Synthesia is a tool for producing videos without needing cameras, actors, or recording equipment. It creates and uses AI avatars, realistic, computer-generated presenters, to speak and act out scripts. Synthesia is part of a field called synthetic media, where AI generates content like images, audio, or video.
Synthesia works by following a simple process. The user types a script, chooses an avatar (a digital human presenter), and selects a voice and language. The AI then produces a video where the avatar appears to speak your words naturally, with synchronized lip movements and expressions.
Synthesia Pricing Plans
1. Starter
Synthesia’s starter plan lets users create 14 videos with their own avatar. It also offers video downloads, AI video assistance, exports without watermarks, one editor & three guests, over 125 Synthesia avatars, custom avatars, chat and email support, and 1,200 credits/month for $29/month.
There’s a yearly billing option that goes for $14/month/year. That’s a discount of about 51%.
2. Creator
This plan includes 5 personal avatars, AI dubbing, branded video pages, API access, multiple avatars per scene, and interactive videos. It also offers over 180 Synthetia AI avatars and space for one editor and five guests, all for $89/month or $49/month/year for a 45% discount. Credits are capped at 3,600/month for 30 minutes of video/AI dubbing per month
3. Enterprise
Enterprise clients get unlimited video minutes, one-click translations into 80+ languages, 240+ stock AI avatars, and unlimited personal avatars. They also get SAML/SSO, live stream collaboration, brand kits, SCORM exports, tailored onboarding, implementation services, dedicated CSM, access to live documents, academy, certifications, and an enterprise community. The pricing for this plan is custom and requires getting a quote.
Note: Synthesia has a free plan that provides no additional features except 10 minutes of video generation per month and basic access to avatars.
Hidden Costs and Usage Limits
Synthesia’s plans are feature-rich, with multiple functionalities. But the entire subscription hinges on two major variables: credits and access to avatars. Synthesia recently adopted a credit system that caps usage. 1,200 credits equals approximately 10 minutes of video. The caveat is that if this is exhausted, there is no option to ‘buy more.’
A user in that scenario will either have to upgrade to the next plan or wait till the next billing cycle to get credits and complete the task. For instance, a starter plan’s features are subject to a limit of 10 minutes (1200 credits) of video per month. This means that video downloads, AI video assistance, exports without watermarks, and over 125 Synthesia avatars remain latent till the user makes an upgrade.
Plan Feature Comparison
1. Starter ($29/month)
- Starter is best for freelancers and small businesses who only require 1-2 short videos a month for small projects.
- The limitation is that users are still capped at 10 minutes per month, which the free plan also offers. If a user needs to make a 5-minute video and edit and re-generate it twice, they run out of credits instantly.
2. Creator ($89/month)
- Ideal for YouTube creators, marketing teams, or educators who need personal avatars as a digital twin of themselves.
- This is the cheapest tier that features API access, which is essential for automating video production through other software.
3. Enterprise(custom pricing)
- It’s best for Large HR and L&D departments.
- This is the only tier that offers 1-Click Translation (translating a video into 80+ languages instantly) and SCORM exports (needed to upload videos into Learning Management Systems like Moodle or Cornerstone).
Competitor Comparison
| Plan | Synthesia | HeyGen | InVideo AI |
| Free Plan | 10 min/month and basic avatars | Three 3-minute videos/month, 720p export, and one custom digital twin. | 2 mins of video/week & AI credit, and watermarked exports. No generative AI features. |
| Starter/ Creator/Plus Plan | $29/month for 10 min video per month and 125+ avatars | $29/month, unlimited avatar videos, AI video generation, and AI voice over. | $35/month for 10 credits, 50 Video mins, 95 iStock2 UGC product asset ads, and 30 secs of generative video. |
| Creator/Pro/Max plan | $89/month for 5 personal avatars and AI dubbing. | $99/month for faster video processing, editing & proofreading translation script, and 4K video export. | $60/month for 40 credits, 200 Video mins & 320 iStock, 8 UGC product asset ads, and 120 secs of generative video. |
Note: InVideo AI has higher-tier plans, Generative and Teams, priced at $120/month and $999/month, respectively.
Is Synthesia Worth the Price?
When viewed objectively, Synthesia does provide good value. Its major disadvantage is the usage caps imposed by limited credits. A higher-tier subscription or a wait period between billing cycles incurs high costs in both money and productivity. However, when stacked against competitors, Synthesia AI is one of the lower-priced, feature-rich tools for generating videos.
FAQs
1. Is Synthesia AI Free?
Synthesia AI has a free plan that allows 10 minutes of video creation per month and access to basic avatars. Custom avatars, longer video duration, precise generative AI, and other advanced features are locked behind a paywall.
2. What’s Better Than Synthesia?
There isn’t one tool that outranks Synthesia. It is usually a question of specific features, costs, video length, and advanced functionalities. But tools like heyGen, VEED, and InVideo have proven themselves as rivals.
3. Is Synthesia a One-Time Purchase?
No, Synthesia is not a one-time purchase. It has both a free plan and paid subscriptions that ensure access to video generation.
