Synthesia vs Runway: The Complete Comparison
Which video generation tool is right for you? A detailed side-by-side analysis of features, pricing, and performance.
Both tools excel in different areas. Synthesia is best for Corporate training and L&D teams, while Runway shines at Professional filmmakers and video producers. Read on for the full breakdown.
- Price: Synthesia starts at Free, Runway at Free
- Free tier: Both offer free tiers
- Best for: Synthesia → Corporate training and L&D teams | Runway → Professional filmmakers and video producers
- Features: 22+ features across 7 categories
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Synthesia | Runway |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Synthesia | Runway |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| API Access | Yes | Yes |
| Web App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile App | No | Yes |
| Best For | Corporate training and L&D teams | Professional filmmakers and video producers |
Synthesia vs Runway Pricing
Here's how the pricing compares between both tools:
Synthesia
Free Tier AvailableRunway
Free Tier AvailableFeatures Comparison
Synthesia Features
- ✓ Web App
- ✓ Brand Kit
- ✓ Templates
- ✓ Ai Avatars
- ✓ Api Access
- ✓ Custom Avatars
- ✓ Multi Language
- ✓ Text To Speech
- ✓ Screen Recording
Runway Features
- ✓ Web App
- ✓ Api Access
- ✓ Mobile App
- ✓ Integrations
- ✓ Collaboration
- ✓ Export Options
- ✓ Gen-4 AI video generation with 16-second maximum duration
- ✓ Character consistency across multiple video clips
- ✓ Aleph video transformation and style transfer tool
- ✓ Act-Two character performance capture technology
- ✓ 4K resolution export with cinema-quality output
- ✓ Text-to-video, image-to-video, and video-to-video generation
- ✓ Advanced motion control and temporal consistency
- ✓ Credit-based flexible usage system
Pros and Cons
Synthesia
Pros
- 300+ realistic AI avatars with diverse ethnicities
- 140+ languages with natural voice synthesis
- No technical skills required - simple text-to-video
- Professional quality output up to 8K resolution
- Custom avatar creation and voice cloning
- Extensive template library (250+ options)
Cons
- Limited video minutes on paid plans
- Expensive for high-volume content creation
- Less creative flexibility than traditional video editing
Runway
Pros
- Industry-leading character consistency across video sequences
- 4K resolution output with Hollywood-quality results
- Advanced editing suite with Aleph and Act-Two tools
- 16-second duration limit exceeds most competitors
- Proven technology used in major film and TV productions
- Comprehensive video generation modes (text, image, video-to-video)
Cons
- Generation times average 6-7 minutes per clip
- Credit system can become expensive for heavy usage
- Steeper learning curve for advanced features
Who Should Use Each Tool?
Choose Synthesia if you need:
- Corporate training and L&D teams
- Marketing teams creating multilingual content
- HR departments for internal communications
- Educational institutions and e-learning
- Small businesses needing professional videos
Choose Runway if you need:
- Professional filmmakers and video producers
- Content creators requiring character consistency
- Advertising agencies creating commercial content
- Post-production studios and creative professionals
- Narrative storytellers and animation teams
Final Verdict: Synthesia vs Runway
🤝 Both are excellent choices!
These tools have distinct strengths. Your choice should depend on your specific needs and workflow.
Bottom line: Use Synthesia for Corporate training and L&D teams. Use Runway for Professional filmmakers and video producers. Both are excellent video generation tools in 2026.
What Are We Comparing?
Synthesia
Create professional AI videos with realistic avatars in 140+ languages. Transform text into engaging video content without cameras or actors for training, marketing, and corporate communications.
Synthesia is the leading AI video generation platform that transforms text into professional videos featuring realistic AI avatars. With over 140 languages supported and 300+ customizable avatars, it eliminates the need for cameras, actors, or complex video editing skills. The platform offers 250+ video templates, custom branding options, and advanced features like voice cloning and emotional control. Synthesia is trusted by 50,000+ teams globally for creating training videos, corporate communications, marketing content, and educational materials. The platform's AI Video Assistant can automatically generate scripts from documents or prompts, while the intuitive editor allows for easy customization with stock media, text overlays, and company branding. With Synthesia 3.0's enhanced realism and upcoming features like Copilot and interactive Courses, it's positioned as the future of video creation for businesses seeking scalable, multilingual content production.
Runway
Create professional AI videos with Runway's Gen-4 technology. Transform text prompts and images into cinematic 4K video clips with advanced character consistency and motion control.
Runway is the industry-leading AI video generation platform that transforms creative workflows with its cutting-edge Gen-4 technology. The platform enables users to create professional-grade video content from text prompts, images, or existing footage, delivering cinematic quality results with exceptional character consistency and temporal coherence. Gen-4 excels at generating 5-16 second video clips in up to 4K resolution, making it the preferred choice for filmmakers, content creators, and advertising agencies. What sets Runway apart is its comprehensive suite of advanced editing tools, including Aleph for video transformation and Act-Two for character performance capture. The platform maintains consistent characters and objects across multiple scenes, enabling coherent storytelling for narrative-driven projects. With Hollywood-proven technology already used in major productions, Runway offers both accessibility for individual creators and enterprise-grade capabilities for professional studios. Runway's credit-based system provides flexible usage options across multiple pricing tiers, from free access for beginners to professional plans with commercial usage rights. The platform combines ease of use with powerful AI capabilities, making advanced video generation accessible to creators at every level while maintaining the quality standards demanded by professional productions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Synthesia and Runway?
Synthesia is create professional ai videos with realistic avatars in 140+ languages. transform text into engaging video content without cameras or actors for training, marketing, and corporate communications. Runway is create professional ai videos with runway's gen-4 technology. transform text prompts and images into cinematic 4k video clips with advanced character consistency and motion control. The main differences are in pricing (Free vs Free), target users, and specific features offered.
Which is better: Synthesia or Runway?
Both tools excel in different areas. Synthesia is best for Corporate training and L&D teams, while Runway shines at Professional filmmakers and video producers.
Is Synthesia free to use?
Yes, Synthesia offers a free tier with limited features. You can upgrade to paid plans starting at Free for more capabilities.
Is Runway free to use?
Yes, Runway offers a free tier with limited features. Paid plans start at Free.
Can I switch from Synthesia to Runway?
Yes, you can switch between these tools at any time. Both are standalone services. Consider your specific needs for Corporate training and L&D teams vs Professional filmmakers and video producers when deciding.
