Elai vs Steve AI (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Elai and Steve AI share a 2.0 GPA, both have a free plan, and Steve AI starts cheaper, at $19 a month against $23 a month.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
They get the same grade on all five counts.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Elai
AI avatar video maker that turns text, URLs and slides into video
Steve AI
Prompt-to-video maker for animated, stock and generative clips
Which one is for you
Pick Elai if
- Fits if you make training or explainer videos with an avatar presenter
- Works for teams who need SCORM export
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you stay free, as the free plan covers 1 minute of video
- Watch out: every render uses minutes, even a re-render of the same video
- Pricey if you need more minutes, as extra ones cost $2 each and only on paid plans
- Watch out: voice clones and selfie avatars cost $200 and $199 a year on Creator
Pick Steve AI if
- Fits if you make short explainer or social videos from text with no filming
- Works for people who want an iPhone app alongside the web editor
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you stay free: downloads are limited
- Watch out: the pricing page shows different figures in different views, so the billing basis is unclear
- Pricey if you want generative video, with the Generative AI plan at $99 a month
- Watch out: higher resolutions than 2K need Enterprise, and extra generative credits cost more
How we grade them
| 2.0GPAElaiFair | 2.0GPASteve AIFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CCreator is $23 a month billed yearly for 15 minutes, or $29 monthly, around the top of the category's usual range. | CStarter is $19 a month and Pro $39, though the billing basis isn't confirmed. That is inside the middle of the category. |
| Free plan and trial | CA free plan with 1 user and 1 minute of video, which you will outgrow quickly. | CFree plan: 1,200 seconds of AI video and 200 credits, with limited downloads. |
| Features | CAvatars, script, URL and slide input, translation, API and SCORM export, but voice clones and selfie avatars are paid add-ons. | CPrompt, script, audio and image inputs, AI voices, motion effects and an editor. Generative credits are limited on each paid plan and sold as add-ons. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record, and you build scripts and scenes before you get a video. | CNo store rating on record. A prompt box gets you a draft, but fixing scenes means using the editor. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWeb only, with Panopto the one integration listed beside the API. | CWeb plus an iOS app. No desktop app and no integrations listed. |
| Best for | talking-avatar videos from text | quick AI videos from a prompt or script |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Elai and Steve AI. How we grade
Price against what you get
Elai starts at $23 a month and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Steve AI starts at $19 a month and scores 2.0.
They score the same, and Steve AI starts $4 a month lower. Of the other screen recording and video tools on the chart, 59 score higher than Elai for less, and 55 score higher than Steve AI for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Elai also covers voice cloning.
- Steve AI also covers video editing.
At a glance
| Elai | Steve AI | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $23 per month for 15 minutes, billed annually ($29 billed monthly) | $19 per month (billing basis not confirmed) |
| Free plan | 1 user, 1 minute of video, 80+ avatars, 75+ languages and all Creator features. | 1,200 seconds of AI video and 200 credits for AI and stock media generation, with limited downloads. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Made by | Elai Inc. | Steve AI |
| Price read from | elai.io | steve.ai |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Elai
- Plans are measured in render minutes, and every render uses minutes, even a re-render of the same video.
- Extra minutes cost $2 each and can only be bought on paid subscriptions.
- Voice clones and selfie avatars are add-ons on Creator ($200 and $199 per year); Team annual includes one of each.
- The free plan is limited to 1 minute of video.
Steve AI
- The pricing page loads prices with scripts and shows different figures in different views, so the billing basis is unclear.
- The homepage toggle advertises 30% off annual billing, but the monthly and yearly prices are not both visible.
- Generative credits are limited on every paid plan, and extra ones are bought as add-ons.
- Higher resolutions than 2K need the Enterprise plan.
Key features
Elai
- Avatar videos from a script
- Choose from 80+ avatars and 300+ standard voices, type or upload a script, and render the video.
- URL, PPTX and AI storyboard input
- Paste a URL or upload a PowerPoint file, or have a script drafted from a prompt, link or document.
- Interactivity
- Add buttons, hotspots, branching paths and text quizzes; image and multi-select quizzes need a higher plan.
- Translation and captions
- Translate a video automatically, and add captions or subtitles, in 75+ languages.
- API and SCORM export
- A public API is listed in the plan comparison but not on the free plan; SCORM export is listed for Enterprise only.
Steve AI
- Several ways to start a video
- Make a video from a prompt, a script, an audio file or an image, in animated, live-footage or generative styles.
- AI voices and multi-voice scenes
- Voiceovers use AI voices, and several voices can be combined in one script. The share of human-like voices rises on Pro.
- Motion effects and clips
- Add zooms, camera movement and kinetic text, or turn a tweet, image or blog post into a short clip.
- FlexiCredits and power-ups
- Plans can be topped up with extra generative credits and power-ups, which add more AI media and video minutes.
- iOS app
- A mobile app lets you create and edit videos on a phone.
Plans
Elai
Free$0
1 user and 1 minute of rendered video; 80+ avatars and 75+ languages.
Creator$23
per month for 15 minutes, billed annually ($29 billed monthly)
1 user, Full HD video and the full avatar, voice and language library. $276 billed annually.
Team$100
per month for 50 minutes, billed annually ($125 billed monthly)
3 editors and 3 guests, 4K video, premium voices, custom images and fonts, 1 selfie avatar and 1 voice clone. $1,200 billed annually.
EnterpriseCustom
Unlimited users, brand kit, workspaces, SSO and premium avatars; sold through sales.
Steve AI
Free$0
1,200 seconds of AI video and 200 credits for AI and stock media generation.
Starter$19
per month, billing basis not shown
100 minutes of AI video a month, 800 AI images and stock items, 1080p, no watermark, 120 seconds of generative credits.
Pro$39
per month, billing basis not shown
300 minutes of AI video a month, 2,400 AI images and stock items, 2K resolution, no watermark.
Generative AI$99
per month, billing basis not shown
400 minutes of AI video a month, 3,200 AI images and stock items, 2K, 15 minutes of generative credits.
EnterpriseCustom
Contact sales; no published price.
Ways to pay less
Elai
- Annual discount
Save 20% with annual billing
Elai's pricing page shows a 20% saving when Creator or Team is billed annually instead of monthly.
Steve AI
- Annual discount
Annual billing discount
The homepage pricing toggle labels annual billing as 30% off compared with monthly.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Elai or Steve AI?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Steve AI is cheaper to start with: $19 a month, against $23 a month for Elai. Elai starts at $23 per month for 15 minutes, billed annually ($29 billed monthly), and Steve AI starts at $19 per month (billing basis not confirmed).
Which has a free plan, Elai or Steve AI?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Elai and Steve AI have a free plan.
Which platforms do Elai and Steve AI run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Steve AI lists an iOS app. Both list a web app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.