TL;DR: Write the script from your existing SOP, paste it into Synthesia, pick an avatar and template, export MP4 and upload it to your LMS or shared drive. Starter ($18/mo yearly) covers a small team's onboarding library; Pro adds interactive quizzes; SCORM packages need Enterprise.
Most training content already exists — it's just trapped in PDFs, Notion pages and slide decks that new hires skim once. Filming it properly means booking a presenter, a room and an editor, and then re-shooting every time a process changes. AI presenter tools remove the filming step entirely: you write a script, an avatar presents it, and editing a sentence later takes a minute instead of a re-shoot.
Why AI Video Works Especially Well for Training
- Training changes constantly. A pricing change, a new tool, a policy update — with an AI video you edit the script line and re-render. No re-shoot.
- Consistency. Every location and shift gets the same explanation, in the same tone, instead of whoever happened to run the session.
- Languages. Synthesia supports 140+ languages and voices, so a distributed team can get the same module in their own language.
- It's what Synthesia is built for. Its template library is organized around onboarding, compliance, product training and how-to videos rather than social clips.
Step-by-Step: From SOP to Training Video
1. Pick one high-repeat topic
Start with the thing you explain most often: first-day onboarding, how to use your CRM, safety or data-privacy basics, or a refund process. One topic per video, 2–5 minutes long, beats one 40-minute monster.
2. Turn the document into a spoken script
Written policy reads badly out loud. Paste your SOP into an AI assistant and ask for a script that's conversational, uses short sentences, and ends each section with what the employee should actually do. Aim for roughly 130–150 words per minute of video.
3. Build the video in Synthesia
- Choose a training or onboarding template and apply your colors and logo.
- Paste one script section per scene and pick an avatar and voice.
- Add screen recordings or screenshots on the scenes that explain software — the avatar talks, the screen shows.
- Preview, fix pronunciation of product names, then generate.
4. Deliver it where people already are
Download the MP4 and upload it to your LMS, Google Drive, Notion or Slack. Nearly every LMS accepts plain MP4 uploads. If your company requires SCORM packages with tracked completion, note that Synthesia's SCORM export is an Enterprise feature; on Pro you can instead use interactive videos and branded share pages.
5. Update, don't re-shoot
When something changes, open the project, edit the affected lines and re-generate. This is where AI video pays back the most over filmed training.
Try before paying: Synthesia's free Basic plan includes about 10 minutes of watermarked video a month — enough to build your first onboarding module and show it to your manager before buying a plan.
Which Synthesia Plan Fits?
Synthesia's published plans as of October 2026 (check our pricing page or Synthesia's site for the latest numbers):
| Plan | Price | Video | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Free | ~10 min/mo | 9 avatars, watermarked, no downloads — for testing only |
| Starter | $29/mo, or $18/mo billed yearly | ~12 min/mo (~150 min/yr on yearly) | 125+ avatars, downloads, no Synthesia logo, 3 personal avatars |
| Pro | $89/mo, or $64/mo billed yearly | ~60 min/mo (~720 min/yr on yearly) | 180+ avatars, 5 personal avatars, interactive videos, branded pages |
| Enterprise | Custom | Unlimited | SCORM export, Brand Kits, 1-click translation, SSO, live collaboration |
Our take: a small business building an onboarding library of 8–12 short videos fits comfortably in Starter on yearly billing (~150 minutes a year). Teams that refresh training monthly or want built-in quizzes should look at Pro. Only move to Enterprise if you truly need SCORM, SSO or shared brand kits across many editors.
Tools That Help Around Synthesia
Synthesia Free / from $18/mo
AI presenter videos built for business training: 140+ languages, onboarding and compliance templates, and easy script edits when content changes.
Best for: onboarding, SOP and compliance training videos
HeyGen Free / paid plans
The main alternative. Often preferred by creators for avatar expressiveness; less focused on corporate training features.
Best for: teams that care most about avatar realism
ElevenLabs Free / paid plans
If you'd rather record narration over screen recordings than use an avatar, ElevenLabs produces natural voiceovers from text.
Best for: voice-only software walkthroughs
Common Mistakes
- Reading the policy verbatim. Rewrite it for speech first.
- Videos that are too long. Split by task; people rewatch short videos when they need them.
- No visuals besides the avatar. For software training, the screen recording matters more than the presenter.
- Buying Enterprise too early. Most small teams never need SCORM; start on Starter and upgrade only if you hit a real limit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use AI videos for compliance training?
Yes, many companies do, but the content still needs review by whoever owns the policy. The AI handles presentation, not legal accuracy. If your compliance system requires SCORM completion tracking, check that your Synthesia plan includes SCORM export (currently Enterprise).
How long does it take to make a training video in Synthesia?
Once the script is written, building a 3-5 minute video from a template is typically a short session of work, plus a few minutes of rendering. Writing and reviewing the script is usually the longest step.
Do employees mind watching AI avatars?
For short, practical training videos, most viewers care about whether the content is clear and useful. Keep videos short, show the actual screens or tasks, and be transparent that the presenter is an AI avatar.
Which Synthesia plan is best for a small business?
Starter on yearly billing ($18/mo, about 150 minutes of video a year) covers a typical onboarding library. Pro ($64/mo yearly) suits teams producing training every month or wanting interactive videos.