Creating professional videos with human-like avatars used to require costly production studios and on-camera talent. But with AI video platforms like Synthesia, that's changed. In this article, we'll explore how Synthesia AI enables fast, realistic avatar creation, review its capabilities, and introduce a powerful alternative that pushes the boundaries of AI video even further. Keep scrolling and enjoy knowledge diving.
What is Synthesia AI
Synthesia AI is a leading-edge platform designed to simplify the process of generating AI avatars and creating professional video content. It is accessible through Synthesia.io, the platform enables users to either upload their own images or choose from a library of digital avatars to produce realistic talking-head videos without requiring cameras, microphones, or actors. What sets Synthesia apart is its multilingual capability, supporting over 120 languages, making it ideal for global communication. It also has enterprise-grade data security, which ensures that all content and user information remain protected, making it a reliable choice for corporate communications, employee training, online education, marketing campaigns, and more.
How to use Synthesia AI avatar
Synthesia AI streamlines the process of creating lifelike talking avatars using artificial intelligence. If you're starting with one of its professionally designed default avatars or customizing your own, Synthesia io offers a user-friendly, intuitive interface that makes video creation accessible even for beginners. With just a few clicks, you can turn plain text into engaging video content powered by realistic voiceovers and animated characters.
Synthesia AI avatar creation: Step-by-step guide
Creating an AI avatar with Synthesia is a fast and user-friendly process designed for anyone looking to turn text into professional-looking videos. This method allows you to create an avatar from scratch or by using a pre-made Synthesia AI avatar. Follow the steps below to create your own:
- STEP 1
- Sign up
Visit Synthesia AI avatar website on your search engine and sign up. If you already have an account, click on "Log in" to sign in. Creating an account or logging in with your details gives you access to use Synthesia AI avatar.
- STEP 2
- Select a pre-made avatar
A paid subscription is required to upload your photo to create a custom AI avatar. So if you are using the free plan, click on "Create free AI Video," when you log in. This will take you to where you can select a pre-made avatar for your video. When you are there, select your preferred avatar and move to the next part.
- STEP 3
- Enter your text
After you have selected your avatar, go to "Edit your video script in any language." Clear the text that is there and type in your script for your avatar video. Since you are using a free plan, you can only type in 200 characters for your script.
- STEP 4
- Generate free video
After entering your video script, click on "Create free AI Video." This will take you to another interface where you will fill in your email details. The video will be sent to your email for you to download. After filling out your details, click on "Generate Free Video" to send your avatar video to your email.
Deep dive: Is Synthesia talking avatar worth the investment
Synthesia talking avatars deliver professional, polished video output with strong customization, making them attractive for businesses and creators alike. However, limited free features and relatively high pricing may not suit every budget or need. The pros and cons of using Synthesia AI tools have been discussed below. Check to see if it is worth your investment:
- Professional quality output: Synthesia's AI-generated avatars deliver high-definition, studio-grade videos that rival traditional production quality. You can use the platform to create polished and engaging final product content for marketing campaigns, corporate training, or business presentations without the need for cameras, lighting setups, or production crews. This makes professional video creation faster, more affordable, and accessible to teams of all sizes.
- Extensive customization options: Users have the flexibility to personalize voiceovers by choosing from a broad selection of languages, regional accents, vocal tones, and speaking styles. This level of customization allows brands to maintain a consistent voice across different markets while also tailoring content to resonate with specific audiences. If you're targeting a local demographic or reaching out to a global audience, these options ensure your message sounds natural, engaging, and aligned with your brand identity.
- Large avatar library: Synthesia AI has an extensive collection of pre-built avatars, encompassing a wide range of ages, ethnicities, facial features, and attire styles, from casual to professional and cultural outfits. This diversity allows users to choose avatars that align with their brand identity, audience preferences, or storytelling needs, offering greater flexibility in tone, inclusivity, and visual representation across different projects.
- Regular updates: Synthesia consistently delivers regular updates that introduce new features, enhance existing functionalities, and expand its library of AI avatars and supported languages. These ongoing improvements ensure the platform remains innovative, user-friendly, and highly competitive in the fast-evolving world of AI video creation.
- Limited Synthesia AI free options: Synthesia's free trial comes with significant limitations that restrict its usefulness. Users typically get access to only a very small portion of the platform's features, just enough to explore the interface and understand how it works. However, this free tier does not support full video exports or custom avatar creation, and the video duration is usually capped. As a result, it's more of a demo than a genuinely usable tool for content creation, making it difficult for users to produce professional or shareable videos without upgrading to a paid plan.
- Expensive subscription costs: Synthesia’s pricing model can be a significant barrier for many users. With monthly plans starting at a premium rate, it may prove too costly for freelancers operating on tight budgets, small teams looking to minimize overhead, or casual users who only need occasional access to AI video tools. The lack of a more flexible or affordable pricing tier makes it less accessible for those who don't require enterprise-level features or high-volume usage.
- Export restrictions: Depending on the subscription tier you have chosen, there may be limitations on the types of output file formats available for export as well as restrictions on the maximum resolution of the exported files. These constraints can affect the quality and versatility of your final output, potentially making it more difficult to distribute your content across different platforms or meet specific project requirements. Users with lower-tier plans might find themselves unable to access high-resolution exports or preferred file formats, which can limit professional use or sharing options.
- Learning curve: Although the platform is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, allowing new users to quickly get started with basic functions, fully mastering its extensive range of features can require a significant investment of time and effort. This is true when it comes to understanding and effectively utilizing advanced capabilities such as complex scripting, intricate avatar controls, and customization options. Users may need to engage in ongoing experimentation, trial and error, and exploration of tutorials or documentation to unlock the platform’s full potential and use it confidently at an expert level.
While Synthesia delivers high-quality AI videos and works well for businesses with the budget to match, it's not always the most accessible option. The free plan comes with strict limitations, and scaling up can get expensive quickly, especially for creators with simpler needs or tighter resources. But does that mean high-quality AI video creation is out of reach? Not at all. If you're searching for a smarter, more affordable way to generate stunning AI videos, meet Dreamina, a next-gen AI-powered tool. Let's dive into how Dreamina can unlock your video-making potential without compromising on quality or breaking the bank.
Meet Dreamina: Your NextGen Synthesia avatar alternative
Say hello to Dreamina, the AI tool content creators are raving about. Imagine sending a birthday wish where your photo does the talking. Dreamina makes it possible. As an AI avatar generator, it can scan and analyse your facial features, simulate muscle movement, and apply motion with voice in sync. It also provides tools such as Frame interpolation and HD Upscale, among the rest, which you can use to refine your avatar video to the next level. From vlogs and pitches to heartfelt greetings, Dreamina brings your ideas to life with just a photo and prompt.
Steps to create talking avatars with Dreamina
Do you know that you can create your talking avatar in seconds with Dreamina? Yes, you can. Click the button below to get started:
- STEP 1
- Upload your photo
First, log in to your Dreamina account and click on "Lip sync" in the AI Avatar generator tab. Then click on "Import character image" in the next interface. Once you click on it, you will see "Upload" and "Add from Assets." Clicking on the Upload means uploading your photo from your computer, while clicking on Add from Assets means uploading a photo from your Dreamina account. When uploading your photo, make sure it is facing the camera and not blurry so as to get a good result.
- STEP 2
- Create your talking avatar
When your picture has been uploaded, go to the "Generation effect" and select either Master or Fast for the generation effect. Then, go to the Lip sync tab and click on "Text to speech." Type in your script in the text box, or click on "Upload audio" to upload a recording of your script in your own voice. Next, just below the text box is the "Voice over"; click on it and select your preferred AI voice for your avatar. After that, go to the "Speaking speed" and drag it forward or backward to either increase or reduce the speed. Finally, check if everything is correct and then click on "Generate" to create your AI talking avatar within a couple of seconds.
- STEP 3
- Download
When you click on generate, your talking avatar will be generated within 60 seconds. When it is ready, click on it to view it, and if you want to make any changes, click on "Resync" to change what you want to change and then regenerate it again. When you want to download it, click on the "Export" icon to save it to your computer.
Discover more NextGen AI tools
- 1
- Text-to-speech
The Text-to-Speech tool in Dreamina turns your written script into clear, lifelike audio. When you are creating content for tutorials, podcasts, or any project that needs narration, this tool helps bring your text to life with realistic AI-generated voices. The tool is versatile because you can type your script in any language of your choice, making it easy to create content that matches your brand or audience, making your communication more engaging and professional.
- 2
- AI voices
The Voice over tool in Dreamina allows you to select a voice for your avatar. It offers different types of AI voices that are designed to match your content. You can also select a voice that closely resembles your photo avatar's tone, giving your video a more cohesive and lifelike appeal. The tool also has different types of voices, from a playful child voice to a calm and professional adult voice. These voices are not only natural-sounding, but they are also expressive, which makes your audio feel more human and emotionally connected.
- 3
- Resync
The Resync tool in Dreamina gives you the flexibility to change the settings of your talking avatar video after it has been created. With Resync, you can easily update the script, adjust the speaking speed, or modify the visual generation effects without starting from scratch. If you want to fix a minor detail, or completely change the tone and pacing of your avatar’s delivery, Resync ensures your video stays aligned with your creative vision.
- 4
- Frame interpolation
Say goodbye to jittery or choppy footage. Dreamina’s Frame interpolation tool uses AI to generate extra frames between existing ones, creating smoother transitions and more natural movement in your videos. If you're converting 24fps footage to 60fps for a cinematic feel, enhancing slow-motion clips, or simply improving overall playback quality, this tool adds a professional polish with minimal effort. It's ideal for content creators, animators, and anyone looking to elevate their video quality with fluid motion and seamless visual flow.
- 5
- HD Upscale
The HD Upscale tool in Dreamina allows you to increase the resolution of your video, making it clear and sharp. If you're working with low-quality footage or older video content, this AI-powered feature increases the pixel count, sharpens details, and improves visual clarity without compromising the original aesthetics. It's ideal for creators who want to repurpose existing videos for high-definition displays, improve playback quality on large screens, or make their content look more professional and polished.
Conclusion
AI Synthesia is a solid choice for creating professional avatar videos, especially for business presentations and training content. However, it comes with certain limitations, such as usage restrictions, subscription requirements, and less flexibility in creative control. But if you're looking for a faster, more flexible, and cost-effective Synthesia avatar alternative, Dreamina is your next-generation solution. With Dreamina, you can create lifelike avatar videos using just a photo and a script. It has no steep learning curve, no hidden fees, and it is ideal for marketers, educators, and content creators who want speed, creative freedom, and results that stand out. Try Dreamina today and see the difference.
FAQs
- 1
- Can Synthesia AI tool create an avatar with my voice?
Yes, Synthesia AI allows you to use custom voiceovers by uploading your own audio files. This means you can give your avatar a personal touch by speaking the script yourself. However, if you're looking for full voice cloning, where the AI replicates your unique tone and speech patterns, that feature is currently limited to enterprise users only. But if you want an easier option, try Dreamina. It lets you upload your voice directly and sync it with your avatar without requiring enterprise access. Go to Dreamina now and create with your voice on!
- 2
- How long does it take to create a Synthesia custom avatar?
Creating a Synthesia custom avatar typically takes up to 20 to 30 minutes. It also requires a paid subscription, and you'll need to follow specific guidelines for video recording, background, and lighting, making it a longer and more involved process. With Dreamina, you can go from photo to talking avatar in under 60 seconds. No video shoots, no studio setup, and no long waiting time. Just upload a photo, enter your script or upload your own audio, and Dreamina instantly brings your avatar to life with realistic voice and facial movements. Skip the wait. Create your AI avatar now with Dreamina.
- 3
- Can I create my own avatar on Synthesia io free without a subscription?
No, Synthesia does not allow users to create custom avatars without a paid subscription. Their free trial only provides access to a limited set of default avatars, meaning full personalization features like uploading your own image or voice are locked behind a paywall. But if you are looking for a truly free alternative? Dreamina offers a more flexible solution. You can create and download your own avatars without needing to pay or subscribe. It gives you free credits to get started immediately, no barriers, no hidden costs. Start for free on Dreamina and explore personalized avatar creation without limits.