# Runway vs Synthesia

> Runway: AI video, image and audio creation suite with Gen-4.5, agents and an API
> Synthesia: Create narrated business videos from text with AI avatars in 140+ languages

- Runway profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/runway
- Synthesia profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/synthesia
- Comparison page: https://finderatlas.com/compare/runway-vs-synthesia
- Last reviewed: October 2026

## Verdict

Runway is listed under Image & Visual AI and Synthesia under Video AI. Both have a free plan or trial. Only Runway is available on iOS and Android.

### Choose Runway if

- You want a tool built for Text-to-video and image-to-video generation.
- Combines video, image and audio generation and editing in one workspace.
- Offers Runway's own Gen-4.5 plus third-party models such as Seedance 2.0.

### Choose Synthesia if

- You want a tool built for corporate training videos.
- Free Basic plan with 10 minutes of video or dubbing per month.
- 140+ languages for voiceovers and translation.

## Pricing

| | Runway | Synthesia |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Free plan or trial | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | $0 | $0 |

## Features

| Feature | Runway | Synthesia |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gen-4.5 video model | Yes | Not listed |
| Creative Agent | Yes | Not listed |
| Multiple models | Yes | Not listed |
| Characters | Yes | Not listed |
| Aleph and Act-Two | Yes | Not listed |
| Audio tools | Yes | Not listed |
| Workflows and Recipes | Yes | Not listed |
| Runway Dev API | Yes | Not listed |
| Runway MCP | Yes | Not listed |
| AI avatars | Not listed | Yes |
| Text, document and PowerPoint to video | Not listed | Yes |
| 140+ languages | Not listed | Yes |
| Video dubbing and translation | Not listed | Yes |
| Interactive videos | Not listed | Yes |
| Sessions | Not listed | Yes |
| Brand controls and collaboration | Not listed | Yes |
| SCORM export and SSO | Not listed | Yes |
| API and MCP | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

| Platform | Runway | Synthesia |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | No | No |
| macOS | No | No |
| iOS | Yes | No |
| Android | Yes | No |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Browser Extension | No | No |

## Runway strengths

- Combines video, image and audio generation and editing in one workspace
- Offers Runway's own Gen-4.5 plus third-party models such as Seedance 2.0
- Creative Agent builds videos from a conversation
- Runway Dev API with Node and Python SDKs
- Free plan with 125 credits that do not expire
- Native iOS and Android apps

## Runway limitations

- Credit-based pricing: a 5-second Gen-4.5 clip costs 60 credits, so the 625 credits on Standard cover about 10 such clips
- Standard and Pro credits do not roll over at the end of the month
- Some App Store reviewers complain about the cost of failed or unusable generations
- 4K upscaling is unlimited only on Pro and Max

## Synthesia strengths

- Free Basic plan with 10 minutes of video or dubbing per month
- 140+ languages for voiceovers and translation
- Turns prompts, documents and PowerPoint files into editable videos
- Interactive videos, roleplay and survey Sessions beyond standard video
- Enterprise features include SAML/SSO and SCORM export, and a public API is available

## Synthesia limitations

- Free plan videos carry a watermark and cannot be downloaded
- SCORM export, SAML/SSO and Brand Kits are limited to Enterprise
- Credit-based plans are hard to forecast because usage depends on the content of each video
- No mobile app found in the App Store

## FAQ

**Is Runway better than Synthesia?**

It depends on your workflow. Runway is built for Text-to-video and image-to-video generation. Synthesia is built for corporate training videos.

**What are the key feature differences between Runway and Synthesia?**

Runway: AI video, image and audio creation suite with Gen-4.5, agents and an API. Synthesia: Create narrated business videos from text with AI avatars in 140+ languages.

**Does Runway or Synthesia have a free plan?**

Yes, both do. Runway is freemium and Synthesia is freemium, and each has a free plan or trial.

**Which is cheaper, Runway or Synthesia?**

Both can be used for free. Paid plans differ in limits and features, so compare the tiers in the pricing table above.