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How to Use Synthesia for Explainer Videos

By James Okafor · Updated April 2026 · Independently tested
·
9.2

⚡ Quick Verdict

Synthesia lets you create explainer videos with AI avatars from a script in under an hour. Starter is $29/month; Creator at $89/month adds more avatars and longer videos.

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9.2 /10

Excellent

Synthesia — Our Verdict

Synthesia is the fastest and most cost-effective way to create professional explainer videos at scale. Ideal for teams producing onboarding content, product demos, or training materials.

  • Create professional explainer videos in hours, not weeks
  • 160+ AI avatars and 120+ language voiceovers
  • No camera, microphone, or editing software required
Try Synthesia Free → Affiliate link · We may earn a commission

Pros

  • Create professional explainer videos in hours, not weeks
  • 160+ AI avatars and 120+ language voiceovers
  • No camera, microphone, or editing software required

Cons

  • AI avatars can feel less authentic than real presenters for some audiences
  • Video length limits on Starter plan
  • Advanced customization requires higher-tier plans

How to Use Synthesia for Explainer Videos: A Step-by-Step Guide

Explainer videos are powerful tools for communicating complex ideas simply and engagingly. They’re ideal for onboarding, product demonstrations, training, and marketing. Traditionally, creating high-quality explainer videos required significant investment in equipment, actors, and production time. This barrier often prevents businesses and creators from leveraging video effectively.

Enter Synthesia, an AI video generation platform that’s changing the game. Synthesia allows anyone to create professional-grade explainer videos using AI avatars and advanced text-to-speech technology, all without cameras, microphones, or even actors. This guide provides a practical, step-by-step walkthrough on how to use Synthesia to produce compelling explainer videos from concept to export. You’ll learn how to leverage its templates, customize avatars, integrate voiceovers, and optimize your content for maximum impact.

Why Synthesia is Ideal for Explainer Videos

Synthesia streamlines the entire video production process, making it accessible and efficient. Here’s why it stands out for explainer videos:

Speed and Efficiency

Traditional video production can take weeks or months. With Synthesia, you can produce a professional explainer video in hours or days. This rapid turnaround is crucial for agile marketing, quick product updates, and timely internal communications. No more waiting for film crews, editing, or re-shoots. The entire workflow is digital and instant.

Cost-Effectiveness

Hiring actors, renting studios, and purchasing equipment can be expensive. Synthesia eliminates these costs. You pay a subscription fee and gain access to a full suite of AI-powered tools that replace many traditional production expenses. This makes high-quality video creation feasible even for small businesses and startups with limited budgets.

Scalability and Consistency

Need multiple explainer videos in different languages or with slight variations? Synthesia handles this with ease. You can duplicate projects, swap avatars, change languages, and update scripts quickly. This ensures brand consistency across all your video content, regardless of volume. Whether you’re producing a single video or hundreds, Synthesia scales with your needs.

Customization and Flexibility

Synthesia offers a vast library of customizable templates, AI avatars, and voice options. You can choose from diverse avatars, generate voiceovers in over 120 languages and accents, and even clone your own voice for a personalized touch. This level of flexibility ensures your explainer videos align perfectly with your brand identity and target audience.

Ready to see how Synthesia can transform your video production? Start creating impactful explainer videos today.
Try Synthesia for Free
Visit the official Synthesia website to learn more: Synthesia.io

Step 1: Craft Your Script and Storyboard

A great explainer video starts with a solid script. This is the blueprint for your entire video, dictating the flow, key messages, and visual elements.

Define Your Objective and Audience

Before writing, clarify:

  • What do you want to achieve? (e.g., explain a product, onboard users, announce a feature)
  • Who is your target audience? (Their pain points, knowledge level, and what motivates them)

Understanding these elements will shape your script’s tone, complexity, and content. A script for internal training will differ significantly from one aimed at potential customers.

Structure Your Explainer Video

Most effective explainer videos follow a clear narrative structure:

  1. Hook (0-10 seconds): Grab attention, state the problem.
  2. Problem (10-30 seconds): Elaborate on the issue your audience faces.
  3. Solution (30-60 seconds): Introduce your product/service as the answer.
  4. How it Works (60-90 seconds): Briefly explain key features/benefits.
  5. Call to Action (90-120 seconds): Tell viewers what to do next.

Keep your script concise. Explainer videos are typically 60-120 seconds long. Every word must count.

Write Clear and Concise Copy

  • Simple Language: Avoid jargon. Use plain language that everyone can understand.
  • Active Voice: Makes your message more direct and engaging.
  • Short Sentences: Easy to follow and process.
  • Focus on Benefits: Instead of just features, explain how your solution helps the user.

Add Visual Cues and Directions

As you write, think about the visuals that will accompany each part of the script. In Synthesia, these will translate into scenes, text overlays, and background elements. Note down ideas like:

  • “[Scene: Avatar points to a graph showing problem]”
  • “[Text: ‘Solve your biggest challenges’]”
  • “[Background: Product UI demo]”

This pre-planning will significantly speed up your production in Synthesia.

Step 2: Set Up Your Synthesia Project

Once your script is ready, it’s time to bring it to life in Synthesia.

Log In and Start a New Video

Navigate to the Synthesia platform and log in. You’ll typically find a “Create video” or “New video” button on your dashboard.
Access Synthesia Here

Choose a Template (or Start from Scratch)

Synthesia offers a rich library of templates designed for various purposes, including explainer videos.

  • Templates: Browse categories like “Explainer,” “Marketing,” or “Training.” Templates come with pre-designed scenes, music, and placeholder text, providing a quick starting point. This is highly recommended for beginners.
  • Blank Canvas: If you have a very specific vision, you can start with a blank canvas and build each scene from the ground up.

For explainer videos, starting with a template can save significant time and ensure a professional look from the outset. Select one that closely matches your video’s tone and structure.

Select Your AI Avatar

Synthesia provides a diverse range of AI avatars, each with different looks, accents, and ethnicities.

  • Browse Avatars: Explore the avatar library. Consider an avatar that resonates with your brand and target audience.
  • Custom Avatars: For a more personalized experience, Synthesia allows enterprise users to create custom avatars, including AI clones of real people. This is excellent for maintaining brand recognition.

Once selected, your avatar will appear on the first scene of your video. You can change avatars at any point in your project.

Input Your Script

This is where your prepared script comes in.

  • Copy and Paste: Paste your script text directly into the text boxes provided for each scene. Synthesia’s interface is designed to make this intuitive.
  • Scene Management: Break your script into logical segments, each corresponding to a scene in Synthesia. You can add, duplicate, or delete scenes as needed to match your storyboard.

Synthesia’s text-to-speech engine will use this script to generate the avatar’s voiceover. Take advantage of Synthesia’s capabilities to manage complex scripts efficiently.
Explore Synthesia Features

Step 3: Customize Your Explainer Video Scenes

This is where you add visual flair and fine-tune your video’s appearance.

Adjust Avatar Placement and Gestures

  • Position: Drag and drop your avatar to place them anywhere on the screen. Consider standard layouts like full-screen, half-screen (with space for text/visuals), or small corner placements.
  • Gestures: Synthesia offers a range of gestures and emotions for your avatars. You can add pauses, emphasize words, or change facial expressions to match the tone of your script. This adds a human touch to the AI performance.

Add Backgrounds and Visual Assets

  • Stock Library: Synthesia provides a vast library of stock images, videos, and music. Search for relevant assets to enhance your scenes.
  • Upload Your Own: Upload your brand assets, such as logos, product images, screen recordings, or branded background videos. This ensures brand consistency.
  • Screen Recordings: For product explainers, screen recordings are essential. Record your software in action and upload it as a background video.

Use backgrounds that are clean, professional, and complement your message without distracting from the avatar or key information.

Integrate Text Overlays and Graphics

  • Titles and Headings: Add text boxes for scene titles, key takeaways, or quotes. Customize fonts, colors, and sizes to match your brand guidelines.
  • Bullet Points and Lists: Use text overlays to present information in an easy-to-digest format.
  • Callouts: Highlight specific words or phrases in your avatar’s speech with animated text callouts.
  • Brand Elements: Integrate your company logo, website URL, or social media handles into scenes.

Remember the “show, don’t just tell” principle. Visuals reinforce your script.

Step 4: Generate and Refine Voiceovers

The voiceover is critical for conveying your message clearly and engagingly. Synthesia offers powerful voice generation capabilities.

Text-to-Speech (TTS) Generation

  • Automatic Generation: Once you’ve entered your script, Synthesia automatically generates the voiceover using your chosen avatar’s voice.
  • Language and Accent Selection: If your avatar supports multiple languages or accents, you can select the desired option. Synthesia supports over 120 languages and accents, making global reach straightforward.
  • Pronunciation Editor: For specific terms or brand names, use the pronunciation editor to ensure the AI pronounces them correctly.

Voice Styling and Emotions

  • Tone of Voice: Experiment with different voice styles to match the mood of your video. Synthesia allows you to adjust parameters like pitch, speed, and emphasis.
  • Pauses: Strategically add pauses to your script to create natural speaking rhythms and allow time for viewers to process information or for visual changes to register.
  • Emphasis: Highlight key words or phrases in your script to give them more prominence in the voiceover.

Voice Cloning (Advanced)

For a truly branded experience, Synthesia allows you to create an AI clone of your own voice. This is ideal for maintaining a consistent brand voice across all your communications.

  • Process: Typically involves recording a sample of your voice, which Synthesia then uses to train an AI model.

The clarity and naturalness of the voiceover directly impact viewer engagement. Spend time fine-tuning this aspect. Synthesia’s advanced voice features make this easier than ever.
Learn More About Synthesia Voiceovers

Step 5: Review, Export, and Distribute Your Explainer Video

The final stages involve reviewing your work, generating the video, and getting it out to your audience.

Preview and Iterate

  • Scene-by-Scene Preview: Watch individual scenes to ensure the avatar’s performance, visuals, and voiceover are synchronized and effective.
  • Full Video Preview: Play the entire video from start to finish. Check for flow, pacing, and overall message clarity.
  • Seek Feedback: Share previews with colleagues or target audience members to gather feedback. Synthesia often provides sharing options within the platform. Make iterative adjustments based on feedback.

It’s common to make several rounds of edits before finalizing your video. Don’t rush this stage.

Generate Your Video

Once you’re satisfied with the preview, hit the “Generate” or “Render” button. Synthesia will process your scenes and create the final video file. This process typically takes a few minutes, depending on the length and complexity of your video.

Download and Export

After generation, you’ll be able to download your video in standard formats (e.g., MP4). Synthesia often provides various resolution options. Download the highest quality version suitable for your distribution channels.

Distribute Your Explainer Video

Now, share your explainer video with the world:

  • Website: Embed the video on your homepage, product pages, or landing pages.
  • Social Media: Share on YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms. Optimize the title, description, and tags for each platform.
  • Email Marketing: Include video thumbnails in your email campaigns linking to the video.
  • Presentations: Integrate your video into sales pitches or internal presentations.
  • Learning Platforms: Use for e-learning modules or onboarding guides.

Consider adding captions or subtitles for accessibility and to reach a wider audience, especially on platforms where videos are often watched on mute.

Trust and Transparency in AI Video Creation

At Loopspur / aistackpicks.com, our recommendations are built on thorough research and practical application. We believe in empowering creators and businesses with tools that deliver real value. Synthesia stands out for its robust feature set, continuous innovation, and commitment to ethical AI practices.

When evaluating tools like Synthesia, we consider:

  • Effectiveness: Does it truly solve the problem it claims to address?
  • Ease of Use: Is the learning curve reasonable for its capabilities?
  • Value for Money: Does the cost align with the benefits and features offered?
  • Ethical Considerations: Does the tool provide safeguards against misuse and promote responsible AI?

Our review process for Synthesia focuses on how well it serves its purpose: creating high-quality, professional videos efficiently and accessibly. We advocate for transparency in AI-generated content and encourage users to disclose when AI has been used in video creation.

Learn more about our review methodology at: /how-we-review/

Conclusion

Creating compelling explainer videos no longer requires a massive budget or a film crew. Synthesia empowers individuals and organizations to produce high-quality, engaging video content with speed and ease. By following this step-by-step guide, you can leverage AI avatars, customizable templates, and advanced voiceovers to craft explainer videos that truly resonate with your audience and effectively convey your message.

Embrace the future of video creation.
Get Started with Synthesia Today
For further learning, explore Synthesia’s official tutorials: Synthesia Tutorials

FAQs

What is Synthesia and how does it help with explainer videos?

Synthesia is an AI video generation platform that allows users to create professional explainer videos using AI avatars, voiceovers, and templates, without needing cameras, microphones, or actors. It streamlines the video production process significantly, reducing both time and cost.

Can I customize the AI avatars and voiceovers in Synthesia?

Yes, Synthesia offers a wide range of customizable AI avatars with diverse appearances and accents. You can also generate voiceovers in over 120 languages and accents, and even clone your own voice for a unique brand identity. Voice styling, pitch, speed, and emphasis can all be adjusted.

What are the key steps to creating an explainer video with Synthesia?

The core steps involve crafting a clear script and storyboard, setting up your Synthesia project (choosing a template and avatar, inputting your script), customizing scenes with backgrounds, text, and graphics, generating and refining voiceovers, and finally, reviewing, exporting, and distributing your finished video.

How long does it take to create an explainer video with Synthesia?

The time varies depending on the video’s complexity and your script length. However, compared to traditional video production, Synthesia drastically reduces creation time. A typical explainer video can often be drafted, customized, and generated within a few hours to a day, especially when starting with a template.

Is Synthesia suitable for all types of explainer videos?

Synthesia is highly versatile and suitable for most explainer video needs, including product demos, how-to guides, corporate communications, marketing content, and e-learning. Its strength lies in its ability to quickly produce professional, consistent videos. For highly artistic or live-action heavy productions, traditional methods might still be preferred, but for clear, concise explanations, Synthesia excels.

How does Synthesia handle different languages for explainer videos?

Synthesia is a powerful tool for multilingual explainer videos. It supports generating voiceovers in over 120 languages and accents. You can translate your script and simply swap the language setting for the AI voice, making it easy to create localized versions of your explainer videos for global audiences.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Synthesia and how does it help with explainer videos?
Synthesia is an AI video platform that creates professional explainer videos using AI avatars and text-to-speech, eliminating the need for cameras, actors, or video editing.
Can I customize avatars and voiceovers in Synthesia?
Yes. Synthesia offers 160+ avatars and 120+ language/accent options. Higher plans also support custom avatar creation and voice cloning.
How long does it take to create an explainer video in Synthesia?
Most explainer videos can be created in 1-3 hours from script to export, compared to days or weeks with traditional video production.

Try Synthesia yourself

See current pricing and features on the official site.

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