Synthesia Cheat Sheet
Last updated: April 2026
Quick Facts
Pricing
Paid, subscription-based with annual discounts. Starter plan at $22.50/month, Creator at $67.50/month, and custom Enterprise tiers.
Free Plan
No. A 3-day free trial is available for the Creator plan, but no permanently free tier exists.
Rating
4.5/5
Best For
Corporate teams and educators who need to create professional, multilingual training and explainer videos quickly without filming.
Key Features
- ✓AI Avatars
A library of 160+ diverse, photorealistic avatars. I tested many; the newer ones have remarkably natural micro-expressions, though some older ones can feel stiff.
- ✓AI Voices
Over 400 voices in 130+ languages. The quality is excellent for corporate narration. I use the 'British Male - Oliver' voice for most of my internal training videos.
- ✓Text-to-Video Editor
The core interface. You type or paste a script, and the AI generates the video. It's incredibly intuitive and feels like writing a slide deck that talks.
- ✓Custom Avatars
You can create a digital clone of yourself or a spokesperson. I found the process expensive and the result good, but it requires professional studio recording.
- ✓Video Templates
Pre-built scenes for common use cases like training intros, product demos, and listicles. A huge time-saver for maintaining a consistent brand look.
- ✓Media Library
Integrated stock videos, images, icons, and music. The selection is decent for B-roll, but I often upload my own assets for more specific branding.
- ✓Screen Recorder
Built-in tool to capture your screen and webcam, which can be combined with an AI avatar in the editor. Perfect for software tutorials.
- ✓Collaboration Tools
Multiple users can edit, comment, and approve videos. In my experience, this is essential for team-based content creation and review cycles.
- ✓Auto Translations
One-click translation of your video script and voiceover into other languages. The accuracy is impressive for straightforward corporate language.
- ✓Brand Kit
Save your logos, colors, and fonts to apply them globally. This ensures every video your team makes stays on-brand without manual effort.
- ✓PPT to Video
Upload a PowerPoint deck, and Synthesia converts each slide into a video scene. It's a fantastic way to breathe life into stale presentations.
- ✓API Access
Available on Enterprise plans. I've used it to automate video generation from data, like personalized onboarding messages. Powerful for scaling content.
Tips & Tricks
Write conversationally. The AI voices sound most natural with short sentences and contractions, not formal, complex prose.
Use the 'Pauses' feature in the script editor to add natural breaks, preventing the avatar from sounding like a runaway train.
Layer B-roll stock footage over the avatar to create visual interest and hide any minor stiffness in the avatar's movements.
For global teams, use the auto-translate feature first, then have a native speaker fine-tune the script for cultural nuance.
Start with a template! It's faster and teaches you the platform's design logic better than building from a blank scene.
Limitations
- -The avatars, while good, lack the full emotional range of a human. Don't expect them to deliver a heartfelt, passionate motivational speech.
- -You have limited control over avatar gestures. You can't direct a specific hand movement; you can only choose from pre-set 'moods' like 'Friendly' or 'Neutral'.
- -The video output, while HD, isn't cinematic. It's perfect for internal comms but may not stand out in a crowded social media feed without heavy editing.