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Synthesia is the AI video platform many companies use for training, onboarding and internal communication. You type a script, choose an AI presenter, and get a polished video without a camera, studio or actor. Here is how it works in 2026, what the free plan includes, and where it falls short.
Quick Verdict
Synthesia is the most polished AI avatar tool for business and training videos. It is easy to learn, its avatars look professional, and it handles many languages well. It is less suited to creators who want cinematic social content or need to edit their own footage, and some advanced features are reserved for the Enterprise plan.
| Best for | Training, onboarding, internal comms, multilingual teams |
| Skip if | You make cinematic social videos or edit your own footage |
| Free plan | Yes, about 10 minutes, watermark |
| User ratings (Oct 2026) | G2 4.6/5, Capterra 4.6/5, Trustpilot 3.9/5 |
How Synthesia Works
- Start from a script, a PowerPoint, a document or a web page.
- Pick an AI avatar and voice, or start from a template.
- Edit in a slide-style editor and add your logo, colors and screen recordings.
- Generate the video with a lip-synced presenter, then share a link, embed it, or download it on paid plans.
Key Features in 2026
- 230+ stock avatars, including full-body Express-2 avatars with natural gestures.
- Personal avatars of yourself, created from a short recording or even a single photo.
- 130+ languages for voiceovers, plus AI dubbing that keeps the speaker's own voice, and one-click translation of whole videos.
- Interactive videos with quizzes, calls to action and branching, introduced with Synthesia 3.0.
- AI screen recorder, templates and brand kits.
- LMS export (SCORM) and enterprise security (SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, SSO).
Plans and the Free Version
Synthesia moved to a credit-based system. The free Basic plan includes enough credits for roughly 10 minutes of video, 9 avatars and a watermark. Starter removes the watermark and adds more avatars and personal avatars; Pro adds more minutes and interactive videos; Enterprise adds unlimited minutes, SCORM export, brand kits and SSO. We don't list prices because they change; check the current pricing on Synthesia's site.
What Users Like
- Very easy to learn, even for teams with no video experience.
- Realistic, professional-looking avatars.
- Excellent multilingual voices, dubbing and translation.
- Saves the cost and time of filming, studios and actors.
- Strong security and compliance for larger companies.
Common Complaints
- Content moderation sometimes flags videos without a clear explanation.
- Billing: some users find annual plans hard to cancel and report refunds being refused.
- Limited editing control: fixing pronunciation or intonation can be fiddly, and close-ups can show lip-sync slips.
- Key business features are Enterprise-only, including SCORM export and brand kits.
Tip: build a few test videos on the free plan with your real scripts and check pronunciation of product names before upgrading. If you choose an annual plan, note the renewal date.
Synthesia vs the Alternatives
| Tool | Best for |
|---|---|
| Synthesia | Corporate training, onboarding and multilingual teams |
| HeyGen | Avatar videos for marketing and social media |
| Colossyan | E-learning with interactive scenarios |
| InVideo AI | Faceless videos built from stock footage |
Comparing avatar tools? See our 3 best AI avatar tools for small business presentations and our InVideo AI review.
Our Verdict
For training, onboarding and internal videos, Synthesia is the safest choice in 2026: polished avatars, strong languages and business-grade security. Creators who want flashy social content or full editing control will be happier elsewhere. Start with the free plan and test it on a real script.
How we review: this review is based on Synthesia's official product and pricing pages, independent reviews and user ratings on G2, Capterra and Trustpilot as of October 2026.
FAQ
Is Synthesia free?
Yes, there is a free Basic plan with a limited number of credits (around 10 minutes of video), a smaller avatar selection and a watermark.
How realistic are Synthesia avatars?
Among the most polished on the market, especially the newer full-body Express-2 avatars. Close-ups can still show occasional lip-sync errors.
Can I create an avatar of myself?
Yes. Paid plans let you create personal avatars, and you can also clone your voice.
Does Synthesia support SCORM for my LMS?
Yes, but SCORM export and brand kits are part of the Enterprise plan.
Synthesia or HeyGen?
Synthesia is stronger for corporate training, compliance and multilingual onboarding. HeyGen is popular with creators and marketers who want avatar videos for social media.
Affiliate Disclosure: Smart Home Shields earns a commission from some of the services linked in this article, including Synthesia and InVideo AI, at no extra cost to you. Plans, features and rules change often, so check the current details before you buy.