Google Vids vs Synthesia

Google Vids

• Organizations already on Google Workspace that want video included
• Turning existing Google Slides decks into narrated videos
• Training and onboarding videos made without a camera

Synthesia

• Training and L&D teams producing videos without filming
• Localizing existing videos into many languages
• Turning slide decks and documents into narrated videos

Google Vids

• Vids is not sold on its own: business use comes with Google Workspace plans, and consumers get higher limits through Google AI plans.
• Creating and editing work only on desktop; mobile devices can view videos but not edit them.
• Each video can be at most 30 minutes long.
• Gemini features are metered by plan, and Google says many AI features in Vids are available only in English.

Synthesia

• Basic videos carry a Synthesia watermark; downloading videos and removing the logo start on the Starter plan.
• Usage is metered in credits: video costs about 100 credits a minute, so Starter's 1,250 monthly credits add roughly 12 minutes.
• Self-serve plans include 1 editor; Starter adds 3 guests and Pro 5, and guests are invited to comment on videos.
• SAML/SSO, live team collaboration, SCORM export and 1-click translation are listed under the Enterprise plan.

Google Vids

Recording studio

Records the screen and audio directly in Vids for walkthroughs and training. A clip made in the recording studio can be up to 30 minutes long.

Transcript-based editing

A video is edited by changing its text transcript like a document, then finished with styled captions and transitions instead of a complex timeline.

Slides to video and templates

Converts a Google Slides presentation into a video, or starts from a template, with stock media and files added from Google Drive or Google Photos.

AI avatars and voiceovers

Scripts AI avatars and voiceovers in 24 languages. Monthly avatar limits depend on the plan, from 10 on Business Starter to 25 on Standard and Plus.

Gemini video generation

Generates video clips from a text prompt and animates still images with audio, within a monthly allowance of clip seconds set by the plan.

Sharing and YouTube export

Permissions set who can edit, comment or view. Videos play in the browser with automatic captions, and can be exported to YouTube, private by default.

Synthesia

AI avatars

Videos are presented by stock AI avatars, from 9 on Basic to 240+ on Enterprise, or by a personal avatar created from a single photo.

Script, file or slides to video

The AI Video Assistant turns a prompt, link or file into an editable video, and PowerPoint decks can be imported and narrated.

AI dubbing and translation

Dub an uploaded video or YouTube link into 70+ languages, 140+ on Enterprise, keeping the speaker's voice. Lip-sync uses twice the credits.

Interactive videos

Add clickable calls to action, branching paths and quizzes that show viewers a final score. Interactive videos are listed from the Pro plan.

Roleplay and Survey Sessions

Avatar-led roleplay practice and conversational surveys. Roleplay learner seats can be added to any plan at $29 per learner a month, or $25 a month on yearly billing.

AI Screen Recorder and API

A Chrome extension makes editable screen recordings, and the Synthesia API creates and dubs videos programmatically.

Google Vids

• Personal Google Account$0

  Basic Vids features in a desktop browser, with 50 Gemini credits a month and up to 6 AI avatar or video clip generations, using preset avatars.

• Business Starter$7

  per user / month, 1-year commitment ($8.40 flexible)

  Google Workspace suite plan that includes Vids, with 10 AI avatars, 200 seconds of AI video clips and 5 image generations a month.

• Business Standard$14

  per user / month, 1-year commitment ($16.80 flexible)

  Suite plan with 2 TB of pooled storage per user. Vids limits rise to 25 AI avatars, 500 seconds of AI video clips and 30 image generations a month.

• Business Plus$22

  per user / month, 1-year commitment ($26.40 flexible)

  Suite plan with 5 TB of pooled storage per user, Vault and advanced endpoint management. Vids limits are the same as on Standard.

• EnterpriseCustom

  Suite plans priced through Google sales with no user limit. Vids limits run from 10 to 25 AI avatars a month depending on the edition.

Synthesia

• Basic$0

  10 minutes of video or dubbing, 3 survey responses and 500 credits a month, with 1 editor and 9 AI avatars. Videos carry a watermark.

• Starter$18

  per month, billed yearly; $29 billed monthly

  1,250 credits a month on top of the free allowance, video downloads, no Synthesia logo, 3 guests and 125+ AI avatars.

• Pro$64

  per month, billed yearly; $89 billed monthly

  6,000 credits a month, 5 personal avatars, interactive videos, branded video pages, 5 guests and 180+ AI avatars.

• EnterpriseCustom

  Unlimited video minutes, 240+ avatars, 1-click translation, SAML/SSO, live team collaboration, brand kits and SCORM export.

Google Vids

• Annual discount

  Save 16% with a 1-year commitment

  Business Starter is $7 per user per month on the Annual/Fixed-Term Plan against $8.40 on the Flexible Plan. Standard drops from $16.80 to $14 and Plus from $26.40 to $22.

• Nonprofit

  Google Workspace for Nonprofits at $0

  Eligible nonprofits get Google Workspace for Nonprofits at $0, or Business Standard at $3.50 and Business Plus at $6.16 per user per month on a 1-year commitment.

• Education

  Education Fundamentals at no charge

  Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals, which includes Vids, is available at no charge to qualifying institutions.

Synthesia

• Annual discount

  Save up to 4 months with yearly billing

  Starter is $18 a month billed yearly against $29 billed monthly, and Pro is $64 against $89. Synthesia describes this as saving up to 4 months.