Runway vs Synthesia
vs
A detailed comparison of Runway and Synthesia in 2026 — features, pricing, and which tool is right for you.
🏆 Quick verdict: Synthesia edges ahead with a ★ 4.5/5 score, but read the details below — the best choice still depends on your needs.
| Runway | Synthesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.4/5 | ★ 4.5/5 |
| Pricing type | Freemium | Paid |
| Starting price | $15/mo | $18/mo |
| Category | AI Video Tools | AI Video Tools |
| Founded | 2018 | 2017 |
| Key features | Text-to-Video (Gen-3), Image-to-Video, Motion Brush | 160+ AI avatars, 140+ languages, Text-to-video |
Runway
Professional AI video production studio
Runway leads the way in AI video: text-to-video (Gen-3), editing, object removal, and motion brush. It's even used in professional film production.
Pros- Top-tier AI video quality
- Rich set of editing tools
- Usable for professional work
- Burns through credits quickly
- Long-form video is still limited
Synthesia
Turn text into videos with an AI presenter
Synthesia turns a text script into a video presented by a realistic AI avatar, supporting 140+ languages. Ideal for training and corporate videos.
Pros- No filming or actors needed
- Strong multilingual support
- Ideal for training videos
- Avatars can feel a bit stiff
- Expensive, no free plan