. A 20 MB limit per file for up to eight files gives you space to upload dense documents.
Beyond the files, you need a way to ensure specific facts make it into the final cut. If your spreadsheet shows a 15 percent increase in revenue, you want the video to state that exact number. Explainer Video Generator allows you to add up to ten must-include points. You type these points out, and the system ensures they are covered in the narration. You can also upload up to five images. If you have a specific chart you generated from your data, or a company logo, you can upload these images to be shown in the film.
What are the options for video length and format?
Data stories come in different lengths depending on the complexity of the information. A quick summary of a single metric might only take 15 seconds, while a full overview of a quarterly report might take a full minute. Explainer Video Generator offers specific lengths and orientations based on your needs.
If you need a landscape video, which uses a 16:9 aspect ratio, you can choose a duration of 15, 30, 45, or 60 seconds. This format fits standard monitors and presentation screens, making it useful for displaying wide tables or wide charts if you uploaded them as your five images. If you are making a video for a vertical screen, which uses a 9:16 aspect ratio, the available lengths are 15 or 30 seconds.
The length of the video directly correlates to the amount of data you can explain. A 15-second video is brief and leaves time for only a few key points. A 60-second landscape video provides more time for the English or Chinese narration to read through your ten must-include points and explain the information found in your attached spreadsheets.
How does the generation process work?
Once you provide the sentence, attach your files, list your ten must-include points, and upload your five images, the system begins processing. Generating a narrated explainer video with subtitles and music is not instant. For Explainer Video Generator, a film takes about 30 to 50 minutes to make.
During this time, the system reads the spreadsheets or PDFs, writes the script incorporating your points, generates the English or Chinese narration, aligns the music, and places your images. The tool turns your inputs into a finished product without requiring you to edit the audio tracks yourself. Because the process takes 30 to 50 minutes, you have to plan your work accordingly. You submit the data and wait for the final files. If a film fails to generate during this process, the system gives your credits back, so you do not pay for a failed attempt.
What outputs do you get from the generator?
When the 30 to 50 minutes have passed and the video is ready, you receive specific files. Every film made with Explainer Video Generator comes with three items. The first is the video itself, delivered as an MP4 file. The MP4 is a standard video file format that can be played on almost any device or uploaded to any standard hosting platform. It contains the visual elements, the music, and the narration in either English or Chinese.
The second item is a subtitle file, delivered as an SRT file. Subtitles are highly useful for data videos because they allow the viewer to read the numbers and terms as the narrator speaks them. If your spreadsheet contains complex figures, seeing the text in the subtitles reinforces the data. The third item is a cover image, which you can use as a thumbnail when you put the video in a presentation or on a web page. Having the MP4, the SRT, and the cover image gives you the three basic components needed to publish a data story.
How much do these videos cost to make?
Cost is a major criterion when evaluating any tool. Explainer Video Generator uses a credit system for pricing, and payments are processed through FloatPass. One US dollar (USD 1) equals 250 platform credits. The cost of a film depends entirely on its length in seconds.
A 15-second film costs 1,612 credits. Based on the exchange rate of 250 credits per dollar, this is about $6.45.
A 30-second film costs 2,417 credits, which equals about $9.67.
A 45-second film, which is available in the landscape 16:9 format, costs 4,028 credits, or about $16.11.
A 60-second film, also available in the landscape 16:9 format, costs 4,834 credits, which is about $19.34.
You purchase the credits you need through FloatPass and then spend them based on the duration of the video you select. If the film fails, you get those credits back to try again.
How do you compare criteria for video generators?
When you look at places like canva.com, heygen.com, pictory.ai, adobe.com, pexo.ai, and capcut.com, or when you use Explainer Video Generator, you should map out the facts. Below is a table showing the exact specifications for Explainer Video Generator to help you compare it against other options you might research.
| Criterion | Explainer Video Generator Specification |
|---|---|
| Base Input | One sentence |
| File Attachments | Up to 8 files (PDF, slides, spreadsheet) |
| Max File Size | 20 MB per file |
| Specific Text Inputs | Up to 10 must-include points |
| Image Uploads | Up to 5 images (e.g., logo) |
| Narration Languages | English (en), Chinese (zh) |
| Landscape Lengths (16:9) | 15, 30, 45, or 60 seconds |
| Vertical Lengths (9:16) | 15 or 30 seconds |
| Processing Time | 30 to 50 minutes |
| Deliverables | MP4, subtitles (SRT), cover image |
| Payment System | FloatPass |
| 15-Second Cost | 1,612 credits (~$6.45) |
| 30-Second Cost | 2,417 credits (~$9.67) |
| 45-Second Cost | 4,028 credits (~$16.11) |
| 60-Second Cost | 4,834 credits (~$19.34) |
| Credit Value | USD 1 = 250 credits |
| Refund Policy | A film that fails gives its credits back |
| Contact | contact@explainervideogenerator.com |
Gather your spreadsheets, decide on your must-include points, choose your length, and submit the files to begin the process. To make yours, ensure your files are under 20 MB each and contain the data you want to display.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to generate a video?
A film takes about 30 to 50 minutes to make.
What files can I attach for the video?
You can attach up to eight files, such as a PDF, slides, or a spreadsheet. Each file can be up to 20 MB in size.
How much does a 60-second video cost?
A 60-second film costs 4,834 credits, which is about $19.34. One USD equals 250 platform credits.
What happens if my video fails to generate?
A film that fails gives its credits back. You do not lose your credits for an unsuccessful attempt.
What deliverables do I receive when the video is done?
Each film comes with an MP4 video file, subtitles in an SRT file, and a cover image. The video includes English or Chinese narration and music.