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Video Production · head to head

ScreenFlow vs Synthesia

ScreenFlow logo

ScreenFlow

Video Production

Mac-only screen recording and editing sold as a one-time purchase

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Synthesia logo

Synthesia

Video Production

AI video creation with digital presenters

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Synthesia has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ScreenFlow it runs on macOS only, so a mixed fleet cannot standardise on it and project files cannot be handed to a Windows colleague in any form.; Synthesia free plan limited to 10 minutes of video per month
  • They diverge on capability: ScreenFlow covers Screen and device capture, Synthesia covers AI avatars.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ScreenFlow and Synthesia actually diverge.

Attributes where ScreenFlow and Synthesia differ
AttributeScreenFlowSynthesia
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchasefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsmacOSWeb
FoundedUnknown2017

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Video Production).

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 ScreenFlow

  • Screen and device capture
  • Callouts
  • Animated zoom and pan
  • Caption authoring
  • Stock media library
  • Direct publishing

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.

ScreenFlow

  • Producing a paid online course where a recurring software subscription would erode the marginnot Synthesia
  • Recording software tutorials for a support knowledge base on a fixed annual budgetnot Synthesia
  • Capturing an iOS app demonstration directly from a connected device without a screen mirroring workaroundnot Synthesia
  • Training teams who need captioned, annotated walkthroughs without a full editing suitenot Synthesia

Synthesia

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

Where each one falls short

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

ScreenFlow

  • It runs on macOS only, so a mixed fleet cannot standardise on it and project files cannot be handed to a Windows colleague in any form.
  • Each major version is a paid upgrade rather than an included update, so the one-time purchase is in practice a purchase every eighteen months to two years if you want current macOS compatibility.
  • New macOS releases have repeatedly broken screen and audio capture until an update arrives, which is a scheduling risk for anyone recording to a publication calendar.
  • Media lives inside a project bundle that grows quickly and there is no real media management, so a long-running series consumes disk with no straightforward way to consolidate or relink.
  • It is a recorder with an editor attached; multicam, colour work and audio repair beyond simple cleanup all require a proper non-linear editor.

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

ScreenFlow

On request
  • ScreenFlow$undefined/year
    • Perpetual licence for one major version
    • Screen, camera and device capture
    • Full editing timeline

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 ScreenFlow if

  • You need screen and device capture.
  • You work on macOS.
  • You also want callouts.
ScreenFlow 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 ScreenFlow or Synthesia better?
Neither clearly leads. ScreenFlow starts at On request and Synthesia at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ScreenFlow or Synthesia?
Synthesia has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for ScreenFlow and Free for Synthesia.
Does ScreenFlow or Synthesia run on more platforms?
ScreenFlow runs on macOS. Synthesia runs on Web.
Can I use Synthesia for free?
Yes. Synthesia has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ScreenFlow starts at On request.
What is ScreenFlow best used for?
ScreenFlow is most often used for producing a paid online course where a recurring software subscription would erode the margin, recording software tutorials for a support knowledge base on a fixed annual budget, capturing an ios app demonstration directly from a connected device without a screen mirroring workaround, training teams who need captioned, annotated walkthroughs without a full editing suite. Of those, producing a paid online course where a recurring software subscription would erode the margin and recording software tutorials for a support knowledge base on a fixed annual budget are not what Synthesia is typically brought in for.
What can ScreenFlow do that Synthesia cannot?
ScreenFlow covers Screen and device capture, Callouts, Animated zoom and pan, Caption authoring. Synthesia covers AI avatars, 140+ languages, Video templates, Brand customization.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ScreenFlow: Is it a subscription?

No. The application is bought outright. Major version upgrades are charged separately, and the optional stock media library is a subscription.

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
ScreenFlow: Will it ever run on Windows?

No. It is a macOS application and Telestream has never shipped a Windows version.

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
ScreenFlow: How does it compare with Camtasia on cost?

Both are bought rather than rented and both charge for major upgrades. ScreenFlow is Mac only; Camtasia runs on both platforms, which usually decides it for a mixed team.

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