Synthesia
Enterprise AI video with 140+ avatars, interactive elements, and SCORM export for L&D teams.
Synthesia is the market leader in AI avatar video for enterprise use cases. While HeyGen targets a broad creator and marketing audience, Synthesia is focused on learning & development, corporate communications, and internal training, and it shows in the product design and customer base.
Used by over 50,000 companies including Google, Reuters, and the BBC.
What Synthesia Does
AI Presenter Videos: Write a script → an AI avatar presents it on screen. 140+ pre-built avatars across genders, ethnicities, ages, and professional styles. 120+ languages supported.
Custom AI Avatars: Film yourself for 5 minutes → create a personal AI avatar that presents in your likeness. Used by executives, trainers, and content leads for consistent brand presence without repeated filming.
Video Editing: Slide-style scene builder. Add backgrounds (50+ included or custom), images, video clips, shapes, and screen recordings to any scene. Professional presentation-quality output.
Interactive Video: Add quizzes, branching paths, and knowledge checks to videos. Purpose-built for eLearning use cases where engagement tracking and assessments matter.
Multi-language Publishing: Generate one script in English, publish in 120+ languages. Avatar lip movements are resynced to match each language.
Integrations: LMS integrations (SCORM output), Salesforce, HubSpot, Teams, and REST API.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Videos/Month | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | 3 videos (watermarked) | Demo only |
| Starter | $22/month | 10 minutes | 90 avatars, 10 templates |
| Creator | $67/month | 30 minutes | 140+ avatars, custom avatar |
| Enterprise | Custom | Unlimited | SSO, SCORM, compliance |
The Starter plan at $22/month is accessible for individuals and small teams testing the tool. Enterprise pricing (typically $5,000–$20,000/year) is for organizations needing unlimited video, compliance features, and full LMS integration.
Synthesia vs. HeyGen
Both are AI avatar video platforms. The primary differentiation:
| Factor | Synthesia | HeyGen |
|---|---|---|
| Primary market | Enterprise, L&D | Marketing, creators |
| Interactive video | ✅ | ❌ |
| SCORM export | ✅ | ❌ |
| Translation/dubbing | ✅ | ✅ (better) |
| Avatar quality | Excellent | Excellent |
| Starting price | $22/month | $29/month |
| Real-time/interactive avatars | ❌ | ✅ |
| Free trial | 3 watermarked videos | 1 min |
Synthesia’s advantage: deeper eLearning features (interactive, SCORM, assessments). HeyGen’s advantage: video translation quality and interactive/real-time avatars.
For corporate training departments: Synthesia. For marketing video and avatar-based customer engagement: HeyGen.
The L&D Use Case
Synthesia is the dominant AI video tool for learning & development teams. The workflow:
- SME (subject matter expert) writes the script
- Synthesia generates the video with AI presenter
- Add interactive elements (quiz, knowledge check)
- Export SCORM package
- Upload to LMS
What this replaces: Video production days, green screens, scheduling presenters, expensive post-production. Training video that previously cost $3,000–$10,000/minute to produce professionally can be generated for a fraction of that.
For onboarding, compliance training, product updates, and process documentation, the economics are compelling.
Output Quality
Synthesia’s avatar quality is genuinely impressive for professional use. Presentations don’t require suspension of disbelief for corporate training contexts, the avatars are clean, professional, and clearly appropriate for business video.
The remaining limits: natural hand gestures are still limited, and extended close-up interaction with avatars can feel slightly artificial. For 3–8 minute training module content (the primary use case), quality is more than sufficient.
Verdict
The right tool for enterprise L&D teams. Interactive video, SCORM export, and 120+ language support make it uniquely suited for training and corporate communications. Higher-priced than HeyGen for equivalent generation limits, but the eLearning feature set justifies it for the target buyer. If you’re a marketer or creator, HeyGen is a better fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Synthesia good for eLearning? Yes, Synthesia is one of the strongest platforms for corporate eLearning specifically. Interactive video with quizzes, branching paths, and SCORM/xAPI export for LMS upload makes it purpose-built for L&D teams.
How many languages does Synthesia support? Synthesia supports 120+ languages with AI voice synthesis and avatar lip-sync. This multilingual capability is a primary use case for companies localizing training content across global offices.
How does Synthesia compare to HeyGen? Synthesia has stronger enterprise eLearning features (interactive video, SCORM export, LMS integrations) and a larger avatar library. HeyGen leads on video translation quality and interactive avatar capabilities. Synthesia is the better choice for corporate L&D; HeyGen is better for marketing and creator use cases.
Can I create a custom avatar in Synthesia? Yes, Synthesia supports custom avatar creation from a short video recording of yourself. Custom avatars are available on higher-tier plans and require a consent and consent verification process.