In this Elai.io review I will discuss this cloud-based software's pros, cons, and features.
I tested Elai to give you detailed insights, tips, user opinions, and my verdict on this platform so you can check if this is a good fit for your video creation needs.
I'll break down the tool's features, how easy it is to use, how much it costs, and whether it's a good value for your money. Read on to learn more.
What is Elai?
Elai is a Ukranian startup company founded in 2021. They use AI technology to create videos directly in a web browser without cameras or other equipment.
The strong point of Elai is a vast library of human-like avatars you can use to make a video. These avatars speak your script with fantastic voice quality and lip-synching. The platform includes a video editor to edit the video without needing any external tool.
Check how you can use Elai in this video
What makes Elai an exciting option for creating videos?
- Ultra-low-cost video making: You can create a video from scratch using only a web browser and an internet connection. Plans start as low as $23/month.
- No need for hiring actors: Pick an avatar to act as a presenter in your video. There are 35+ diverse avatars to choose from.
- You can make videos without showing your face: Create a YouTube channel with no need to show yourself on the screen.
- Create multilingual videos in no time and at no additional costs: If you are into different markets, forget about localization processes. Elai features voice cloning, auto-translation and closed captions.
- Easy learning curve: You don't need previous experience since the software is intuitive and straightforward.
How to create a video with Elai
1-Choose start with a template, AI storyboard, URL, e-commerce, or from a PPT presentation.
2-Select template: You can preview it and change the avatar. Maybe you don't find the ideal template; in this case, it is still possible to build your video from scratch with the option "Create a blank video."
Set your preferred format 16:9, 9:16 or 1:1
3-Choose your avatar from a library of 35+ avatars with many ethnicities, genders, and outfits. You can play a preview of avatar looking and voice.
There are three options for avatar presentation: Transparent (integrated within template background), circle (avatar into a circle), or without avatar. You can change the avatar size and position by dragging and dropping it.
You can even choose an avatar outfit, casual, or business look. Elai has recently introduced an API for avatars creation, so you can customize and create avatars according to your needs. This is a feature you will not find in any similar app.
Creating a video without avatars greatly expands the platform's possibilities to make any video you need.
4-Customization options: There are many customization options by adding text, images, videos, stickers, GIFs, and Lottie animations (a unique Elai feature). You can also record your screen and add it to your video, which is a valuable resource because you don't have to go out and use an external application or software.
The available animations in the editor are restricted to being applied to entire slides.
Regarding audio assets, you can use many free-royalty music files covering corporate, holiday, pop, rock, classical, and house and electronic genres. But don't worry if you need help finding the perfect one; uploading your music tracks to play with your video is still possible. The platform currently supports the most common audio file formats.
Voices work similarly. You can choose between upbeat, promo, narration, conversational, fast-paced, calm, slow-paced, and child. You can record your voice using a standard PC microphone or upload your pre-recorded voiceover.
We only know English and Spanish, so we can't say how good other languages and voices sound. In our testing, these two sounded quite good. Elai has an extensive, help article about improving voice quality to get the best possible outcome.
Elai has recently introduced an Interactive Speech Editor. This new feature gives you complete control over how words are spoken, with the ability to add pauses and write phonemes for correct pronunciation. Thus, you can improve pronunciation without modifying subtitles.
Regarding voiceovers, a fantastic feature of Elai allows you to upload your voiceover recording in any language and then narrate it in English, Spanish, Hindi, Polish, Portuguese, German, French, and Italian.
5-Script: You can paste your script on the text box or add an audio script. The audio script can be uploaded from a file or recorded from your PC microphone.
Furthermore, AI Video Storyboard takes advantage of Chat-GPT integration to create or rewrite existing content. Elai's Chat-GPT integration allows you to paste and improve a script, a feature not present in similar platforms.
Check how the video storyboard works in this video:
6-Preview your video
Once you have your video ready, you can preview it before submitting it. In this stage, the avatar is fixed with no animation. Click submit, and you get the video in your email some minutes later.
Elai pricing
Elai pricing ranges from 15 minutes/month to 200 minutes/month. If you need more minutes, ask them for a custom plan. You can try the platform for free with a 1-minute video, and the next paid plan is $23/month (billed annually) for 15 minutes of video creation.
As we stated before, Elai pricing is one of the the best in this type of platform, and the overall quality of the videos and avatar appearance is excellent.
For a custom avatar, you will pay $859/year with professional quality or $199/year if you use your cell phone or camera to take a selfie. If you need voice cloning, then add $200/year.
Mario here. I am the owner of Vidmetoo, a one-man band.
I founded this website to provide you with useful insights about video tools and related resources. Thanks for reading!