Hire an animator: studio, freelancer or do it yourself
Hire a studio when the video carries your sales message and you want one team for script, design and animation. Hire a freelance animator when you can direct the project yourself. Use a marketplace to compare many people and reviews in one place, and do it yourself when your time costs less than the budget.
Four ways to get an animation made
Price, time and risk side by side. Our prices are real; for the rest, compare what is included, not only the number.
| Option | Price | Time | Risk | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animation studio | Fixed packages on the page. Ours: logo animation $100 to $350, a 60 second explainer $300 to $1,200 | Days to weeks, with a schedule agreed up front | Low: a team covers script, design, animation and sound, and you approve each stage | Videos that sell or explain your product |
| Freelance animator | Varies with experience and location. Ask what is included | Depends on one person and their other clients | Medium: one person does everything, so a sick week or a busy month stops the project | Teams with a clear brief and someone to direct |
| Marketplace (Fiverr, Upwork) | Listed packages, from very cheap to studio level | Listed per package, often a few days | Varies: check real reviews, order history and who does the work | Comparing many options and reviews in one place |
| Do it yourself | A software subscription plus your own hours | Days to weeks while you learn | High: generic scenes and a finish that looks homemade next to competitors | Internal videos and early drafts |
How much it costs to hire an animator in 2026
Price depends on length, style and who handles the script, design and sound. As a reference, these are our own prices, the same ones we use on Fiverr:
- Logo animation: $100, $175 or $350
- Explainer videos: $5, $10 or $20 per second, from $150 for 30 seconds
- Animated music videos: $5, $10 or $20 per second, so a 3 minute song starts at $900
- Lottie animation for websites and apps: $100, $175 or $350
- Animated email signatures: $100, $175 or $225
Freelancers can cost less or more than this. What changes the price most is what is included: the script, the illustration, revision rounds, music and source files.
How to find a good 2D animator
Whoever you hire, check these six things before you pay:
- Work made for real clients in the style you want, not only personal projects.
- What you approve and when. Approving the script and the look before animation avoids costly changes later.
- Which files you receive: MP4, Lottie, GIF or source files.
- The number of revision rounds, in writing.
- Reviews from buyers, and where those reviews come from.
- A schedule that includes your own feedback time.
What about Fiverr and Upwork?
Marketplaces are a good place to compare many animators, prices and reviews at once. Look past the cheapest packages, read the reviews of buyers with projects like yours and ask who will actually make your video.
We sell there too. Arigato Studio is a Fiverr Pro studio with a 4.9 rating from 1,776 reviews since 2015. Buying here directly gets you the same team and the same prices, with one direct line to the people making your video.
When a studio is worth it
A studio costs more than the cheapest freelancer because you pay for a process, not only for animation. Someone writes and storyboards the script, an illustrator designs every scene in your style, an animator brings it to life and a producer keeps it on schedule.
With us you approve the message first, then the look, then the motion, so the video you get is the one you pictured.
What our animators make
Explainer videos
Custom 2D explainers for products, apps and ideas, priced by length.
Logo animation
Your logo in motion for intros, ads and social media, in 3 days.
Animated music videos
Music video animation for artists, composers and kids channels.
Lottie and GIF animation
Light Lottie files for websites and apps, ready for your developer.
Motion graphics
Animated type, data and graphics for ads, events and screens.
Animated email signatures
GIF email signatures for you and your whole team.
Questions about hiring an animator
Is it better to hire a freelancer or a studio for an explainer video?
A freelancer works if you can write the script, direct the design and manage the schedule yourself. A studio is better when the video carries your sales message and you want one team responsible for script, design, animation and sound, with approvals at each stage.
What are the best websites to hire an animator?
Fiverr and Upwork list thousands of animators with prices and reviews. Behance and Dribbble are better for browsing portfolios, and LinkedIn for finding studios. On any site, judge the work made for real clients and the reviews from buyers like you.
What do you think about Fiverr for animation?
It works well when you read reviews carefully and check who does the work. We sell there ourselves as a Fiverr Pro studio, with a 4.9 rating from 1,776 reviews. The same team and prices are available here directly.
How much does it cost to hire a 2D animator?
Our prices start at $100 for logo animation and at $150 for a 30 second explainer, and every service has three fixed packages. Freelance rates vary a lot, so compare what is included, not only the price.
How long does a 2D animation take?
A logo animation takes 3 days. An explainer starts at 7 days for 30 seconds, and a full music video takes longer, with a schedule agreed before we start. Your feedback time between stages adds to the total.
Do you make 3D animation?
No. We are a 2D animation studio: illustration, character animation, motion graphics and Lottie. If your project needs 3D, we tell you before you order.
Want a team instead of one person?
Pick a package with a fixed price and pay half to start. A team covers script, design, animation and sound.