Doodly
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Doodly is desktop-based whiteboard animation software that creates videos where drawn elements appear on a whiteboard or other backgrounds as if being sketched in real time. The platform emphasizes simplicity and speed in producing a specific video genre: whiteboard explainers where animated doodles illustrate concepts while voiceovers narrate. Unlike cloud-based animation platforms, Doodly installs as desktop software and operates locally, though projects can be stored online. The software comes with 1,000 custom-drawn images covering characters, props, backgrounds, and icons. Current promotional pricing offers the annual license for $67 (listed normally at $468 per year), and purchasing Doodly grants access to the entire Voomly Cloud suite, a collection of complementary animation and video tools.
The Doodly workflow is deliberately straightforward. Users open a project, select a whiteboard background (or choose blackboard, glassboard, or green screen alternatives for visual variety), and place images on the canvas. As images are placed, Doodly animates them appearing as if being drawn by an invisible hand. Users control the drawing speed and the timing of when each element appears, building the visual story through image placement and sequencing. The software syncs animations to voiceover audio, so when the narration describes something, that element can animate simultaneously, creating the perception that the doodles are illustrating the spoken explanation in real time.
The Doodly Smart Draw technology allows users to upload their own custom images and have Doodly animate them with the hand-drawn effect. This extends the tool beyond the bundled image library for creators with branded illustrations or specific visual needs. The ability to mix stock images and custom artwork means teams can maintain visual consistency with their brand while still using Doodly's standard assets for efficiency.
The voice recording and audio syncing in Doodly is built-in. Users can record voiceover directly within the application without external recording software. The interface provides timeline-based audio editing, with markers indicating where key images should appear relative to the spoken narration. This integrated workflow means the entire video can be created and edited within Doodly without switching between applications. Royalty-free background music is included, and users can upload their own audio files if preferred.
The video export options in Doodly span from web-ready compressed formats (480p) to 1080p HD, supporting multiple delivery scenarios. Users can export videos as MP4 files for local storage or direct platform upload, or publish directly to YouTube from within the application. The multi-computer installation capability means a Doodly license can be installed on multiple machines owned by the same user, valuable for teams or individuals working across desktop and laptop without paying multiple license fees per installation.
The Voomly Cloud suite that comes with Doodly access extends the platform's capabilities beyond whiteboard animation. Toonly creates cartoon character animations, addressing the gap for users who want character-driven explainers rather than doodle-based ones. Talkia provides AI voiceover generation, offering an alternative to manual voiceover recording for users who prefer synthetic speech or need voiceovers in multiple languages without recording talent. People Builder enables custom character design and animation, allowing teams to create on-brand characters for repeated use across videos. Voomly's video hosting platform allows hosting and embedding videos directly from Voomly's infrastructure. Access to this broader suite is a meaningful value add beyond the core Doodly software; a user purchasing only Doodly gains an ecosystem of complementary animation tools for no additional cost.
The community and support aspect of Doodly includes a private Facebook group reportedly containing over 75,000 members. This active community provides a resource for users seeking tips, templates, inspiration, and peer support. The community can be valuable for new users learning the platform or experienced users seeking advanced workflows and techniques.
The guarantee structure offered by Doodly includes a 14-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. The company reports a 2% refund rate, suggesting most customers who purchase find it delivers on its value proposition. The money-back guarantee reduces the risk of purchase; users can test the software for a month and request a full refund if it doesn't meet expectations.
The whiteboard animation genre has proven durable as an explainer video style. The hand-drawn aesthetic reads as more accessible and human than polished motion graphics, and the visual metaphor of ideas being sketched in real time creates a narrative structure that maps well to voiceover explanations. Whiteboard videos are used extensively in training, education, sales demonstrations, and software onboarding contexts. Doodly's focused approach to this specific genre makes it well-suited for organizations committed to the whiteboard animation style.
Compared to other animation platforms, Doodly sacrifices breadth for depth in whiteboard animation specifically. Powtoon supports multiple animation styles (whiteboard, character, motion graphics) from one interface; Doodly supports only whiteboard (and its variations). Vyond and Animaker offer character animation primarily, leaving whiteboard as a secondary option. For organizations committed to whiteboard explainers as a core communication medium, Doodly's specialized workflow and extensive whiteboard-focused asset library outweigh the loss of other animation styles. For teams wanting to produce both whiteboard and character videos, Doodly is not the right choice.
The desktop software model is increasingly less common as cloud-based editing dominates. This has trade-offs: desktop software can be faster and more responsive than web applications, but users sacrifice the ability to edit from any device or via a web browser. Doodly projects stored locally require manual backup or cloud sync; projects in Voomly Cloud or other platforms are automatically backed up. For teams needing to collaborate remotely, the desktop-only approach is less convenient than cloud platforms. For individual creators working on one machine, desktop software is fine and potentially faster.
The current promotional pricing ($67 annually for Doodly plus the Voomly suite) is excellent value if the whiteboard animation style and the complementary tools in Voomly meet your needs. The regularly priced $468 annually is higher, though not out of line with other animation software annual subscriptions. Over time Doodly will presumably revert to regular pricing as the promotion ends, so prospective customers should evaluate whether the tool justifies cost at full price.
Doodly suits organizations and creators deeply committed to whiteboard animation for training, education, or marketing contexts. If you produce whiteboard explainers regularly and the bundled Voomly tools address other animation needs, Doodly offers a specialized, focused platform built for this specific job. If you occasionally need whiteboard animations alongside other animation styles, a more general platform serves better. If you have never tried whiteboard animation and are unsure whether it fits your communication style, the free trial provides low-risk testing.
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