Head to head

Runway vs Synthesia

Runway

No reviews yet

4 wins

Synthesia

No reviews yet

0 wins

Our verdict

In our side-by-side, Runway edges it — it comes out on top in 4 of the 7 things we checked.

Money-wise, Runway is the friendlier option ($15 vs $29).

Go with Runway if you’re watching the budget and you’d like to try before paying.
Go with Synthesia — ideal for learning and HR teams producing lots of training videos.

Runway vs Synthesia: side by side

Criteria	Runway	Synthesia
Pricing model	Freemium	Paid
Starting price	$15 ✓	$29
Free plan	Yes ✓	No
User rating	—	—
Reviews	0	0
API	Yes	Yes
Platforms	web, ios, android, desktop, browser-extension ✓	web, ios, android, browser-extension
Popularity	86k pts ✓	72k pts

Runway features

✓ Text-to-video and image-to-video generation
✓ Camera and motion controls for generated shots
✓ AI tools for background removal and inpainting
✓ Browser-based video editor

Best for

• Creating B-roll shots for a short film
• Turning a still image into a moving scene
• Removing a background from video footage

Try Runway ↗

Synthesia features

✓ AI avatar presenters from a text script
✓ Video creation in 140+ languages
✓ Templates for training and explainer videos
✓ Custom avatars and brand settings

Best for

• Creating onboarding videos for new employees
• Updating training content without reshooting
• Localizing product explainers for global teams

Try Synthesia ↗

FAQ

Should I use Runway or Synthesia?+

We lean towards Runway — it wins more of our checks. That said, Synthesia is the better fit for learning and HR teams producing lots of training videos.

Is Runway cheaper than Synthesia?+

Yes — Runway starts at $15, Synthesia at $29.

Do Runway and Synthesia have free plans?+

Runway: Free · from $15/mo. Synthesia: From $29/mo.