How to pick the right AI video tool for your workflow

Runway, HeyGen, and Synthesia all get lumped together as ‘AI video,’ but they solve almost completely different problems. Picking the wrong one wastes a lot of time and money.

Start with your use case

Before comparing features, get specific about what you’re making: cinematic b-roll, a talking-head explainer, or scaled training content. That single answer rules out two of the three almost immediately.

Runway vs. HeyGen vs. Synthesia

Runway is built for generative, creative footage. HeyGen shines for realistic avatars and quick spokesperson videos. Synthesia is the safe pick for structured, multi-language corporate content at scale.

Match the tool to the job and any of them feels great. Fight against its strengths and even the best one feels frustrating.