Plainly

Plainly is a video automation platform that turns After Effects templates and structured data into rendered video variations. Create, localize, and distribute videos with cloud workflows.

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Overview

Plainly is a video automation software platform for creating data-driven videos from After Effects templates. It is designed for teams that need to turn structured inputs into many video versions without doing each edit or render manually.

The workflow starts in After Effects, where templates are built and marked up with dynamic elements. Those templates are then uploaded to Plainly, which renders video variants in the cloud and can distribute the finished output through integrations, API connections, or other workflow steps.

Features

After Effects-based template workflow

Create templates in After Effects, then upload them to Plainly for versioning and personalization. The platform is built around After Effects workflows rather than replacing them.

Cloud-based rendering

Render videos securely in the cloud and use the platform to process many variants without handling local rendering infrastructure.

Data input from multiple sources

Use CSV, native integrations, the API, or other data connections to feed information into video generation workflows.

Dynamic element control

Change more than text by updating images, audio, videos, colors, and other dynamic elements in each output.

Layer scripting for advanced logic

Set up conditional rendering, time-based rules, and layer-property changes with layer scripting.

Automation and output handling

Send rendered videos onward automatically and export thumbnails, captions, and custom output formats as part of the workflow.

Use cases

Video localization
Localize the same base template for different languages or markets by swapping text, assets, and audio while keeping the visual structure consistent.
Sports and live updates
Generate match lineups, game updates, recaps, or live event clips from structured inputs so content can be produced quickly as events happen.
News production
Turn RSS feeds, article metadata, or similar structured inputs into news videos without manually rebuilding each version.
Personalized video campaigns
Create personalized videos that change by customer or recipient, using data-driven inputs to produce individualized output at scale.
Developer and product integrations
Integrate video generation into your app or internal tool with the API, then automate rendering and delivery inside your product workflow.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Built around After Effects templates, so existing motion graphics workflows can stay familiar.
Supports cloud rendering for generating many versions without local processing.
Works with multiple data sources, including CSV, native integrations, and API connections.
Can automate both creation and distribution of rendered videos.
Offers preview generation, custom output formats, thumbnails export, and captions support.

Cons

The source does not describe pricing for every use case beyond several plan tiers and custom enterprise options.
Some setup still depends on After Effects template creation before Plainly can be used for generation.

FAQ

Does Plainly work with After Effects?

Yes. Plainly is built to work with After Effects: you create a template in After Effects, upload it to Plainly, and generate video variations from there. The pricing page also says there is an After Effects plugin that connects After Effects directly with Plainly.

Do I need to know After Effects to use Plainly?

Technically, no. You do not need to be an expert in After Effects, but you or someone on your team still needs to create the video template in After Effects before using Plainly to generate versions.

Can Plainly handle one-off videos and bulk creation?

Plainly can create single videos or generate them in bulk automatically.

Can I preview videos before rendering?

Yes. You can generate preview versions to check your data inputs and design before rendering the final version.

Does Plainly connect with automation tools like Zapier or Make?

Plainly integrates directly with Zapier. For Make and other platforms, the source says webhooks can be used to connect workflows.

Quick Facts

Category: Video automation software
Platform: Web application with cloud rendering
Primary workflow: After Effects template upload, data mapping, cloud rendering, distribution
Source domain: plainlyvideos.com
Pricing: Paid plans with 14-day free trial; custom enterprise options available
Integrations: Native integrations, Zapier, CSV, API, webhooks