Guide · Updated September 29, 2026

How to make animated charts and a bar chart race video

Turn your numbers into animated bar charts, line graphs, donuts, rankings and bar chart races for YouTube, Reels and presentations, without Excel or After Effects.

A chart that builds itself on screen holds attention far better than a static screenshot of a spreadsheet. Numbers count up, bars grow in turn and the viewer follows the story. Here is how to make one in a few minutes.

1. Pick the right chart

Compare a few values: Bar chart or the horizontal Horizontal bar chart.
Show a trend over time: Line chart with total, or Two-line comparison to compare two series.
Show parts of a whole: Donut chart, Waffle chart or People pictogram.
Rank things: Top 5 ranking, Podium – top 3 or Bar chart race, where bars overtake each other.
One big number: Stat with trend line, Growth counter or Rolling number.
Compare two options: Versus stats, Comparison table or Before / after results.
Tell a story over time: Timeline – horizontal, Cinematic timeline or Roadmap.

All of them are in data & stats.

2. Type your data

Each chart has a list of rows. Change a label and a value, add rows, drag them into order. Values can carry units, so "$4.2M", "38%" or "12k" still count up correctly and keep their format.

3. Style it

Pick a light, dark or glass theme, set an accent color to match your brand, and change the size and width. For a data story over footage, choose a transparent background and export a MOV.

4. Time it

Bars grow one after another and numbers count up over about a second and a half. Use the Motion tab's animation speed if your voice-over needs it slower or faster. For a bar chart race, give it at least 6 to 10 seconds so viewers can follow the overtakes.

5. Export

MP4 at 1080p for YouTube, Reels or LinkedIn, a PNG still for slides, or a transparent MOV or WebM to place over b-roll.

Tips for clear data videos

Keep one message per chart. If you need two, use two clips.
Round your numbers. "4.2M" reads faster than "4,213,977".
Highlight the one bar that matters with the accent color.
Say the source on screen. The Source / credit tag and Annotated line chart templates help.

Questions people ask

Is there a free bar chart race maker?

The bar chart race is a Pro template. The regular bar, line, donut, ranking and timeline charts are free.

Can I import a CSV?

Not yet. Type or paste values into the rows; most charts need five to ten rows.

Can I use the charts in PowerPoint or Keynote?

Yes. Export an MP4 and insert it as a video, or a PNG as a still image.

Try it now. 250 templates run free in your browser, with no signup. Browse templates

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