How to create an AI avatar video with Synthesia, by Brody Babb, Workflow Dynamics LLC · Updated Oct 11, 2026 · I’ve made videos in Synthesia myself. Pricing and help-center details were checked against Synthesia’s own pages that day.
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- A script turned into a video with an AI presenter
- An avatar and voice you choose from the stock library
- A downloaded MP4 on a plan that allows downloads
- Optional: a personal avatar of yourself on a plan that includes one
Table of Contents
The short version
Synthesia turns a written script into an AI avatar video with a presenter, so you don’t need a camera or editing software for a talking-head video. You write the script, pick an avatar and a voice, and generate the video. This AI avatar video tutorial covers that workflow from start to download, plus how to make a personal avatar of yourself. If you’re still choosing between tools, read our Synthesia vs HeyGen comparison first.
What you need first
- A Synthesia account. The free Basic plan is enough for a first test.
- A script, written from scratch or pasted from a document.
- For a personal avatar: a webcam or phone, a quiet room, and a plan that includes personal avatars (see the pricing section below).
How to create an AI avatar video with Synthesia, step by step
Step 1: Write your script
Create a new AI avatar video and paste or type your script into the scene editor. Keep each scene to one idea, because each scene gets its own avatar, background and media. Synthesia also includes an AI Video Assistant that drafts scripts from a prompt, listed on the Starter plan and above. Write the script yourself for anything where wording matters, like product claims or pricing.
Step 2: Pick an avatar
Choose a presenter from the stock avatar library. The number of stock avatars depends on your plan: 9 on Basic, 125+ on Starter, 180+ on Pro, and 240+ on Enterprise, according to Synthesia’s pricing page. Preview the avatar before you add it to a scene, because avatars look different on screen than in the library thumbnail.
Step 3: Pick a voice
Select a voice for the scene. Synthesia’s pricing page lists 140+ languages and voices, including accents and narration styles. Pick a voice that fits the tone of your script, then generate a short test before you write the whole video.
Step 4: Build scenes and add media
Add a scene for each section of your script. Each scene holds its own text, avatar, background and media, so you can change one part without rebuilding the whole video. Check the pricing page for which plans include your own image or video uploads before you plan a video around them.
Step 5: Generate and download
Click generate and wait for your AI avatar video to render. Downloading the video and removing the Synthesia logo are listed as Starter-and-up features. On the free Basic plan, your video carries the watermark and you can share it through Synthesia’s own link instead of downloading the file.
Make a personal avatar of yourself
Synthesia lets you create a Personal Avatar from a video or from a single photo, and the avatar comes paired with a cloned voice. Synthesia’s own help center covers both routes. Before you start:
- Confirm your plan includes personal avatars. The pricing page lists 5 on Pro, and its Starter listing doesn’t mention them.
- Choose video or photo. Follow Synthesia’s recording guidance for whichever you pick.
- Record the consent video. Synthesia says you must record a second video confirming it may create your avatar.
- Wait for processing. Synthesia’s avatar page says the avatar is generated within 24 hours after the consent video is submitted.
Synthesia also sells a Studio Express-1 avatar as a paid add-on. The pricing page lists it at $1,000 a year for annual-plan users, with processing that can take up to 10 days.
Pricing we checked on Oct 11, 2026
| Plan | Price | Video and credits | Notable limits or features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Free | 10 min of video a month, 500 credits | Watermark, 9 stock avatars |
| Starter | $29/mo, or $18/mo billed yearly | 1,250 credits a month (about 12 min of video) | Downloads, logo removal, 125+ avatars |
| Pro | $89/mo, or $64/mo billed yearly | 6,000 credits a month (about 60 min of video) | 5 personal avatars, 180+ avatars |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom credits | Unlimited personal avatars, 240+ avatars |
The pricing page shows a “Try for FREE” option on the yearly Starter and Pro plans. It doesn’t state the trial length, so check the terms at signup. Prices and credit amounts change, so confirm them on Synthesia’s pricing page before you buy.
Settings that are easy to miss
- The free plan adds a watermark and doesn’t offer downloads. Plan on Starter if you need the file.
- Video, dubbing and surveys share one credit pool. A video that uses more of your credits leaves less for other features in the same month.
- Personal avatars depend on your plan. Confirm the number your plan includes before you record anything.
- Studio Express-1 is a separate purchase. It’s an add-on priced at $1,000 a year and can take up to 10 days.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free plan?
Yes. The Basic plan is free and includes 10 minutes of video a month and 500 credits, with a Synthesia watermark. Paid plans remove the watermark and add downloads.
Can I make an avatar of myself?
Yes, through a Personal Avatar, which needs a plan that includes them. Synthesia requires a consent video from the person being recreated. See the personal avatar section above.
Does Synthesia offer a trial?
The pricing page shows a “Try for FREE” option on the yearly Starter and Pro plans. The length isn’t stated there, so check it at signup.
Sources and next steps
Sources, checked Oct 11, 2026: Synthesia pricing, Synthesia Help Center: Avatar and Voice, Synthesia avatars, and Synthesia talking avatar page.
Next steps: compare platforms in our Synthesia vs HeyGen comparison, or see more tools in the AI Content and Media Production Tools guide.
Related: Synthesia vs HeyGen · AI Content and Media Production Tools · Affiliate disclosure