Synthesia

Category: AI Video

The strongest likeness-consent process of any avatar tool.

Synthesia generates presenter-led video from a script, using a library of stock avatars or a custom avatar of a real person, across a long list of languages. It is the most established tool in the category, originally built for corporate training and now widely used for product explainers, onboarding and internal communications. Recent additions include an AI video agent, a newer avatar model with more expressive delivery, and interactive sessions covering roleplay and survey avatars, which is a genuine expansion into training and research rather than a feature bolt-on. It is London-based and raised a large round in early 2026 at a four billion dollar valuation. There is a first-party MCP server requiring a paid plan, with videos consuming credits and brand kit selection restricted to enterprise.

Our verdict

The one we would recommend for brand work, and the reason is consent rather than output quality. Creating a custom avatar requires footage plus a separately recorded on-camera consent statement read from a script, with identity matched between the two or the request rejected, and human processing. Photo avatars need a live consent video with a passcode, uploads are refused, and the policy states explicitly that an avatar must be created by the person whose likeness is used, not on their behalf even with permission. In a category where several competitors accept a tick-box, that is a meaningful difference and it protects you as much as the subject. It is also the only tool here that offers customers IP indemnification, and it holds ISO 42001 as well as ISO 27001. Two caveats: despite being a London company it bills in dollars or euros with no pound option, and we could not verify any EU or UK data residency, so ask directly.

Best for: Teams producing presenter-led video at volume, especially any brand or regulated organisation where likeness consent has to be defensible.

Pros

  • The strongest likeness consent process in the category, with recorded consent and identity matching
  • Photo avatars require a live passcode consent video, and proxy creation is explicitly barred
  • The only tool here offering customers IP indemnification
  • Holds ISO 42001 as well as ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II
  • First-party MCP server on paid plans
  • London-based and very well funded following a large 2026 round

Cons

  • Bills in dollars or euros with no pound option, despite being a London company
  • EU or UK data residency could not be verified, so ask directly
  • MCP requires a paid plan and consumes credits, with brand kit selection enterprise-only
  • The entry tier is limited, and credits scale cost quickly at volume
  • Tier names changed recently, so most comparison articles are out of date

Pricing: Free, then from $19/mo (Freemium)

Rating: 4.5/5