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When it is time to launch, most founders face the same choice: pay someone to make the video, or make it yourself. This page lays out what each route really costs in money and time, so you can decide with real numbers.
What hiring costs
Prices vary a lot by country, experience and scope, but published market ranges give a useful picture for 2026:
| Option | Typical price | Typical turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Freelance editor, short promo | A few hundred to about $2,000 | A few days to two weeks |
| Freelance motion designer, explainer | About $1,000 to $5,000 | One to three weeks |
| Small studio | About $3,000 to $8,000 | Several weeks |
| Full-service agency, custom 60 s video | About $8,000 to $25,000 | Six to eight weeks |
Freelance editors commonly charge somewhere between $20 and $150 an hour depending on experience. Add-ons push the price up: extra revision rounds, rush delivery, licensed music and a professional voiceover are often billed separately.
Many freelancers also expect you to bring the script, the screenshots and the brand assets. That writing and preparation is your time, on top of the fee.
What Filmagic costs
Filmagic has a free tier that exports the free templates at 720p. Paid plans start at $12 a month for 150 credits, and an export uses 10 credits, so a plan covers many videos and versions. Every paid plan unlocks all templates, 1080p and studio voices. Pro ($29 a month) and Studio ($79 a month) add ElevenLabs voices and music, 1440p and 4K. Check the pricing page for current details.
The first cut takes minutes. Filmagic reads your product link, writes the scenes, picks up your brand and cuts the film to music. You edit it the same day.
Side by side
| Hire an editor or agency | Filmagic | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per video | Hundreds to thousands of dollars | Included in a monthly plan |
| First cut | Days to weeks | Minutes |
| Script | Often yours to write | Written from your product, then editable |
| Changes | Revision rounds, sometimes billed | Edit yourself, any time |
| New video for each feature | A new project each time | Make another in minutes |
| Custom animation and live footage | Yes | No, template-based |
| Formats for each platform | Often extra | 16:9, 9:16 and 1:1 from the same cut |
When hiring is worth it
- A flagship brand film. A big funding announcement or a rebrand can justify custom animation, a director and live footage.
- Something truly bespoke. Character animation, 3D or filmed scenes with people are beyond any template.
- You have budget and lead time. If launch is two months away and the money is there, a good studio produces work you could not make yourself.
When Filmagic is the better fit
- You launch soon. A first cut in minutes beats a two-week turnaround.
- You ship often. Every feature drop, changelog and Product Hunt launch can have its own video without a new invoice.
- You want control. Change a line or a screenshot yourself instead of waiting for the next revision round.
- You need every format. Versions for X, LinkedIn, TikTok, Reels and YouTube come from the same edit.
A sensible middle path
Plenty of teams do both: they use Filmagic for regular launches and feature videos, and save the agency budget for the one or two moments a year that deserve a custom film. The Filmagic cut also makes a clear brief if you do hire someone later.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a product launch video cost?
From a few hundred dollars for a simple freelance edit to $8,000 to $25,000 or more for a custom agency video. A tool like Filmagic costs a monthly plan, starting at $12.
How long does it take to make a launch video?
Freelancers usually take a few days to two weeks, and agencies often six to eight weeks for custom work. Filmagic makes a first cut in minutes from your product link.
Can I make a launch video without an editor?
Yes. Filmagic writes the script, places your screenshots, matches your brand and times the film to music, and you edit what you want before exporting.
Is a template-based video good enough for a launch?
For most product launches, yes. What matters most is a clear message and your real product on screen. Custom animation is worth paying for when the video itself is the centrepiece of a big moment.
Try it before you hire
Try Filmagic free, or browse the launch video templates. If you are planning the video yourself, read how to make a product launch video first.
Price ranges above come from published 2026 market guides by Vidico and Yum Yum Videos. They are estimates, and real quotes depend on scope, location and deadline.
