AI video avatars
Synthesia: review, pricing, data and alternatives
Synthesia creates videos presented by an avatar and turns text into narration. It serves people who want to dub videos into another language or customize them with brand elements. A free tier exists; the first paid plan costs $29 per month. Access and transparency score: 75/100, #2 of 8 in its category.
| Access | 25/30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Openness | 20/30 | |
| Trust | 30/40 |
What is Synthesia?
Synthesia creates videos presented by an avatar and turns text into narration. It serves people who want to dub videos into another language or customize them with brand elements.
According to its documentation, Synthesia lets you:
- create a video presented by an avatar
- turn text into narration
- dub a video into another language
- customize videos with brand elements
We file it under AI video avatars, the category of tools to create talking virtual presenters, and it also overlaps with aI video generators and subtitles and dubbing. The category lists 8 verified tools on this site.
The publisher is Synthesia Limited, based in United Kingdom.
Who is it for?
It is mostly useful to these profiles: marketers, recruiters and HR, and teachers. The need it covers is simple to state: create talking virtual presenters.
Synthesia is a good candidate if:
- you want to try before paying
- you plan to connect it to your tools or automations through its API
- you must keep your data in Europe or on your own machine
The best test is a concrete case from your daily work: if the tool does not beat your current method within a week, move on to an alternative.
How much does Synthesia cost?
Pricing model: freemium (limited free use, then paid). A free plan is offered, usually limited in volume or features.
The first paid plan costs $29 per month (Starter, billed monthly; the current annual amount could not be confirmed unambiguously), according to the pricing page, checked on October 24, 2026.
Per month, that is close to the category median ($26.5 per month, based on tools with a published price).
To estimate what the same work would cost done directly with an AI model, use our API price calculator. Prices change often: always check the official site before subscribing.
Data and privacy
According to its privacy policy, data is processed in the European Union.
Hosting in the European Union makes GDPR compliance easier, without exempting you from reading the terms of use.
Exporting your content: MP4. Being able to get your data back makes switching tools easier later.
Three habits apply to every AI tool:
- turn off the use of your content for training if the option exists
- use a work account separate from your personal account
- review everything the tool produces before publishing or sending it
Platforms, languages and API
Synthesia runs on: web browser and API.
Interface languages are not specified.
A public API lets you call it from your own programs or an automation tool, and plug it into an AI agent.
How we scored it
Our 75/100 score does not judge output quality: it measures what can be publicly verified about access to the tool, its openness and how far the publisher can be trusted.
| Criterion | Points | What counts |
|---|---|---|
| Access | 25/30 | free tier, published price, French interface |
| Openness | 20/30 | API, data export, open code |
| Trust | 30/40 | identified publisher, declared hosting, age, presence in reference lists |
The full calculation is explained on our method page.
Comparison with alternatives
Synthesia against other tools in the aI video avatars category:
| Tool | Free | Entry price | API | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synthesia | Yes | $29 per month | Yes | 75 |
| AI Studios | Yes | $24 per month | Yes | 78 |
| Colossyan | Yes | $59 per month | Yes | 68 |
| D-ID | No | not published | Yes | 60 |
| HeyGen | Yes | $5 pay as you go | Yes | 60 |
| Hedra | Yes | $20 per month | Yes | 50 |
| D-ID Studio | No | not published | Yes | 43 |
| UneeQ Digital Humans | No | not published | Yes | 23 |
Verdict
Synthesia is among the most accessible and transparent tools in its category.
Strengths
- Free tier to try it
- Public API
- Data hosted in the EU
Alternatives
- AI Studiosfree tier
- Colossyanfree tier
- D-ID
- HeyGenfree tier
- Hedrafree tier
- D-ID Studio
Categories and jobs
Learn more
Frequently asked questions
Is Synthesia free?
Yes, a free plan exists, with usage limits. The first paid plan costs $29 per month.
Where is Synthesia data stored?
According to the publisher, in the European Union.
Does Synthesia have an API?
Yes, a public API is documented.
What are the alternatives to Synthesia?
In the same category: AI Studios, Colossyan, D-ID, and HeyGen.
Synthesia or AI Studios: which one to choose?
Synthesia starts at $29 per month, AI Studios at $24 per month and our score is 75/100 for Synthesia and 78/100 for AI Studios. Try both on the same task before paying.
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Neutrality. No affiliate links. No vendor pays to be reviewed, rated or ranked. Reviews are directed by François Chollet, neutral and factual, and every data point is dated and sourced. How we score