AI-generated video is booming in 2025, as businesses across marketing, employee onboarding, and training crank out more video content than ever before. According to industry reports, 95% of marketers now say video is a key part of their strategy, up from 88% just last year. Companies use video to engage prospects, teach new hires, and train employees – but traditional video production is slow and costly. AI video tools solve this by automating video creation: turning text or slides into polished videos with speaking avatars, lifelike voices, and instant translation. In 2025, top tools now let teams create entire video campaigns, onboarding flows, or product demos in minutes – even generating multiple language versions at the click of a button. As the market explodes, we compare the Top 7 AI video generators for business – Synthesia, HeyGen, Colossyan, D-ID, Hour One, Elai.io, and Saltfish.ai – covering each tool’s strengths, and ideal use cases. A comparison table is below, and we’ll highlight how Saltfish.ai’s unique video-first, interactive CTA approach makes it stand out from the rest.

1. Saltfish.ai

Saltfish.ai is unique: it’s an interactive AI video platform designed to be embedded in your product or website. Instead of creating standalone videos, Saltfish generates short conversational video touchpoints that live directly in your UI. Think of a guided onboarding tour or personalized greeting video that plays on your homepage, Saltfish videos can pause and ask questions, branch based on user input, and include clickable CTA buttons to capture leads or drive actions.

Best Use Case: User onboarding and conversion optimization. Saltfish is made for SaaS products and websites: marketing teams use it to greet visitors, capture leads with video forms, and onboard users in-app. For example, a website might greet a new visitor with a short video introduction (reducing bounce rate) and then offer an embedded form or button, all handled by Saltfish’s interactive widget. In short, Saltfish helps turn videos into calls-to-action.

Pros:

• Interactive Video Flows: Saltfish’s standout feature is its video-first interaction. Videos can branch and include clickable CTAs (buttons and forms) right inside them. This turns passive viewing into an active experience.

• Seamless Embedding: A simple widget code makes it easy to embed videos in your website or app UI. Marketers can place videos on landing pages, product pages, or inside the product flow to guide users step-by-step.

• High Engagement: Early users report large jumps in onboarding completion and lead capture. For example, Saltfish customers saw a 5× increase in engagement and faster activation after switching to Saltfish video flows.

Cons:

• Niche Focus: It’s specialized for product/site usage, so if you just want linear marketing videos, other tools suffice.

• Learning Curve for Interactions: Setting up branching and analytics may require planning (though Saltfish provides a visual flow builder).

• Avatar Styles: Currently, primarily “generic” avatars on lower plans (custom avatars come only in higher tiers).

2. Synthesia

Synthesia is one of the best-known AI video creation platforms. It lets you generate professional videos from plain text by selecting AI avatars and voices – no camera or microphone needed. Synthesia’s interface is easy for non-experts, with drag-and-drop editing and a library of 100+ avatars and 140+ language voices. Users write a script, pick an avatar, and the AI speaks it in a lifelike way. It also supports screen recordings and animations to make tutorials or training videos more engaging.

Best Use Case: Corporate learning and marketing content. Synthesia is popular for training videos, product explainers, social ads, and internal comms. Its strengths are polished, executive-style avatars and easy translation. For example, a company can update an existing training video by simply retyping a script – the AI updates only the speech without re-filming.

Pros:

• User-Friendly: Intuitive workflow and in-browser editing; no tech skills needed.

• Language Support: Over 140 languages with natural-sounding voices makes global content easy.

• Continuous Updates: Easy to edit or update videos after creation (e.g. change wording without redoing everything).

Cons:

• Customization Limits: Users reported that avatars look slightly robotic and have limited emotional expressiveness.

• Cost: Paid plans are relatively pricey for heavy use. Minutes can run out if you need many or long videos.

• Templates: The built-in templates and scenes can feel generic; advanced users may find few styling options.
  
  
  

3. HeyGen

HeyGen is an AI video generator known for its lifelike avatar technology and fast video creation. Its homepage calls it “the most innovative AI video generator” – it lets you turn text or images into customized videos with AI presenters. HeyGen lets you clone your face as a speaking avatar or choose from dozens of stock avatars. It emphasizes ultra-realistic facial expressions and studio-quality avatars (even 4K resolution). HeyGen also offers instant translation and voice cloning. The interface is streamlined: simply type or paste your script, choose an avatar and voice, and HeyGen generates the video.

Best Use Case: Multilingual marketing and personalized videos. HeyGen excels at social ads, product demos, and international content, because it can instantly translate videos into multiple languages with synchronized lip-sync. Agencies and solo creators who want quick promo clips or explainer videos use HeyGen for its avatar realism and ease of use.

Pros:

• Avatar Realism: Very lifelike avatars and natural lip-sync make videos more engaging.

• Translation & Voices: Built-in translation to over 100 languages and high-quality voiceovers let you reach global audiences.

• Customization: Studio-quality avatars (e.g. “movie star” backgrounds) and the ability to clone your own face or voice.

Cons:

• Price: Full-quality features (like unlimited avatars, 4K export) require higher-tier plans, which are relatively costly.
  
  
  

• Limited Free Usage: Free/entry plan has low video minutes (only 3 short vids/month).

• Control: Some users want more control over avatar expressions; HeyGen is fast but less flexible on fine-tuning movements or emphasis.

4. Colossyan

Colossyan is tailored for training and e-learning videos. It’s an AI generator that specializes in talking head videos: you enter text (or upload a PDF/PowerPoint) and pick a presenter avatar who speaks your script. Colossyan supports rich editing: you can edit like a slide deck, add branching paths, quiz elements, and even localized voices for different languages. It is often used to create consistent, branded training content quickly.

Best Use Case: Corporate training and internal communications. Colossyan’s strengths lie in HR/onboarding videos, compliance training, sales training, and product explainers. For example, an L&D team can upload training slides and instantly turn them into narrated videos with an AI avatar guiding viewers through scenarios. The built-in localization means a single project can spawn versions in dozens of languages without extra work.

Pros:

• High-Quality Avatars: Realistic, human-like avatars with smooth motion (better than simple cartoons).

• Easy Text-to-Video: Very quick script-to-video process; ideal for non-video experts.

• Branding & Localization: Supports custom branding (logos/fonts) and swaps in region-specific voices/subtitles for global audiences.

• Collaboration Tools: Built-in team workflow features (assign roles, track progress) help large teams work together.

Cons:

• Free Tier Limits: Free version is very limited (short videos with watermark).

• Price Point: The higher-end plans are more expensive than some basic competitors for equivalent minutes.

• Slight Robot Feel: A few users note avatars can still feel a bit synthetic in expression.
  
  
  

5. D-ID

D-ID (short for Digital Identity) is an AI video platform famous for turning photos into talking avatars and enhancing customer engagement. At its core, D-ID lets you create “AI Presenter” videos by uploading a photo or selecting a stock avatar, then having it speak your text script. It also offers tools to automatically translate existing videos into multiple languages with synchronized lip movements, and even deploy interactive “Visual AI Agents” that can chat in real time.

Best Use Case: Personalized marketing and support. D-ID is used by marketers and sales teams to create personalized video emails, product demos, and automated outreach at scale. For example, you can generate a video campaign where each email contains a custom avatar speaking the recipient’s name or details, boosting engagement. It’s also used in learning environments: educators build video tutors that can explain lessons or answer student questions in a human-like way.

Pros:

• Photo-to-Avatar: Easily create a unique digital avatar from a single photo or video clip, for more personalization.

• Multilingual: Supports 100+ languages and voices, making it ideal for global content.

• Extra Tools: Includes features like a PowerPoint plug-in, text-to-video, and even live conversational avatars (Visual AI Agents).

Cons:

• Minute Limits: Even paid plans have relatively low video minute allowances, so heavy users need Enterprise.

• Watermark on Entry Plan: The cheapest (Lite) plan videos include a D-ID watermark.

• Learning Curve: While powerful, some features (like setting up AI agents) may be complex for new users.
  
  
  

6. Hour One

Hour One focuses on enterprise-grade, hyper-realistic video avatars and content at scale. Its platform emphasizes cinematic AI avatar videos for business growth. You can generate videos using an AI presenter, clone your own voice, or even train an AI “agent” on your product knowledge. The interface also includes a Flow Builder for branching video flows and a library of professional video templates.

Best Use Case: Corporate training, sales, and product marketing. Hour One is popular with large companies (L&D and HR teams) for training videos and virtual instructors. It’s also used for sales enablement: sales reps can have personalized video outreach or demos featuring their own AI avatar. Content creators praise its cinematic feel – the avatars look very lifelike and the production quality is high.

Pros:

• Hyper-Realism: Among AI tools, Hour One’s avatars are noted as the most realistic, with subtle expressions and natural motion.

• Multilingual & Cloning: Supports 60+ languages and dialects, plus voice-cloning of your own voice for personalization.

• Enterprise Features: Strong collaboration tools, brand kit customization, and LMS integrations suit large organizations.

Cons:

• Learning Curve: Packed with features, it may take time for new users to learn all the capabilities.

• Dependence on Internet: As an online platform, it requires a stable connection; offline use isn’t possible.

• Cost: High-end plans can be expensive – best suited to companies needing large-scale production.

7. Elai.io

Elai.io markets itself as an all-in-one AI video studio for L&D and marketing. It emphasizes speed and interactivity: HR and training teams can type a script and instantly get a video presenter speaking it. Elai offers 80+ avatars (including selfie, studio, and animated mascot types) and supports voice cloning and automated translations. Its interface is designed for teams: it has collaboration workspaces, brand kits, and even a “Storyboard” feature to outline courses.

Best Use Case: Learning & Development and sales enablement. Elai is built for training videos, eLearning courses, and personalized campaigns. For example, companies use it to create interactive compliance trainings, or to generate personalized onboarding videos at scale. Marketing teams use it for email/video campaigns: Elai can automatically turn blog posts or URLs into videos for content repurposing.

Pros:

• Feature-Rich: Includes advanced tools like voice cloning (28 languages), PPTX-to-video, article-to-video conversion, and branching “Avatar Dialogs”.

• Multilingual & Accessibility: Over 75 languages and 450+ accents; automatic one-click translation boosts global reach.

• ROI-Driven: Claims high ROI: enterprise users save thousands on video production and see major boosts in engagement.

Cons:

• Minute Limits: 1 minute on free plan and only 15–50 minutes on paid plans may not suffice for very high-volume use.

• Cost at Scale: The Team plan is relatively expensive per minute compared to some simpler tools.

• Overwhelming for Novices: Many features mean a learning curve; casual users might prefer simpler tools.
  
  
  

Comparison Table

Saltfish.ai’s Video-First Interactive CTA Advantage

• Saltfish.ai stands apart from other AI video platforms because it doesn’t just generate static videos- it turns them into interactive user journeys. Videos created with Saltfish can pause, branch based on user input, and display clickable calls-to-action like buttons and forms. This transforms passive watching into an active experience that drives conversions.

• With its simple embed widget, Saltfish videos can live directly on a website or inside an app, guiding users through onboarding steps, prompting them to sign up, or encouraging them to take the next action. This makes Saltfish especially valuable for SaaS teams, marketing departments, and e-commerce businesses aiming to increase retention and reduce churn.

• Unlike traditional tools that export a video file and stop there, Saltfish offers real-time interactivity, session analytics, and built-in lead capture. Customers have reported significant increases in engagement, with faster onboarding and higher conversion rates once Saltfish video flows replaced static tours or plain explainer videos. In short, Saltfish redefines AI video: not just content, but a true interactive layer for user engagement.

FAQs

• What is Saltfish.ai?
  Saltfish.ai is an AI-powered video platform designed for interactive onboarding and user engagement. It generates short, human-like video presenters that can be embedded directly into websites and apps. Unlike static onboarding flows, Saltfish videos can branch, ask questions, and include calls-to-action.

• Is Saltfish free?
  Yes. Saltfish offers a free plan that includes 10 video generations and up to 5,000 monthly views. This tier allows small teams or startups to try the platform without commitment.

• What makes Saltfish different from Synthesia, HeyGen, and others?
  While tools like Synthesia, HeyGen, or Colossyan create polished AI videos for training and marketing, Saltfish focuses on video-first interactivity. Its videos don’t just play -they guide users through product flows, ask for input, and integrate lead capture or CTAs directly into the experience. This makes Saltfish uniquely suited for onboarding, retention, and conversion tasks where action matters just as much as content.