Synthesia pricing explained (2026): plans, minutes, credits and the real cost per video
Every plan, side by side
| Basic (Free) | Starter | Creator | Enterprise | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 | $29/mo · $18/mo billed annually | $89/mo | Custom |
| Video minutes / month | 10 | 12 | 30 | Unlimited |
| Credits / month | 1,200 | — | 3,600 | — |
| Stock avatars | 9 | 125+ | 180+ | 240+ |
| Personal avatars | None | 3 | 5 | Unlimited |
| Languages | 160+ | 160+ | 160+ | 160+ voices · 140+ dubbing |
| Downloads & branding removal | Restricted | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AI video assistant | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AI dubbing | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| API | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Interactive video & branded pages | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Seats | 1 | 1 editor + 3 guests | — | Live team collaboration |
| SCORM · SAML/SSO · brand kits · CSM | No | No | No | Yes |
| Support | Community | Chat/email | Priority chat/email | Dedicated CSM + implementation |
| Cost per included minute | — | $2.42 ($1.50 annual) | $2.97 | Depends on contract |
Minutes vs credits: what "1,200 credits" means
Synthesia's plan cards show both a minute allowance and, on Basic and Creator, a credit figure (1,200 and 3,600). The published minute allowance is the practical limit for standard avatar video; credits are how Synthesia meters newer, more expensive features (its most realistic avatar generation, the AI video assistant, dubbing) that consume more than a minute-for-minute rate. Treat the minutes as your budget and expect premium features to draw it down faster. If Synthesia publishes a credits-per-feature table, we'll add it here.
What a month actually costs: three scenarios
| Scenario | Minutes needed | Cheapest Synthesia plan that covers it | Monthly cost | Alternative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo creator: 2 explainers × 3 min, 1 re-render each | 12 | Starter | $29 ($18 annual) | HeyGen Creator $29 (~30 min) |
| Small team: 5 onboarding modules × 4 min, 1 re-render each | 40 | None self-serve (Creator = 30) → Enterprise or cut re-renders | $89 + top-ups or quote | HeyGen Pro $49 (~50 min) · Colossyan Pro $59 (30 min + SCORM) |
| L&D program: 20 modules/mo in 6 languages, SCORM required | 100+ plus dubbing | Enterprise | Quote | Colossyan Enterprise (quote) |
The pattern to notice: Synthesia's self-serve minutes are tight, so the honest comparison for anyone over ~30 minutes a month is a Synthesia Enterprise quote versus the competitor's self-serve plan. Use the calculator with your own numbers.
Annual vs monthly
Starter drops from $29 to $18/month on annual billing — a 38% saving, but a $216 commitment. Our advice is the same for every tool in this category: run one full month on monthly billing at your real volume, then switch to annual only if you didn't hit the minute wall. Creator's annual price isn't shown on the public pricing page at the time of writing; check inside your account.
Upgrade triggers to expect
- Basic → Starter: the moment you need to download a clean, unbranded MP4 or use a personal avatar.
- Starter → Creator: more than ~3 short videos a month, or you want the API, interactive elements or a branded share page.
- Creator → Enterprise: SCORM for your LMS, SSO for security review, more than 30 minutes a month, or several editors working together.
Is Synthesia worth the price?
For training, onboarding and internal communications at a company — yes, provided your volume fits a tier or you're prepared for an Enterprise conversation. The localization pipeline and template workflow are the strongest in the category, and the review base backs that up (G2 4.6/5, 2,800+ reviews). For solo creators and marketers counting minutes, the same $29 buys 2.5× the video at HeyGen, and voice-only projects should be on a voice tool at a tenth of the per-minute cost. Full verdict: Synthesia review.
FAQ
How much is Synthesia per month?
$0 (Basic, 10 min), $29 (Starter, 12 min; $18/mo annual), $89 (Creator, 30 min), or a custom Enterprise contract with unlimited minutes.
Does Synthesia have a free plan?
Yes. Basic gives 10 minutes a month with 9 avatars, but no personal avatar, no dubbing, and download/branding restrictions.
Can I buy extra minutes?
Synthesia has offered top-ups in the past; availability and price change. If you exceed a plan regularly, the next tier is usually the better deal.
What does Enterprise cost?
Custom, based on seats, minutes and features (SCORM, SSO, custom avatars). Get the quote in writing and compare it to Colossyan Enterprise and HeyGen Business ($149/mo + $20/seat).
Method: published pricing page verified on the date shown. Related: Synthesia review · Synthesia vs HeyGen · Synthesia vs Colossyan.