OnPay vs Synthesia
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
Synthesia is our recommended pick for most teams — corporate training, hr, and marketing teams wanting to produce professional video content at scale without cameras or studios.
Try Synthesia →Read our full Synthesia review →OnPay
OnPay is a full-service payroll and HR platform designed for small and mid-size businesses. It offers unlimited payroll runs, automatic tax filing, and built-in HR tools at an affordable flat rate. OnPay is consistently rated as one of the best value payroll solutions for small businesses and supports a wide range of industries including restaurants, farms, and nonprofits.
Synthesia
Synthesia is an AI video generation platform that creates professional videos using AI avatars and text-to-speech technology. It eliminates the need for cameras, actors, and studios by letting you create videos from a script in minutes. Synthesia is widely used by corporate training, HR, and marketing teams for scalable video content production.
Pros
- ✓Excellent value — flat monthly pricing with no per-run fees
- ✓Supports multiple pay schedules and unlimited payroll runs
- ✓Strong industry-specific features for restaurants, farms, and nonprofits
- ✓US-based customer support included on all plans
Cons
- ✗US-only — no international payroll support
- ✗Mobile app is less polished than competitors
- ✗Limited advanced HR features compared to full HRIS platforms
Pros
- ✓Creates professional videos without cameras, actors, or studios
- ✓Supports 120+ languages for global content production
- ✓Custom AI avatars can be created from your own likeness
- ✓Significant cost and time savings over traditional video production
Cons
- ✗Videos can feel less personal than human-recorded content
- ✗Limited creative flexibility compared to traditional video
- ✗Custom avatar creation requires approval process
- ✗Higher pricing than some competitors for advanced features
OnPay vs Synthesia: Side by Side
| Factor | OnPay | Synthesia |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | 4.7/5 ★ |
| Category | Payroll Software | Video Software |
| Pricing Model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting Price | $40/mo + $6/person | $29/mo |
| Best For | Small businesses wanting affordable, full-service payroll with no hidden fees | Corporate training, HR, and marketing teams wanting to produce professional video content at scale without cameras or studios |
| Our Pick | — | 🏆 Recommended |
OnPay Features
- ✓Unlimited payroll runs
- ✓automatic tax filing
- ✓direct deposit
- ✓employee self-service
- ✓HR tools
- ✓benefits administration
- ✓PTO management
- ✓integrations
Synthesia Features
- ✓AI avatars
- ✓text-to-video
- ✓120+ languages
- ✓custom avatars
- ✓screen recording
- ✓video templates
- ✓collaboration tools
Pricing Comparison
Synthesia
PaidStarts at $29/mo
Starter: $29/mo · Creator: $89/mo · Enterprise: custom
See full pricing →Best Use Cases
Synthesia
- →Corporate training teams creating onboarding videos at scale
- →Marketing teams producing product demo videos without cameras
- →HR departments making internal communication videos in multiple languages
Who Should NOT Use These Tools
Synthesia is NOT ideal for:
- ✗Creative agencies needing cinematic video production
- ✗Companies wanting authentic human-recorded content
- ✗Individuals needing personal branding videos
Integrations
Synthesia
PowerPoint, Google Slides, Canva, Zapier, LMS platforms
Which Should You Choose?
Choose OnPay if...
- →Small businesses wanting affordable, full-service payroll with no hidden fees
Choose Synthesia if...
- →Corporate training, HR, and marketing teams wanting to produce professional video content at scale without cameras or studios
- →Corporate training teams creating onboarding videos at scale
- →Marketing teams producing product demo videos without cameras
Our Take
Choose OnPay if small businesses wanting affordable, full-service payroll with no hidden fees. Choose Synthesia if corporate training, hr, and marketing teams wanting to produce professional video content at scale without cameras or studios.
Best For
Small businesses wanting affordable, full-service payroll with no hidden fees
Best For
Corporate training, HR, and marketing teams wanting to produce professional video content at scale without cameras or studios
Also Consider
If neither OnPay nor Synthesia is the right fit, Multiplier is worth evaluating.
Multiplier
Startups and SMBs hiring internationally on a budget
From $40/contractor/mo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between OnPay and Synthesia?
OnPay is best for small businesses wanting affordable, full-service payroll with no hidden fees. Synthesia is best for corporate training, hr, and marketing teams wanting to produce professional video content at scale without cameras or studios.
Which is better, OnPay or Synthesia?
Choose OnPay if small businesses wanting affordable, full-service payroll with no hidden fees. Choose Synthesia if corporate training, hr, and marketing teams wanting to produce professional video content at scale without cameras or studios.
How much does OnPay cost?
OnPay starts at $40/mo + $6/person. Pricing model: Paid.
How much does Synthesia cost?
Synthesia starts at $29/mo. Pricing model: Paid.
Who should use OnPay?
Small businesses wanting affordable, full-service payroll with no hidden fees
Who should use Synthesia?
Corporate training, HR, and marketing teams wanting to produce professional video content at scale without cameras or studios