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SEO & AI toolsBest AI video generators
By Cathy Riddell · Prices checked 31 Oct 2026 · Last updated 31 Oct 2026
How this page was made: I compared each vendor’s official pricing and feature pages on 31 Oct 2026. Hands-on test notes are added only after I’ve used the product on a real account; until then they’re marked as pending. My review method.
Synthesia
Best for business training, onboarding and explainer videos
- Free Basic plan: 10 minutes of video a month (watermarked)
- Starter: US$19/mo, or US$14/mo billed yearly (official page, as of Oct 2026)
- 125+ AI avatars on Starter, 140+ languages and voices on every plan
- Paid plans download without the Synthesia watermark
- Synthesia says it is SOC 2 and GDPR compliant
Quick picks by need
How do the best AI video generators compare at a glance?
| Tool | Best for | Price (official page) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top pickSynthesia | Training, onboarding and explainer videos with AI avatars | Free Basic plan; Starter US$19/mo, or US$14/mo billed yearly; Pro US$89/mo, or US$59/mo billed yearly (official page, checked 31 Oct 2026) | Visit Synthesia |
| HeyGen | Creators publishing avatar videos | Free plan; Creator US$29/mo, or US$24/mo paid annually; Pro from US$49/mo (official page, checked 31 Oct 2026) | Visit HeyGen |
| Descript | Editing your own video and podcasts by editing text | Free plan; Hobbyist US$24/mo, or US$16/mo annually; Creator US$35/mo, or US$24/mo annually (official page, checked 31 Oct 2026) | Visit Descript |
| Pictory | Turning scripts and blog posts into stock-footage videos | Check current pricing on the official Pictory pricing page | Visit Pictory |
| InVideo | Generating clips and images with AI models, plus a timeline editor | Check current pricing on the official InVideo pricing page | Visit InVideo |
What should I look for in an AI video generator?
- What you’re making: a presenter-led video (avatar tools), edits of your own footage (editors) or videos built from text and stock footage.
- Watermarks and export: free plans usually add a watermark.
- Languages: if you sell or train across countries.
- Credits: most tools now meter usage in credits, so check what a typical video uses.
Synthesia: best for business training and explainer videos
Synthesia turns a script into a video presented by an AI avatar. As of Oct 2026 its official pricing page lists:
| Plan | Price | What the official page lists |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Free | 10 minutes of video a month, 9 AI avatars, videos carry a Synthesia watermark |
| Starter | US$19/mo, or US$14/mo billed yearly (US$168/yr) | Download videos, no watermark, 125+ AI avatars, 3 personal avatars, AI Video Assistant, 3 guests |
| Pro | US$89/mo, or US$59/mo billed yearly (US$708/yr) | Everything in Starter plus 5 personal avatars, 180+ AI avatars, branded video pages, interactive videos, 5 guests |
| Enterprise | Custom | Unlimited video minutes, 1-click translation into 140+ languages, SSO, SCORM export |
Every plan lists 140+ languages and voices, and the page says Synthesia is SOC 2 and GDPR compliant. Paid plans use credits; Synthesia says a typical finished minute uses about 100 credits and unused allowance doesn’t roll over.
Trade-offs: videos on the listed plans run up to 3 minutes each, and there’s no pay-per-video option.
HeyGen: best alternative for creators
HeyGen’s Free plan allows 3 watermarked videos a month, up to 1 minute each. Creator is US$29/mo (US$24/mo paid annually) with 1080p export, no HeyGen branding, a custom video avatar of yourself and 175+ languages and dialects. Pro starts at US$49/mo with 4K export and videos up to 30 minutes. A Business plan is US$149/mo plus US$20 per seat (official page, Oct 2026).
Descript: best for editing your own video
Descript lets you edit video by editing a text transcript. Its Free plan includes 60 media minutes a month with 720p export. Hobbyist is US$24/mo (US$16/mo annually) with 10 media hours, 1080p watermark-free export and its AI co-editor, Underlord. Creator is US$35/mo (US$24/mo annually) with 30 media hours and 4K export (official page, Oct 2026).
Pictory: best for turning scripts and articles into videos
Pictory builds videos from text, using an AI video agent, AI voices from ElevenLabs and stock footage from Getty Images and Storyblocks. It lists Starter, Professional, Teams and Enterprise plans, with a free trial. Its pricing page was showing discounted prices when I checked, so I haven’t quoted one; see the official pricing page.
InVideo: AI generation plus a timeline editor
InVideo combines AI image and video generation models with a full timeline editor, sold as Starter, Plus and Max plans with monthly credits. It was running a time-limited sale when I checked, so I haven’t quoted a price; see the official pricing page.
How do I choose?
- Decide whether you need an on-screen presenter (Synthesia, HeyGen) or want to edit your own footage (Descript).
- Make one real video on a free plan or trial before paying.
- Check the credit cost of the length and style of video you’ll make most.
[Cathy to add: hands-on notes from a real Synthesia and HeyGen account: plan tested, date, what was set up, screenshots]
Make a free video with Synthesia
Frequently asked questions
What is the best AI video generator for business?
For training, onboarding and explainer videos, Synthesia: it has a free Basic plan, paid plans from US$14/mo billed yearly, AI avatars and 140+ languages and voices (official page, Oct 2026).
Is there a free AI video generator?
Yes. Synthesia’s Basic plan, HeyGen’s Free plan and Descript’s Free plan all cost nothing; Synthesia’s and HeyGen’s free videos carry a watermark (official pages, Oct 2026).
How much does Synthesia cost?
Starter is US$19/mo, or US$14/mo billed yearly; Pro is US$89/mo, or US$59/mo billed yearly; Enterprise is custom (official pricing page, Oct 2026).
Synthesia or HeyGen?
Both make AI avatar videos and both have free plans. Synthesia’s entry paid plan is cheaper on a yearly bill (US$14/mo vs HeyGen Creator at US$24/mo annually), while HeyGen Pro allows videos up to 30 minutes.
Cathy is an Adelaide-based digital agency founder who sets up and runs small-business software for real clients. She writes every BizStacked guide and keeps the prices on each page dated and sourced. How I review →
Related guides
Sources
- https://www.synthesia.io/pricing: Synthesia official pricing page, checked 31 Oct 2026
- https://www.heygen.com/pricing: HeyGen official pricing page, checked 31 Oct 2026
- https://www.descript.com/pricing: Descript official pricing page, checked 31 Oct 2026
- https://pictory.ai/pricing: Pictory official pricing page, read 31 Oct 2026; it was showing discounted (“Was”) prices, so no price is quoted
- https://invideo.io/pricing: InVideo official pricing page, read 31 Oct 2026; it was showing a time-limited sale, so no price is quoted
Prices are in USD unless stated and come only from the official vendor pages above. Vendors change prices and run promotions often, so confirm on the official page before you buy. Star ratings aren’t published until hands-on testing is complete.