Option 1: Edit it yourself
A general video editor, many of which have free tiers, gives you full control of every cut. The money you save is paid in time and in assets:
- Footage and images that you are licensed to use in an advert for your book
- Music with a licence that covers promotional use
- Narration: your own recording or a voice tool
- A script short enough for 15 to 60 seconds
- Editing time to cut it all to the narration
This is the right choice if you enjoy editing or need vertical files cut for a particular platform.
Option 2: An AI book trailer maker (BookReelz)
BookReelz does the script, narration, music, visuals and edit for you:
- Free: a 20-second cinematic teaser with real AI motion video, watermarked, hosted for 48 hours, one per account, no card needed
- Standard, $29: about 30 seconds, 720p HD, no watermark, Trailer Studio editing, one minute of video re-filming, hosted for 30 days
- Premium, $49: about 60 seconds with two to four talking AI characters from your manuscript (documentary style for idea-led non-fiction), two minutes of re-filming, priority processing, hosted for 90 days
Every trailer includes background music matched to the tone you choose, 20 narrator voices and 23 narration languages. You can write the narration yourself or let the AI write it.
Option 3: Hire a freelancer
Freelance marketplaces list book trailer editors at a wide range of prices. A freelancer makes sense for live-action footage, custom animation or a trailer that is part of a larger paid launch. Agree the length, aspect ratios, number of revisions and music licensing before you pay.
Make a cheap trailer with BookReelz in about 15 minutes
- Create a free account with email or Google.
- Add your book. Upload the cover and blurb, or import them by ISBN, Amazon link or from SelfPublishing.pro.
- Pick the tone, narrator and closing line. The "Where to Buy" line puts Amazon, all retailers, "Coming soon" or your own URL on the closing card.
- Steer it if needed. The optional "What must this trailer show?" field makes sure a key detail appears, and you can upload up to two reference images.
- Generate. Most trailers finish within about 10 minutes, and you get an email when yours is ready.
- Keep it or upgrade. If you like the free teaser, "Keep and edit this trailer" converts that cut to Standard for $29, removes the watermark and opens Trailer Studio. If a free teaser misses the mark (three stars or fewer), you can ask for one free Second Take within its 48 hours.
Cost at a glance
- Do it yourself: software can be free; you supply the footage, music, voice and editing time.
- BookReelz: $0 for a watermarked teaser, $29 or $49 for a finished, editable trailer.
- Freelancer: quoted per project.
For a fuller comparison of AI trailer tools, see choosing the best AI book trailer maker.
