Runway vs Synthesia
AI Video Generation
| R Runway | S Synthesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | ✓ Free tier | ✓ Free tier |
| Pricing model | subscription+usage | subscription |
| Price | $12 (Standard（年払）) | $29 (Starter) |
| Features | ||
| Languages | — | en, ja |
| API | ✓ Available Docs ↗ | ✓ Available Docs ↗ |
| Homepage | Runway ↗ | Synthesia ↗ |
| Pricing Plans | Free$0125クレジット（一回限り）、透かしあり Standard$12/月年払。月払いは$15。625クレジット/月 Pro$28/月年払。2,250クレジット/月 Max$76/月年払。9,500クレジット/月 | Basic$0/月500クレジット/月、透かしあり Starter$29/月年払は月$18。1,250クレジット/月 Pro$89/月年払は月$64。6,000クレジット/月、SCORM書き出し、API Enterprise要問合せ動画の分数無制限、SSO |
| Platforms | ||
| Integrations | Runway API, Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, After Effects, Frame.io | PowerPoint, Google Slides, Salesforce, HubSpot, Workday, LMS platforms (SCORM), Synthesia API |
- Generation and editing of existing footage (Aleph 2.0, object removal, upscaling) sit in the same app
- Choice of in-house Gen-4.5 or third-party Seedance models without a second subscription
- Node-based Workflows chain several models into a reusable pipeline
- Plugins bring generation and clip extension into Premiere Pro and After Effects
- Credit cost per second differs by model, so the real number of clips per plan is hard to predict
- The Free plan is a one-time 125 credits with a watermark, enough only to try it
- Unlimited 4K upscaling and higher parallel generation start at Pro, not Standard
- Translation and dubbing into 140+ languages from one source video
- SCORM export, in-video quizzes and branching scenarios on Pro and above
- Personal avatar lets a real spokesperson appear without new filming
- API for video creation and dubbing on Pro (360 minutes a year included) and Enterprise
- The free Basic plan watermarks every video and allows about 10 minutes a month
- Starter lacks SCORM export and API access, which L&D teams usually need
- Output is presenter-led; there is little control over camera movement or cinematic shots
Our Verdict
- You need footage generated — Gen-4.5 produces near-live-action clips.
- You want to edit in the browser too.
- You want a cheap start: 125 one-time free credits, and Standard at $12/month billed annually.
- You are wiring it into a production pipeline via API.
- You need a presenter on camera without filming one — an avatar reads your script.
- The same content has to ship in many languages: 160-plus are supported.
- It is training material. SCORM export puts it into an LMS.
Overview
Runway suits creators and production teams who want generation and AI editing in one place: its own Gen-4.5 for text- and image-to-video, Aleph 2.0 for changing existing footage, third-party Seedance models, plus upscaling, object removal, node-based Workflows and plugins for Premiere Pro and After Effects. Everything draws from one credit pool, and each model burns credits at a different per-second rate, so the monthly allowance shrinks fast on the pricier models. Pick it over single-model tools when you need to revise shots, not just generate them. A developer API is offered separately.
Synthesia fits teams that produce training, onboarding and internal update videos at volume and need them in many languages. Scripts become avatar-presented videos; one-click translation and dubbing cover 140+ languages, and Pro adds SCORM export, in-video quizzes and branching for LMS use. It is weak where creative control matters: the format is a presenter in front of a scene, not cinematic footage. The free Basic plan watermarks output, and SCORM and the API both start at Pro, so an L&D team should budget from Pro, not Starter.
