L
LAI video, image and audio generation with creative agents for brand content
From $25/mo
Runway vs Synthesia
Pricing, features, platforms and who each one suits — side by side.
R
Choose Runway if…
- you want the lower entry price ($12/mo vs $19/mo)
- you work on iOS, Android
- you're in its core audience: content creators, marketing teams
S
Choose Synthesia if…
- you're in its core audience: learning & development teams, hr and internal communications
Side by side
Feature Runway Synthesia
Pricing modelFreemiumFreemium
Starting price$12/mo$19/mo
Free plan
Free trial
API
Open source
Cost per minute of generated video—$1.58
Data retention—Customer Data retained per customer's instructions and applicable law
Security and complianceSOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, GDPRGDPR
Updates, last 90 days3010
Audio generation—
4K output—
Third-party models—
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, APIWeb, API
CategoryVideo GeneratorsAvatar & Talking-Head Video
CompanyRunway AI, Inc.Synthesia Limited
Based inUnited StatesUnited Kingdom
Founded20182017
Part of——
Key features
R Runway
- Text and image to video with Gen-4.5 and Aleph 2.0
- Third-party models such as Kling, Seedance and Nano Banana Pro
- Music, voice, sound effects and text-to-speech generation
- Agentic creative collaborator
- Runway Ads publishes ads to Meta, Google and TikTok
- 4K upscaling, plus HDR and ProRes output on Max
- Custom voice clones and brand kits
- Developer API and MCP server
S Synthesia
- AI avatar videos from a script in 140+ languages
- Personal avatar created from a single photo
- Convert docs, PPTs or links into narrated video
- Video dubbing with voice cloning and lip-sync
- Interactive videos with quizzes, branching and CTAs
- Avatar roleplay and conversational survey sessions
- Publish via link, embed or SCORM with analytics
- API and MCP server for programmatic video creation
Plans and prices
From each vendor's site. Prices change — confirm before buying.
Runway
Free$0
Standard$12/mo billed yearly ($15 monthly)
Pro$28/mo billed yearly ($35 monthly)
Max$76/mo billed yearly ($95 monthly)
EnterpriseCustom
Synthesia
BasicFree
Starter$19/mo ($9 first month)
Pro$89/mo ($49 first month)
EnterpriseCustom
Roleplay Training add-on$29/learner/month
Strengths and limitations
Runway
- Free plan with 125 credits that don't expire
- Own models and third-party models available in one workspace
- iOS and Android apps plus an API
- Extra purchased credits never expire
- Free credits are one-time, not monthly
- Monthly credits on Standard and Pro don't roll over
- Minimum top-up purchase is 1,000 credits
- Standard is limited to 3 projects
Synthesia
- Free plan with 10 minutes of video per month, no credit card required
- 140+ languages and voices on every plan
- API, MCP server and LiveKit plugin for developers
- Lists SOC2, GDPR, ISO42001 and SAML/SSO compliance
- Free plan videos carry a Synthesia watermark and cannot be downloaded
- SCORM export, SAML/SSO and Brand Kits are listed only on Enterprise
- Roleplay learner seats cost an extra $29/month each
- Studio avatars are a $1,000/year add-on for annual plans only
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Built from each vendor's public website; we haven't tested them hands-on. Editorial policy