Video automation · Beginner tutorial 2026
How to Use Plainly
Plainly is a video automation tool built for Marketing ops and Personalized campaigns. This step-by-step tutorial walks you through setup and your first project — no prior editing experience required.
Plainly tutorial: step by step
Build template
Head to the Plainly site and start with the trial (Demo available). Once you are in, build template — this is where most of your creative decisions begin, so take a moment to explore the interface before diving in.
Connect data
Next, connect data. Lean on Data-driven personalization to speed this up. Small adjustments here have the biggest impact on how professional your final video looks.
Render variants
Finally, render variants. Plainly handles the heavy lifting here, but always preview the result before you publish so the pacing, captions, and audio line up. This is the stage where Plainly shines for marketing ops.
Tips to get more out of Plainly
- • Use Template-driven renders to work faster — it's one of the reasons Plainly is rated 8.2/5.
- • Use Data-driven personalization to work faster — it's one of the reasons Plainly is rated 8.2/5.
- • Use Batch exports to work faster — it's one of the reasons Plainly is rated 8.2/5.
Common mistakes to avoid
- • Setup takes time
- • Not for quick one-off edits
Works with your stack
Plainly integrates with Google Sheets, Zapier, AWS S3 — handy when you are stitching it into an existing faceless YouTube or short-form pipeline.
Get started with Plainly
Best for marketing and ops teams that need personalized video at scale, not casual one-off editing.
Get Started with Plainly →Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Plainly tutorial FAQ
Is Plainly hard to learn?
No. Most people create their first video automation project within an hour. Plainly is best for Marketing ops and Personalized campaigns, and the 3-step workflow above covers everything you need to get started.
Do I need editing experience to use Plainly?
Not really. Plainly is a video automation platform that turns After Effects templates into an API-driven rendering pipeline, letting teams generate thousands of personalized or data-driven videos automatically. You connect a template, feed it data via API, CSV, or integrations, and Plainly batch-renders each variation — ideal for personalized marketing, dynamic ads, and large video catalogs. The interface is built so beginners can produce a finished video without prior editing skills, though features like Template-driven renders reward a little practice.
Is there a free way to try Plainly?
Plainly does not offer a permanent free plan. Trial terms: Demo available. Check the pricing page for the current cost of each tier.
What can I make with Plainly?
Plainly is designed for Marketing ops, Personalized campaigns, Large video catalogs. It integrates with Google Sheets, Zapier, AWS S3, so it slots neatly into most faceless YouTube and short-form workflows.