AI Video

10 Best Synthesia Alternatives for AI Video in 2026

Find the best Synthesia alternatives for AI avatar video creation.

📅 Updated: 2026-02-01🔢 10 alternatives compared

Why Look for Synthesia Alternatives?

Synthesia is a leading AI video platform for creating professional videos with virtual avatars, but users often explore alternatives for these reasons:

  • High pricing — Starter plans begin at $22/month, and enterprise features are costly
  • Avatar limitations — Need for more diverse or custom avatar options
  • Video style — Prefer more dynamic animations beyond talking-head formats
  • Language needs — Require better support for specific languages or accents
  • Customization — Need more control over scenes, transitions, and branding
  • Output quality — Looking for more natural-looking AI presenters
  • Top 10 Synthesia Alternatives

    1. HeyGen

    Best for: Realistic AI avatars, video translation, and multilingual content

    Pricing: Free tier (3 videos/month); Creator $29/month; Business $89/month

    Why choose HeyGen: HeyGen offers highly realistic avatars with strong localization features:

  • • Ultra-realistic avatar generation
  • • Video Translate for instant dubbing in 40+ languages
  • • Custom avatar creation from a short video
  • • Streaming Avatar for real-time interaction
  • • Template library for quick video creation
  • Unique features:

  • • Video translation with lip-sync
  • • Streaming Avatar for live interactions
  • • Instant custom avatar creation
  • • Photo Avatar from a single image
  • 2. D-ID

    Best for: Photo animation, conversational AI videos, and API integration

    Pricing: Free trial; Lite $6/month; Pro $50/month; API available

    Why choose D-ID: D-ID excels at animating photos and creating conversational AI experiences:

  • • Animate any photo into a talking head
  • • Real-time streaming API
  • • Natural Presenter technology
  • • Chat D-ID for interactive agents
  • • Simple API for developer integration
  • Unique features:

  • • Photo-to-video animation
  • • Real-time conversational agents
  • • Developer-friendly API
  • • Chat D-ID interactive experiences
  • 3. Runway Gen-3

    Best for: Creative AI video generation and professional post-production

    Pricing: Free tier (125 credits); Standard $12/month; Pro $28/month

    Why choose Runway: Runway pushes the boundaries of AI-generated video:

  • • Text-to-video generation
  • • Image-to-video with motion control
  • • Motion Brush for precise animation
  • • Professional editing tools
  • • Green screen and inpainting
  • Unique features:

  • • Gen-3 Alpha for cinematic video
  • • Motion Brush for directorial control
  • • Full video editing suite
  • • Creative community and tutorials
  • 4. Colossyan

    Best for: Corporate learning, training videos, and multilingual L&D content

    Pricing: Starter $28/month; Pro $96/month; Enterprise custom

    Why choose Colossyan: Purpose-built for workplace learning and training content:

  • • AI avatars designed for corporate training
  • • Auto-translate into 70+ languages
  • • Scenario branching for interactive training
  • • LMS integration (SCORM export)
  • • Brand customization and templates
  • Unique features:

  • • Interactive scenario builder
  • • SCORM/LMS export
  • • Corporate training focus
  • • Branching video scenarios
  • 5. Elai.io

    Best for: Turning articles and blog posts into videos automatically

    Pricing: Free tier (1 video/month); Basic $29/month; Advanced $99/month

    Why choose Elai: Elai specializes in converting existing content into video format:

  • • URL-to-video: paste an article, get a video
  • • 80+ diverse AI avatars
  • • 75+ language support
  • • Custom avatar creation
  • • PowerPoint-to-video conversion
  • Unique features:

  • • Article/URL to video conversion
  • • PowerPoint import
  • • Auto-generated scenes from text
  • • Bulk video creation API
  • 6. InVideo AI

    Best for: Social media video creation with AI-generated scripts and editing

    Pricing: Free tier; Plus $25/month; Max $60/month

    Why choose InVideo AI: Create complete videos from a single text prompt:

  • • Text-to-video with stock footage
  • • AI script generation
  • • Automated voiceover
  • • 5000+ editable templates
  • • Collaboration features
  • Unique features:

  • • Full video from a text prompt
  • • Stock footage auto-selection
  • • Template-based creation
  • • AI script writing
  • 7. Lumen5

    Best for: Marketing teams turning blog content into social video

    Pricing: Free tier; Basic $29/month; Professional $79/month

    Why choose Lumen5: Optimized for turning written content into engaging social videos:

  • • Blog-to-video conversion
  • • AI-powered scene selection
  • • Brand kit for consistent styling
  • • Social media format presets
  • • Stock media library
  • Unique features:

  • • Content repurposing focus
  • • Blog post auto-import
  • • Brand kit integration
  • • Social format optimization
  • 8. Pictory

    Best for: Long-form video editing and auto-highlighting key moments

    Pricing: Starter $23/month; Professional $47/month; Teams $119/month

    Why choose Pictory: Pictory excels at editing and repurposing long-form video content:

  • • Script-to-video creation
  • • Auto-highlight extraction from long videos
  • • Auto-captioning and subtitles
  • • Blog post to video conversion
  • • Brand customization
  • Unique features:

  • • Long video auto-summarization
  • • Highlight reel extraction
  • • Auto-captioning
  • • Webinar/podcast repurposing
  • 9. Fliki

    Best for: Text-to-video with natural AI voices and multilingual support

    Pricing: Free tier; Standard $28/month; Premium $88/month

    Why choose Fliki: Combines high-quality AI voices with video creation:

  • • 2000+ realistic AI voices
  • • 75+ languages supported
  • • Text-to-video with stock media
  • • AI avatar videos
  • • Blog-to-video conversion
  • Unique features:

  • • Extensive voice library
  • • Voice cloning capability
  • • Wide language support
  • • Combined voice and video AI
  • 10. Deepbrain AI (AI Studios)

    Best for: Enterprise AI avatars with real-time interactive video capabilities

    Pricing: Starter $30/month; Pro $225/month; Enterprise custom

    Why choose Deepbrain AI: Advanced AI avatar technology for enterprise applications:

  • • Hyper-realistic AI avatars
  • • Real-time conversational AI video
  • • Kiosk mode for in-store experiences
  • • Custom avatar with minimal footage
  • • ChatGPT integration for smart avatars
  • Unique features:

  • • Real-time AI kiosk avatars
  • • Conversational AI integration
  • • Enterprise-grade deployment
  • • Minimal footage for custom avatars
  • Comparison Table

    ToolBest ForPricingKey StrengthFree Tier |------|----------|---------|--------------|-----------| HeyGenRealistic avatars$29/monthVideo translation✓ D-IDPhoto animation$6/monthPhoto-to-video✓ Runway Gen-3Creative video$12/monthAI video generation✓ ColossyanCorporate training$28/monthL&D features✗ Elai.ioContent-to-video$29/monthURL-to-video✓ InVideo AISocial media$25/monthTemplate library✓ Lumen5Blog-to-video$29/monthContent repurposing✓ PictoryVideo editing$23/monthAuto-highlights✗ FlikiMultilingual voice$28/monthVoice library✓ Deepbrain AIEnterprise avatars$30/monthReal-time kiosks✗

    FAQ

    Which Synthesia alternative has the most realistic avatars?

    HeyGen and Deepbrain AI currently offer the most realistic avatar technology. HeyGen's Instant Avatar feature can create a custom avatar from just a few minutes of footage, producing remarkably natural results with accurate lip-sync.

    Can I create a custom avatar of myself?

    Yes — HeyGen, D-ID, Synthesia, Elai, and Deepbrain AI all offer custom avatar creation. HeyGen requires the shortest recording (as little as 2 minutes), while others may need 10-30 minutes of footage for best results.

    What's the cheapest alternative for AI video creation?

    D-ID starts at just $6/month, making it the most affordable option. InVideo AI and Lumen5 offer functional free tiers. For simple text-to-video without avatars, Fliki and InVideo AI provide good value.

    Which alternative is best for training and education?

    Colossyan is purpose-built for corporate training with features like scenario branching, SCORM export, and LMS integration. Synthesia itself and Elai also have strong L&D features including quiz integration and interactive elements.

    Can these tools generate videos in multiple languages?

    Most tools support multilingual content. HeyGen leads with 40+ language dubbing with lip-sync. Fliki supports 75+ languages for voiceover. Colossyan and Elai also offer broad language support for avatar videos.