Runway vs Synthesia
A detailed comparison of Runway and Synthesia. See how they stack up on features, pricing, and user ratings.
Quick Summary
Synthesia leads with a 4.7/5 rating compared to Runway's 4.3/5. Runway is designed for solopreneur to enterprise companies, while Synthesia targets mid-market to enterprise organisations. Both tools offer free plans, so you can try each before committing.
Runway
Pioneering AI video generation and editing platform
Rating
4.3/5
Best for
Solopreneur to Enterprise
Free trial
Yes
Free plan
Yes
Synthesia
AI video platform with realistic digital avatars
Rating
4.7/5
Best for
Mid-Market to Enterprise
Free trial
Yes
Free plan
Yes
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Runway | Synthesia |
|---|---|---|
| Background Removal | ||
| Style Transfer | ||
| Text-to-Image | ||
| API Access | ||
| Text-to-Video | ||
| Video Editing | ||
| Multi-Language Support | ||
| Brand Kit | ||
| SSO / Enterprise Auth | ||
| Team Management | ||
| AI Avatars | ||
| Lip Sync | ||
| Video Templates |
Pricing Comparison
Runway
Free
Free
Standard
$15/mo
Pro
$35/mo
Unlimited
$95/mo
Synthesia
Free
Free
Starter
$29/mo
Creator
$89/mo
Enterprise
Custom
Pros & Cons
Runway
Pros
- +Industry-leading video generation quality
- +Comprehensive video editing toolkit beyond just generation
- +Professional-grade outputs suitable for commercial use
- +Active R&D with frequent model improvements
Cons
- -Credits burn quickly on video generation
- -Expensive for heavy users generating lots of video
- -Generated video still limited to short clips
- -Learning curve for advanced editing features
Synthesia
Pros
- +Most realistic AI avatars on the market
- +140+ languages make it ideal for global teams
- +Massive time and cost savings vs traditional video production
- +Custom avatar creation from a short video recording
Cons
- -Avatar videos still have an uncanny feel for some viewers
- -Monthly video minute limits on all plans
- -Custom avatars require enterprise plan
- -Not suitable for narrative or creative video content
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Runway if:
- • Your company is Solopreneur to Enterprise size
- • You want to start with a free plan
- • You want to try before committing
- • Industry-leading video generation quality
Choose Synthesia if:
- • Your company is Mid-Market to Enterprise size
- • You want to start with a free plan
- • You want to try before committing
- • Most realistic AI avatars on the market
- • Higher user ratings matter to you (4.7 vs 4.3)