TL;DR: Record your screen once, write a short script, and let a Synthesia avatar present it. Re-render when features change. Starter fits a handful of help-center videos; Pro fits teams shipping new demos every month.
Product videos go stale fast. Every redesign or new feature makes last quarter's demo slightly wrong, and re-recording a founder or support lead on camera is the step everyone postpones. Separating the presenter from the product footage fixes that: the screen recording shows the product, an AI presenter explains it, and either half can be swapped independently.
Four Kinds of Product Video Worth Making
- Homepage explainer (60–90 seconds): the problem, the product, one key result.
- Feature walkthroughs (1–3 minutes): one video per feature, linked from release notes and in-app tips.
- Help-center tutorials: answers to your top 10 support tickets, as video.
- Sales follow-ups: a short tailored demo a rep can send after a call.
The Workflow
1. Record clean screen footage
Use any screen recorder (Loom, OBS, or your OS's built-in tool). Record at full resolution, hide personal data, and move the cursor slowly. You don't need to talk while recording.
2. Write a short script per scene
One idea per scene: what the viewer is looking at, why it matters, what to click next. Keep sentences short; product names should be spelled the way they're pronounced, or fixed with Synthesia's pronunciation settings.
3. Assemble in Synthesia
- Pick a product-demo or explainer template.
- Upload the screen recording as the scene background or a picture-in-picture element, with the avatar in a corner.
- Add captions — many viewers watch help videos muted.
4. Publish and reuse
Download MP4s on Starter or above and embed them in your help center, onboarding emails and YouTube. On Pro, branded share pages and interactive videos let viewers click through to the next step.
5. Keep it current
When the UI changes, re-record only the affected clip and re-render. The script and presenter stay the same.
Good to know: Synthesia's free Basic plan lets you build a demo with watermarks to test the workflow. You'll need Starter or higher to download MP4s without the Synthesia logo.
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 startup with a help center of under ~15 short tutorials fits Starter on yearly billing. If marketing, sales and support all produce demo videos every month, Pro's ~60 minutes per month and interactive videos are the better fit.
Alternatives by Use Case
Synthesia Free / from $18/mo
Best when you want a consistent on-screen presenter across many tutorials, in many languages, that can be updated by editing text.
Best for: SaaS help centers and feature walkthroughs
Descript Free / paid plans
If you prefer recording your own voice over the screen, Descript lets you edit the video by editing its transcript and fix mistakes with AI voice.
Best for: founder-narrated demos and screen recordings
Pictory Paid plans
Turns scripts, blog posts or long videos into short captioned clips for social media and ads.
Best for: short promo clips from existing content
Tips That Make Demos Convert
- Show the result in the first 10 seconds, then explain how to get there.
- One feature per video. Link them together instead of making one long tour.
- End with one clear next step: start a trial, book a call, or open the feature.
- Disclose that the presenter is an AI avatar if your audience would care.
Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy a paid plan we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put my own screen recording behind a Synthesia avatar?
Yes. You can upload your own video or screenshots as scene media and place the avatar alongside them, which is the usual setup for software demos.
Do I need to show my face?
No. You can use a stock avatar, or create a personal avatar of yourself (Starter includes 3 personal avatars) if you want viewers to see you without filming each video.
Is an AI demo video good enough for a homepage?
For explainers and walkthroughs, usually yes, especially with real product footage carrying most of the screen. For brand films and emotional storytelling, filmed video is still stronger.