Runway vs Synthesia
Side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right video tools.
| Feature | R Runway | S Synthesia |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4 | 4.4 |
| Pricing | From $15/mo | From $29/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ | ✗ |
| Free Trial | ✗ | ✓ |
| Founded | 2018 | 2017 |
| 130+ languages | ✗ | ✓ |
| 160+ AI avatars | ✗ | ✓ |
| Background removal | ✓ | ✗ |
| Brand kits | ✗ | ✓ |
| Custom avatars | ✗ | ✓ |
| Gen-3 Alpha video generation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Image-to-video | ✓ | ✗ |
| Inpainting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Motion brush | ✓ | ✗ |
| Screen recording | ✗ | ✓ |
| Text-to-video | ✓ | ✗ |
Runway — Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Best-in-class video quality
- + Broad creative control
- + Free plan to test features
Cons
- - Credits run out quickly on free plan
- - Expensive for heavy use
- - Generation times can be long
Synthesia — Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Very realistic avatars
- + Fast video creation
- + Multi-language support
Cons
- - Expensive for heavy use
- - Limited creative flexibility
- - Avatar movements can look stiff
Verdict
Runway edges ahead with a rating of 4.4/5 versus Synthesia's 4.4/5. Runway also offers a free plan, making it easier to try before you commit. Both tools are strong options for cinematic video generation and music video effects. Read our full Runway review →
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