AI avatars for video marketing are quite literally changing the online landscape. They're popping up everywhere. We're certainly getting more enquiries for media that includes AI avatars.
It's little wonder. Brands are now able to create high-quality video content—without actors, expensive production crews, or even cameras. Whether it’s a digital avatar for content creation or an AI avatar for video marketing, these tools are giving businesses the power to scale video production like never before.
That said, the technology is still very much in development. Some tools are further along than others. It also very much depends on what is important to you. For example, is realism a top priority? Or would you be open to a more stylised look?
In this article, we explore the tools currently available and how they stack up. Let's dive in.
Of course... we should never lose sight that whatever tool you use, creating engaging content is king.
The shift to AI-driven content creation is impossible to ignore. Digital avatars for content creation allow teams to:
An impressive 96% of marketers have reported the positive ROI of AI-powered video marketing, highlighting its effectiveness and efficiency. Furthermore, 75.7% of marketers now utilize AI tools in their workflows, signaling a significant shift in the industry’s approach to content creation.
It's clear there is high demand for these digital assets. The question is, what's the right tool for you? We look at the top picks.
One of the most well-known AI avatar platforms, Synthesia has positioned itself as a leader in AI-generated video for corporate training, onboarding, and explainer content. With a library of over 140 hyper-realistic avatars and support for 120+ languages, it’s a go-to for brands that need high-quality, scalable video production without the hassle of film crews, studios, or actors. If you want to test it out, the options are very limited until you pay for a subscription.
What sets it apart?
It’s user-friendly, fast, and delivers polished, professional-looking content—making it a top choice for brands needing consistency.
Pros: ✔ 140+ AI avatars ✔ Multilingual support ✔ Simple to use
Cons: ✖ Limited emotional range ✖ No hand tracking
User Feedback: “Synthesia made our onboarding process so much easier. The avatars look professional, and we saved thousands on production costs.”
Pricing: From £17/month
If you’re looking for AI avatars that feel more dynamic and engaging, HeyGen is a solid choice. Unlike Synthesia, which leans towards corporate use, HeyGen is built for social media, branded content, and marketing campaigns. It features high-quality avatars with more expressive facial animations and better lip-syncing than most competitors. But there are still some kinks. We found the interface quite confusing at times, and many features are locked out on the free plan.
What sets it apart?
HeyGen delivers superior lip-syncing, more lifelike avatars, and the ability to generate AI-driven scripts automatically.
Pros: ✔ Advanced lip-syncing ✔ Custom avatars via FaceSwap ✔ AI script generation
Cons: ✖ UI can be confusing for beginners ✖ Limited free options
User Feedback: “HeyGen’s AI avatars feel the most natural compared to other tools. The ability to swap faces is a game-changer!”
Pricing: Free plan available; £23/month for Creator plan, £55/month for Team plan
For brands that want hyper-realistic AI avatars, DeepBrain AI is probably the closest you’ll get to a digital human that feels natural on screen. Their AI technology is specifically designed to capture the subtleties of human expression, from eye movements to micro-expressions, making it the best choice for professional video productions. We must say, the results have been rather impressive.
What sets it apart?
Ultra-lifelike avatars with detailed facial expressions and hand gestures make DeepBrain AI stand out from the crowd.
Pros: ✔ Most realistic avatars ✔ Custom avatars from real photos ✔ Supports detailed hand movements
Cons: ✖ Higher price point ✖ Custom avatar creation takes time
User Feedback: “DeepBrain AI is leagues ahead in realism. The avatars move and speak in a way that feels incredibly natural.”
Pricing: Custom pricing (higher than most competitors)
Colossyan is designed for speed and ease of use, making it a great option for startups, educators, and small businesses that need to produce simple AI-powered videos without a big learning curve. While its avatars might not be as advanced as DeepBrain AI, they still offer a clean, professional look for basic explainer videos.
What sets it apart?
Affordable AI-generated avatars with basic customisation and multi-language support.
Pros: ✔ Budget-friendly ✔ Simple UI ✔ Good for quick video generation
Cons: ✖ Less realistic than DeepBrain AI ✖ Limited avatar movement
User Feedback: “Colossyan is a great affordable option. It’s not the most lifelike, but it gets the job done.”
Pricing: Free plan available; £24/month for Pro plan
D-ID Studio takes a slightly different approach to AI avatars, focusing entirely on facial animations. It allows users to create talking avatars from photos rather than full-body AI models, making it ideal for creating AI-generated interviews, narrated presentations, and digital customer service reps. However, we found the results to be underwhelming and quite frankly, rather amusing—as demonstrated in the promotional video above.
What sets it apart?
The ability to turn any photo into a talking AI avatar makes it an easy tool for quick, face-focused videos.
Pros: ✔ Simple and fast ✔ Creates avatars from images ✔ No need for a video shoot
Cons: ✖ No full-body animations ✖ Limited emotional range
User Feedback: “D-ID makes it incredibly easy to bring still images to life, though the avatars can feel a bit robotic.”
Pricing: Free plan available; £13/month for Pro plan
Runway is more than just an AI avatar tool. We had the pleasure of testing it for many months, and whilst incredibly powerful, we struggled to get the creative output we envisioned. That said, it’s a full AI-powered video creation suite that has a lot of power under the hood, including AI avatars. And they have intentionally taken quite the different route from the hyper-realistic AI avatars we usually see.
What sets it apart?
AI-assisted video editing, motion tracking, and style transfer make Runway unique among avatar platforms.
Pros: ✔ Advanced AI video editing ✔ Creative AI-powered effects ✔ Supports video uploads
Cons: ✖ Not a full AI avatar solution ✖ Can be tricky to use
User Feedback: “Runway is mind-blowing for AI video effects, but it’s not the best for fully animated avatars.”
Pricing: Free plan available; £9/month for Pro plan
It all comes down to what important to you. For example:
If realism is your priority → DeepBrain AI
If flexibility is key → HeyGen
If cost is a concern → Synthesia or Colossyan
And also let's not forget ensuring that whatever tool you choose, the visual look aligns with your brand.
AI avatars are making their way to websites the world over. They are arguably more accessible, cost-effective, and scalable than traditional production methods. That said, there's still a lot of room for improvement.
So, are AI avatars the future of video marketing? The answer isn’t if—it’s when.
NB: This comparison is based on industry research, user feedback, and a breakdown of features across leading AI avatar tools. It is designed to help brands identify the best platform for their needs. We are yet to conduct full hands-on reviews.
On a side note, although this article is dedicated to AI video avatars, there's times when animated video production is a better choice for your project.
