ViewGum vs Synthesia
Synthesia is an AI video platform that makes videos with AI avatars and voiceovers in 140+ languages, with a public API and an MCP server. ViewGum is a short-form video editor that cuts your own talking-head take into a vertical short or makes a faceless short from a topic, with no AI avatars.
Facts about Synthesia checked October 20, 2026, from its own public pages
ViewGum is an AI short-form video editor for creators who want to grow and earn on YouTube Shorts, TikTok, Instagram Reels and Facebook Reels. It turns a topic or a talking-head take into a finished short: faceless explainers, cartoon shorts and talking-head edits, with script, voice, captions and music.
ViewGum is best for
- Make monetizable YouTube Shorts with AI
- Faceless cartoon shorts for TikTok
- Edit a talking-head take into a Short
- Faceless explainer shorts for Instagram Reels
- Turn a topic into a finished short with captions and voice
At a glance
- Synthesia makes videos with AI avatars and voiceovers in 140+ languages.
- Synthesia's API accepts 9:16, 16:9, 1:1, 4:5 and 5:4, per its API reference, checked October 20, 2026.
- Synthesia's Basic plan is free with 500 credits a month and a Synthesia watermark, per its pricing page, checked October 20, 2026.
- ViewGum has no AI avatars: it uses your own on-camera take or makes a faceless short.
- Both have an MCP server with OAuth sign-in.
Side by side
| Row | ViewGum | Synthesia |
|---|---|---|
| What it makes | A finished vertical short: script, voiceover or your own take, pictures, captions, music and sound | Videos with AI avatars and voiceovers; also dubbing, roleplay sessions and surveys1 |
| Starts from | A typed topic, or one talking-head take you upload | A prompt, a link or a file, including PowerPoint presentations and documents1 |
| Editing | Ask for changes in plain words in chat, swap a part, or pick another style | Not listed publicly |
| Vertical sizing | One 9:16 export that fits TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and Facebook Reels | API aspectRatio: 16:9 (default), 9:16, 1:1, 4:5 or 5:42 |
| Length | 15 to 90 seconds for a faceless short | Syren videos up to 3 minutes on every plan; no per-video limit listed for other features3 |
| Captions | Burned in, timed to each spoken word, kept inside one safe zone that clears all four apps' buttons | Auto-generated closed captions; the API returns SRT and VTT caption files3 |
| Voice | AI voiceover on faceless shorts; your own voice on talking-head edits | Voiceovers in 140+ languages; voice cloning; upload your own voiceover1 |
| Presenters | Your own on-camera take | Hundreds of stock avatars; a personal avatar built from a single photo1 |
| Posting | MP4 export with post copy written for each platform; no direct posting | Share link; downloads on paid plans; no direct social posting listed3 |
| Free tier | No free plan; welcome bonus credits once, plus a small daily sign-in bonus | Basic: $0, 500 credits a month, 10 minutes of video creation or dubbing3 |
| Watermark | No ViewGum watermark | Basic videos carry a Synthesia watermark; Starter and higher can remove the logo3 |
| Price from | Bonus credits to start, then Creator at $19.00 a month | Basic, $0 a month (500 credits a month; 10 minutes of video creation or dubbing; watermarked)3 |
| API | No public REST API; software uses the MCP server | Yes: Synthesia API, plus Interactive Avatars, Dubbing and AI Video Assistant APIs1 |
| Agent (MCP) access | An MCP server at https://viewgum.com/mcp for paid plans | MCP server at https://mcp.synthesia.io/mcp with OAuth sign-in; Starter, Pro or enterprise plan4 |
Two ways to make a short
| Step | ViewGum | Synthesia |
|---|---|---|
| Script | Script: included with ViewGum.A script built for a short: a hook, a build and a payoff | Script: not listed publicly for Synthesia.Not listed publicly |
| Voice | Voice: included with ViewGum.An AI voiceover, or your own voice on a talking-head edit | Voice: included with Synthesia.AI voiceovers in 140+ languages1 |
| Pictures or video | Pictures or video: included with ViewGum.A picture or animation for each scene | Pictures or video: included with Synthesia.Videos with AI avatars1 |
| Captions | Captions: included with ViewGum.Timed to each word, inside one safe zone that clears all four apps | Captions: included with Synthesia.Auto-generated closed captions3 |
| Music and sound | Music and sound: included with ViewGum.Music and sound effects mixed under the voice | Music and sound: not listed publicly for Synthesia.Not listed publicly |
| Vertical export | Vertical export: included with ViewGum.One 9:16 export that fits all four apps, metadata stripped | Vertical export: included with Synthesia.9:16 among its aspect ratios2 |
| Change a part by asking | Change a part by asking: included with ViewGum.Ask in chat and ViewGum changes that part of the short | Change a part by asking: not listed publicly for Synthesia.Not listed publicly |
| Price before it runs | Price before it runs: included with ViewGum.Quoted in credits first and charged exactly the quote | Price before it runs: not listed publicly for Synthesia.Not listed publicly |
The main difference
Synthesia is built around a presenter: an AI avatar, stock or made from a single photo, that speaks a script or a file you bring in, in 140+ languages. ViewGum has no AI avatars. It cuts your own talking-head take into a vertical short, with the hook first, pauses cut and captions timed to your words. Or it makes a faceless short from a typed topic, with a script, a voiceover and a picture or animation for each scene. Synthesia hands you a presenter video; ViewGum hands you a short for the vertical feed.
Made for monetizable content
- An original script written for your topic, not a template.
- Your own voice on a talking-head edit, or an AI voiceover on a faceless short.
- Visuals made for each scene, in a Cutout, Paper or Cartoon look, so the short is transformed, not reposted.
- Guidance on labeling AI content: How to label AI videos
Each platform decides what it pays for, and nothing here promises views or earnings. The rules in plain words: Can you monetize AI shorts?
Pricing
Synthesia
| Plan | Monthly | Billed yearly | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $0 | Not listed publicly | 500 credits a month; 10 minutes of video creation or dubbing; watermarked |
| Starter | $29 | $18 a month | 1,250 credits a month; 15,000 credits a year on yearly billing; logo removable; 125+ avatars; 3 guests |
| Pro | $89 | $64 a month | 6,000 credits a month; 72,000 credits a year on yearly billing; 180+ avatars; 5 personal avatars; 5 guests |
| Enterprise | Contact sales | Not listed publicly | Custom volumes; unlimited video minutes |
Monthly and per-month yearly figures as listed on the pricing page. The page shows Starter yearly credits two ways (15,000 and 72,000 a year), so only the yearly card figure is used.
Source: Synthesia pricing, checked October 20, 2026
ViewGum
| Plan | Monthly |
|---|---|
| Free | No free plan; welcome bonus credits once, plus a small daily sign-in bonus |
| Creator | $19.00 |
| Pro | $49.00 |
| Studio | $149.00 |
Credits are shared across shorts, edits and exports. Every paid action is quoted first and charged exactly the quote.
Who should pick which
Pick Synthesia if
- You want an AI presenter, from stock avatars or a single photo, to speak your script.
- You want to turn a PowerPoint or a document into a video.
- You build software on avatar video: Synthesia has a public API and an MCP server.
Pick ViewGum if
- You want your own take cut into a vertical short, with captions timed to your words.
- You want a faceless short from a typed topic, with the script, voiceover and pictures included.
- You want to change a short by asking in chat and see the price of each change first.
Questions
Is ViewGum or Synthesia better for YouTube Shorts?
It depends on what you start with. Synthesia makes presenter videos with AI avatars, and its API accepts 9:16 and 16:9. ViewGum makes a finished Short from a topic or one talking-head take.
Does Synthesia have a free plan?
Yes. Synthesia's Basic plan is $0 with 500 credits a month and 10 minutes of video creation or dubbing, and its videos carry a Synthesia watermark, per its pricing page (checked October 20, 2026).
How much does Synthesia cost?
Synthesia lists Starter at $29 a month and Pro at $89, billed monthly, per its pricing page in October 2026. Yearly billing shows $18 a month for Starter and $64 for Pro.
Can Synthesia make vertical videos for TikTok and Reels?
Yes, in 9:16. Synthesia's API accepts 16:9 (the default), 9:16, 1:1, 4:5 and 5:4, per its API reference (October 2026).
Does Synthesia add captions?
Yes. Synthesia lists auto-generated closed captions, and its API returns SRT and VTT caption files, per its pricing page and API reference. ViewGum burns in captions timed to each spoken word, 1 to 6 words at a time.
Does Synthesia have an API or an MCP server?
Yes, both. Synthesia has a public API and an MCP server at https://mcp.synthesia.io/mcp with OAuth sign-in for Starter, Pro and enterprise accounts. ViewGum has an MCP server at https://viewgum.com/mcp for Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor and other MCP clients, and no public REST API.
Sources
Facts about Synthesia come from its own public pages, checked October 20, 2026. Prices change, so check Synthesia's own pricing before you buy. All comparisons as data: compare.json
- www.synthesia.io
- docs.synthesia.io/reference/create-video
- www.synthesia.io/pricing
- docs.synthesia.io/reference/synthesia-mcp
ViewGum's own pages
Make a short you can post
Start from a topic or your own take. ViewGum writes it, voices it, captions it and hands you one vertical export, then you change it by asking.
Sign in with Google. New accounts get bonus credits to start.