Roundup
Best tools for illustrated YouTube explainer videos
For an illustrated YouTube explainer narrated in your own voice, Alpy is the most direct tool: you record, it draws. For AI-written whiteboard explainers, Golpo. For whiteboard videos you build by hand, VideoScribe. If you do not need drawings, Fliki and invideo AI make AI-voiced videos from stock and generated footage. Yes, this is Alpy's site; the others win where noted below.
Last updated 27 September 2026
Try Alpy with a free preview →The short list
| Tool | Best for | Visual style | Voice | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpy | Narrating a channel in your own voice | Simple drawn scenes, recurring character | Your recording | $29/month |
| Golpo | AI-written whiteboard explainers | Whiteboard animation | AI; own voice on Business | $39.99/month |
| VideoScribe | Full control, built by hand | Whiteboard, hand-drawn reveal | Your voiceover or generated | $15/month |
| Fliki | Text to AI-voiced video | Stock and AI media | AI voices, cloning, upload | Free plan |
| invideo AI | Prompt to finished video | Stock and AI footage | AI voices, cloning | $9/month (annual) |
Prices from each tool's own pricing page, checked 2026-09-27.
How we compared them
Four things decide whether a tool fits an explainer channel: whose voice the video uses, whether the visuals are drawn or stock, how long a video can be, and what one typical three-minute video costs. We read each tool's own pricing and help pages; we did not use affiliate links.
1. Alpy
Record or upload your narration and Alpy draws a scene for each part of it, keeps one narrator character consistent, and hands back a 16:9 video with title ideas, a description and a thumbnail. 30 seconds to 20 minutes per video; about $4.83 per three-minute video on the cheapest plan.
Alpy
Good
- + Built around your own voice: the narration is your recording, not a generated one
- + Videos up to 20 minutes on every plan
- + About $4.83 per three-minute video on the cheapest plan, $3.00 on the largest
- + One recurring character kept consistent across scenes and the thumbnail
Not so good
- − No AI voices: you have to record the narration yourself
- − Horizontal 16:9 only, no vertical Shorts
- − Scenes are generated automatically; you cannot redraw a single scene yet
- − One deliberately simple drawing style, not polished animation
2. Golpo
Golpo generates a whiteboard explainer, script and AI voice included, from a topic or document. It is the closest tool to Alpy in look, and better if you want AI to do the writing and narrating. Lower plans cap videos at 2 minutes and are black and white. Alpy vs Golpo.
3. VideoScribe
VideoScribe gives you the classic hand-drawing whiteboard effect with complete control over every element, because you place each one. The best choice if you enjoy building videos; the slowest if you want to publish often.
4. Fliki and 5. invideo AI
Neither makes drawings: both build videos from stock and AI-generated media with AI narration. They are better than Alpy for vertical Shorts, other languages and fully automatic, voice-free production. Alpy vs Fliki, Alpy vs invideo AI.
Questions
- What tool makes stick-figure style YouTube videos?
- Alpy draws deliberately simple, MS Paint-style scenes timed to your narration, which is the closest automatic option to the hand-drawn stick-figure explainer look. VideoScribe can make it by hand.
- Can I make an illustrated explainer without drawing?
- Yes. Alpy and Golpo both generate the drawings for you; Alpy from your recorded voice, Golpo from a topic or script with an AI voice.
- What is the cheapest way to make illustrated YouTube videos?
- Per video with your own voice, Alpy: about $3.00–$4.83 per three-minute video depending on plan.
Related
Sources
Other tools’ prices and features were checked on their own sites on the date above and change often. Spotted something out of date? Tell us at hello@tryalpy.com.
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