Synthesia

What is Synthesia?

Synthesia is a video creation platform featuring human avatars generated by artificial intelligence. Instead of recording a video with a physical camera, microphone, and production crew, you simply write a script, choose a virtual presenter, and the system generates a professional video in minutes.

Founded in 2017 in London, Synthesia is primarily used by companies to create corporate training videos, employee onboarding materials, internal communications, e-learning courses, and product presentations — all without needing cameras, studios, or production teams.

How it works

The process is completely text-based:

1. Write the script (or import it from an existing PowerPoint/document)
2. Choose an avatar: Over 230 realistic human avatars available
3. Select the language: Support for 140+ languages and voices
4. Customize: Add slides, media, music, and your brand's visual identity
5. Generate the video: In minutes, the virtual presenter speaks your script

It is also possible to create a custom avatar featuring your own appearance or that of a corporate spokesperson.

Key Features

• 230+ Human Avatars: A diverse range of genders, ethnicities, styles, and age groups
• 140+ Languages and Voices: Easy video localization without re-recording
• Custom Avatars: Create an avatar with your own image or a specific team member's
• Integrated Video Editor: Add slides, media, animations, and transitions within the platform
• Ready-Made Templates: Formats tailored for training, onboarding, product demos, and communication
• PowerPoint Integration: Convert presentations into narrated videos automatically
• Screen Recording with Avatar: Record your screen with a virtual presenter overlay
• API: Automated scale-based video generation for external applications

Who is it for?

• L&D (Learning & Development) teams producing corporate training
• HR teams needing scalable onboarding videos for new employees
• Internal Communication wanting to send video messages without production overhead
• EdTechs and online courses needing videos in multiple languages
• Product and Customer Success teams to create tutorials and walkthroughs

Real Use Cases

1. Employee onboarding: Company welcome and culture videos, localized per country
2. Compliance training: Mandatory training (GDPR, security, conduct) in an engaging format
3. Product demos: Explainer videos for the website without manual recording
4. Executive announcements: CEOs and directors digitally record messages in multiple languages
5. Customer support: FAQ videos and tutorials generated automatically from scripts

Synthesia vs. Traditional Video Production

Pricing

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Drastic reduction in video production time and costs
• Fast localization in 140+ languages without re-recording
• Realistic avatars that avoid heavy "uncanny valley" effects
• Simple interface with no technical skills required
• Quick content updating (simply edit the script)

Cons:

• Avatars can still be perceived as artificial in close-ups
• High cost for a custom avatar (requires enterprise contract)
• Limited emotional expressiveness — does not transmit complex emotions
• Not a replacement for high-impact brand videos that require authentic presence
• Minute limit on lower plans can be restrictive

Alternatives to Synthesia

HeyGen, D-ID, Colossyan, and Elai.io are competitors in the AI avatar video space. For narration without an avatar, Murf and ElevenLabs offer high-quality synthetic voices.