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LMS · head to head

Screencastify vs Synthesia

Screencastify logo

Screencastify

LMS

Simple video creation for everyone

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Synthesia logo

Synthesia

Video Production

AI video creation with digital presenters

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Screencastify limited to Chrome browser only, cannot record on Firefox, Safari, or Edge; Synthesia free plan limited to 10 minutes of video per month
  • They diverge on capability: Screencastify covers Screen recording, Synthesia covers AI avatars.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Screencastify and Synthesia actually diverge.

Attributes where Screencastify and Synthesia differ
AttributeScreencastifySynthesia
PlatformsChrome BrowserWeb
CategoryLMSVideo Production
Founded20132017

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Screencastify

  • Screen recording
  • Video editing
  • Drawing tools
  • Google Drive export
  • Chrome support
  • Edge support

Only in Synthesia

  • AI avatars
  • 140+ languages
  • Video templates
  • Brand customization
  • API access
  • LMS integrations
  • PowerPoint
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Screencastify

  • Recording lessons for flipped classroom instruction without external toolsnot Synthesia
  • Creating product demos and explainer videos for sales teamsnot Synthesia
  • Documenting technical processes for customer support tutorialsnot Synthesia
  • Collecting and grading video assignments from students with rubricsnot Synthesia
  • Adding interactive assessments to video content to measure understandingnot Synthesia

Synthesia

  • Training video creation with AI avatarsnot Screencastify
  • Multilingual video localisation with AI dubbingnot Screencastify
  • Enterprise video production and managementnot Screencastify

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Screencastify

  • Limited to Chrome browser only, cannot record on Firefox, Safari, or Edge
  • Free version watermark appears on all videos and requires upgrade to remove
  • Free tier limited to 10 videos total before requiring paid plan
  • Maximum 1080p resolution at 30fps, no support for higher framerates or 4K
  • No free educator license for educational institutions

Synthesia

  • Free plan limited to 10 minutes of video per month
  • Starter plan limited to 10 minutes of video per month
  • Creator plan capped at 30 minutes of video per month
  • SSO/SAML authentication restricted to Enterprise tier

Pricing, plan by plan

Screencastify

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 10 videos
    • 30-minute recording limit
    • Browser tab, full screen, and webcam recording
  • Starter$7/month
    • Unlimited videos
    • 60-minute recording limit
    • Basic editing
  • Pro$10/month
    • Unlimited videos
    • 180-minute recording limit
    • AI video enhancements
  • Enterprise & EDU$null/month
    • Custom pricing
    • Central admin controls
    • LMS integrations

Synthesia

Free
  • BasicFree
    • 1,200 credits per month
    • Up to 10 minutes of video per month
    • 9 AI avatars
  • Starter$29/month
    • 14,500 credits per year
    • Up to 120 minutes of video per year
    • 125+ AI avatars
  • Creator$89/month
    • 44,000 credits per year
    • Up to 360 minutes of video per year
    • 180+ AI avatars

Which should you pick?

Choose Screencastify if

  • You need screen recording.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome Browser.
  • You also want video editing.
Screencastify review

Choose Synthesia if

  • You need ai avatars.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want 140+ languages.
Synthesia review

Questions people ask

Is Screencastify or Synthesia better?
Neither clearly leads. Screencastify starts at Free and Synthesia at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Screencastify or Synthesia?
Screencastify starts at Free and Synthesia at Free.
Does Screencastify or Synthesia run on more platforms?
Screencastify runs on Chrome Browser. Synthesia runs on Web.
Can I use Screencastify for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Screencastify best used for?
Screencastify is most often used for recording lessons for flipped classroom instruction without external tools, creating product demos and explainer videos for sales teams, documenting technical processes for customer support tutorials, collecting and grading video assignments from students with rubrics. Of those, recording lessons for flipped classroom instruction without external tools and creating product demos and explainer videos for sales teams are not what Synthesia is typically brought in for.
What can Screencastify do that Synthesia cannot?
Screencastify covers Screen recording, Video editing, Drawing tools, Google Drive export. Synthesia covers AI avatars, 140+ languages, Video templates, Brand customization.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Screencastify: What's the free tier limit?

Free plan allows 10 total videos up to 30 minutes each, with watermark. After 10 videos, you must upgrade.

Source
Synthesia: How much does Synthesia cost?

Synthesia offers a free Basic plan with 10 minutes of video per month, Starter at $29 per month with 120 minutes per year, and Creator at $89 per month with 360 minutes per year. Annual billing provides 38% savings. Enterprise plans are available with custom pricing.

Source
Screencastify: Is Screencastify limited to Chrome?

Yes. Screencastify is exclusively a Chrome extension and does not work on other browsers like Firefox, Safari, or Edge.

Source
Synthesia: What is included in Synthesia's free plan?

The free Basic plan includes 1,200 credits per month (approximately 10 minutes of video), 9 AI avatars, 3 personal avatars, and access to 160+ languages and voices. No credit card is required.

Source
Screencastify: What's the maximum video quality?

Maximum resolution is 1080p at 30 frames per second. Videos can only be exported to MP4, audio to MP3, or as GIF.

Source
Screencastify: Does Screencastify work for educational use?

Screencastify lacks a free educator license for schools or non-profits, unlike some competitors who offer discounted or free plans for educational institutions.

Source
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