The 7 Top D-ID Alternatives & Competitors Worth Considering

AI video platforms are becoming an increasingly prevalent solution for those looking to create engaging videos faster and more cost efficiently. 

D-ID is one solution that does just that. However, many teams may find that D-ID doesn’t fully meet their video needs. 

In this blog, we’ll share a few reasons you might be looking for a D-ID alternative before providing a complete breakdown of the top 7 competitors to consider instead. 

What is D-ID? 

D-ID is an AI video generation platform that allows users to create personalized video content featuring digital talking avatars. This way, video creators can produce content without having to record voice overs or film human actors. 

D-ID’s feature offerings range from a creative avatar studio, to AI agents, to video translation. The tool can be used by marketing, sales, and customer experience teams. 

Why consider a D-ID alternative? 

Perhaps you’re considering signing up for D-ID, or maybe you’re looking to switch to a new AI video solution. 

Regardless, here are a few of D-ID’s shortcomings to be aware of as you look for an alternative. 

Doesn’t offer custom avatars

While D-ID does offer the ability to create a talking avatar from a photo upload, the platform doesn’t offer a way to create studio-quality custom avatars of yourself or a brand representative and use them in your videos. 

This means that users must choose from D-ID’s existing library of stock avatars when selecting AI actors for their videos, which is a major limitation for those looking to personalize their content with their own likeness. 

No video templates 

Getting your video drafts off the ground can be the hardest part of content creation. 

D-ID guides new users to start their videos by first creating a presenter, rather than selecting a ready-to-use video template. However, starting from scratch may not be an ideal workflow for those looking to assemble a video draft as fast as possible. 

Limited translation offerings 

D-ID’s video translation feature is currently in beta and supports 29 languages. However, many D-ID alternatives support translation to 70+ languages, making this offering more limited than other competitors on the market. 

A complete comparison of the 7 best D-ID alternatives 

There’s a lot going on in the AI video space. With so many features out there, it can be difficult to decide which tool is right for your needs. 

Luckily, we’ve researched and tested out the top D-ID alternatives, and we’ve collected the key features, drawbacks, and pricing of each on the list below. 

1. Colossyan 

Colossyan is the AI video platform for workplace learning. The tool allows teams to turn text, documents, and even simple prompts into engaging videos complete with voice overs and AI avatars. 

For those looking for a highly customizable video solution that’s easy to use, Colossyan is the number one choice over D-ID. The platform offers multiple kinds of custom avatars, templates to get you started, and translation to more than 70 languages.  

While anyone can leverage Colossyan’s features to create content, the platform’s focus on interactivity makes it a great fit for workplace learning teams. 

Plus, features like SCORM export, branching scenarios, and multiple-choice knowledge checks help it stand out from the rest of the D-ID alternatives on this list. 

Key features 

• 150+ avatars: Easily ensure your presenters perfectly match your material. 
• 600+ AI voices in 70+ languages: Choose any voice and accent that best suits your message and audience. Plus, localize your videos with automatic translations. 
• Custom avatars and voice cloning: Enhance the personalization of your videos with custom avatars, created in studio or at home. 
• Multiple avatars per scene: Give your scenario-based training videos a boost with conversational avatars.  
• Interactivity: Add multiple choice questions to your videos to check your audience understanding, or add branching scenarios for immersive scenario-based learning. 
• Document to video: Simply upload a file and Colossyan will transform any document into a video draft – complete with AI avatars and narration – in under 60 seconds. 
• SCORM export: Utilize your Colossyan videos on an eLearning platform by exporting them as a SCORM file. 

Potential drawbacks 

• Media library: Colossyan has fewer music options compared to some competitors, but we're exploring new providers to improve this.

Pricing 

• Starter plan: Start creating videos for as low as $19 per month for 10 minutes of video. This plan includes an AI script assistant, no watermarks, and full video rights. 
• Business plan: At $70 for unlimited minutes and videos, Colossyan’s business plan includes 45 instant avatars and 9 voice clones. Add up to 3 editors on the business plan.
• Enterprise plan: For companies scaling their video creation, the enterprise plan includes 4K video, SCORM export, a dedicated customer success manager, and more. Contact our sales team for pricing. 

2. Veed 

Veed is a video editing software that offers lightweight AI features. Like D-ID, it doesn’t offer a super robust selection of AI avatars, and avatar usage is also restricted to its most expensive plans. 

However, if AI actors aren’t a priority for you and your team, then Veed’s voice cloning, audio clearing, and eye contact features could be worth exploring.  

Key features 

• Video subtitles 
• Screen recording capabilities 
• Background noise elimination 
• Translation and transcription

Limitations 

• AI avatars are limited to Veed’s most expensive plans  
• Platform is primarily focused on traditional video editing instead of AI video generation 
• The platform can feel unintuitive, according to some G2 reviewers 

Pricing 

• Basic plan: Starts at $25 per user/month 
• Pro plan: Starts at $38 per user/month
• Business plan: Starts at $70 per user/month
• Enterprise plan: Custom pricing 

3. Hour One 

Hour One is a solid tool for corporate teams looking to explore AI video, as the platform’s main use cases include sales, product marketing, and eCommerce. 

Hour One’s AI avatar offerings also exceed that of D-ID, as the platform offers custom avatars and webcam selfie avatars in addition to standard stock avatars. But if AI actors aren’t your speed, Hour One’s dubbing capabilities may prove useful instead. 

Key features 

• Custom avatars 
• Collaboration capabilities 
• Document to video workflow 
• API 

Limitations 

• Doesn’t allow for screen recording 
• Limited to one avatar per scene
• No avatar gesturing 

Pricing 

• Lite plan: Starts at $30 per month for 10 minutes of video 
• Business plan: Starts at $112 per month for 20 minutes of video
• Enterprise plan: Custom pricing 

4. HeyGen 

HeyGen is a solid AI video platform that can be used in several different contexts. The platform can be used by learning and development teams creating training videos all the way to sales departments creating product demos, for instance. 

Plus, the platform’s ability to create animated photo avatars is one of its main differentiators from some of the other D-ID alternatives on this list. 

Also read: 8 Top HeyGen Alternatives to Consider (2024 Review)

Key features 

• Animated photo avatars 
• Face swapping
• Large library of stock avatars 

Limitations 

• Only translates to 40 languages 
• Pricy for users creating over 30 minutes of video 
• Limited written customer support materials

Pricing 

• Creator plan: Starts at $29 per month for 15 minutes of video
• Team plan: Starts at $149 per month for 30 minutes of video
• Enterprise plan: Contact for pricing

5. Elai.io

Elai is another AI video platform with many of the standard features that corporate teams need to create marketing, sales, or training videos. This includes video templates, auto translations, and prompt-to-video workflows. 

And unlike D-ID, Elai offers custom studio avatar creation for those looking to personalize their content with a high-quality AI avatar of a particular brand representative. 

Key features 

• Prompt to video workflow 
• Automatic translations 
• Voice cloning 
• Embedded quizzes 

Limitations 

• Limited stock avatar options compared to some competitors 
• Doesn’t offer a screen recording feature 
• Platform stability is an issue, according to some G2 reviewers 

Pricing 

• Basic plan: Starts at $29 per month for 15 minutes of video
• Advanced plan: Starts at $125 per month for 50 minutes of video
• Enterprise plan: Contact for pricing 

6. Synthesia 

Synthesia is a popular AI video platform that offers automatic translations, video templates, and a large selection of AI avatars. 

The platform is suitable for a range of different use cases, including marketing and sales enablement. However, Synthesia lacks branching scenarios and SCORM export, meaning it’s not the most suitable for workplace learning teams in need of scenario-based training and LMS compatibility. 

Related: The 6 Best Synthesia Alternatives to Check Out in 2024

Key features 

• Video templates
• Custom avatars 
• AI voices 
• Automatic translations 

Limitations 

• No avatar hand gestures or side views 
• Doesn’t offer SCORM export 
• Lacks branching scenarios 
• No content library 

Pricing 

• Starter plan: $29 per month for 10 minutes of video
• Creator plan: $89 per month for 30 minutes of video 
• Enterprise plan: Custom pricing 

7. Murf.ai 

As far as D-ID alternatives go, Murf is unique in that it’s an AI video solution only focused on AI voices – it does not offer AI avatars. For this reason, it could be worth looking into if text-to-speech narration is your top priority. 

The tool does offer a variety of different voice options, including voices that evoke certain emotions. However, its pricing is comparable to other D-ID alternatives that offer significantly more features, so you’ll need to weigh the value of its capabilities. 

Key features 

• Text to speech
• Voice cloning 
• Voice dubbing 
• Language translation 

Limitations 

• Only provides voice overs, no AI avatars
• Expensive for a voice-only solution 
• Voices can sound too computerized, according to G2 reviews 
• Difficult to get pronunciation right, even with the pronunciation tool 

Pricing 

• Creator plan: $29 per month for 2 hours of voice generation 
• Business plan: $99 per month for 8 hours of voice generation 
• Enterprise plan: Pricing upon request 

How to choose the right D-ID alternative 

As you can see, there are many different AI video tools out there, each with their own set of pros and cons. 

When deciding which tool to go with, we recommend evaluating the specific features you’ll need for your video use case. For example, a platform with SCORM export will likely be a top priority for L&D teams looking to add content to their LMS, which will significantly narrow your options.  

But if you’re looking for a tool with custom avatars, dozens of video templates, and automatic translations to 70+ languages, then Colossyan is your best bet. 

The platform’s interactive features like in-scene quizzes and branching scenarios give it the advantage over other top AI video tools to help you create videos with real engagement.

Interested in trying it for yourself to see if it meets your needs? Get started for free today or book a demo with our team of experts to learn more.