Synthesia: The Global Standard in AI Digital Actor Videos
Synthesia is the world’s leading platform for creating videos with photorealistic digital presenters (AI Avatars). Its technology specialises in converting a simple text script into a polished video with a virtual actor speaking, synchronising lips (lip-sync), and gesturing naturally.
This tool belongs to the pure Text-to-Video (T2V) Generation via Avatars category. Its real value lies in the quality of the digital actors (Synthesia Avatars) and the vast library of assets and voices.
The relevance for SMEs is that they can generate formal internal communication, e-learning videos, and multilingual messages without cameras or recording studios. IMPORTANT: A trial exists, allowing you to evaluate avatar quality, but production speed is drastically reduced.
AgentAya Verdict
Synthesia offers the best photorealistic avatar experience on the market, but operates as an on-demand production service. It’s ideal for replacing the on-screen “spokesperson” in training and onboarding videos.
ACCESS AND TRIAL SPEED: A limited free trial exists that allows creating a small number of videos (approximately 5 to 10). However, processing speed is very slow (generation time can exceed 20 minutes per video). This frustrates the workflow, but is sufficient for testing the avatar’s final quality.
Synthesia works best for: SMEs focused on formal training (e-learning), mass communication, or those needing to localise content in dozens of languages without hiring actors or voice-over artists. Its interface is optimised for script-based video creation.
Limitations: The video creation process is slow in the trial and may require wait time. The platform is oriented toward presenter narratives and not complex animation (like Vyond) or dynamic storytelling.
Recommendation: Take advantage of the free trial to evaluate the photorealistic quality of the avatars. If production volume is high and quality is crucial, investing in a paid plan (which offers faster speeds) is the logical next step.
Score Breakdown
| Category | Score | Description |
| Features and Functionality | 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Leads in AI avatars; offers custom avatars and great variety of training templates |
| Integrations | 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Offers solid integrations (API) and optimised workflow for LMS systems (e-learning) |
| Language and Support | 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | The best TTS and lip-sync across 120+ languages, essential for global localisation |
| Ease of Use | 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Intuitive script-centred interface, but slow processing speed in the trial creates friction |
| Value for Money | 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | The free trial improves access; subscription price is justified by photorealistic quality and scalability |
AgentAya Overall Score: 4.6/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ideal For
- HR and Training Departments: Creating onboarding and legal compliance videos with a formal face
- Consulting Firms: Generating content with professional-looking presenters
- Multilingual Projects: Translation and lip-sync to other languages are instant and high-quality
- Users who value Photorealistic Quality over trial speed
Not Ideal For
- Users seeking speed in the free trial: Wait times are very long (up to 20 min/video)
- Creating animations or dynamic clips with complex graphics: Vyond is better for this type of storytelling
- Generating interactive or streaming avatars: AKOOL is the specialised option in this niche
Key Features
Synthesia is the leader in virtual spokesperson creation.
- Photorealistic Digital Avatars: Over 100 stock avatars, with the option to create a custom avatar of an employee.
- Text-to-Video (T2V): Converting a text script to a final video is completely automated.
- Simple Translation and Dubbing: The same video can be generated in over 120 languages with high-quality lip-sync.
- Video Template Library: Over 60 templates optimised for training, onboarding, and tutorial videos.
This allows scaling communication with a human face without investing in equipment, studios, or actors, a key benefit for brand coherence in educational videos.
AI Features
The AI technology in Synthesia is deep and focused on human and voice synthesis.
- Digital Human AI: The AI that brings the avatar to life, ensuring facial expressions, gestures, and especially lip movement (lip-sync) match perfectly with the generated voice. This is their core business and their truly “intelligent” factor.
- Hyperrealistic Text-to-Speech (TTS): The TTS isn’t robotic; it uses AI models to generate tones, pauses, and intonations that sound like a real human, vital for credibility.
- Voice Cloning (Optional): On enterprise plans, the AI can clone an SME spokesperson’s voice so the avatar speaks with a real person’s voice.
- Script Assistant: The AI can help refine and optimise scripts to ensure the best delivery by the avatar.
Integrations
Synthesia integrates where e-learning audiences and internal communication reside.
- LMS Integrations: Excellent support for export in SCORM and xAPI compatible formats, crucial for Learning Management Systems used by HR.
- Other Integrations: Connection with platforms like Zapier to automate workflow (e.g., automatically generate a video when a database is updated).
- Automation API: Offers a robust API, ideal for SMEs developing their own training software or internal platforms.
Data Security and Compliance
When handling avatars of real people and sensitive content, security is vitally important.
- Security and Trust: Synthesia is a secure platform with GDPR compliance, crucial for SMEs handling employee or client data in Europe and globally.
- Content Ownership: Users retain commercial usage rights and ownership of generated videos.
- Security Controls: Offers SSO (Single Sign-On) and role and permission management for secure team collaboration.
Language – Customer Support
- Support Languages: Support is offered primarily in English.
- Support Availability: The help centre and documentation are well translated into multiple languages.
- Support Channels: Live chat and email (availability varies by plan).
AI Language
- Interface Languages: The interface is in English.
- TTS Support: Its greatest strength. Text-to-Speech is the highest quality on the market, with options for multiple regional accents.
Mobile Access
- Mobile Usability: The platform is web-based and used primarily on desktop, as creating and reviewing long scripts is more efficient on a PC/laptop. Viewing generated videos is, of course, perfect on any device.
Support, Onboarding, and Account Management
- Training Materials: Offers Synthesia Academy, a robust training academy to guide users from script to final production.
- Suitability for SMEs with Limited Technical Experience: Very high. The learning curve is minimal: if you can write a script, you can make a video.
Ease of Use / UX
- Interface Quality: The UX is minimalist, clean, and script-focused.
- Learning Curve: Extremely low. An SME can create their first professional video in under 30 minutes.
- Time to Value: Value is instant. You get a studio-quality corporate video without the traditional cost.
Pricing and Plans
Synthesia operates with a low-intensity freemium model, with a limited trial before subscription.
- Free Tier (Limited Trial): Yes, a free trial exists that allows generating videos with digital avatars. However, the number of videos is limited (approx. 5 to 10) and processing time is extremely slow (up to 20 minutes per video), which slows down SME evaluation.
- Subscription Plans: Paid plans unlock high-speed processing and commercial use. Cost is directly related to the monthly video time the SME needs to generate.
- Value for SMEs: The value lies in avatar quality and the ability to scale video across multiple languages without re-recording.
Case Study
Monica, Operations Director at a financial consultancy with clients in the US and Latin America, needed a weekly CEO message. Studio recording was expensive and the CEO didn’t have time.
The Synthesia Solution:
Monica purchased a plan and selected an avatar that projected confidence. She wrote the weekly script and, with one click, generated the video. Then she translated the script and generated the same video with the same avatar speaking a different language.
Result:
The consultancy achieved consistent, personal communication across both markets, with the same digital “spokesperson.” They reduced recording and translation costs by 80%, ensuring the CEO’s message was delivered punctually every week.
Tool vs Alternatives
| Tool | Advantages vs Synthesia | Disadvantages vs Synthesia |
| Vyond | Specialises in animation and animated character-based narratives (useful for abstracts); More flexible storytelling workflow | Doesn’t generate photorealistic human actors; Its animation style may be perceived as less formal for certain corporate messages |
| Simplified Video | All-in-One model (design + copywriting + social scheduling); Freemium plan available; Better for reels and dynamic editing | Doesn’t generate digital human avatars; Functional video quality and editing, not studio-grade |
| Rask AI | Leader in video localisation (voice dubbing and lip-sync on existing videos); Better for global post-production of already-recorded material | Doesn’t generate video from scratch; Not an avatar creation platform |
| AKOOL Video | Specialises in creating and manipulating photorealistic digital avatars; May offer more specialised face-swapping and translation features | Avatar quality and corporate library don’t reach Synthesia’s standard in terms of photorealism and coherence for large volumes |
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FAQs
Is there a free plan to test Synthesia?
Yes, a limited free trial exists that allows creating a small number of videos with avatars. However, keep in mind that video processing time is very slow (up to 20 minutes or more) in this trial version.
What differentiates Synthesia from Vyond?
Synthesia is a photorealistic avatar specialist with a script workflow. Vyond is a hybrid tool offering animation, AI avatars, and the ability to edit screen recordings with more timeline flexibility.
How long does Synthesia take to create a video?
On the free trial plan, videos can take up to 20 minutes or more to generate. With a paid subscription, processing time is drastically reduced, becoming much faster and more efficient.