Your L&D team just updated the compliance policy — again. The old training video is out of date, the presenter already left the company, and re-filming will cost thousands. This is the exact scenario where Synthesia earns back its subscription price in a single afternoon. But most new users waste their first week fumbling with scripts and pronunciation quirks that a quick-guide could have solved up front.
This guide covers what you actually need to produce your first polished AI video, avoid the most common mistakes, and decide which plan fits your budget — all in one read.
What Synthesia Does (and Where It Fits Best)
Synthesia is an AI video generation platform that allows users to turn text into video. You type a script, pick an avatar, and get a finished presenter-style video — no cameras, no studios, no actors. Thousands of companies use it to create training, internal communications, and marketing videos in 120 languages, saving up to 80% of their time and budget.
Where it genuinely excels: corporate training, onboarding, product walkthroughs, and internal comms. Synthesia is excellent for scalable explanation-based videos, but weak for persuasion-based videos. If you need emotional, high-conversion sales ads for TikTok or Meta, look elsewhere. If your primary goal is producing video ads at scale for Meta, TikTok, or YouTube campaigns, Synthesia wasn’t built for that workflow. But for the 85% of business video that’s informational — policy updates, how-tos, software demos — it removes days of production friction.
Step-by-Step: Your First Video in Under 15 Minutes
1. Start With a Script, Not an Avatar
Most beginners pick an avatar first and then rush the script. Flip that. Your script determines 80% of your video’s success. Follow the FOCA framework: Focus (hook), Outcome (what they’ll learn), Content (main message), Action (clear CTA).
Keep each scene to 2–4 short sentences. Aim for one idea per scene. If you’re stuck, use the built-in AI Script Assistant — the platform’s built-in AI Script Assistant can generate a draft script based on your topic, objective, and preferred tone, streamlining the pre-production process.
2. Choose and Configure Your Avatar
The platform offers 240+ diverse, realistic AI avatars, representing different ages, ethnicities, and styles. On the Starter plan you get access to 125+ stock avatars and can create one Personal Avatar (your digital twin). To prevent the “robotic” feel, Synthesia allows users to add micro-gestures — avatars can nod, raise an eyebrow, or add subtle body language to make their delivery more natural.
3. Fine-Tune Pronunciation Before You Render
This is the step most guides skip, and it’s the number-one frustration users report. Some users note that the pronunciation accuracy can be inconsistent, which may require additional editing. Synthesia does have a dedicated Pronunciation tool: click the Pronunciation icon, enter the phonetic spelling you want, and preview the sentence — pronounced words appear italicized.
Pro tips for pronunciation:
- Spell out acronyms phonetically (e.g., “S-O-C” instead of “SOC”)
- Commas can be used after, before, or in a word to slow it down or create a pause.
- To apply the same pronunciation to all identical words for the same speaker, click “Apply to all.”
- Always preview before generating — rendering wastes credits you can’t get back.
4. Add Screen Recordings and Interactive Elements
A feature most competitor guides completely ignore: AI Screen Recorder. This lets you record your screen to create product walkthroughs and how-to videos directly inside Synthesia. Overlay an avatar narrator on the recording, and you’ve got a software demo that looks like it cost five figures.
For training teams, the interactive layer is a game-changer. Add clickable call-to-actions and branching paths to keep viewers engaged, plus quizzes with final scores. Use branching paths for compliance training — send viewers to a remediation scene if they answer a quiz question incorrectly.
5. Generate, Review, and Share
Click Generate. Your content goes through Synthesia’s Content Moderation workflow — automated systems check your video first, and flagged content is passed to manual review. Most videos clear in minutes, but plan for up to 24 hours if your topic touches restricted categories.
Once approved, download the MP4, share via a hosted link, or push directly into your LMS. Synthesia connects directly to major Learning Management Systems via Account → Integrations.
Pricing: What You’ll Actually Pay in 2026
As of Q1 2026: Free ($0/month, 10 min/month, 9 avatars, watermarked). Starter ($29/month or $18/month billed annually, 10 min/month, 125+ avatars). Creator ($89/month or ~$64/month annually, 30 min/month, 180+ avatars, API access). Enterprise (custom pricing, unlimited minutes, 240+ avatars, SSO, SCORM export).
Key hidden costs to budget for:
- Studio Express-1 custom avatars are a paid add-on at $1,000/year for annual plan users only, and can take up to 10 days to process.
- Features many consider essential for corporate use — like SCORM export and 1-click video translation — are locked behind the Enterprise tier.
- Unused video minutes do not roll over to the next billing period.
For most small teams producing 2–4 training videos per month, the Starter plan at $18/month (annual) is the right entry point. If you need multi-avatar scenes, interactive branching, or API integrations, you’ll need Creator. Try Synthesia on the free plan first to validate your workflow before committing.
Content Moderation: What to Know Before You Hit Generate
This is the pain point no one warns you about. Restricted content is limited to Custom (Studio and Personal) avatars only, to protect the individuals who represent stock avatars — they might disagree with certain opinions, so you’ll need a custom avatar with your own likeness.
Industries most affected: healthcare, biotech, finance, and legal. One G2 reviewer reported content flagged because it was “medical related” — any use of stock avatars was prohibited unless they paid for a custom avatar. If you work in a regulated industry, budget for a Personal Avatar from day one, or test the free plan with your actual script before purchasing.
Workaround: Keep stock-avatar scripts strictly informational. Move any opinion, health claim, or financial content to a Personal Avatar scene. A script approved for a personal avatar may not be approved with a stock avatar due to stricter usage rules.
For a deeper dive into features, pricing tiers, and how Synthesia compares to alternatives, read the full Synthesia Review 2026: AI Video Creation Platform Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to create a video in Synthesia?
Most first-time users can produce a polished 2-minute video in about 15–20 minutes, including scripting. Based on customer data, ideal lengths are 45–90 seconds for explainers, 2–4 minutes for tutorials, and 5–7 minutes for detailed training — shorter videos get higher completion rates.
Can I use Synthesia for videos in languages other than English?
Yes. Synthesia supports over 160 languages and accents for text-to-speech, AI dubbing for 30+ languages with lip-sync preservation, and 1-click translation to 80+ languages on Enterprise plans. Be aware that AI voices can still sound a bit robotic in languages other than English, so always preview non-English scripts before rendering.
What happens if my video gets rejected by content moderation?
If your video is rejected, you will receive a notification in-app and an email explaining why it was rejected and, if applicable, how to remedy it. You can appeal the decision, but avoid resubmitting the same content repeatedly — multiple submissions of rejected content may result in your account being suspended.