Synthesia has quickly risen as a popular platform in the AI ad production space. Known for its professional, presenter-style videos, Synthesia caters primarily to corporate environments, offering solutions for training, internal communications, and education.
Designed to streamline video production for businesses, Synthesia allows users to create high-quality videos without the need for traditional filming equipment.
But while it offers a robust suite of features, user reviews paint a complex picture of both its advantages and limitations. Here’s an in-depth look at what Synthesia offers, where it excels, and the areas where users feel there’s room for improvement.
What is Synthesia?
Synthesia is an AI-powered video creation tool that’s well-suited for corporate environments. Designed to create professional, presenter-style videos, Synthesia has built a name in sectors like training, education, and internal communications.
Synthesia’s focus lies in creating polished, structured content that supports internal messaging, onboarding, and team training. It provides users with options to choose avatars as presenters and offers several customization and language options that cater to a global corporate audience.
Key Features of Synthesia
- AI Avatars: Select from customizable AI avatars that bring a polished, professional tone to videos, suitable for instructional and educational content.
- Multilingual Support: Includes translation capabilities in multiple languages, making it easier for global teams to localize content.
- Customization: Allows users to create personal avatars, add branding elements, and incorporate designs to suit the company’s brand identity.
- Collaboration Tools: With options for team collaboration, Synthesia is ideal for larger corporate settings where various team members may need access to video projects.
While Synthesia offers a strong focus on structured content for corporate use, it lacks a primary focus on quick and impactful ad generation specifically crafted for e-commerce or social media audiences. Its feature set aligns best with training and internal communication rather than quick, performance-driven ad campaigns.
Synthesia Reviews: What Users Are Saying
Trustpilot Reviews
Synthesia has received mixed feedback on Trustpilot. Some users praise its intuitive interface and ease of creating videos without the need for cameras or professional editing skills, particularly for internal company communications and training modules.
However, complaints about customer support are common. Some users mention frustrations with slow response times, especially for technical issues and inquiries regarding paid upgrades, making the experience challenging for those needing immediate assistance.
Another frequently noted issue on Trustpilot is Synthesia’s moderation process, which can be inconsistent. For example, some users report having their content rejected without clear reasons, creating confusion and delays for users who rely on Synthesia for timely video production.
G2 Reviews
On G2, Synthesia garners high ratings for its AI avatars and text-to-speech capabilities, with users often recommending it for educational and training video production. The video quality and avatar realism are often highlighted, especially for users who don’t need a “hands-on” video creation experience. However, several reviews mention performance issues, including occasional lag during editing, particularly in Synthesia’s timeline editor, which impacts productivity.
Other G2 reviewers cite Synthesia’s limitations for creative projects. Because Synthesia is designed with structured, corporate video needs in mind, it lacks the adaptability that marketers might need for more dynamic, consumer-facing ads, which makes it less versatile in certain contexts.
Reddit Feedback: Users Aren’t Thrilled Either
On Reddit, Synthesia has received mixed reviews, with some users sharing frustrating experiences around its moderation process.
Many mention lengthy delays due to manual reviews, which can take up to 24 hours. For instance, one user reported trying to create educational videos for internal employee training, only to have all their content blocked without a clear explanation. Despite appeals, they received no further clarification and were denied a refund shortly after signing up.
This lack of transparency and responsiveness has left several users feeling unsatisfied, with some advising others to explore alternative platforms.
The general sentiment is that Synthesia's review process could be more user-friendly and transparent, especially for users with straightforward, internal-use content.
Where Synthesia Falls Short
Synthesia performs well in structured, corporate use cases, like onboarding and training videos. Its text-to-speech capabilities, combined with customizable avatars, make it an effective tool for businesses needing a professional tone in their content. However, there are several areas where Synthesia doesn’t meet the needs of users outside of this realm:
- Limited Flexibility: Synthesia’s structured format and avatar selection are more suited to corporate or educational videos. It lacks the natural, fast-paced content typically required for high-engagement social media ads.
- Inconsistent Moderation and Customer Support: Synthesia’s moderation process can sometimes reject content without clear reasons, frustrating users. Customer support feedback on Trustpilot and G2 indicates a slow and unresponsive experience.
- Performance Issues: Reported lag in the timeline editor and occasional glitches make Synthesia challenging to use for users needing quick, seamless video creation.
What is Synthesia Good For?
Synthesia’s strengths lie in corporate environments, particularly for training, internal communication, and education. With easy-to-use AI avatars and support for multiple languages, it offers a structured platform for businesses seeking to create consistent, on-brand video content.
It excels in environments where polished presentation and multilingual support are priorities, making it a valuable tool for HR, e-learning, and team communication.
However, for marketers looking to create dynamic and highly engaging social media ads, Synthesia’s structured, slower-paced content may not meet the demands of consumer-focused ad campaigns.
Why Arcads Is a Better Alternative For Advertising
Arcads is built with marketers in mind, designed specifically for creating high-engagement, high-conversion video ads. Unlike Synthesia, which spreads its focus across multiple corporate applications, Arcads is purpose-built to streamline UGC ad creation for marketers.
This gives Arcads a unique edge in creating effective ads for platforms like Facebook, where authenticity, relatability, and fast-paced content make a real difference.
Why Arcads is Ideal for Social Media Ads
- Authentic UGC Content: With over 300 realistic AI avatars, Arcads provides video content that feels genuine and connects with viewers on a personal level.
- Efficiency and Speed: Built to enable quick ad creation, Arcads reduces production times drastically, making it possible for marketers to quickly test, tweak, and deploy ads.
- Focused on Engagement: While Synthesia’s features target polished corporate communication, Arcads emphasizes grabbing attention and driving conversions in social media ads.
This focus on ad creation allows Arcads to stand out in its category, catering specifically to marketers who want high-quality, authentic ads without the distractions of unnecessary tools.
Conclusion
While Synthesia shines in corporate environments focused on training and internal communication, Arcads is the clear choice for marketers aiming to create high-engagement social media ads. Arcads specializes in UGC video ads that look and feel real, making it the best option for generating impactful Facebook ads.
Its focus on authenticity, streamlined production, and conversion-driven design gives it an edge over Synthesia for brands focused on engaging customers and driving sales through digital platforms. For marketers who want a powerful, efficient tool for creating effective ads, Arcads is the go-to choice.