If you've ever watched a D-ID video and thought "this is cool, but the lip sync looks a little... off" - you're not alone.
D-ID pioneered the idea of turning a single photo into a talking avatar video. Founded in 2017 in Tel Aviv, the company has raised $48 million in funding, and over 200 million videos have been created on the platform. For quick avatar clips and API-driven video generation, it proved the concept works.
But the AI video space has exploded since D-ID's early days. The global AI video generator market hit $717 million in 2025 and is projected to reach $2.56 billion by 2032, growing at a 20% CAGR according to Fortune Business Insights. With that growth came a wave of tools that now offer more realistic avatars, better editing, deeper enterprise features, and more flexible pricing than what D-ID delivers today.
Common frustrations users report with D-ID include stiff facial expressions, limited avatar customization, a credit-based pricing model that burns through minutes quickly, and customer support that can be hard to reach. On Trustpilot, users flag billing issues and auto-renewal policies as persistent pain points.
We tested 9 alternatives to D-ID, comparing features, avatar quality, AI capabilities, pricing, and real user sentiment from G2, Capterra, Reddit, and Product Hunt. Here's what we found.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best For | Starting Price | Key Differentiator |
|---|---|---|---|
| ngram | Professional video from any asset | Free / $17.40/mo | Context-aware AI generation from existing assets |
| HeyGen | Realistic AI avatars at scale | Free / $24/mo | 100+ avatars with superior lip sync |
| Synthesia | Enterprise training & L&D | Free / $18/mo | Most natural-looking avatars with micro-gestures |
| Colossyan | L&D and training content | Free trial / $27/mo | SCORM export and branching scenarios |
| Elai.io | Text-to-video automation | Free trial / $23/mo | PDF and blog-to-video conversion |
| Pictory | Long-form to short-form clips | Free trial / $19/mo | Auto-converts text and video into clips |
| VEED | Browser-based video editing | Free / $12/mo | 10M+ monthly users, Sequoia-backed |
| InVideo AI | Prompt-to-video generation | Free / $25/mo | 16M+ stock assets with AI selection |
| Fliki | Text-to-speech video creation | Free / $28/mo | 2,000+ ultra-realistic AI voices |
1. ngram
Here's the honest truth about most D-ID alternatives: they solve the same narrow problem (talking avatar on screen) with slightly better execution. This AI video creator ngram takes a fundamentally different approach.
Instead of starting with an avatar and a script, ngram starts with what you already have - screen recordings, documents, images, URLs, or text - and turns it into a complete, professional video. You tell ngram who the video is for, what it needs to accomplish, and where it's going. It handles the script, storyboard, visuals, pacing, captions, and brand styling.
This matters because most teams don't just need a talking head. They need product demos, feature announcements, customer onboarding videos, sales clips, and social content that looks intentional and on-brand.
What makes ngram stand out
Context-aware generation is the core differentiator. Tell ngram your audience (developers vs. executives), your goal (educate vs. convert), and your channel (LinkedIn vs. website). The output adapts automatically. A LinkedIn announcement gets a fast hook and tight pacing, while a website explainer takes more time to build context.
Plan first, generate second means you review the script and storyboard before anything renders. This is where most AI video tools fail - they make you commit to a final product before you've confirmed the direction. With ngram, you fix problems at the cheapest possible moment.
AI-powered editing turns rough recordings into polished walkthroughs. Automatic filler word removal, smart zoom on interactions, cursor emphasis, and callouts driven by your prompts. No timeline editing required unless you want it.
Key features
- Context-aware generation - Adapts structure, pacing, and tone to your audience and channel
- Plan first, generate second - Script and storyboard review before rendering
- Any asset in - Text, images, docs, URLs, screen recordings as input
- AI editing suite - Auto-cut, filler removal, smart zoom, cursor emphasis
- Multi-format export - 16:9, 9:16, 1:1 with captions included
- Brand kits - Logo, colors, fonts applied to every video automatically
Who is ngram best for?
Product Marketing, Growth, Sales Enablement, Customer Success, and Agencies who need professional videos without production timelines. If your videos go to customers, prospects, or public audiences - and you need more than a talking avatar - ngram is the pick.
ngram has a very generous free plan with paid plans starting at $17.40 per month.
Ready to try ngram? Create your first video in under 5 minutes. Start free
2. HeyGen
HeyGen is the closest direct competitor to D-ID and the one most users land on first when shopping for alternatives. With over 15 million users, 100,000+ paying customers, and $69 million in funding led by Benchmark, HeyGen has become the default choice for AI avatar videos at scale.
The platform hit an estimated $95 million in ARR by September 2025, making it one of the fastest-growing AI video companies in the market.
Key features
- 100+ AI avatars - Wide range of stock avatars with realistic lip sync
- Voice cloning - Clone your voice for natural-sounding narration
- 40+ language support - Create videos in multiple languages with lip-sync translation
- Custom avatars - Create a digital twin from a short recording
- Template library - Pre-built templates for common video types
What users say
Users consistently praise HeyGen's avatar quality and lip-sync accuracy as a major step up from D-ID. The platform's ease of use gets strong marks, particularly for teams creating marketing and training content. However, a meaningful share of users - especially solo creators and those on tighter budgets - call the pricing "expensive" for sporadic use. Some users also note that while the avatars look good, they still feel slightly artificial in extended videos, and the editing capabilities are more limited than dedicated video editors.
Best for
Marketing teams and enterprises that need high-quality AI avatar videos at scale, especially for multilingual content. If your primary use case is talking-head videos with realistic avatars, HeyGen is the strongest D-ID alternative.
Pricing starts at $24/month on the Creator plan, with a limited free tier available.
3. Synthesia
Synthesia is the enterprise heavyweight of AI video. Valued at $4 billion after raising $200 million in its Series E (October 2025), Synthesia has crossed $150 million in ARR and serves over 90% of the Fortune 100. If D-ID is the scrappy startup, Synthesia is the enterprise-grade platform.
With over 1 million users and 230+ AI avatars in 140+ languages, Synthesia has the broadest avatar library and deepest enterprise feature set in the market.
Key features
- 230+ AI avatars - Most natural-looking avatars with micro-gestures and head movements
- 140+ language support - One-click translation with multilingual video player
- Interactive video - Quizzes, branching scenarios, and clickable CTAs
- LMS integration - Direct integration with learning management systems
- Enterprise security - SOC 2 compliance, SSO, and advanced admin controls
What users say
Enterprise buyers praise Synthesia's avatar realism - the micro-gestures and subtle body movements make avatars feel significantly more lifelike than D-ID's output. The one-click translation feature is consistently highlighted as a game-changer for global teams. On the flip side, users note that Synthesia's pricing can be steep for smaller teams, and the platform is heavily optimized for training and L&D use cases, which means creative or marketing teams may find it less flexible. Some reviewers also mention that custom avatar creation requires more setup time than competitors.
Best for
Enterprise L&D teams, HR departments, and large organizations creating training content at scale across multiple languages. If compliance, security, and LMS integration matter as much as video quality, Synthesia is the pick.
Free plan available with 3 minutes/month. Paid plans start at $18/month (annual billing).
Looking for the fastest way to create professional videos? ngram turns your screen recordings, docs, and images into polished videos in minutes. Try ngram free
4. Colossyan
Colossyan has carved out a strong niche in learning and development. While most D-ID alternatives focus on marketing use cases, Colossyan built its platform around structured instructional content with features that L&D teams specifically need.
The platform supports 70+ languages and offers multiple types of custom avatars, from stock presenters to personalized digital twins created from a 20-second phone recording.
Key features
- Custom avatars - Create a digital twin from a short phone recording
- SCORM export - Directly compatible with learning management systems
- Branching scenarios - Build interactive learning paths with multiple-choice questions
- 70+ languages - Wide language and accent support
- Template gallery - Professional templates designed for training content
What users say
Users consistently praise Colossyan's ease of use, with many noting they can produce professional-quality training videos in minutes rather than days. The avatar quality gets strong marks, though some users mention the avatars can feel emotionally flat in longer videos. Pricing is a common concern - several reviewers flag the tool as expensive relative to the video minutes included. The SCORM export and quiz features are frequently cited as the reason L&D teams choose Colossyan over general-purpose alternatives.
Best for
Learning and development teams, corporate trainers, and organizations that need SCORM-compatible training videos with interactive elements. If you're building an internal training library and need quizzes and branching scenarios, Colossyan fits the bill.
Free 14-day trial available. Paid plans start at $27/month.
5. Elai.io
Elai.io takes a unique approach to AI video by focusing on converting existing content into video. Drop in a PDF, blog post, or URL, and Elai transforms it into an avatar-narrated video. For teams sitting on piles of written content that needs to become video, that's a compelling pitch.
The platform offers 80+ avatars including selfie avatars, studio avatars, and animated mascots, with voice cloning in 28 languages.
Key features
- Content-to-video conversion - Turn PDFs, blog posts, and URLs into avatar videos
- 80+ AI avatars - Mix of selfie, studio, photo, and animated options
- Voice cloning - Narrate in your own cloned voice across 28 languages
- 75+ language support - One-click translation for global reach
- Interactive elements - Quizzes and branching for e-learning content
What users say
Users appreciate the content conversion capabilities - turning existing documents into video is a genuine time-saver that most competitors don't offer as a core feature. The avatar quality is described as solid but not best-in-class compared to HeyGen or Synthesia. Some reviewers note that the platform can feel buggy during peak usage, and the interface isn't as polished as some competitors. The pricing is generally seen as fair for the features included.
Best for
Marketing teams and educators who want to repurpose existing written content (blogs, PDFs, documentation) into video format without starting from scratch. If you have a content library that needs a video layer, Elai makes that conversion straightforward.
Free trial with 7 days of access. Paid plans start at $23/month.
6. Pictory
Pictory takes a different approach from avatar-focused tools. Instead of generating talking-head videos, it specializes in converting long-form text and video content into short, shareable clips using AI. Think of it as the "content repurposing" tool in this list.
The platform is popular with YouTube creators, marketers, and small businesses who need to turn blog posts, webinars, or long videos into bite-sized social content.
Key features
- Text-to-video - Convert articles and blog posts into video with stock footage
- Video summarization - Auto-extract highlights from long-form video
- AI voiceover - Generate narration from text with realistic AI voices
- Auto-captioning - Automatic subtitle generation
- Brand customization - Apply brand colors, fonts, and logos
What users say
Users praise Pictory for its speed in turning blog posts into social clips - a workflow that's genuinely useful for content teams. The AI does a reasonable job of selecting relevant stock footage to match the text. However, reviewers note that the output quality sits below what you'd get from a dedicated editor, and the stock footage can feel generic if you're not careful. Some users also mention that the AI voice quality varies, and the editing interface could be more intuitive.
Best for
Content marketers and small businesses who need to repurpose written content into video format quickly. If your primary goal is turning blog posts into social clips or summarizing webinar recordings, Pictory handles that workflow well.
Free trial available. Paid plans start at $19/month (annual billing).
The AI video generator market is on a steep growth curve, driven by rising demand for scalable, cost-effective video production across marketing, education, and enterprise communications.
7. VEED
VEED started as a browser-based video editor and has evolved into a full-featured AI video platform. With over 10 million monthly active users and $35 million in funding from Sequoia Capital, VEED is the most widely adopted tool on this list by raw user count.
Unlike most D-ID alternatives that focus on avatar videos, VEED offers a broader toolkit: screen recording, AI subtitles, background removal, eye contact correction, and text-to-video generation.
Key features
- Browser-based editor - Full video editing without downloads
- AI avatars - AI-generated presenters for talking-head videos
- Auto-subtitles - Captions in 125+ languages
- Background removal - Replace video backgrounds with virtual ones
- Eye contact correction - AI adjusts eye direction for natural-looking videos
What users say
Users love VEED's accessibility - the browser-based approach means zero installation and quick onboarding. The auto-subtitle feature gets particularly strong praise for accuracy. On the downside, users report performance issues with longer videos, including buffering and lag. The AI avatar quality is functional but not as polished as dedicated avatar platforms like HeyGen or Synthesia. Some power users find the editing tools too basic for complex projects.
Best for
Creators and small teams who need a quick, accessible video editor with AI features. If you want subtitle generation, background removal, and basic AI avatars in a single browser-based tool, VEED covers a lot of ground at a low price point.
Free plan available. Paid plans start at $12/month.
8. InVideo AI
InVideo AI focuses on prompt-to-video generation. Describe what you want in a text prompt, and the platform generates a complete video draft with script, media, voiceover, and basic editing. It draws from a library of over 16 million royalty-free stock assets to build videos from your descriptions.
The platform is particularly popular with marketers and small businesses who need to produce video content quickly without deep editing skills.
Key features
- Text-to-video - Generate complete videos from text prompts
- 16M+ stock assets - AI selects relevant photos, videos, and music
- AI script generation - Automatic scriptwriting from your prompt
- Magic Box editing - Type instructions and AI makes changes
- Multi-platform export - Optimized for YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and more
What users say
Users appreciate InVideo's value for money - most reviewers highlight the pricing as competitive for the features included. The extensive stock library is frequently praised, and the AI prompt-to-video workflow saves significant time for basic content. However, users note that the AI-generated output often needs manual refinement, and the video quality sits below what you'd get from more premium tools. The template library is described as hit-or-miss depending on your niche.
Best for
Small businesses and solo marketers who need to produce social media videos quickly from text prompts. If speed and affordability matter more than premium production quality, InVideo delivers solid value.
Free plan available with limited exports. Paid plans start at $25/month.
9. Fliki
Fliki combines text-to-video and text-to-speech into a single platform, with a particular strength in voice quality. The platform offers over 2,000 AI voices (including 1,000+ ultra-realistic options), making it the strongest option on this list for voice-driven content.
Fliki supports 80+ languages and dialects, with voice cloning capabilities for a personalized touch.
Key features
- 2,000+ AI voices - Including ultra-realistic and studio-quality options
- Text-to-video - Convert scripts, blog posts, and product pages into videos
- Voice cloning - Create narration in your own voice
- 80+ languages - Broad language and dialect coverage
- Stock media library - Millions of premium assets included
What users say
Users consistently highlight voice quality as Fliki's standout feature - the ultra-realistic voices are noticeably better than many competitors. The text-to-video workflow is praised for simplicity, though the visual output relies heavily on stock footage and can feel templated. Some users note that the credit-based system can be limiting, and the free plan's 5-minute monthly limit is tight for anything beyond testing. The interface is generally described as clean and intuitive.
Best for
Content creators and marketers who prioritize voice quality and need to convert text content into narrated videos. If you're creating voiceover-heavy content like tutorials, podcasts-to-video, or explainers, Fliki's voice library is hard to beat.
Free plan available with 5 minutes/month. Paid plans start at $28/month.
AI-powered video creation is becoming the norm, not the exception. According to Wyzowl, 63% of marketers now use AI tools for video creation, up from 51% just a year ago.
How we evaluated these D-ID alternatives
We didn't just list tools - we tested them, read hundreds of user reviews, and compared them across five weighted criteria:
| Criteria | Weight | What we looked at |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 30% | Core capabilities, AI features, avatar quality, editing tools, export options |
| Ease of Use | 25% | Learning curve, onboarding experience, UI/UX quality |
| AI Capabilities | 20% | Avatar realism, voice quality, generation speed, smart features |
| Value | 15% | Pricing relative to features, free tier generosity, cost at scale |
| Support & Community | 10% | Documentation, community size, customer support quality |
We also factored in:
- Real user reviews from G2, Capterra, TrustRadius, Reddit, and Product Hunt (qualitative sentiment, not numerical scores)
- Market presence and company stability (funding, user base, years in market)
- Integration ecosystem with common business tools
- Industry trends and where the AI video market is heading
With 91% of businesses now using video as a marketing tool and AI video tool adoption increasing 342% year-over-year, choosing the right platform matters more than ever. For a detailed head-to-head breakdown, see our ngram vs D-ID comparison.
The bottom line
D-ID proved that AI could animate a photo into a talking video. But the market has moved well beyond that.
If you need realistic AI avatars at enterprise scale, Synthesia and HeyGen are the strongest pure-avatar alternatives. If you need training content with LMS integration, Colossyan is purpose-built for that. If you need quick, affordable video from text prompts, InVideo AI and Fliki deliver solid value.
But if you need more than just a talking head - if you need professional videos built from your existing assets, adapted to your audience, and styled to your brand - ngram takes a fundamentally different and more flexible approach. It's not just an avatar tool. It's a complete video creation platform.
For more on how ngram handles AI-powered video editing, check out our product pages.
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