Elai review (2026): is the free plan enough?
AI avatar video maker that turns text, URLs and slides into video
Black Friday: is there a Elai sale?
Elai report card
Fair · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for talking-avatar videos from text
Elai turns text, web pages and slides into videos with talking avatars. Plans are measured in render minutes, every re-render uses minutes, and the free plan stops at 1 minute of video.
Who Elai is for
- Fits if you make training or explainer videos with an avatar presenter
- Works for teams who need SCORM export
Who Elai is not for
- 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
Why Elai gets a 2.0
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- CValue for moneyCreator is $23 a month billed yearly for 15 minutes, or $29 monthly, around the top of the category's usual range.
- CFree plan and trialA free plan with 1 user and 1 minute of video, which you will outgrow quickly.
- CFeaturesAvatars, script, URL and slide input, translation, API and SCORM export, but voice clones and selfie avatars are paid add-ons.
- CEase of useNo store rating on record, and you build scripts and scenes before you get a video.
- CPlatforms and integrationsWeb only, with Panopto the one integration listed beside the API.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Elai's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/elai#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/elai.svg" alt="Elai: 2.0 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Elai stands among screen recording and video tools
Elai's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 14 of the 133 other screen recording and video tools we grade, and level with 27.
Its paid plans start at $23 a month, against a middle price of $12.25 for the category: 71 of the 88 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. 59 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 134 screen recording and video tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Elai’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 20 of 133, level with 66
- CFree plan and trialAbove 24 of 133, level with 80
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 133, level with 77
- CEase of useAbove 2 of 133, level with 84
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 17 of 133, level with 49
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 102 screen recording and video tools. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
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
Keep Elai, or make your own?
Keep it
To replace Elai you would be making a video model, which you can rent by the second but not make. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 92 of the 133 other screen recording and video tools grade higher. It costs $276 a year.
What you could not
- A video model, which you can rent by the second but not make.
- A voice model, which you can rent by the minute but not make.
- A voice model trained on your recordings.
- It plugs into other products, Panopto among them, and has an API.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
What this rests on. Elai’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is Elai?
Elai is a browser-based tool that makes videos with AI presenters. You supply a script, a web page URL or a PowerPoint file, pick an avatar and voice, and render a video in 75+ languages. Plans are sold by monthly rendering minutes, with an API, interactive elements and SCORM export on the platform.
Worth knowing
- 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.
Key features
- 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.
Elai pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, Elai has a free plan, and paid plans start at $23 per month for 15 minutes, billed annually ($29 billed monthly).
- Starts at
- $23 per month for 15 minutes, billed annually ($29 billed monthly)
- Free plan
- 1 user, 1 minute of video, 80+ avatars, 75+ languages and all Creator features.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1 user and 1 minute of rendered video; 80+ avatars and 75+ languages. |
| Creator | $23per 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 | $100per 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. |
| Enterprise | Custom | Unlimited users, brand kit, workspaces, SSO and premium avatars; sold through sales. |
Read from elai.io on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Elai before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- Annual discountSave 20% with annual billing
Elai's pricing page shows a 20% saving when Creator or Team is billed annually instead of monthly.
Stated on elai.io
Works with
- Panopto
Elai alternatives
- Elai vs Synthesia
Free plan · from $14/mo
- Elai vs HeyGen
Free plan · from $24/mo
- Elai vs DeepBrain AI Studios
Free plan · from $24/mo
- Elai vs Wondershare Virbo
From $109/yr
- Elai vs Steve AI
Free plan · from $19/mo
Common questions
Does Elai have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Elai is listed for Web.
Does Elai have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Elai is listed for Web.
Is Elai open source?
Elai is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Does Elai have an API?
Yes. Elai offers a public API, according to its own site.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.