Synthesia

What is Synthesia?

Synthesia is a browser-based AI video generator that replaces cameras, actors and studios with digital presenters. You type or paste a script, or start from a prompt, link, document or PowerPoint, and the AI Video Assistant drafts a video in which an avatar reads the text with a synthetic voice. Videos can be translated into 140+ languages, dubbed with voice cloning and lip-sync, made interactive with quizzes and branching, and exported to a learning management system.

Synthesia was founded in 2017 by Victor Riparbelli, Steffen Tjerrild, Professor Matt Niessner and Professor Lourdes Agapito, and is based in London. Its backers named on the about page include GV, Accel, Kleiner Perkins and NEA. The company claims more than 2 million users, 50,000+ teams and use by over 90% of the Fortune 100. It lists SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, ISO 27701 and ISO 42001 certification plus GDPR compliance, and it was live with free, paid and enterprise plans in October 2026.

Key Features

• AI avatars: Synthesia offers hundreds of stock AI avatars, with 125+ on Starter, 180+ on Pro and 240+ on Enterprise. You can change outfits and backgrounds so the presenter suits the topic and brand.
• Personal avatars: Synthesia lets you create a digital twin of yourself or a colleague, with five personal avatars on Pro. Its Avatar Builder also produces realistic, 3D, comic, anime or claymation styles for less formal content.
• AI Video Assistant: Synthesia’s AI Video Assistant converts a prompt, web link or file into a draft video. Paid plans include it, which cuts scripting time for teams turning existing documents into training material.
• PowerPoint to video: Synthesia converts PowerPoint decks into narrated, editable videos that follow your brand settings. Learning teams can refresh old slide-based courses without recording new voiceovers or rebuilding slides.
• Translation and dubbing: Synthesia translates existing videos into 130+ languages with voice cloning and lip-sync, and avatar videos support 140+ languages. Global firms can localise one master video rather than reshooting it.
• Interactive video: Synthesia adds quizzes, clickable calls to action and branching paths to videos on Pro and above. Viewers make choices inside the video, which suits compliance checks and scenario training.
• Roleplay and Survey Sessions: Synthesia Sessions let learners practise conversations with avatars or answer conversational surveys. Roleplay Training is priced as an add-on at $29 per learner per month across plans.
• Screen recorder and brand kits: Synthesia includes a screen recorder for software walkthroughs and brand kits for fonts, colours and logos. That keeps product demos and training videos consistent across a large team.
• SCORM export and analytics: Synthesia exports videos to learning management systems through SCORM on Enterprise and offers viewing analytics. Training managers can track engagement and completion without hosting files elsewhere.

Pros

• No filming needed: Synthesia produces presenter-led video from text, so you avoid cameras, studios and actors. Capterra reviewers describe making training content in hours instead of weeks at a fraction of traditional costs.
• Wide language reach: Synthesia supports 140+ languages for avatar videos and dubbing into 130+ with lip-sync. One script can serve offices in many countries, which suits global onboarding and compliance programmes.
• Simple editor: Synthesia’s slide-style editor is easy for non-video staff to learn, according to Capterra reviewers. Templates and brand kits help keep output consistent across many authors.
• Realistic avatars: Synthesia’s avatars draw frequent praise for lifelike faces and body movement in reviews. They hold attention better than static slides, which matters for long training modules.
• Enterprise-grade security: Synthesia lists SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, ISO 27701 and ISO 42001 certification plus GDPR compliance. Those credentials help it pass procurement checks at large firms.
• Free plan to test: Synthesia’s Basic plan costs nothing and gives 10 minutes of video a month with nine avatars. You can judge avatar quality before committing to the $29 Starter tier.

Cons

• Credit limits: Synthesia meters usage in credits, with Starter giving about 12 minutes and Pro about 60 minutes a month. Arcade notes minutes reset monthly and unused time expires, so heavy producers can run short.
• Content moderation friction: Synthesia’s moderation is the most common complaint in Capterra reviews. Users report similar videos being approved and later flagged without clear explanations, which delays projects.
• Voices can sound flat: Synthesia’s AI voices lack emotional range for some reviewers, who describe them as slightly robotic. Narration needing strong feeling or subtle emphasis may still need a human voice.
• Basic editing: Synthesia’s editor is deliberately simple, so advanced cuts, effects and colour work happen elsewhere. Capterra users mention exporting to other software whenever they need polished post-production.
• Key features locked high: Synthesia reserves SCORM export, SAML SSO and unlimited minutes for Enterprise, which has no public price. Training teams needing LMS export must go through a sales process.
• Uncanny valley risk: Synthesia’s avatars can still feel unsettling to some viewers, according to Wyzowl’s review. Content relying on personal warmth or trust may land better with a real presenter.

Who is Using Synthesia?

• Learning and development teams: build onboarding, compliance and skills training at scale.
• HR and internal communications: share policy updates and leadership messages in many languages.
• Sales and customer success teams: create product explainers and personalised outreach videos.
• Marketing teams: produce localised explainer and how-to videos without filming.

Pricing

Synthesia has a free Basic plan, with Starter at $29 a month and Pro at $89 a month on monthly billing (official prices, October 2026).

Yearly billing saves up to four months, and Roleplay Training is an extra $29 per learner each month. Arcade’s April 2026 breakdown calls the $89 tier Creator with 30 minutes, an older layout than today’s credit system. Synthesia reworks plan names and allowances regularly, so check its pricing page before you budget.

What Makes Synthesia Unique?

Enterprise readiness around avatar video is what sets Synthesia apart. Many tools generate talking heads, but Synthesia pairs them with ISO 42001 and SOC 2 Type II credentials, SCORM export, interactive branching and roleplay sessions aimed squarely at corporate learning. Its claim of use by over 90% of the Fortune 100 shows how firmly it targets large training teams rather than casual creators.

Compatibilities and Integrations

• Platforms: Browser-based studio with share links, embeds and video downloads on paid plans.
• Learning systems: SCORM export for LMS platforms on Enterprise.
• Inputs: Scripts, prompts, web links, documents and PowerPoint files, plus screen recordings.
• API: Synthesia API sold as a separate product with its own pricing for automated video creation.

Synthesia Tutorials

A short first video is realistic within an hour on the free plan.

1. Sign up for the free Basic plan at synthesia.io.
2. Start from a template, a PowerPoint file or a prompt in the AI Video Assistant.
3. Choose an avatar, voice and language, then edit the script scene by scene.
4. Add brand colours, screen recordings or interactive elements where your plan allows.
5. Generate the video, review it and share the link or download it on a paid plan.

How We Rated It

Summary

Synthesia suits companies producing regular training, onboarding and internal videos in several languages without a film crew. Its main limitation is the credit system, which caps output on lower plans and puts LMS export behind Enterprise. We recommend testing avatars and voices on the free plan first, then estimating monthly minutes before choosing Starter or Pro.