Runway vs Synthesia
Which one should you choose? Here's how they compare.
| Feature | Runway | Synthesia |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.4 | ★ 4.2 |
| Pricing | $12-76/mo | $22/mo |
| Type | freemium | paid |
| Company | Runway | Synthesia |
| Founded | 2018 | 2017 |
Runway Features
- •Text-to-video
- •Image-to-video
- •Video editing
- •Green screen
Synthesia Features
- •AI avatars
- •150+ avatars
- •120+ languages
- •Custom avatars
Runway Pros
- ✓Best video quality
- ✓Multiple AI tools
- ✓Professional features
Runway Cons
- ✗Short video clips
- ✗Expensive for heavy use
- ✗Learning curve
Synthesia Pros
- ✓Professional quality
- ✓Multiple languages
- ✓No filming needed
Synthesia Cons
- ✗Expensive
- ✗Limited customization
- ✗Corporate feel
The Verdict
Runway (by Runway, founded 2018) and Synthesia (by Synthesia, founded 2017) both compete in the video space, but they serve slightly different needs. Both tools offer 4 core features, but their strengths differ. Runway excels at text-to-video, whereas Synthesia puts more emphasis on 150+ avatars. However, Runway has a distinct advantage for Video creation and Social media content. On the other hand, Synthesia is better suited for Training videos and Corporate comms. Runway is particularly popular among Video creators and Marketers, while Synthesia tends to attract Enterprises and L&D teams. Runway costs $12-76/mo (freemium), while Synthesia is priced at $22/mo (paid). Choose based on which pricing model aligns better with your budget. No tool is perfect. Runway's main limitation is short video clips, which might be a dealbreaker for some workflows. Meanwhile, Synthesia's biggest drawback is expensive. We recommend Runway as the stronger overall choice (4.4 vs 4.2). It pulls ahead with stronger text-to-video capabilities. However, if your workflow centers on ai avatars, Synthesia remains a highly capable alternative.
- • You prioritize text-to-video
- • You prioritize image-to-video
- • You prioritize ai avatars
- • You prioritize 150+ avatars