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TL;DR: The best AI text-to-video tools:
- Text-to-video for AI avatars:
- Text-to-video for social media & YouTube content:
- Text-to-video for creative storytelling:
What are AI text-to-video converters?
The main types of AI-powered video generation are:
- Text-to-Video: Generating videos directly from documents or textual descriptions, such as training videos, explainer videos, animations, or cinematic sequences.
- Image-to-Video: Creating videos by animating still images, either through interpolation, motion generation, or scene evolution.
- Video-to-Video: Transforming or stylizing existing videos, such as changing the aesthetic, enhancing quality, or altering elements (e.g., turning a live-action video into an animated version).
Text-to-video is probably the most popular because it requires minimal input and caters to the broadest audience, but a number of the AI-powered applications in this list can also do image-to-video and video-to-video.
What is AI text-to-video software used for?
AI text-to-video software is used to streamline the process of creating video content by transforming written text into engaging visuals.
These tools cater to various purposes, such as generating videos for corporate training, marketing, or sales outreach (e.g., Synthesia), producing social media and YouTube-ready content quickly (e.g., FlexClip, Veed, Canva), or crafting cinematic and creative storytelling videos with advanced generative capabilities (e.g., Veo 2, Runway, Kling, Hailuo, Sora, Luma).
By automating video production, these tools save time and make video creation accessible to users without technical expertise.
Are these AI text-to-video apps free to use?
All of these tools have free versions that you can use, typically with limited functionality, such as watermarked outputs, restricted resolution, or a cap on the number of projects you can create. Upgrading to a paid plan usually unlocks full features, higher quality exports, and extended usage.
The best AI text-to-video for AI avatars: Synthesia
Pros
- User-friendly interface for creating videos with AI avatars
- Wide variety of avatars and languages to suit global audiences
- Ideal for corporate training, explainer videos, and other professional content
Cons
- Heavily focused on business use cases, less suited for artistic video creation
Pricing
- Synthesia offers users a free option and three paid plans
- The paid plans starts at $29/month
My experience with Synthesia
Synthesia is an advanced AI video generator built for businesses. I tried using the platform to create a training video for onboarding new employees, and an explainer video for a hypothetical new product.
The platform’s clean interface made it easy to select an AI avatar, upload a script, and customize the video format. The AI avatars looked professional, delivering the script in a natural and engaging manner, which gave the final video a polished, corporate feel. You can also create your own custom avatar that looks like you.
Your avatar can speak in over 140 languages with a wide variety of accents, and the platform offers over 60 professionally designed video templates and an AI script generator to make it easy to get started.
The best AI text-to-video for social media and YouTube: FlexClip
Pros
- Simple drag-and-drop interface.
- Wide range of templates for social media videos.
- Fast and beginner-friendly.
Cons
- Limited advanced editing tools.
- Free plan includes watermarked exports.
- Templates can feel generic.
Pricing
- Free version available; paid plans start at $5.99/month.
My experience with FlexClip
FlexClip is a highly user-friendly platform that made creating professional-looking videos quick and straightforward. Its drag-and-drop editor, paired with the AI-powered text-to-video tool, allowed me to generate polished video drafts in minutes, complete with stock footage, text overlays, and music. While the AI wasn’t always perfect at matching footage to specific themes, a few minor edits were usually all it took to get the desired result. The auto-subtitle generator and AI background remover also stood out, saving time while enhancing accessibility and visuals.
That said, FlexClip’s stock media library could be more expansive, as I sometimes needed to source additional assets for niche content. Despite this, its ease of use and ability to deliver visually appealing videos quickly made it one of my go-to tools for social media and promotional projects.
Alternatives
Veed
My experience with Veed: Veed is an intuitive, browser-based video editor that made crafting social media content a breeze. Features like automatic subtitles, text-to-speech, and background removal streamlined my workflow and gave my videos a polished look with minimal effort. The templates and filters were helpful for maintaining a consistent style across projects, and the auto-translate feature made creating multilingual content simple.
While the free plan’s watermark and occasional manual adjustments for AI effects were minor drawbacks, Veed delivered everything I needed for fast, high-quality videos. It’s an excellent tool for creators looking for quick, professional results without a steep learning curve.
Pictory
My experience with Pictory: I used Pictory to convert a blog post into a branded video for TikTok, and the process was incredibly efficient. The AI quickly summarized the text into concise scenes, pairing it with relevant visuals and stock footage to create an engaging video draft. This made repurposing long-form content for short-form platforms like TikTok simple and time-saving. The tool’s automatic captioning and text overlay features added a polished touch, ensuring the video was optimized for TikTok’s fast-paced, text-driven audience.
However, while Pictory excelled at generating a strong starting point, I found myself wanting more control over the timing of scenes and transitions. Adjusting these manually was possible but slightly limited compared to more advanced video editing tools. Despite this, Pictory remains a fantastic option for quickly repurposing content into professional-looking videos with minimal effort.
The best AI text-to-video for creative storytelling: Runway
Pros
- Advanced AI tools for creative storytelling and video editing
- Features like text-to-video, inpainting, and video style transfer
- Seamless integration with other creative workflows
Cons
- Steeper learning curve compared to simpler tools
- Pricing can be high for extended usage
Pricing
- Free trial available; paid plans start at $12/month
My experience with Runway Using Runway
Runway quickly became one of my favorite tools for creative storytelling projects. Its text-to-video and image-to-video capabilities allowed me to generate visually compelling content from simple prompts, making it a powerful resource for experimenting with ideas. I especially appreciated the Motion Brush feature, which let me add dynamic animations and effects to specific parts of a video, bringing scenes to life in a way that felt professional and polished. The Camera Controls added a cinematic touch, allowing me to fine-tune angles, focus, and motion for a more engaging narrative.
One of the most impressive features I explored was Inpainting, which allowed me to seamlessly remove or alter elements in a video frame—perfect for refining scenes without disrupting the flow. While the advanced features come with a bit of a learning curve, they’re well worth the effort for anyone looking to push creative boundaries. Runway’s ability to deliver polished, high-quality videos made it an essential tool in my workflow. The pricing felt reasonable for its capabilities, especially considering the depth of creative control it offers.
Alternatives
Veo 2
My experience with Veo 2:I had the chance to test Veo 2 during a limited beta program, and I have to say, it outperforms Runway in video quality. Veo 2 delivers noticeably more accurate physics, which means a higher percentage of usable clips. However, it’s not my top recommendation for creative storytelling videos just yet because, as of December 2024, it’s not publicly available.
Sora
My experience with Sora: Sora offered an exciting yet somewhat unpredictable experience in my creative storytelling project. Its storyboard functionality was a game-changer, allowing me to plan and generate multiple shots within a single session. The “Blend” option added an artistic touch, combining visuals in ways that brought a unique flair to the project. However, the results could be inconsistent—some outputs were stunning, while others felt disjointed or glitchy. Sora’s remix feature was incredibly helpful for refining videos, especially when remastering older AI-generated content. Despite its steep pricing and occasional quirks, Sora has great potential for experimental, abstract storytelling.
Kling
My experience with Kling: Kling stood out as a fantastic tool for experimental short videos that required fluid and realistic motion. I appreciated the ability to adjust creativity and relevance sliders, which gave me more control over the final visuals. This customization was invaluable for balancing artistic exploration with precision, especially when crafting dynamic storytelling sequences. Kling’s spatio-temporal joint attention mechanism brought an impressive level of realism to character and object movements, enhancing the overall impact of the story. For creators pushing boundaries in short-form storytelling, Kling provides an exciting, hands-on approach.
Luma
My experience with Luma: I used Luma Dream Machine to generate short, visually captivating clips for a creative storytelling project. The tool’s ability to produce smooth, cinematic visuals impressed me immediately. It created high-resolution, aesthetically rich scenes with minimal input, making it perfect for crafting social media or promotional videos. While the lack of granular control over details was noticeable, the tool’s focus on motion and visual quality made up for it. Overall, Luma Dream Machine worked brilliantly for creating polished, eye-catching content quickly.
Hailuo
My experience with Hailuo: Hailuo proved to be a straightforward yet effective tool for creating short, engaging video clips. While it’s limited to generating 6-second videos at 720p resolution, the quality of the outputs was surprisingly polished. The tool excelled at delivering quick results, making it ideal for social media or fast-paced storytelling projects. I found its simplicity to be a strength—when time is of the essence, Hailuo provides visually appealing results without the need for extensive customization. It’s not the most advanced tool for creative storytelling, but it’s highly effective for projects focused on speed and clarity.
About the author
Content Writer & Marketing Expert
Ema Lukan
Ema Lukan is a seasoned Content Writer and Marketing Expert with a rich history of collaborating with marketing agencies, SaaS companies, and film studios.
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