Animated Videos vs. Live Action: Which Converts Better in 2025?

In 2025, businesses are still debating: Should we use animated videos or live action to drive conversions? If you're trying to grow brand awareness, boost engagement, or increase conversions through video marketing, you’ve probably asked the same question.

The short answer? It depends on your goals, audience, and message. But let’s break it down.

Table of Contents

  • What Are Animated Videos?
  • What Are Live Action Videos?
  • Animated vs. Live Action: Which Converts Better in 2025?
  • Pros & Cons of Animated Videos
  • Pros & Cons of Live Action Videos
  • Use Cases: When to Use Each
  • Conversion Benchmarks in 2025
  • Which Should You Use?

1. What Are Animated Videos?

Animated videos use graphics, illustrations, and motion design to communicate ideas. From 2D explainer videos to motion graphics and whiteboard animations—animated content is versatile and eye-catching.

🧠 Best for: Simplifying complex topics, B2B marketing, software demos, SaaS explainers.

2. What Are Live Action Videos?

Live action videos are shot with real people, settings, and objects. These include product demos, testimonials, commercials, and behind-the-scenes content.

🎯 Best for: Building trust, emotional storytelling, influencer campaigns, showcasing physical products.

3. Animated vs. Live Action: Which Converts Better in 2025?

📊 Latest Data (2025 Video Marketing Insights):

  • Animated videos had an average conversion rate of 6.2%.
  • Live action videos saw an average conversion rate of 5.4%.
  • Hybrid videos (mix of both) saw up to 8.3% conversion.

So, which one actually converts better?

Animated content performs well on landing pages, especially for SaaS, startups, and educational content.

Live action excels in humanizing brands, especially in ecommerce, DTC, or service-based industries.

4. Pros & Cons of Animated Videos

Pros:

  • Scalable and reusable
  • Easily explain complex ideas
  • Affordable (no actors or location needed)
  • Great for global audiences (can be dubbed/subtitled easily)

Cons:

  • Can feel impersonal
  • Requires creative storytelling
  • Not ideal for showing real-life results or products

5. Pros & Cons of Live Action Videos

Pros:

  • Builds trust through human connection
  • Better for emotional storytelling
  • Great for physical product demos or testimonials

Cons:

  • More expensive (shooting, editing, casting)
  • Harder to update once produced
  • Location and actor-dependent

6. Use Cases: When to Use Each

Goal Animated Live Action
Explaining complex ideas ✅ Yes ❌ No
Product unboxing ❌ No ✅ Yes
Customer testimonials ❌ No ✅ Yes
SaaS walkthrough ✅ Yes ❌ No
Brand storytelling ✅/❌ Depends ✅ Yes
Ads for conversions ✅ Yes (especially with CTAs) ✅ Yes

7. Conversion Benchmarks in 2025

Video Type Avg. Watch Time CTR Conversion Rate
Animated 1m 36s 2.3% 6.2%
Live Action 1m 12s 1.9% 5.4%
Hybrid 1m 47s 3.1% 8.3%

Source: ClipGenie 2025 Video Marketing Report

8. Which Should You Use?

It comes down to your brand identity, target audience, and content goals.

  • Use animated videos if you're in SaaS, tech, education, or need scalable, evergreen content.
  • Use live action if you're in ecommerce, coaching, personal branding, or selling emotional transformation.
  • Use both (hybrid) for maximum impact: an animated explainer with a live testimonial at the end can skyrocket conversions.

And with tools like ClipGenie, you can create scroll-stopping animated videos or seamlessly edit live-action clips optimized for engagement—without hiring an agency.

Final Thoughts

There’s no one-size-fits-all. But the good news? You don’t have to choose. With tools like ClipGenie, you can create both animated and live-action videos that convert in 2025.

👉 Want scroll-stopping content that drives conversions? Try ClipGenie and turn your raw footage or scripts into engaging videos in minutes.