Disclosure: ElevenLabs, Runway, Descript, Synthesia and Meshy links are affiliate links (marked). If you sign up through them I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. There are no paid placements, ever. Prices change often, so confirm on the official site.
AI avatar videos for training and explainers.
| Category | video |
|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan; Starter $19/mo ($14/mo annual) Freemium |
| Free tier | Yes: Basic plan, 500 credits/month + first 10 video min included (watermarked, share link only) |
| Price source | https://www.synthesia.io/pricing (checked Oct 27, 2026) |
| Official site | www.synthesia.io (affiliate link) |
| Free quota reset | Refills every month (500 credits/mo + first 10 video minutes included on Free Basic) |
| Commercial rights | Paid plans required for downloadable, unwatermarked commercial MP4s (Free Basic watermarks videos and only shares via link) |
| Smartest way to test | Build and preview your slide script on Free Basic ($0), then use the verified $9 first-month Starter deal (normally $19/mo monthly, or $14/mo annual) when ready to export MP4s |
What it’s good for
Synthesia turns a script into a video with an AI presenter, an avatar that reads your words on screen. Companies use it for training videos, how-tos and explainers.
It supports a lot of languages, which helps if you need the same video in several.
Who it’s for
HR and training teams, and small businesses that need clear how-to videos without filming anyone.
Watch out for
- The free Basic plan includes 500 credits/month plus your first 10 minutes of video, but free videos carry a watermark and share by link only (no MP4 downloads).
- Avatars can feel stiff for personal or emotional messages. They work best for plain explainers.
- Only make an avatar of a real person with their clear OK.
How it compares
ElevenLabs is for a voice without a face. Descript is for editing your own recordings. Runway is for creative AI clips. See Synthesia vs Runway and Best AI voice generators.
Before you pay
Starter is $19/mo billed monthly ($14/mo billed yearly, with 1,250 credits/month), and Synthesia currently offers the first month of monthly Starter for $9 (see Deals). Make one short video on the free plan first and show it to a coworker to see if it lands. Heads up: the Synthesia link on this page is an affiliate link, so I may earn a commission if you sign up. It doesn’t change what I say here.
How I wrote this: plan and price details come from the official pricing page (checked Oct 2026). The rest is my own take from reading the official pages, not a lab test. How I review
More video guides: Best AI video generators.
Visit Synthesia → See my workspace
Tap Compare, then tap Compare on another tool in the full list. Or use the quick compare links under each alternative below.
Alternatives
Runway: Text- and image-to-video generation and editing.
Free 125 credits (one-time); Standard $15/mo ($12/mo annual)
⇄ Compare side by side with Runway
Descript: Edit video and podcasts by editing the transcript.
Free plan; Hobbyist $24/mo ($16/mo annual)
⇄ Compare side by side with Descript