Runway vs Synthesia — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Runway starts at $15/mo. Synthesia starts at $18/mo. Runway is $3/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Synthesia.
Leader in AI video generation (Gen-3 Alpha, Gen-4). Pricing: Free (limited daily credits), Standard $15/mo (625 credits), Pro $35/mo (2,250 credits), Unlimited $95/mo (unlimited generations), Enterprise custom. Popular with filmmakers, marketers, and content creators producing AI-generated video at high quality.
AI avatar video platform — generate presenter-style videos from a script and a chosen AI avatar. Pricing: Starter $18/mo (10 mins video), Creator $64/mo (30 mins), Enterprise custom. Popular with corporate learning, internal comms, and marketing teams producing multilingual video content at scale.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Runway monthly | Runway annual | Synthesia monthly | Synthesia annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free / starter | Free / — | Free | Free | — | — |
| Entry paid | Standard / Starter | $15 | $12 | $18 | $18 |
| Mid tier | Pro / — | $35 | $28 | — | — |
| Pro / power | Max / Creator | $95 | $76 | $64 | $55 |
| Enterprise | Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Custom | Custom |
Tier names differ across vendors. Rows are aligned by tier role, not name. Full tier structures on each tool's page.
What each is best for
Runway is worth it if… filmmakers and video-heavy content creators who need the highest-quality AI video generation available. Standard ($15) suits casual experimentation; Pro ($35) suits regular creator use; Unlimited ($95) suits professional filmmakers.
Synthesia is worth it if… enterprises producing multilingual video content — employee training, product tutorials, internal comms — without hiring on-camera talent for every language. Starter ($18/mo) is limited but usable; Creator ($64/mo) suits regular business use; Enterprise adds custom avatars + SSO.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose Runway over Synthesia if…
Choose Runway if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (tiered, from $15/mo).
- You match the profile Runway is built for: filmmakers and video-heavy content creators who need the highest-quality AI video generation available.
- You need a general-purpose design & creative option rather than a vertical-specific one.
Choose Synthesia if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (tiered, from $18/mo).
- You match the profile Synthesia is built for: enterprises producing multilingual video content — employee training, product tutorials, internal comms — without hiring on-camera talent for every language.
- You need a general-purpose design & creative option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Runway | Synthesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Entry price | $15/mo | $18/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Tiered | Tiered |
| Verification | Pricing under review | Pricing under review |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified October 1, 2026. Verification cadence varies by tool; check each tool page.