How to Use Synthesia Step by Step — 2026 Tutorial

Quick Start

This guide covers every Synthesia feature:

• Getting Started — Create your account and finish basic setup
• How to Use AI Avatars — Pick from 150+ AI avatars or build a personal avatar of yourself
• How to Use Text-to-Speech — Turn your script into natural AI voices across 120+ languages and accents
• How to Use Customizable Templates — Start from 250+ pre-designed templates built for training and marketing
• How to Use AI Video Editor — Edit scenes, timing and animations without touching a complicated timeline
• How to Use Collaboration and Sharing — Share projects, collect timestamped feedback and publish anywhere
• How to Use AI Video Assistant — Turn a topic, prompt or public URL into a finished video draft
• How to Use AI Screen Recorder — Record product walkthroughs and pair them with an AI presenter
• How to Use 1-Click Translation — Dub finished videos into 30+ languages with lip-sync that stays frame-accurate
• How to Use Interactive Videos — Add clickable hotspots, quizzes and branching paths to passive training videos

Time needed: 5 minutes per feature

Also in this guide: Pro Tips | Common Mistakes | Troubleshooting | Pricing | Alternatives

Why Trust This Guide

I started making Synthesia videos months ago and have tested every feature here myself.

This tutorial comes from real projects, not vendor screenshots.

Synthesia is the AI video generator most companies land on first.

But most users only scratch the surface of what the platform can do.

This guide shows you how to use every major feature.

Step by step, with screenshots and pro tips.

Synthesia Tutorial

This How to Use Synthesia tutorial walks through the whole video creation process, from your first account to advanced tricks.

Synthesia

Turn plain text into studio-quality videos with AI avatars and voiceovers in 140+ languages. No camera, no crew, no waiting on an edit. Start free with three minutes of video per month.

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Getting Started with Synthesia

Before you create anything, finish this one-time setup.

It takes about three minutes.

Here is what my own first week looked like:

Now let’s walk through each step.

Step 1: Create Your Account

Go to the Synthesia website and click Get Started Free.

Enter your work email and create a password.

✓ Checkpoint: Check your inbox for the confirmation email.

Step 2: Open the Web App

Synthesia runs in the browser, so there is nothing to install.

Log in and the dashboard loads with your recent projects and templates.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: You should see the main dashboard and a New Video button.

Step 3: Finish Onboarding

Answer the short setup questions about your team and use case.

Synthesia uses those answers to surface relevant templates on your home page.

Upload your logo and brand colours if you are on a paid plan.

How to Use Synthesia AI Avatars

AI Avatars let you put a presenter on screen without hiring one.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open the Avatars Tab

Click Avatars in the left panel of the editor.

You get 150+ diverse AI avatars sorted by style, age and setting.

Step 2: Pick a Framing

Choose waist-up shots for intros and chest-up shots for detailed explanations.

Add gestures like head nods or raised eyebrows so the delivery feels less stiff.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: The avatar preview sits on your canvas at the framing you chose.

Step 3: Save It to the Scene

Drag your chosen avatar onto the canvas and lock the position.

Repeat for the rest of your scenes to keep one presenter throughout.

How to Use Synthesia Text-to-Speech

Text-to-Speech turns your script into speech using AI voices.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Paste Your Script

Drop your text into the script box under each scene.

Keep every scene focused on one idea so the AI reads it cleanly.

Step 2: Choose a Voice and Language

The speech engine covers 120+ languages and accents.

Match the accent to your audience, not to your own.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: The voice name shows under each scene and captions appear in the preview.

Step 3: Add Pauses and Captions

Insert pause tags where you want breathing room in the narration.

Switch on closed captions so viewers can follow without sound.

How to Use Synthesia Customizable Templates

Customizable Templates save you from designing videos from scratch.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Browse the Library

Open Templates from the dashboard and filter by use case.

There are 250+ pre-designed templates covering training, onboarding and marketing.

Step 2: Swap in Your Content

Replace the placeholder text, images and avatar with your own.

Keep a clear visual hierarchy in each scene so nothing feels crowded.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: Your own text and images now sit inside the template layout.

Step 3: Save It as Your Own

Save the edited layout as a reusable template for your team.

Custom assets and brand kits keep every future video on brand.

How to Use Synthesia AI Video Editor

AI Video Editor handles scenes, timing and animations without a timeline.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Arrange Your Scenes

Each scene is a card, much like a slide in PowerPoint.

That familiar layout is why most people learn the editor in an afternoon.

Step 2: Add Media and Animations

Upload images or clips, then set simple entrance animations.

Adjust background music so the sound never fights the voice.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: Your media appears in the scene with the animation you picked.

Step 3: Preview Before You Generate

Hit play on the preview to check pacing and narration.

Fix anything odd, then click generate.

How to Use Synthesia Collaboration and Sharing

Collaboration and Sharing keeps review cycles inside the platform.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open a Space

Synthesia Spaces group your team’s projects in one shared place.

Invite reviewers by email and set edit or comment access.

Step 2: Collect Timestamped Feedback

Reviewers leave comments pinned to the exact second.

You resolve each note as you fix it, so nothing gets lost.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: Comments appear in the side panel with a timestamp on each one.

Step 3: Share the Finished Video

Export an MP4 or generate share links for your audience.

Videos also push straight into most LMS apps.

How to Use Synthesia AI Video Assistant

AI Video Assistant builds a first draft from almost nothing.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Give It a Starting Point

Enter a topic, a prompt or a public URL.

The assistant reads it and writes a scene-by-scene script.

Step 2: Review the Draft

Check the generated text against the FOCA framework: focus, outcome, content, action.

A strategic script drives roughly 80% of a video’s success.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: A full scene list appears with a script written under each scene.

Step 3: Edit and Approve

Rewrite anything that sounds generic, then approve the draft.

The assistant fills each scene with an avatar, visuals and voice.

How to Use Synthesia AI Screen Recorder

AI Screen Recorder captures product walkthroughs inside Synthesia.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Start a Recording

Click Record in the media panel and choose a tab or window.

No separate recording tool is needed.

Step 2: Trim the Capture

Cut dead air from the start and end of the clip.

Speed up slow sections so viewers stay with you.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: The trimmed clip sits in your media library, ready to drop into a scene.

Step 3: Add a Presenter

Place an AI avatar beside the recording to narrate what happens.

Match the voice to the rest of your video series.

How to Use Synthesia 1-Click Translation

1-Click Translation reaches global teams without re-recording anything.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open a Finished Video

Select any completed video from your project list.

Choose Translate from the options menu.

Step 2: Pick Your Languages

AI Dubbing covers 30+ languages with frame-accurate lip-sync.

Select every market you need in one pass.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: Each language appears as its own version inside your project list.

Step 3: Check Each Version

Watch a minute of each language before publishing.

Fix any term your glossary should have caught.

How to Use Synthesia Interactive Videos

Interactive Videos turn passive watching into active learning.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Enable Interactivity

Open the video settings and switch on interactive elements.

This works on training videos and product tours alike.

Step 2: Add Hotspots and Quizzes

Drop clickable hotspots on key parts of the screen.

Add a short quiz to test whether the message landed.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: Hotspot and quiz markers show on the scene you edited.

Step 3: Set Branching Paths

Send viewers down different paths based on their answers.

New hires skip what they already know.

Synthesia Pro Tips and Shortcuts

After eight months of daily use, these are the tips I’d hand a new user.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Hidden Features Most People Miss

• Synthesia Academy: free courses on localization and advanced production, with worked examples worth a deep dive.
• Brand kits: lock fonts, colours and logo placement once so every video matches without manual checks.
• Pronunciation glossary: teach the AI how to say product names, then stop fixing the same word forever.

Synthesia Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Writing the script last

Mistake #2: Cramming every scene

Mistake #3: Skipping the preview

Synthesia Troubleshooting

Problem: Video generation is stuck

Cause: Long videos queue behind other jobs during busy hours.

Fix: Generation normally takes 3 to 20 minutes depending on length. Close the tab and wait for the email. Split anything over 10 minutes into shorter videos.

Problem: The avatar mispronounces your brand name

Cause: The speech engine guesses unfamiliar words from spelling alone.

Fix: Add the word to your pronunciation glossary with a phonetic spelling. Regenerate that scene only, not the whole video.

Problem: An uploaded clip won’t play

Cause: The file uses an unsupported codec or exceeds the upload limit.

Fix: Re-export as an MP4 with H.264 video and AAC sound, then upload again. Keep single files under the plan limit shown on the upload page.

📌 Note: If none of these fix your issue, contact Synthesia support.

What is Synthesia?

Synthesia is an AI video generator that creates studio-quality videos from text.

Think of it as a film crew that lives in a browser tab.

You write, it casts an avatar, records the voice and edits the result.

Companies create videos this way for onboarding, product updates and customer service.

Every video created here can be updated later without re-recording anything.

Watch this quick overview:

It includes these key features:

• AI Avatars: Pick from 150+ AI avatars or build a personal avatar of yourself
• Text-to-Speech: Turn your script into natural AI voices across 120+ languages and accents
• Customizable Templates: Start from 250+ pre-designed templates built for training and marketing
• AI Video Editor: Edit scenes, timing and animations without touching a complicated timeline
• Collaboration and Sharing: Share projects, collect timestamped feedback and publish anywhere
• AI Video Assistant: Turn a topic, prompt or public URL into a finished video draft
• AI Screen Recorder: Record product walkthroughs and pair them with an AI presenter
• 1-Click Translation: Dub finished videos into 30+ languages with lip-sync that stays frame-accurate
• Interactive Videos: Add clickable hotspots, quizzes and branching paths to passive training videos

Synthesia is built on AI ethics and security. It is SOC 2 and GDPR compliant, and a Trust and Safety team reviews content with both human and AI moderation.

Non-consensual clones of celebrities or political figures are blocked, and explicit consent is required before any likeness is used.

The technology does not suit every job. High-impact presentations still need a real person on camera.

For a full review, see our Synthesia review.

Synthesia Pricing

Here’s what Synthesia costs in 2026:

Free trial: Yes. A free plan gives you three minutes of video per month, six stock avatars and every AI voice.

Money-back guarantee: No refund window is published, so test on the free plan first.

💰 Best Value: Creator — brand kits, more video minutes and the editing control most teams end up needing.

One note on cost: a custom AI avatar is $1,000 per year, more than the subscription itself. Most businesses still come out ahead against filmed production.

Synthesia vs Alternatives

How does Synthesia compare? Here’s the competitive landscape:

Quick picks:

• Best overall: Synthesia — the widest language support and the cleanest editing experience.
• Best budget: Vidnoz — free daily credits let you learn AI video at no cost.
• Best for beginners: InVideo — prompt-to-video with stock footage and no avatar setup.
• Best for training videos: Colossyan — branching scenarios built for learning teams.

🎯 Synthesia Alternatives

Looking for Synthesia alternatives? Here are the top options:

• 🚀 HeyGen: Faster avatar video generation with sharper lip-sync. Better for short social clips than long internal training modules.
• 🧠 Colossyan: Built for learning teams. Branching scenarios and two-avatar conversations make compliance training feel less flat.
• 🎨 Veed: A browser video editor first, AI avatars second. Best if you also cut real footage and add subtitles.
• ⚡ Elai: Turns slide decks and blog links into narrated videos quickly. Light interface with a small learning curve.
• 💰 Vidnoz: The cheapest way to test AI video. Daily free credits, though the avatars look noticeably less polished.
• 🔒 Deepbrain: Enterprise avatars with tight security controls. Popular with news desks and finance teams.
• 🎯 Synthesys: Wide AI voice library with commercial rights included. Strong for voiceovers on existing footage.
• 🏢 Hour One: Studio-quality presenters aimed at corporate communications teams producing videos at scale.
• 🔧 D-ID: Developer-friendly API that animates a single photo into a talking head. Good for personalised outreach.
• ⭐ Virbo: Wondershare’s lightweight avatar tool. Aimed at e-commerce clips and quick product explainers.
• 📊 Vidyard: Video hosting and sales outreach with analytics, plus AI avatars for prospecting messages.
• 💼 Fliki: Text-to-video with strong AI voices. Turns blog posts and scripts into narrated clips fast.
• 🔥 Speechify: Voice-first tool for turning text into speech. Useful when you only need narration, not video.
• 👶 InVideo: Prompt-to-video using stock footage instead of avatars. Friendly for beginners making marketing videos.
• 🌟 Creatify: Ad-focused generator that spins product ad variations straight from a store URL.
• 🎬 Captions AI: Mobile-first editing and AI presenters. Great for creators working entirely from a phone.

For the full list, see our Synthesia alternatives guide.

⚔️ Synthesia Compared

Here’s how Synthesia stacks up against each competitor:

• Synthesia vs HeyGen: HeyGen wins on avatar realism and speed. Synthesia wins on team controls, translation depth and enterprise security.
• Synthesia vs Colossyan: Colossyan has richer scenario branching. Synthesia has more avatars, more languages and a far bigger template library.
• Synthesia vs Veed: Veed is better for editing filmed video. Synthesia is better when the avatar is the whole video.
• Synthesia vs Elai: Elai converts decks faster. Synthesia produces cleaner output and gives you far more voice and avatar control.
• Synthesia vs Vidnoz: Vidnoz costs less on paper. Synthesia looks professional enough to put in front of customers and new hires.
• Synthesia vs Deepbrain: Deepbrain matches Synthesia on security. Synthesia is easier to learn and ships new features much faster.
• Synthesia vs Synthesys: Synthesys is voice-led. Synthesia gives you the full video creation process, not just the speech layer.
• Synthesia vs Hour One: Hour One has polished presenters. Synthesia has better editing, translation and collaboration for everyday projects.
• Synthesia vs D-ID: D-ID is an API play. Synthesia is a full platform your non-technical teammates can actually use.
• Synthesia vs Virbo: Virbo is cheaper and simpler. Synthesia handles long-form training videos that Virbo was never built for.
• Synthesia vs Vidyard: Vidyard wins on hosting and tracking. Synthesia wins on the actual video generation quality.
• Synthesia vs Fliki: Fliki is cheaper for stock-footage videos. Synthesia is the pick when you need a human presenter.
• Synthesia vs Speechify: Speechify only handles voice. Synthesia adds avatars, scenes, captions and translation on top of that.
• Synthesia vs InVideo: InVideo suits ads and social. Synthesia suits training videos where a presenter explains something on camera.
• Synthesia vs Creatify: Creatify is built for paid ads. Synthesia is built for internal communications, onboarding and customer education.
• Synthesia vs Captions AI: Captions AI is made for a YouTube channel workflow. Synthesia is made for companies training staff.

Start Using Synthesia Now

You learned how to use every major Synthesia feature:

• ✅ AI Avatars
• ✅ Text-to-Speech
• ✅ Customizable Templates
• ✅ AI Video Editor
• ✅ Collaboration and Sharing
• ✅ AI Video Assistant
• ✅ AI Screen Recorder
• ✅ 1-Click Translation
• ✅ Interactive Videos

Next step: Pick one feature and try it now.

Most people start with AI Avatars.

It takes less than five minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you use Synthesia?

Create a free account, pick a template, paste your script, choose an AI avatar and voice, then click generate. Your video renders in a few minutes.

How to use Synthesia AI for free?

The free plan gives you three minutes of video per month, six stock avatars and the full range of AI voices. No card is needed to test it.

How do I put a song into Synthesia?

That question usually means the piano app, not the AI video generator. In Synthesia AI you add background music from the media panel inside the editor.

How do I add a video to Synthesia?

Open a scene, click Upload in the media library, then drop in your MP4. You can also record clips directly with the built-in AI screen recorder.

How does Synthesia AI work?

You write text, Synthesia turns it into speech with AI voices, then animates a chosen avatar to match. Scenes, animations and captions are added in the editor.