Create AI videos with 230+ avatars in 140+ languages.
While D-ID is good for quick talking-head clips, many teams find it too limited for interactive training, branded content, and enterprise workflows. If you’re ready to scale beyond photo-based animations, this guide is for you.
Whether you’re switching from D-ID or comparing AI video tools for the first time, the differences in realism, security, and workflow depth become obvious fast.
After testing dozens of D-ID alternatives across training, onboarding, how-to/product walk-throughs, and multilingual marketing, I’ve narrowed it down to five platforms that solve the most common pain points: avatar realism, localization, team collaboration, and LMS compatibility.
My ranking of alternatives to D-ID:
- Synthesia
- Colossyan
- Elai.io
- Hour One (discontinued; see note)
- HeyGen
The best D-ID alternatives compared
Pricing information accurate as of October 2025.
1) Synthesia
What is Synthesia?
Synthesia is widely recognized as the leading AI video generation platform used by thousands of organizations — from Fortune 100 enterprises to startups — to create professional, multilingual video content without cameras or microphones.
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Founded in 2017, Synthesia pioneered AI presenter technology that turns text into polished, studio-quality videos using lifelike digital avatars. The platform supports more than 140 languages, integrates with popular learning and marketing tools, and includes features like AI Screen Recording, SCORM export, and interactive video capabilities for training, onboarding, sales, and many more use cases.
Unlike lightweight tools that only animate faces, Synthesia provides a complete end-to-end video production suite, offering templates, collaboration tools, analytics, and secure enterprise governance that scale globally.
What I loved about Synthesia
- Incredibly realistic AI avatars: Synthesia’s avatars are by far the most natural-looking of any AI video tool. They include subtle micro-gestures and head movements, so presenters don’t feel robotic or stiff. You can also mix multiple avatars in a single video to create engaging dialogue or role-play scenarios.
- Powerful localization and translation: With 1-click translation and a multilingual video player, videos can automatically display in a viewer’s preferred language.
- Interactive video features: Synthesia allows you to add quizzes, branching scenarios, and clickable CTAs directly inside your video, making content more engaging and measurable.
- Collaboration and brand control: Multiple users can edit, review, and comment in real-time. Brand Kits ensure consistent fonts, colors, and logos across every project, and secure sharing ensures only approved users can access your custom avatars and cloned voices.
- AI Screen Recording and templates: I was able to create seamless tutorials and walkthroughs by recording my screen (with zoomed in snippets to highlight parts of the screen) and instantly embedding the footage into AI videos. There’s also a vast collection of templates covering everything from onboarding to product demos.
- Analytics and SCORM export: Synthesia includes built-in analytics to measure viewer engagement, while SCORM export ensures compatibility with leading learning management systems (LMSs). This is a major differentiator for L&D teams compared to simpler video tools.
What could be improved
- No interactive avatars (yet): While videos can include interactivity and multiple presenters, avatars themselves don’t yet respond dynamically to viewer input, though this functionality is about to launch.
- Higher price point: Synthesia’s pricing reflects its enterprise-grade features, governance controls, and security certifications (SOC 2 Type II, SSO/SAML), which is why it’s used by +80% of the Fortune 100. For teams creating only occasional short videos, lighter tools may be more cost-effective.
Synthesia pricing
Synthesia offers four plans designed to fit individuals, small teams, and global enterprises. All include access to AI avatars, voices, and intuitive text-to-video editing, with no video experience required.
Pricing information accurate as of October 2025.
- Free: Great for testing. No credit card required and ideal for beginners exploring AI video creation.
- Starter: Perfect for individuals or small teams creating occasional videos; includes more avatars and commenting tools.
- Creator: The best fit for professional creators and growing teams; adds advanced branding, collaboration, and analytics features.
- Enterprise: Designed for large organizations needing governance, security compliance, global translation workflows, and LMS integration.
{{cta-section data-type="1" data-heading="Create Training Videos with Synthesia" data-body="Join over 1M+ users today and save time, reduce costs, and boost learner engagement with AI-powered videos in 140+ languages and accents."}}
2) Colossyan
What is Colossyan?
Colossyan is an AI-powered video creation platform focused on education and training. It’s designed for learning and development teams that need to turn slides or written scripts into professional-looking videos quickly. With support for PowerPoint and PDF uploads, automatic translation, and SCORM export, it’s a solid mid-tier option — though it lacks the refinement of enterprise-grade platforms.
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What I loved about Colossyan
- Purpose-built for L&D: I appreciated that Colossyan clearly caters to educators and instructional designers. The ability to take existing slide decks and convert them into narrated training modules saves hours of production time.
- Scenario-based learning: One of Colossyan’s strengths is its branching editor, which allows for simulating different scenarios. It’s not as advanced as true interactivity tools, but it adds realism to soft-skills training.
- Automatic translation: The auto-translate feature does a decent job of localizing scripts and subtitles, making it easier to repurpose existing content across multiple languages.
- Simple collaboration tools: While not real-time, Colossyan includes basic collaboration features like team seats and commenting, which make it easier for small L&D teams to stay aligned during production.
- Cost-effective business plan: The Business plan ($88/month) stands out for offering unlimited video creation — a good deal for teams producing large volumes of short training clips on a budget.
What could be improved
- Limited avatar realism: The avatars feel more like digital cutouts than presenters. Movements are stiff, and facial expressions often lack nuance, which can reduce engagement for learner-facing content.
- Slow rendering times: I found rendering noticeably slower than on other tools. Even short 40-second videos sometimes took 10 minutes or more to process, which can be frustrating when working under tight deadlines.
- Lack of built-in analytics: Colossyan doesn’t offer analytics or viewer insights. For teams needing to measure completion rates or engagement, this means using external tools or LMS data.
- No multilingual player: Unlike Synthesia, there’s no player that automatically adapts to a viewer’s language, forcing you to render separate videos for each locale.
- Template and media limitations: The available templates are basic, and the stock media library is sparse. Creating visually rich content requires importing your own assets or building designs manually.
- Limited version control: There’s no version history or true real-time co-editing, which can cause confusion when multiple users edit the same project.
Colossyan pricing
Pricing information accurate as of October 2025.
- Starter: Best for experimenting or creating basic training content.
- Business: The most practical tier for educators and small teams creating content regularly.
- Enterprise: Adds security, SCORM, and branding options for larger organizations — though the overall experience still feels less polished than higher-end tools.
3) Elai.io
What is Elai.io?
Elai.io is an AI-driven platform that allows users to generate videos from text using customizable digital presenters. It’s flexible and affordable, appealing primarily to small teams, startups, and educators who want a mix of creative freedom and multilingual capabilities.
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Its standout feature is the AI storyboard generator, which can automatically structure your text into visual scenes. While useful for idea development, Elai’s avatars and rendering performance still lag behind more advanced competitors.
What I loved about Elai.io
- AI storyboard tool: I found this genuinely helpful for turning rough outlines into structured scripts. It takes a short text prompt and automatically breaks it into scenes, suggesting visuals and pacing — ideal for rapid prototyping.
- Custom avatar flexibility: You can create personalized avatars from a photo, video, or even an illustration, giving creative teams more stylistic options than most AI video tools.
- Strong translation support: Elai covers 75+ languages, and its one-click translation feature makes it easy to repurpose videos for international audiences.
- Ease of use: The interface feels intuitive. Like Synthesia’s editor, it’s closer to PowerPoint than a professional editing suite, which means even first-time users can build short videos quickly.
- API and automation options: I liked that Elai offers an API for integrating video generation into larger content workflows, something smaller AI tools rarely provide.
What could be improved
- Avatar realism and movement: The avatars often look static, with limited gestures and slightly mismatched lip-syncing. Compared to Synthesia, they feel more like animated photos than realistic presenters.
- Rendering performance: Videos render slowly, especially at higher quality settings. When I tested a 90-second video, it took nearly 15 minutes to complete — a significant slowdown for time-sensitive projects.
- Limited templates: Elai’s template selection feels barebones. There are few pre-designed options for specific use cases (like onboarding or explainer videos), which means more manual layout work.
- No collaboration tools: There’s no way to co-edit or comment in real time, so teams have to coordinate changes externally.
- Inconsistent lip-sync accuracy: In longer videos or less common languages, lip movements occasionally drift out of sync with the voice track, which makes the final output feel less professional.
- Basic analytics: There’s no viewer tracking or performance insights, so measuring engagement is difficult without a third-party LMS.
Elai.io pricing
Pricing information accurate as of October 2025.
- Creator: Best for small-scale creators or educators producing short clips.
- Team: Adds more video minutes and some brand tools but lacks the polish of enterprise-level platforms.
- Enterprise: Includes SCORM export and voice cloning, but performance and avatar quality remain its biggest drawbacks.
4) Hour One
What was Hour One?
Hour One was a platform that specialized in creating videos using real human avatars captured from professional actors. Its aim was to produce ultra-realistic talking-head videos for training and internal communications.
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In May 2025, Hour One was acquired by Wix and its standalone service was discontinued. While the technology now supports Wix’s built-in video tools, Hour One as a separate AI platform is no longer accessible to new users.
What I liked about Hour One
- Human-based avatars: Hour One used real actors, giving its avatars a photorealistic appearance. In short clips or marketing intros, this made videos feel more genuine than many synthetic alternatives.
- Simple workflow: The editor was easy to navigate and suited to beginners who wanted fast, single-avatar content without a steep learning curve.
- Affordable entry point: The Lite plan, at $30/month, was inexpensive for experimenting with AI video — though functionality was limited.
What could be improved
- Discontinued service: The most significant issue is that Hour One is no longer available. Existing users have had to migrate elsewhere, and there’s no indication Wix will relaunch it as a standalone product.
- Lack of depth: Even before the acquisition, Hour One lacked advanced features like analytics, SCORM export, or multi-avatar scenes, which limited its use for training or enterprise projects.
- Slow processing times: Rendering speeds were inconsistent, and videos often took longer to process compared to newer platforms.
- No collaboration or interactivity: There were no team features, quizzes, or branching options, making the platform unsuitable for interactive learning content.
- Minimal creative control: Templates were basic and branding options limited. Users looking to produce branded or diverse scenarios had to do significant post-editing outside the platform.
Hour One pricing (before discontinuation)
Although Hour One is now discontinued, its former pricing structure provides context for comparison with current competitors.
5) HeyGen
What is HeyGen?
HeyGen is an AI video platform best known for its fast rendering speed, FaceSwap tool, and large template library. It’s become popular with social media creators and marketers who need quick, simple talking-head videos.
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While it’s fun to use and quick to learn, HeyGen isn’t built for long-form or enterprise-level video creation. I found it best suited for social content, short explainers, or basic marketing outreach.
What I liked about HeyGen
- Fast rendering: HeyGen processes short videos in a fraction of the time it takes most competitors. For anyone producing quick-turnaround content, that speed can be a real advantage.
- User-friendly interface: The layout feels intuitive and visual. I could create a short clip within minutes without reading any documentation.
- FaceSwap feature: This feature lets you apply a face from a photo onto an avatar, making it possible to personalize short clips. It’s novel and fun, though I’d hesitate to use it for professional or regulated content.
- Extensive voice and language coverage: With 175+ languages and 300+ voices, HeyGen supports wide localization, albeit with varying voice quality.
- Social-friendly templates: I liked that the platform includes preset export formats for TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, which helps creators publish content fast.
What could be improved
- Limited creative flexibility: HeyGen videos are always single-presenter scenes, which means you can’t create dialogues or multi-character scenarios. That’s fine for quick intros but too restrictive for training or storytelling.
- No analytics: There’s no way to track performance. For business use, that’s a major limitation.
- Lacks team collaboration tools: You can’t co-edit, assign roles, or comment in real time, making team workflows cumbersome.
- Avatars lack realism: The avatars look decent for short social clips but lack micro-gestures and nuanced emotion. In professional settings, this makes videos feel slightly uncanny.
- No multilingual player: You must render separate videos for each language rather than offering a single video with built-in translation options.
- Security gaps: HeyGen doesn’t provide comprehensive enterprise-grade security (e.g. it’s missing ISO 42001 and ISO 27001). It also lacks security features that prevent users from uploading anyone’s face and generating an avatar without their consent.
HeyGen pricing
Pricing information accurate as of October 2025.
- Free: A good starting point for testing HeyGen’s workflow.
- Creator: Best for solo creators and marketers needing quick, HD-quality videos.
- Team: Suitable for small content teams that require collaboration and 4K output, but still lacks analytics or interactivity.
- Enterprise: Offers custom avatars and API access but remains less feature-rich than full production platforms like Synthesia.
How to choose the best AI video generation software
Here are the main factors I used when evaluating D-ID alternatives (and what you should look for too):
1. Ease of use
A straightforward, intuitive interface is critical — especially for non-editors. The best platforms make it possible to go from script to video in minutes without needing professional editing experience. Tools like Synthesia excel here, offering a slide-based interface that feels familiar to anyone who’s used PowerPoint or Canva.
2. Branding capabilities
Consistent branding builds trust. Look for options that include Brand Kits, custom fonts, color controls, and logo placement. This ensures every video you publish feels cohesive and professional.
3. Language and localization support
If you’re training or marketing to a global audience, multilingual support is essential. A built-in video translator or multilingual player can save countless hours of manual editing and re-rendering for each region.
4. Content flexibility
Different projects demand different styles. Evaluate whether the platform supports multi-avatar scenes, templates for specific use cases (e.g. onboarding, compliance, marketing), and custom avatars that reflect your brand’s identity.
5. Avatar and voice quality
Realism matters, especially in professional communication. The best AI avatars use micro-gestures, natural expressions, and high-quality voices that feel authentic and engaging. Pay attention to how lip-sync accuracy and expression quality hold up in longer videos.
6. Collaboration and scalability
As your team grows, collaboration tools become essential. Look for real-time editing, version control, and role-based permissions to manage multiple users efficiently. Scalable plans with clear usage limits also help avoid unexpected costs.
7. Cost effectiveness
Consider how the pricing aligns with your actual video output. Unlimited-minute plans can save money for heavy users, while lightweight monthly tiers may be better suited for individual creators. Avoid overpaying for enterprise features you don’t yet need.
8. Security and compliance
If you’re producing internal or customer-facing content, data protection isn’t optional. Verify whether the vendor offers SSO/SAML, SOC 2 or ISO 27001 compliance, and data residency options. There should also be consent controls in place to prevent misuse of avatar and voice generation. For most enterprise users, Synthesia leads the field here.
9. Integration and export options
If you use an LMS or content management system, SCORM export or API integration will be key. This ensures your videos are compatible with your existing workflows and can be updated or tracked easily.
10. Customer support and documentation
Lastly, responsive customer support can save you hours of frustration. Platforms with active learning hubs, live chat, or dedicated success managers tend to be easier to scale within an organization.
AI video tools are evolving rapidly, but not all are built for the same purpose.
If your priority is professional-grade content that scales securely, Synthesia remains the most complete AI video platform.
{{cta-section data-type="1" data-heading="Create Training Videos with Synthesia" data-body="Join over 1M+ users today and save time, reduce costs, and boost learner engagement with AI-powered videos in 140+ languages and accents."}}
About the author
Content Writer & Marketing Expert
Ema Lukan
Ema Lukan is a seasoned Content Writer and Marketing Expert with a rich history of collaborating with marketing agencies, SaaS companies, and film studios. Her skill set encompasses copywriting, content creation, and a profound understanding of the intricate fabric of brand identity. Ema distinguishes herself not merely as a wordsmith but as a storyteller who comprehends the power of narratives in the digital landscape. Fascinated by new technologies, she navigates the evolving marketing terrain with creativity and analytical precision, leveraging data to refine strategies. Her passion lies in crafting compelling stories that resonate, always mindful of the ever-changing dynamics in the digital world and the culture shaping it.
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Frequently asked questions
How does Synthesia compare to other AI video tools for training, onboarding, and marketing at scale?
Synthesia stands out from other AI video platforms by combining enterprise-grade security, realistic avatars with micro-gestures, and built-in scalability features that training and marketing teams actually need. Unlike simpler tools that only animate faces or create basic talking-head videos, Synthesia provides a complete video production suite with 240+ diverse avatars, real-time collaboration tools, and the ability to create multi-presenter scenarios for role-playing or dialogue-based training.
What really sets Synthesia apart for scaling teams is the combination of 1-click translation to 140+ languages, a multilingual video player that automatically adapts to viewer preferences, and analytics dashboards to track engagement. This means you can create one training module or marketing video and instantly deploy it globally without rendering separate files for each region, while maintaining brand consistency through centralized Brand Kits and governance controls that ensure only approved content gets published.
Can I add interactivity like branching and quizzes and export SCORM packages for my LMS?
Yes, Synthesia includes built-in interactive video features that let you add quizzes, branching scenarios, and clickable CTAs directly inside your videos, making training content more engaging and measurable. You can create decision points where learners choose their path, embed knowledge checks throughout the video, and track completion rates through the analytics dashboard, all without needing external tools or complex integrations.
For LMS compatibility, Synthesia supports SCORM export on Enterprise plans, ensuring your interactive videos work seamlessly with platforms like Moodle, Canvas, or Cornerstone. This combination of native interactivity and SCORM compliance solves a major pain point for L&D teams who previously had to choose between engaging content and LMS tracking, making Synthesia particularly valuable for organizations looking to modernize their training programs beyond the basic video capabilities of simpler AI avatar tools.
How can I localize videos without re-rendering separate files for each language?
Synthesia's multilingual video player automatically detects a viewer's browser language and displays the video in their preferred language without requiring separate video files for each locale. This means you create one master video, add translations with a single click, and the same video URL works for audiences in Tokyo, Berlin, or São Paulo, with each viewer seeing content in their native language including properly synced avatar lip movements and localized on-screen text.
This approach saves massive amounts of time and storage compared to traditional localization workflows where you'd need to render, upload, and manage dozens of separate video files. The system supports over 140 languages and maintains perfect lip-sync accuracy across all translations, while your analytics dashboard shows engagement metrics broken down by language, helping you understand which regions need more training resources or marketing support.
Is there a free way to try Synthesia before switching from another AI avatar tool?
Yes, Synthesia offers a completely free plan that lets you create up to 3 minutes of video per month with access to 9 AI avatars and 2 stock presenters, perfect for testing the platform's capabilities before committing. You don't need a credit card to start, and the free tier includes core features like the intuitive editor, basic templates, and support for 140+ languages, giving you a real sense of how the platform works for your specific use cases.
The free plan is ideal for creating a sample training module, product demo, or marketing video to compare quality and workflow against your current tool. While videos include a watermark and you can't access advanced features like Brand Kits or analytics, you'll quickly see the difference in avatar realism, rendering speed, and overall polish that makes Synthesia the preferred choice for teams serious about scaling their video production beyond basic animated talking heads.
What security, compliance, and collaboration controls does Synthesia provide for enterprise teams?
Synthesia provides enterprise-grade security with SOC 2 Type II compliance, SAML/SSO integration, and comprehensive consent controls that prevent unauthorized avatar creation, addressing the governance gaps found in lighter AI video tools. The platform includes role-based permissions, secure sharing with password protection and expiration dates, and detailed audit logs so you can track who creates, edits, or publishes content across your organization.
For collaboration, teams get real-time co-editing, inline commenting, version history, and centralized Brand Kits that ensure every video follows company guidelines regardless of who creates it. These features combine with dedicated workspaces, custom approval workflows, and the ability to restrict avatar and voice cloning to authorized users only, giving enterprise teams the control and transparency they need to scale video production safely across departments and regions while maintaining brand integrity and regulatory compliance.
