Video editing API for creative developers
Design in After Effects, then programmatically generate videos using Plainly’s video editing API.
After Effects based video-editing API
Native AE infrastructure
Web-based template builders can't match After Effects. Plainly lets you use After Effects and still automate everything through an API.
API first solution
Plainly is built on the same API we give you. You can use it to create your own tools, workflows, white-label, and more.
Enterprise-grade security
Protect sensitive data throughout your workflows. Plainly’s video editing API meets ISO 27001 and GDPR standards.
Some of our happy clients
How Plainly’s video editing API works
Create your template
Create your template in After Effects and upload it to Plainly.
Upload through Web App or API
Whether you prefer a simple web interface or full programmatic control, Plainly supports uploading After Effects templates both ways.
Complete creative control
Make no creative compromises and use all of After Effects' features without worrying about compatibility.
No complex setup
No need to add effects to your layers or convert your project into intermediary formats – go straight from After Effects to automation.
Mark dynamic elements
Define elements like text, images, videos, color, and audio that will change in each video version based on your data.
Time-based rules
Move your layers in time, and crop the rendered videos based on inputs.
Access layer properties
Dynamically change layer properties such as font style, visibility, size, and more.
Automated setup
Plainly scans your project and generates the templates and parameters.
Connect your data and render videos
Feed data using Plainly's API to render & distribute videos automatically.
Custom output formats
Export video versions in multiple formats with custom encoding to suit the needs of any platform or channel.
Cloud-based rendering
Render your videos securely, without compromising performance or quality.
Automate distribution
Automatically distribute videos using webhooks or native integrations.
Frequently asked questions
What is a video editing API?
A video editing API lets developers programmatically create, modify, or render videos. Instead of editing videos manually in software like After Effects or Premiere Pro, you send data to an API that automates the process.
How does Plainly's video editing API work?
Plainly connects to your After Effects templates and renders custom videos by replacing text, images, videos, and other elements with dynamic data. You send a request to the API with your custom parameters, and the output is a finished video.
Can I use Plainly’s Video editing API to create thousands of videos at once?
Yes. Plainly is built for scale. Whether it’s a batch of 10 or 10,000, the API can render dynamic videos quickly by connecting to your data source and After Effects template.
Do I need to know After Effects to use Plainly’s API?
No, developers can work with the API without touching After Effects. However, your video templates do need to be created in After Effects. Once the template is ready, everything else can be automated via API. You can also contact our team if you want us to create a template for you.
Can I bulk-generate videos using external data (e.g., from Google Sheets or a CMS) through the API?
Yes. Plainly’s API is built for bulk generation. You can connect it to external sources like Google Sheets, Jotform, RSS feed, or your own backend. Just feed the data into the template and trigger video renders in bulk through the API.
Does your API let me programmatically export videos to Google Drive or other storage services?
Yes. Plainly has native integrations with Google Drive, Dropbox, Frame.io, and AWS S3. You can also connect other tools using Zapier or webhooks. Once a video is rendered, it can be automatically sent to any of these destinations without manual steps.
Is there a free tier or a way to test the API before committing to a paid plan?
Yes. We offer a free trial with API access so you can test the workflow before upgrading. If you need more time or have a specific use case, we’re happy to help. Just reach out.
What others say about us
We have a great experience working with the team and Plainly. They weren’t shy to break the mold and go the extra mile. Personalization in today’s saturated digital landscape is paramount to cut through the noise and stick out; Plainly offers a great platform, product, and solution for this.
CMO, Y11 Sport & Media Holdings
Working with Plainly was great, their API is robust but simple to set up. After setting up the workflow, we literally forgot about it. The integration with After Effects allowed my team to work with tools they are familiar with and create high-quality video templates.
CTO, Tapni
Plainly allows you to produce large amounts of video content very quickly. A great advantage is that your content can be still very individual and on-brand due to the ability of using Templates made in Adobe After Effects. Its interface is quite intuitive and the software gets new interesting features often.
Motion Designer, Freelance
Try Plainly’s Video Editing API today.
