A Synthesia alternative for manuals with physical steps
Synthesia and Manual to Video both turn documents into video. They make different kinds of video, for different jobs. Here's a fair comparison, so you can pick the right one, or use both.
The short answer
Synthesia is an AI video platform built around AI presenters (avatars) and voices in many languages. Its PDF to video tool turns a document into a draft script with an avatar and voice-over. That is a strong fit for L&D, compliance, onboarding and anything that needs to be localised quickly.
Manual to Video makes one thing: animated films of the physical steps in a manual or procedure, in the document's own order, with no presenter. If your trainees or customers need to see parts go together, that's us. If they need someone to explain a policy, that's Synthesia.
| Synthesia | Manual to Video | |
|---|---|---|
| What it makes | Presenter-led videos with AI avatars and voice-over, from scripts, slides or documents | Animated film of the physical steps, in the document's order |
| Input | Script, slides, PDF, Word document or web page | Your manual, SOP or instructions (PDF or link) |
| Presenter | AI avatar (many to choose from) | None: the product and parts are the picture |
| Languages | Voice-over and translation in many languages | Captions included; voice-over as an add-on |
| Who edits | You, in their editor | We make it; every film is checked against your order; one round of changes included |
| Pricing model | Subscription plans (see their pricing page) | Free preview; $119 or $169 per film, no subscription (excl. VAT) |
| Best for | Compliance, onboarding, soft skills, sales enablement, multilingual training | Assembly, installation, set-up and maintenance procedures |
Other providers' figures are published starting rates or listings we checked, not quotes. Our prices exclude VAT.
Choose Synthesia when
- The lesson is carried by words: policies, compliance, onboarding, soft skills
- You want a presenter on screen and many languages
- Your team wants to write and edit videos itself, in a video editor
Choose Manual to Video when
- The lesson is carried by the drawings: assembling, installing, setting up, maintaining
- You already have an approved manual or SOP and the film must match it step for step
- You'd rather order a finished film than build it in an editor
- You want to pay per film, with a free preview of your own manual first
Using both
Many training programmes combine the two: a presenter video introduces the module and the safety rules, and an animated procedure film shows the hands-on steps. Our films are normal video files, so they drop into the same LMS or course.
Trademarks
Synthesia is a trademark of its owner. Manual to Video is not affiliated with or endorsed by Synthesia. What we say about Synthesia comes from its public pages, checked on 30.09.2026; features change, so check their site for the current details.
Price
Preview
Free
About 30 s, watermarked, one manual per company
Standard
$119excl. VAT
Up to 60 s, within 24 hours
Express
$169excl. VAT
Up to 90 s, first in line
Captions included. Voice-over +$12, Music +$4, Sound effects +$15. Packs from 5 films for $795. All prices are in US dollars and exclude VAT. VAT is added at checkout where it applies; businesses can enter their VAT number.
Full pricingQuestions
Is Manual to Video a Synthesia replacement?+
Not in general. Synthesia makes presenter-led videos for many kinds of content. We only make animated films of physical steps from manuals and procedures. For that job, we're the more specialised choice.
Can Synthesia turn a PDF manual into a video?+
Its public PDF to video tool turns a PDF into a draft script with an AI avatar and voice-over. For manuals where the drawings matter, an animated film of the steps shows more of what the reader needs.
Do you use avatars?+
No. Our films show the product and its parts, animated step by step, with captions.
What does a film cost here?+
The preview is free. A full film is $119 for a Standard film of up to 60 seconds, delivered within 24 hours, or $169 for an Express film of up to 90 seconds, first in line. Captions are included; voice-over +$12, music +$4, sound effects +$15. Prices exclude VAT.
Sources
See your own manual as a film.
Upload it now. Your free, watermarked preview arrives within 24 hours.
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