What is a launch video?

A launch video is a short video, usually 30 to 90 seconds, that introduces a new product, app or major feature on launch day. It shows the problem, the product solving it, and ends with the name and one call to action.

What is the difference between a launch video and an explainer video?

A launch video is made to create a moment: it's short, built for social feeds and launch day, and leads with the product's most striking idea. An explainer is made to teach: it's longer, walks through how the product works step by step, and lives on a website or help center for months.

How much does a launch video cost?

Freelancers on Fiverr start around $50 to $500, Contra freelancers quote about $850 to $3,500, and agencies charge roughly $1,500 to $7,000 or more. AI tools range from a monthly subscription in credits to a flat price per video: nod is $49 for one launch video.

Can AI make a launch video?

Yes. Some AI tools generate clips you edit yourself; others produce a finished video. nod starts from your product page and builds the whole video: script, motion graphics, UI scenes, voiceover and music, with you approving the story first.

Launch Video: What It Is, How to Make One, Examples

Launch video vs explainer, demo and teaser

These get mixed up, and the difference matters because each one is built for a different moment.

Type	Job	Typical length	Where it lives
Launch video	Create a moment and make people try it	30–90s	Launch day: Product Hunt, X, LinkedIn, landing page
Explainer video	Teach how it works	60–180s	Website, help center, sales
Product demo	Walk through real usage	2–10 min, or interactive	Sales calls, onboarding, docs
Teaser	Build anticipation before access opens	10–30s	Waitlist, social, countdown

Types of launch videos

Product launch video. The main film for a new product. See our guide to the Product Hunt launch video.
SaaS launch video. A launch film for software, built around real UI moments. See the SaaS launch video maker.
Feature announcement video. A shorter cut for a meaningful release, so the changelog gets watched.
Waitlist teaser. A 10 to 30 second tease before you open access.
App Store preview. A 15 to 30 second video that plays before your screenshots on the App Store.

How long should a launch video be?

Long enough to show the product working once, short enough that people finish it. In our study of 150 top Product Hunt launches, the median launch video ran 78 seconds and 75% were two minutes or shorter. Platform limits set the outer edges:

Where	Platform rule	What works
Product Hunt	YouTube link only, not private, full URL. No length limit stated.	45–75s
X	Up to 140 seconds and 512MB for non-subscribers on the web	30–60s, captions on
LinkedIn	3 seconds to 15 minutes from desktop (10 from mobile), up to 5GB	30–90s, captions on
App Store preview	15–30 seconds, up to 3 per device size and language, plays before screenshots	15–30s
Landing page	No limit	30–90s, first frame works as a still

Bar chart of launch video lengths across 150 top Product Hunt launches: 31% are 30 to 60 seconds, median 78 seconds — Launch video length across 150 top Product Hunt launches. Data: nod study, Sept–Oct 2026.

Sources: Product Hunt, X Help Center, LinkedIn Help, Apple App Store Connect. Checked November 2, 2026.

The structure of a launch video

Strong launch videos share the same six beats. Here's the shape, with timings from nod's 71-second launch film for Reacher:

Anatomy of a launch video: six beats of the 71-second Reacher film, from hook to close, on a timeline — The six beats of a launch video, shown on nod's Reacher launch film.

0:00–0:12 · HookA problem the viewer recognises. Reacher opens on a reminder snoozed six times: "You meant to."
0:12–0:20 · RevealWhat the product is and where it lives: "Your money, on WhatsApp."
0:20–0:24 · Easy startRemove the first objection: "One word to start."
0:24–0:46 · The product workingTwo or three moments, one line each: "Ask it out loud." "Every fund, one chat." "It speaks up first."
0:46–1:00 · TrustWhy it's safe to try: "Your rule. Your yes."
1:00–1:11 · CloseName and one action: "Say hi to Reacher."

The full scene-by-scene breakdown is in the Product Hunt launch video guide.

Launch video styles

Style	Best for	Trade-off
Motion graphics with designed UI	Software and AI products; clean, on-brand, works muted	Needs a designer or a tool like nod
Screen recording	Fast, honest look at the real product	Looks rough unless edited with zooms and pacing
Founder to camera	Trust and personality, early-stage launches	Depends on delivery; weak muted
Live action	Hardware and consumer products	Most expensive and slowest

How to make a launch video: four ways

Do it yourself in an editor such as After Effects, Premiere, Screen Studio or Remotion. Cheapest in money, most expensive in time.
Hire a freelancer. Roughly $50 to $500 on Fiverr, $850 to $3,500 on Contra. Quality varies with the person.
Hire a studio. Published prices start around $1,000 (Breadnbeyond), $2,400 to $4,000 (Explainer Video Company) and $5,000 to $8,500 (Yans Media) for a 60-second explainer, with 4 to 8 weeks of production.
Use an AI launch video tool. nod starts from your product page: it designs style frames, writes a script you edit by prompt, and builds the finished video with motion graphics, UI scenes, voiceover and music for $49.

Launch video checklist

The first three seconds show the problem or the most striking moment, not a logo.
Every scene carries one idea and one short line of on-screen text.
It reads with the sound off.
It shows the real product, not just abstract graphics.
It ends on the product name and one action, held long enough to read.
You have a 16:9 master for YouTube and Product Hunt, and you've checked the first frame works as a thumbnail.

The video is one line of a bigger plan: see the full product launch checklist and how to launch on Product Hunt.

Launch video what it is, how to make one, and examples