Video marketing is a headache.
You know you need it. You know that “Explainer Videos” convert like crazy. But when you look at the options, you hit a wall.
Option A: Hire a professional motion graphics agency. Cost? $3,000 to $10,000. Time? 6 weeks. Option B: Learn Adobe After Effects yourself. Cost? Your sanity. Time? 6 months.
Then there is Option C: Renderforest.
It promises to let you create “broadcast quality” animations in your browser for the price of a Netflix subscription. It sounds too good to be true. Usually, “easy” video makers result in cheesy, clip-art-style videos that look amateur.
So, we put it to the test. We actually used Renderforest to build assets for real business scenarios to see if it holds up. Here is the honest verdict.
What is Renderforest?
Renderforest is an all-in-one branding platform, but it’s most famous for its Video Maker.
Unlike other tools that force you to drag characters around a canvas manually, Renderforest uses a “Scene-Based” approach. You pick a style pack (like “3D Explainer” or “Minimalist Line”), select the scenes you need (e.g., “Man waving,” “Office meeting,” “Rocket launching”), and type your text.
The system stitches it together.
The Good Stuff (Why We Liked It)
1. The 3D Toolkit is a Cheat Code
This is the main reason to use Renderforest. Most online video makers focus on 2D, flat cartoons. They often look a bit childish.
Renderforest offers a 3D Explainer Video Toolkit. These are those cute, rounded 3D characters you see in tech commercials. Creating these from scratch would cost thousands. In Renderforest, you just click them.
For our test, we made a 30-second promo for a SaaS product. Using the 3D toolkit, it looked surprisingly premium. It didn’t look like a “DIY” project; it looked like a budget studio production.
2. It Saves Massive Amounts of Time
We timed it. To script, build, and render a 60-second video took us about 45 minutes.
Because you aren’t manually animating the hand movements or walking cycles (it’s all pre-animated), you focus entirely on the story. You just drag the scene into the timeline, change the text, and hit save.
3. Brand Customization
A big fear with templates is that your video will look like everyone else’s.
Renderforest solves this with “Global Style” settings. You can upload your exact hex codes (brand colors) and fonts. With one click, the entire video updates. The blue shirt becomes your brand’s red. The font becomes your corporate font. It instantly makes the generic template feel proprietary.
The Bad Stuff (The Honest Truth)
1. Limited Movement Control
You trade control for speed. If you want the character to wave his left hand instead of his right, you can’t do that. You are stuck with the pre-made animations. If the scene doesn’t exist in their library, you can’t build it.
2. The “Cookie Cutter” Risk
While the 3D toolkit is great, some of the older 2D packs look a bit dated. If you pick a popular template, there is a chance your customer has seen it before on another website. You have to choose your style wisely to avoid looking generic.
The Verdict: Is it Professional Enough?
Yes, but with a caveat.
It is perfect for:
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Social Media Ads: Short, punchy clips to stop the scroll.
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Internal Training: HR videos that need to be engaging but cheap.
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Startup Explainers: Launching a product on a budget.
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YouTube Intros: High-energy logo reveals.
It is NOT for:
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Super High-End Brand TV Commercials: If you need bespoke characters that look exactly like your CEO, you need to hire an agency.
For 95% of small-to-medium businesses, Renderforest bridges the gap perfectly. It allows you to look professional without the agency price tag.
FAQs: Using Renderforest for Business
1. Can I use the videos for commercial purposes?
Yes. If you are on a paid subscription (Lite, Pro, or Business), you have the commercial rights to everything you create. You can use them in ads, on your website, and on YouTube.
2. Is the free version usable for business?
Not really. The free version leaves a massive watermark on the video and caps the quality at 360p. It’s strictly for testing the tool to see if you like it. For business, you need to pay to remove the watermark and get HD quality.
3. How long does it take to render?
It’s cloud-based. You hit “Export,” and you can close your browser. They email you when it’s done. A 1-minute HD video usually renders in about 3-5 minutes depending on server load.
Conclusion: Stop Overthinking Video
The biggest mistake businesses make with video is doing nothing because they think it’s too hard.
Renderforest removes the barrier. It’s not Pixar, but it’s effective, clean, and fast. If you need to explain a complex product or spice up your social feed, it is currently the best “bang for your buck” tool on the market.
Don’t let the lack of budget stop you from marketing.
Try It For Free
Want to see how fast you can build an explainer video? You can sign up and play with all the tools without paying a dime (you only pay when you want to export without the watermark).
