---
source: 'https://howaiworks.ai/ai-tools/synthesia'
section: ai-tools
title: Synthesia
description: >-
  The enterprise AI video platform for creating presenter videos with AI avatars
  in 160+ languages, used by 50,000+ companies for training and communications.
category: Video
toolLevel: popular
developer: Synthesia
projectType: Web Application & API
pricing: Paid (Starter plan available)
launchDate: '2017-01-01'
modelUsed: Synthesia Express-1 avatar models
officialWebsite: 'https://www.synthesia.io/'
pricingPage: 'https://www.synthesia.io/pricing'
tags:
  - Synthesia
  - AI Avatars
  - Corporate Video
  - Video Training
  - Localization AI
  - Enterprise AI
  - Latest
difficultyLevel: Beginner
setupTime: 10 minutes
apiAvailable: true
integrationTypes:
  - Web
  - API
  - SCORM (LMS)
  - Zapier
  - PowerPoint Add-in
isReviewed: true
lastUpdated: '2026-07-08'
---

# Synthesia

> The enterprise AI video platform for creating presenter videos with AI avatars in 160+ languages, used by 50,000+ companies for training and communications.

Synthesia is the enterprise standard for AI avatar video. While HeyGen is the go-to for marketing teams and social creators, Synthesia has won the corporate market — specifically L&D (Learning & Development), HR, and internal communications teams who need professional, consistent, on-brand training videos at scale across global organizations.

## Overview

Founded in 2017, Synthesia has spent years building enterprise trust. Synthesia states it is used by over 50,000 companies — Heineken among them — to replace costly studio video production with AI-generated presenter content.

The core product is straightforward: type a script, choose an AI avatar (or create your own), select a template, and Synthesia generates a professional video in minutes. What differentiates Synthesia from competitors is its focus on enterprise requirements — SCORM export for LMS platforms (an Enterprise-plan feature), SOC 2 Type II and ISO 42001 compliance, and team collaboration workflows.

## Key Features

- **Up to 240+ AI Avatars**: The stock avatar library scales with plan — 9 avatars on the free Basic plan, 125+ on Starter, 180+ on Creator, and the full 240+ selection on Enterprise.
- **Personal Avatar Creation**: Create your own digital twin. Starter includes 3 personal avatars, Creator 5, and Enterprise unlimited. Higher-fidelity **Studio Express-1** avatars are a paid add-on ($1,000/year, annual plans only) and take up to 10 days to process.
- **160+ Languages and Voices**: Every plan gets access to over 160 languages and voices, including narration styles and local accents. **AI Dubbing** output is narrower: 70+ languages on Basic/Starter/Creator, 140+ on Enterprise.
- **1-Click Translation**: Translate an entire Synthesia video into other languages in one click. Enterprise covers 80+ languages.
- **SCORM Export**: Videos can be exported as SCORM packages for LMS platforms — an Enterprise-plan feature.
- **Screen Recording**: Combine AI avatar videos with screen recordings for software training and walkthroughs.
- **Interactivity & Video Agents**: Interactive videos and interactive avatars, with Video Agents listed as coming soon.
- **Brand Kit**: Custom brand colors, logo placement, and font integration across all videos.
- **1000+ AI Voices** and voice cloning to pair with a custom avatar.

## How It Works

1. **Script**: Type or paste your script (or use the AI Script Assistant to generate one from a topic).
2. **Avatar**: Select from the avatar library or use your personal avatar.
3. **Template**: Choose a layout and customize colors/branding.
4. **Generate**: Synthesia renders the video in a few minutes.
5. **Translate**: Click "Add Language" to generate additional language versions automatically.

**Technical Architecture:**
- **Rendering**: Cloud-based video compositing — no download required.
- **Language Processing**: 160+ languages and voices with accent adaptation.
- **Security**: SOC 2 Type II compliant, ISO 42001 compliant, GDPR compliant, enterprise SSO (SAML).
- **Usage Model**: Credits are a shared currency across all AI usage-based features, alongside a per-plan cap on generated video minutes.

## Use Cases

### Learning & Development (Primary Market)
- **Employee Onboarding**: Create consistent onboarding video series that update instantly when policies change.
- **Compliance Training**: Generate required safety, HR, and regulatory training videos in every employee's language.
- **Product Training**: Show sales teams new product features through avatar-presented walkthroughs.

### Internal Communications
- **CEO Addresses**: Give leadership messages a professional video format without scheduling a film crew.
- **Policy Updates**: Communicate procedural changes clearly through video instead of email.
- **Town Halls**: Pre-record structured town hall content for async consumption across time zones.

### Customer-Facing Content
- **Product Explainers**: Simple, avatar-narrated videos for onboarding customers to new features.
- **Support Content**: Video FAQ and knowledge base articles with consistent presenter.

## Getting Started

### Step 1: Create Your First Video
1. Sign up at [synthesia.io](https://www.synthesia.io) — the free Basic plan requires no credit card.
2. Click **"New Video"** → **"Create with AI"** or **"Start from scratch."**
3. Type your script in the left panel.
4. Select an avatar from the right panel.
5. Choose a template and customize the background.
6. Click **"Generate Video"** — rendering takes 1-5 minutes.

### Step 2: Add Multiple Languages
1. Open a completed video.
2. Click **"Add Language"** and select target languages.
3. Review the auto-generated translation (edit if needed).
4. Click **"Generate"** — Synthesia creates separate videos for each language.

### Step 3: Create Your Personal Avatar
1. Go to **Avatars** → **"Personal Avatar."**
2. Download the background setup instructions and prepare a proper recording environment.
3. Record the required consent form and 5-minute structured speech samples.
4. Upload and wait 24-48 hours for processing.
5. Your avatar appears in your avatar library.

### Step 4: Export for Your LMS (Enterprise plan)
1. Open a finalized video.
2. Click **"Export"** → **"SCORM 1.2"** or **"SCORM 2004."**
3. Download the SCORM package.
4. Upload directly to your LMS (Workday, Cornerstone, SAP, Docebo, etc.).

### Best Practices
- **Keep videos under 5 minutes**: Viewer retention drops significantly beyond 5 minutes for training content.
- **One topic per video**: Shorter, focused videos are more rewatchable and easier to update.
- **Use the Script Assistant**: Synthesia's built-in AI writes structured, engaging scripts from topic prompts.
- **Record Personal Avatar professionally**: Lighting quality in your recording directly determines avatar quality.

## Pricing & Plans

*Synthesia quotes these prices in USD on [synthesia.io/pricing](https://www.synthesia.io/pricing), checked 8 July 2026. Monthly figures shown; Synthesia advertises plans "starting from $18/month" on annual billing.*

- **Basic (Free)**: 1,200 credits/month, usable for up to 10 minutes of video/month and 25 AI-generated video assets. 9 AI avatars. No video downloads. No credit card required.
- **Starter ($29/month, billed monthly)**: Everything in Basic plus video downloads, AI Video Assistant, AI Dubbing, Synthesia logo removed. 1,200 credits/month (10 minutes/month). 125+ AI avatars, 3 personal avatars. 1 editor + 3 guests.
- **Creator ($89/month, billed monthly)**: Everything in Starter plus 5 personal avatars, branded video pages, **API access**, multiple avatars per scene, interactive videos. 3,600 credits/month (30 minutes/month). 180+ AI avatars. 1 editor + 5 guests.
- **Enterprise (custom pricing)**: Unlimited video minutes, 240+ stock avatars, unlimited personal avatars, SAML/SSO, SCORM export, 1-click translations into 80+ languages, dedicated CSM.

*Note: Synthesia meters usage two ways — a monthly cap on generated video minutes, and a shared pool of credits spent across AI features.*

## Limitations

- **Presenter-Only Videos**: Designed for talking-head style presenter videos — not for cinematic storytelling or complex scene generation.
- **Avatar Realism**: While improving, Synthesia's avatars can still look slightly artificial in high-scrutiny contexts like C-suite communications.
- **Cost at Scale**: The Starter and Creator plans cap output at 10 and 30 minutes of video per month respectively. Unlimited minutes require the Enterprise plan.
- **Feature Gating**: SCORM export and the full 240+ avatar library are Enterprise-only. API access starts at Creator. The Basic plan cannot download videos at all.
- **Script Dependency**: Standard avatars deliver pre-written scripts; interactive avatars are a separate beta feature.

## Community & Support

- **Help Center**: [help.synthesia.io](https://help.synthesia.io)
- **API Documentation**: [docs.synthesia.io](https://docs.synthesia.io)
- **Academy**: [academy.synthesia.io](https://academy.synthesia.io) — free course on effective AI video creation.
- **LinkedIn**: [@Synthesia](https://www.linkedin.com/company/synthesia-io) — updates and case studies.

## Related Tools
- [HeyGen](https://howaiworks.ai/ai-tools/heygen)
- [Descript](https://howaiworks.ai/ai-tools/descript)
- [ElevenLabs](https://howaiworks.ai/ai-tools/elevenlabs)
- [Runway](https://howaiworks.ai/ai-tools/runway)

## Related

### Related tools

- [HeyGen](https://howaiworks.ai/ai-tools/heygen)
- [Descript](https://howaiworks.ai/ai-tools/descript)
- [ElevenLabs](https://howaiworks.ai/ai-tools/elevenlabs)
- [Runway](https://howaiworks.ai/ai-tools/runway)
- [Notion AI](https://howaiworks.ai/ai-tools/notion-ai)

---

Source: https://howaiworks.ai/ai-tools/synthesia — HowAIWorks.ai