Synthesia vs Runway

Tagline

Create studio-quality AI avatar videos

Generative video and creative tools for filmmakers

Category

Pricing

Rating

Platforms

API

Open source

Description

Synthesia generates videos with realistic AI avatars in 140+ languages without cameras.

Runway offers Gen-3 text-to-video, image-to-video, and pro editing tools used by top studios.

Key features

• Shot lists
• Camera notes
• PDF export

• Beat-synced cuts
• LUT library
• One-tap 4K export

Pros

• 230+ AI avatars
• 140+ languages
• Custom avatars available
• No cameras or studios needed
• Enterprise SSO and SOC 2
• Templates library
• API access
• Team collaboration

• State-of-the-art Gen-3 video model
• Text-to-video and image-to-video
• Motion brush and camera controls
• Green-screen and rotoscoping
• Frame interpolation
• Text-to-3D features
• Regular model releases
• Used by pro studios

Cons

• Avatars can feel uncanny
• No free tier
• Subscription is expensive
• Requires script preparation
• Lip-sync varies by language
• Not for live video
• Custom avatars are costly
• Default look is very corporate

• Credit system gets expensive fast
• Watermark on free tier
• Short max clip length
• Occasional visual artifacts
• No native audio generation
• Queue times during peak load
• Complex UI for beginners
• Shot-to-shot consistency limited

Pricing plans

• BasicUSD0/month
  • • try for free
  • • Quickly start creating AI videos
  • • Create videos in 160+ languages
  • • No credit card required
• StarterUSD29/month
  • • Create AI videos with your own Personal Avatar
  • • What you get in Basic +
  • • Custom on-brand Avatars
  • • Try for FREE
• StarterUSD18/month
  • • Create AI videos with your own Personal Avatar
  • • What you get in Basic +
  • • Custom on-brand Avatars
  • • Try for FREE
• CreatorUSD89/month
  • • Produce AI videos regularly with your team
  • • What you get in Starter +
  • • 5 Personal Avatars
  • • For teams
• CreatorUSD64/month
  • • Produce AI videos regularly with your team
  • • What you get in Starter +
  • • 5 Personal Avatars
  • • For teams
• Enterprise—
  • • What you get in Creator +
  • • Unlimited Personal Avatars
  • • Live team collaboration
  • • Dedicated Customer Success team

• FreeUSD0/month
  • • Free forever
  • • For individuals looking to explore Runway's AI Tools
  • • Gemini 3 Pro
• StandardUSD12/month
  • • Access to all models
  • • All AI images and video models (Gen-4.5, Nano Banana Pro, Aleph, Veo 3.1, and more)
  • • 4K Upscaling
  • • No watermarks
• ProUSD28/month
  • • Everything in Standard
  • • Access to all models and audio tools
  • • For creators leveling up their craft
  • • All AI images and video models
• MaxUSD76/month
  • • Everything in Pro
  • • Best value for heavy usage
  • • Credit roll over 1 mo.
  • • For teams scaling AI video production
• Enterprise—
  • • For teams scaling AI video production
  • • Custom credits
  • • Enterprise-wide onboarding
  • • Custom team sizes

Website