The AI video generation market hit $3.67 billion in 2026, and Synthesia sits right at the center of it. With $536 million in total funding, a $4 billion valuation, and over 90% of Fortune 100 companies as customers, Synthesia has become the default name in AI avatar video.
And for good reason. Synthesia made it possible to create talking-head videos without a camera, a studio, or even a presenter. For corporate training teams and L&D departments, that was a genuine unlock.
But here's the thing: more teams are searching for Synthesia alternatives than ever before, and for good reason. Users consistently flag aggressive content moderation that blocks legitimate business videos without explanation, avatars that still trigger the uncanny valley for some viewers, pricing that works out to roughly $2-3 per minute of generated video, and limited creative flexibility beyond the talking-head format.
We tested 9 AI video creator alternatives to Synthesia head-to-head, comparing features, 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 your content |
| HeyGen | Marketing and avatar videos | Free / $29/mo | Most realistic AI avatars |
| Colossyan | L&D and training videos | $27/mo | Interactive training features |
| VEED | Quick online video editing | Free / $12/mo | Browser-based all-in-one editor |
| DeepBrain AI | Enterprise and broadcast video | Free / $24/mo | Broadcast-quality AI presenters |
| Elai.io | E-learning with interactivity | Free / $23/mo | SCORM export and quizzes |
| Descript | Text-based video editing | Free / $24/mo | Edit video by editing text |
| Pictory | Blog-to-video conversion | $19/mo | Turn articles into videos |
| D-ID | Photo-to-avatar animation | $4.70/mo | Animate any photo into a speaker |
The AI video generation market is projected to grow from $3.67 billion in 2026 to $24.89 billion by 2036, at a 21.4% CAGR. That growth is creating space for specialized tools that do things Synthesia can't.
1. ngram
If your frustration with Synthesia comes down to this - "I need more than a talking head" - ngram was built for exactly that gap - it's the AI video creator built for teams who need more.
Where Synthesia generates avatar-presenter videos from a script, ngram transforms whatever you already have into professional, publish-ready videos. Upload a screen recording, drop in a document, paste some screenshots, or share a URL. Tell ngram who the video is for, what it should accomplish, and where it's going. It handles the script, storyboard, visuals, pacing, captions, and brand styling.
The difference is fundamental: Synthesia starts with an avatar reading text. ngram starts with your actual content and builds a video around it.
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 hero). The output adapts automatically - structure, pacing, tone, length. A LinkedIn announcement gets a fast hook and tight pacing. A website explainer takes more time to build context. A product demo focuses on screen recordings with smart zoom and callouts.
Plan first, generate second is how ngram avoids the biggest trap in AI video tools: committing to a final product before you've confirmed the direction. ngram shows you the script and storyboard before anything renders. You fix problems at the cheapest possible moment - before a single frame is generated.
Start from what you have. Synthesia needs you to write a script from scratch. ngram takes whatever you already have - release notes, a product doc, a rough screen recording, a landing page URL - extracts the key content, and turns it into a coherent video story.
AI-powered editing turns rough screen recordings into polished walkthroughs. Automatic filler word removal, smart zoom on interactions, cursor emphasis, and callouts driven by your prompts. No timeline editing required.
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 - 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
- Motion graphics and AI visuals - Professional graphics, transitions, and AI-generated clips
Who is ngram best for?
Product Marketing, Growth, Sales Enablement, Customer Success, and Agencies who need professional videos that go beyond talking heads. If your videos need to show a product in action, tell a visual story, or look intentionally produced for an external audience, ngram is the pick.
ngram has a very generous free plan with paid plans starting at $17.40 per month.
For a detailed head-to-head, see our ngram vs Synthesia comparison.
Ready to try ngram? Create your first video in under 5 minutes. Start free
2. HeyGen
If you're specifically looking for AI avatar videos and want more realistic presenters than Synthesia, HeyGen is the closest direct competitor. The platform has grown to over 85,000 customers and hit roughly $95 million in ARR, backed by $69 million in funding from Benchmark, Conviction, and Thrive Capital.
HeyGen's avatars are widely considered the most realistic in the market. In testing, the lip movement aligned tightly with speech, and avatars maintained believable micro-expressions even in longer monologues.
Key features
- 1,100+ AI avatars - Largest avatar library in the market
- 175+ language support - With natural lip-syncing across languages
- Video Translation 3.0 - Translates existing videos while preserving the original speaker's voice
- Custom avatar creation - Create your own digital twin
- ChatGPT integration - Generate scripts directly in the platform
What users say
Users on Reddit and G2 consistently praise the avatar realism: "HeyGen looked more natural than any competitor." The biggest complaints center around the credit system being confusing - one user reported a single 90-second video consuming 95 out of 200 monthly credits. The pricing can add up fast if you're producing high volumes.
Best for
Marketing teams, onboarding teams, and corporate communications departments that specifically need avatar-presenter videos with the highest realism available. If the talking-head format works for your use case but Synthesia's avatars feel too stiff, HeyGen is the upgrade.
Pricing starts at $29/month for the Creator plan.
3. Colossyan
Colossyan has carved out a strong niche in the L&D and corporate training space, with enterprise customers including Paramount Pictures, Cisco, BMW, Novartis, and Vodafone. The company raised $22 million in 2024, led by Lakestar.
What sets Colossyan apart from Synthesia is the focus on interactive training content. While Synthesia creates passive video content, Colossyan lets you build branching scenarios, quizzes, and interactive elements directly into videos.
Key features
- Interactive video elements - Quizzes, branching scenarios, clickable hotspots
- Multi-actor dialogues - Natural conversations between multiple avatars
- PPT/PDF to video - Convert existing training materials directly
- 100+ language translations - With automated localization
- Custom avatars from photos - No studio session required
What users say
G2 reviewers consistently highlight the ease of use and how quickly they can produce training content. Organizations report savings of up to 80% compared to traditional video production workflows. The main criticism is that avatar variety and customization options are more limited compared to HeyGen, and some users find the platform pricey for the feature set.
Best for
L&D teams and corporate training departments that need interactive video content, not just passive presentations. If you're creating compliance training, onboarding modules, or scenario-based learning, Colossyan's interactive features give it an edge over Synthesia.
Starter plan begins at $27/month billed annually, with a 14-day free trial.
Looking for the fastest way to create professional videos? ngram turns your screen recordings, docs, and images into polished videos in minutes - no avatars needed. Try ngram free
4. VEED
VEED takes a different approach entirely. Instead of specializing in AI avatars, it's a full-featured browser-based video editor that happens to include AI avatar capabilities alongside a deep editing toolkit. The platform maintains a strong reputation with over 3,000 reviews on Trustpilot.
For teams that need more than just talking-head videos - social clips, marketing content, subtitled interviews, screen recordings - VEED's breadth is its advantage over Synthesia's narrow focus.
Key features
- Full browser-based editor - Timeline editing, trimming, transitions, and effects
- AI avatars - Select from a library of AI presenters
- Auto-subtitles in 125+ languages - With customizable styling
- Eye contact correction - AI adjusts gaze direction in webcam recordings
- Voice cloning - Create a digital copy of your voice
- Filler word removal - Automatic cleanup of ums and ahs
What users say
Users praise the ease of use and subtitle accuracy across multiple platforms. VEED shines for social media creators, marketing teams, and educators who need to produce polished content quickly. The downsides: performance issues like buffering and lag with longer videos, and occasional bugs that interrupt the editing flow.
Best for
Teams that want one platform for multiple video needs - not just AI avatars. If you create social clips, add subtitles, edit recordings, AND occasionally need an AI presenter, VEED covers more ground than Synthesia at a lower price point.
Lite plan starts at $12/month. Pro with AI video generation at $29/month.
5. DeepBrain AI
DeepBrain AI (AI Studios) positions itself as the enterprise-grade alternative to Synthesia, with clients including AWS, BMW, Intel, Lenovo, Pfizer, Samsung, and HSBC. The platform specializes in broadcast-quality AI presenters that feel appropriate for news-style content, corporate communications, and high-stakes training.
Key features
- Hyper-realistic AI avatars - Broadcast-quality presenters with natural movement
- 80+ language support - With 100+ lifelike AI voices
- Multi-avatar scenes - Multiple presenters in a single video
- Custom avatars from real people - Create digital twins of employees or brand ambassadors
- Document/URL to video - Convert articles and docs into videos automatically
What users say
G2 users highlight the avatar quality as "broadcast-ready" and praise the multi-language capabilities. The platform is particularly popular in banking, education, and corporate communications. Some users note that the interface can feel dated compared to newer competitors, and the credit system requires careful planning for high-volume production.
Best for
Enterprise teams in regulated industries (banking, healthcare, education) that need polished, broadcast-quality AI video with strong compliance features. DeepBrain AI's enterprise focus and client roster make it a serious Synthesia alternative for large organizations.
Free plan includes 3 exports. Personal plan starts at $24/month.
According to industry research, 38% of corporate video usage is linked to employee training and onboarding, while 33% supports internal communication. This explains why so many Synthesia alternatives focus heavily on the L&D market.
6. Elai.io
Elai.io is the sleeper pick for e-learning teams. While it doesn't have the brand recognition of HeyGen or Synthesia, it holds a remarkable user rating on G2 and offers something most competitors don't: built-in interactivity designed specifically for educational content.
The platform includes SCORM export (crucial for LMS integration), branching scenarios, quizzes, and clickable elements - features that make it particularly strong for compliance training and structured learning.
Key features
- 80+ AI avatars - Including custom and selfie-generated avatars
- SCORM export - Direct integration with learning management systems
- Interactive elements - Branching, clickable buttons, hotspots, quizzes
- Voice cloning in 28 languages - With premium voice options
- AI script and course outline generation - Auto-generate from topics
- 75+ language translations - With 450+ accent options
What users say
Users consistently praise the ease of use and video quality, calling it robust software at a competitive price point. The platform is particularly valued for personal and small-team use. Custom avatars cost a one-time $500 fee (compared to Synthesia's $1,000), which users see as significantly more affordable.
Best for
E-learning teams, instructional designers, and compliance training departments that need SCORM-compatible interactive video. If you're building content for an LMS and need more than passive video, Elai.io delivers features that Synthesia charges enterprise pricing to match.
Creator plan starts at $23/month for 15 minutes.
7. Descript
Descript comes at video from a completely different angle than Synthesia. Instead of AI avatars, it pioneered text-based video editing - you edit video the way you'd edit a Google Doc. Delete a word from the transcript, and the video cuts accordingly.
For teams that work with existing footage (webinar recordings, interviews, screen captures, podcasts), Descript offers a workflow that's genuinely faster than any traditional editor. It's less about generating video from scratch and more about transforming raw footage into polished content.
Key features
- Text-based editing - Edit video by editing the transcript
- AI-powered co-editor - Makes polished edits from prompts
- Voice cloning - Clone your voice for corrections or new narration
- Filler word removal - Automatic um/ah detection and removal
- Animated captions - Customizable subtitle styles
- Studio-quality audio enhancement - One-click noise removal and speech improvement
What users say
Reddit users consistently call the transcript-based editing "mind-blowing for long-form content." Once you try it, timeline editing feels archaic. The biggest complaints center around rendering speed, transcript accuracy issues with speaker labels, and the pricing structure that locks advanced features behind expensive tiers.
Best for
Content creators, podcasters, and teams with existing video footage that needs editing and repurposing. If your challenge isn't creating video from scratch but making existing recordings look professional, Descript is more useful than Synthesia.
Free plan available. Hobbyist plan starts at $24/month.
8. Pictory
Pictory specializes in one thing that Synthesia can't do at all: turning written content into videos automatically. Paste a blog post, an article, or a script, and Pictory builds a video using its library of over 3 million stock video clips and 15,000 music tracks, with AI voiceovers narrating the content.
It's not an avatar platform. It's a content-repurposing engine.
Key features
- Text/URL to video - Paste an article and get a narrated video
- 3M+ stock video library - Automatic clip matching to content
- AI voiceovers in 20+ languages - Multiple voice styles available
- Branded templates - Apply brand colors, fonts, and logo
- Auto-captions - Generated and customizable
- PPT to video - Convert slide decks into video content
What users say
Reviewers highlight the speed and simplicity: "Unlike its competitors, Pictory is simple, effective, and has a low learning curve." It scores well on price-to-value for teams that need quick video content from existing written material. The main criticism is that the output can feel generic if you rely entirely on stock footage without customization.
Best for
Content marketing teams that want to turn blog posts, articles, and scripts into video content without starting from scratch. If you're repurposing written content rather than creating presenter-led training, Pictory fills a gap that Synthesia doesn't address.
Starter plan begins at $19/month.
9. D-ID
D-ID takes a unique approach in the AI avatar space: it animates still photos into talking presenters. Upload any portrait photo, add a script, and D-ID generates a realistic talking-head video. The technology is particularly popular for creative applications, marketing personalization, and situations where you need a specific person's likeness without a video shoot.
The company recently raised tens of millions in additional funding and acquired Berlin-based video startup simpleshow to expand its capabilities.
Key features
- Photo-to-avatar animation - Turn any portrait into a talking presenter
- Real-time conversational avatars - Interactive AI agents that respond naturally
- Multi-language support - Generate videos across languages
- API access - Build avatar generation into your own applications
- Custom avatar creation - From a single photo, no studio needed
What users say
Users value the simplicity of the photo-to-avatar workflow, especially for creative and marketing use cases. The API is popular among developers building custom video solutions. Criticisms include lower avatar quality compared to HeyGen and Synthesia for longer videos, and limited editing capabilities within the platform itself.
Best for
Developers who need API access for programmatic video generation, and creative teams that want to animate specific photos into talking presenters. D-ID is more of a building block than a complete video platform, which makes it ideal for custom integrations but less suitable for teams that want an all-in-one solution.
Lite plan starts at $4.70/month. Enterprise pricing is custom.
How we evaluated these Synthesia 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, editing tools, export options |
| Ease of Use | 25% | Learning curve, onboarding experience, UI/UX quality |
| AI Capabilities | 20% | Avatar quality, generation speed, language support, AI editing |
| 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 75% of video marketers now using AI tools and the market projected to reach $24.89 billion by 2036, the tools you choose today will shape your video workflow for years. We weighted our evaluation toward long-term viability, not just current feature sets.
The bottom line
Synthesia remains the default choice for simple AI avatar training videos. With $150 million in ARR and 90% of Fortune 100 companies as customers, it's proven the market.
But the market has outgrown a single tool. If you need videos that go beyond talking heads - videos that incorporate your screen recordings, documents, and existing assets into professionally produced content - ngram is the AI video creator that gives you AI-powered video creation without the avatar limitations or the $2-3 per minute pricing.
Every tool on this list solves a different slice of the video problem. The right choice depends on whether you need avatar realism (HeyGen), interactive training (Colossyan), text-based editing (Descript), content repurposing (Pictory), or complete video creation from any asset (ngram).
Start creating professional videos today
ngram turns your raw content into polished, on-brand videos in minutes. No avatars needed. No editing skills required. No freelancer timelines.
