Instructional Videos vs. Training Videos: Key Differences You Need to Know

You’re planning to create a video—maybe it’s for onboarding new team members, or maybe it’s to help customers use your product. You type into Google: “How to make a training video”… or wait, is it an instructional video?

The terms seem interchangeable, but there’s actually a key difference. And understanding it can make or break how effectively your content reaches the right people.

In this post, we’ll unpack what sets instructional videos apart from training videos, when to use each, and how the distinction can shape your entire content strategy. Whether you're building a knowledge base or training a growing team, this is something every business should get right.

What Are Instructional Videos?

Instructional videos are short, focused videos created to teach someone how to perform a specific task. They’re designed to be quick, clear, and easy to follow—perfect for breaking down a process step-by-step.

One of the biggest advantages of instructional videos is their flexibility. They can be made for just about anyone: customers trying to use a product, employees learning a tool, or even the general public. Whether you’re answering FAQs or demonstrating how a feature works, these videos are a go-to format for clear communication.

Common use cases include:

1. Product tutorials
2. Feature walkthroughs
3. FAQ explainers
4. “How-to” content for help centers or support pages

A few examples:

1. How to reset your password
2. Using the dashboard filters in our SaaS product

👉 Want to explore instructional videos in depth? Read our full guide on instructional videos.

What Are Training Videos?

Training videos are a specific type of instructional video created to onboard, educate, or upskill employees within an organization. They’re structured, goal-oriented, and often form part of a larger internal training program.

Unlike general instructional videos that might be customer-facing or publicly accessible, training videos are made exclusively for internal teams. Their purpose is to build employee knowledge, reinforce company processes, and ensure consistent standards across departments.

In a way, all training videos are instructional—but not all instructional videos are training. The key difference lies in the audience and intent.

Common use cases include:

1. Onboarding new hires
2. Compliance training
3. Skills development (sales, HR, customer support, etc.)

A few examples:

1. Sales Enablement Module 1: CRM Basics
2. Security Compliance: Do’s and Don’ts

👉 Learn more about Training Videos and how they can improve team performance.

Instructional Vs. Training Videos: Key Differences

While both instructional and training videos aim to educate, the context, structure, and audience they serve are quite different. Let’s break it down more thoroughly across key factors:

1. Audience

Instructional videos are for anyone who needs guidance—whether it’s a customer trying to use a product feature, a partner setting up an integration, or even an employee learning a new internal tool. Their goal is to offer help at the moment it’s needed, regardless of who’s watching. These videos often live on public platforms like video knowledge bases, product pages, or YouTube channels, making them easily accessible to a wide audience.

Training videos, on the other hand, are created exclusively for employees. They’re built with the organization’s internal goals in mind—whether that’s onboarding new hires, teaching company policies, or developing team-specific skills. These videos are usually shared through internal knowledge base, or company intranet, and they often require access permissions.

2. Purpose

Instructional videos are all about action. Their purpose is to help someone quickly learn how to do something—like resetting a password, navigating a dashboard, or updating account settings. They zero in on one specific task, making them perfect for just-in-time learning. The value is immediate: watch, learn, apply.

Training videos, however, are designed for deeper learning. Their goal isn’t just to complete a task—it’s to build understanding over time. Whether it’s onboarding a new employee, explaining security protocols, or teaching soft skills like communication or leadership, training videos offer structured, long-term value. They often connect to broader organizational goals like compliance, performance, or culture.

3. Format and Structure

Instructional videos are typically brief, focused, and direct. They’re designed to get to the point quickly, usually covering just one task or feature. These videos are meant to be standalone—easy to watch and understand in just a few minutes. For example, a 2-minute video showing how to set up two-factor authentication. The goal? Immediate clarity with minimal time commitment.

Training videos, on the other hand, are more structured and often form part of a larger learning path or course. These videos dive deeper, sometimes spanning 10–20 minutes or more. They may include additional learning materials like quizzes, checklists, or follow-up assessments. This structure helps learners grasp not just a single task, but a broader concept or set of skills. Think of it as a more immersive experience designed to build long-term knowledge and retention.

4. Depth of Content

Instructional videos are focused and concise. They zero in on a single task, process, or feature and explain it step-by-step. The strength of instructional videos lies in their ability to provide quick, clear guidance on specific actions. They don’t dive deep into background information or provide extensive context—they simply show you how to do something efficiently. For example, a video teaching how to set up an account or use a specific feature will be short and to the point.

Training videos, on the other hand, cover a broader range of topics and often provide a more strategic or foundational understanding. These videos take a longer, more comprehensive approach, addressing not just “how” but “why” certain processes or concepts matter. They might require multiple videos to cover the entire scope of the topic and help employees build skills over time. For example, a series on customer service skills would explain the why behind effective communication, give context about company values, and tie everything back to real-world application.

5. Frequency and Lifecycle

Instructional videos are typically evergreen. Once they’re created and published, they often remain relevant for an extended period—sometimes years—without the need for frequent updates. This is especially true if the content focuses on processes or features that remain consistent over time, like basic product walkthroughs or FAQ explanations. These videos live on support pages, knowledge bases, or YouTube channels, and are updated only when there are changes to the tools or processes they cover. For example, a video on how to use a feature will only need to be updated if the feature undergoes a major update or overhaul.

Training videos, on the other hand, tend to have a more dynamic lifecycle. Since they’re designed to align with evolving internal policies, compliance regulations, or industry best practices, they often require regular updates. As a company’s tools, processes, or organizational goals change, the training content must be refreshed to ensure it stays accurate and relevant. For example, a security compliance training video may need to be updated annually to reflect new industry standards or company policies.

6. Branding and Tone

Instructional videos often mirror a company’s external communication style. Since these videos are intended for a broad audience—customers, clients, or the general public—they usually adopt a tone that is both professional and approachable. The goal is to make the information clear, easy to follow, and friendly. The language is typically simple and straightforward, ensuring that viewers can quickly understand and apply the instructions without feeling overwhelmed.

On the other hand, Training videos are more internal in nature and often have a tone that aligns with the company culture and values. They might use company-specific jargon, references, or humor that only employees would understand. The tone may be more formal or conversational depending on the company’s style and the subject matter, but the focus is on making employees feel comfortable and aligned with the organization’s internal processes. These videos might also include culturally relevant examples or team-specific scenarios to make the content feel more relatable and tailored.

Key Metrics for Instructional and Training Videos

Instructional Videos: To evaluate the effectiveness of your instructional videos, consider tracking the following metrics:

1. Time on help page: How much time users spend watching the video on your support page or knowledge base.
2. Ticket deflection: The decrease in customer support requests, indicating that the video provided sufficient self-help.
3. Video completion rate: The percentage of viewers who watch the video all the way through.

Training Videos: For training videos, success can be measured through:

1. Employee quiz scores: Post-video assessments to gauge knowledge retention.
2. Completion rates: The percentage of employees who finish the entire training video or module.
3. Time to productivity: How quickly employees apply the training in their roles, improving efficiency.

Why WowTo is Built for Both Instructional and Training Videos

Whether you're creating videos for customers or internal teams, WowTo offers everything you need to plan, create, and share high-quality video content—all in one place.

With WowTo’s intuitive video editor, you can easily record your screen, add voiceovers using realistic AI voices, insert step-by-step annotations, and highlight key actions with callouts. These tools are designed to simplify complex information and make your videos clear, engaging, and easy to follow.

What makes WowTo even more powerful is its built-in hosting capabilities. You can publish videos directly to a customer-facing knowledge base or an internal training hub, keeping content organized and accessible for the right audience. Updates are seamless, and the platform ensures that viewers always see the latest version.

From quick how-to clips to structured onboarding modules, WowTo makes it easy to create videos that inform, train, and support—without switching between multiple tools.

Create Videos That Drive Learning and Action

Instructional and training videos serve different needs, but both share a common goal: to deliver knowledge in a way that's easy to understand and act on.

With WowTo, you get everything you need to create and manage impactful video content—all in one place. Once your video is ready, publish it to a branded knowledge base for your customers or internal teams.

No back-and-forth between tools. No complicated workflows. Just efficient, high-quality videos that support learning at every level.

Start using WowTo and transform how you educate your users and empower your teams.