Synthesia Review for SMBs
video tool · $22-$89/mo + enterprise
Synthesia turns text into video using AI avatars that speak in 120+ languages. It's built for companies that need to produce training videos, onboarding content, or internal communications at scale without hiring a video production team. If your team has ever spent weeks scripting, filming, and editing a single training video, this solves that problem in hours.
What it does
You write a script, pick an AI avatar (male, female, or custom), select a language, and Synthesia generates a finished video. The avatars are photorealistic enough for professional use—they gesture naturally and maintain eye contact. The platform handles all the technical work: lip-syncing, background selection, and formatting for different screen sizes. You can add slides, images, or screen recordings to supplement the avatar. It exports as a shareable link or downloadable file.
Who it's for
Pricing breakdown
$22/month (10 videos/month, 1 avatar)
Synthesia charges per month based on video minutes and features. The starter plan ($22/mo) is too constrained for regular use; most teams land on Starter Plus ($60/mo) or higher. Enterprise plans unlock custom avatars and API access but require a sales conversation.
Where it gets expensive
Jumping from the Starter ($22) to Starter Plus ($60) is necessary for most SMBs—the difference is 60 minutes of video/month instead of 10. Custom avatars and dedicated support push costs toward $200+/month at scale.
Alternatives worth considering
Invideo is cheaper ($25/mo entry) and offers more flexible video creation—text prompts, templates, and stock media libraries. Use this if you make a broader mix of content (social, marketing, training) rather than just training.
Pictory converts long-form content (blog posts, articles) into short videos automatically and costs less upfront ($19/mo). Pick this if you already have written content and want to repurpose it into video quickly without custom scripts.
Murf focuses on voiceover and video narration with 120+ voices in 20+ languages at a lower price point ($15/mo). Choose this if your main need is narrated slides or screen recordings rather than full avatar-based videos.
Verdict
Synthesia is genuinely useful for L&D teams at mid-sized companies that produce training videos every quarter. It cuts video production time from weeks to hours and solves the international training problem elegantly. Skip it if you're small, make videos rarely, or need human talent on screen.
FAQ
Can I use my own actor or face in a Synthesia video?▼
Not in the standard product. Synthesia's premium plans let you create a custom avatar from your own video (essentially cloning your likeness), but this costs significantly more and requires a sales conversation. Most users stick with the pre-built avatars.
How natural do the avatars actually look and sound?▼
The video quality is professional—avatars make eye contact, gesture naturally, and lip-sync accurately. The voices sound synthetic but clear; they don't have the warmth of human speech, so training content works better than ads. Employees notice they're AI, but the content doesn't feel cheap.
What happens if I need to edit a video after it's created?▼
You can edit the script and regenerate the video, but you can't make surgical cuts like you would in traditional video editing. Minor changes (text, background, avatar selection) are quick; major restructuring means starting over. This is slower than it sounds if you're iterating based on feedback.
Do I own the videos I create, and can I use them forever?▼
Yes, you own the videos and can use them indefinitely—there's no licensing fee per view or expiration. If you cancel your subscription, you keep all videos you've created, but you can't make new ones or edit existing ones without resubscribing.