Quick Answer
60-second read
Making your first Synthesia video takes about 10–15 minutes: sign up free, paste or write a script, pick an avatar and voice, then export. No camera, microphone, or filming required — everything happens in the browser. Below is the exact step-by-step process, from account creation to your first exported video.
10 min/month free
This guide was last updated July 2026 and reflects Synthesia’s current editor as of this writing. The core workflow (script → avatar → voice → export) has stayed consistent, but exact button placement may shift slightly with future UI updates.
What You Need Before You Start
- A free Synthesia account (no credit card required)
- A script — even a rough draft works, since you can edit directly in the editor
- 10–15 minutes for your first video (later ones go faster once you know the interface)
Step 1: Create Your Free Account
Go to synthesia.io and sign up with your email or a Google/Microsoft account. You’ll be asked a few quick questions about what you plan to use Synthesia for (training, marketing, education, etc.) — this just tailors the template suggestions you’ll see later and doesn’t lock you into anything. No credit card is required for the free plan.
Step 2: Start a New Video
From your dashboard, click “Create video”. You can start from a blank canvas or pick a template — for your first video, starting blank is usually clearer since you can see exactly what each element does without a pre-filled layout in the way.
Step 3: Choose Your Avatar
Click the avatar panel to browse the stock avatar library — the free plan gives you 9 to choose from. Filter by gender, style, and setting (office, casual, studio background) to find one that fits your content’s tone. You can swap avatars at any point before exporting, so don’t overthink this on your first video.
Step 4: Enter Your Script
Paste your script into the text panel, or type directly. Synthesia’s editor shows an estimated video duration as you type, which helps you stay within your monthly minute allowance. Keep sentences relatively short and conversational — the text-to-speech engine handles natural sentence breaks better than long, comma-heavy sentences.
Step 5: Set Your Voice and Language
Each avatar comes with a default voice, but you can change it from the voice dropdown — pick from Synthesia’s built-in voice library across 160+ languages and accents, or use a cloned voice if you’re on a paid plan. Preview the voice on a short snippet of your script before committing, since tone and pacing can vary noticeably between voice options.
Step 6: Add Visual Elements (Optional)
Use the slide panel to add background images, your own screenshots, text overlays, or brand logos alongside your avatar. This step is optional for a simple talking-head video, but it’s where Synthesia starts to feel more like a full training-video builder than a basic avatar generator — useful for onboarding or product-walkthrough content.
Step 7: Preview and Export
Click “Preview” to watch the full render before spending your monthly minutes on a final export — this step is free and unlimited, so use it to catch pronunciation issues or timing problems first. Once you’re happy with it, click “Generate video”. Rendering typically takes a few minutes depending on length; you’ll get a notification when it’s ready to download.
Quick Tips for Better Results
- Use the pronunciation editor: if a word or name is mispronounced, right-click it in the script panel to manually adjust the phonetic spelling.
- Preview before you export: previews don’t count against your monthly minutes, but exports do — catch mistakes early.
- Keep sentences short: the avatar’s pacing and emphasis sound more natural on shorter, simpler sentence structures.
- Watch your minute budget: the free and Starter plans cap out fast — see our full Synthesia pricing breakdown before you script something longer than your plan allows.
Ready to Make Your First Video?
Sign up free — 10 minutes/month, no credit card required.
Start Free with Synthesia →Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to make a video in Synthesia?
Your first video typically takes 10–15 minutes from account creation to export, mostly spent picking an avatar and refining your script. Once you’re familiar with the editor, producing a similar video takes closer to 5 minutes of active work — the render itself (a few minutes depending on length) happens in the background while you can start on your next video.
Can I use Synthesia without a camera or microphone?
Yes — that’s the entire point of the platform. You only need a script; Synthesia’s stock avatars and text-to-speech voices generate the full video without any recording equipment. The only time you’d need a camera is if you choose to create a personal avatar of yourself (available on paid plans), which requires a one-time short video recording during setup.
Do I need video editing experience to use Synthesia?
No. Synthesia is built specifically so people with zero video editing background can produce a finished video — the interface is closer to a text editor with a preview pane than a traditional video editing timeline. The learning curve is mostly about learning where settings live in the interface, not about video production skills.
Can I edit a Synthesia video after exporting it?
Not directly on the exported file — but you can go back into the original project in Synthesia’s editor, make changes to the script, avatar, or voice, and re-export. Because everything is generated from the script rather than filmed, this is usually faster than reshooting: change the text, hit generate again, and the new version is ready in minutes.
Related Resources
- 📊 Synthesia Review 2026 — Full pricing, features, and honest verdict
- ⚡ Synthesia vs HeyGen — Which AI avatar tool fits your use case
- 🎬 Best AI Video Generators 2026 — Full roundup of 13 tools compared
