How to Use Elai Like a Pro (2026 Guide)

Quick Start

This step guide covers every Elai feature:

• Getting Started — Create your Elai account and set up the basics
• How to Use Custom Avatar — Turn a short selfie clip into your own presenter
• How to Use Avatar Dialogues — Stage two presenters in one scene for natural back-and-forth conversations
• How to Use Interactivity — Add quizzes, clickable buttons and branching paths inside the player
• How to Use Real-Time Chat — Let viewers talk to a live avatar instead of watching passively
• How to Use Voice Cloning — Clone your own voice so every video sounds like you
• How to Use Text-to-Video Generation — Turn plain text, a URL, or a topic into a finished storyboard
• How to Use Multilingual Videos — Translate one recording into more than 75 languages
• How to Use Stock Media Library — Pull royalty-free footage, images and music without leaving the editor
• How to Use Brand Kit — Lock fonts, colours and logos so every video matches

Time needed: 5 minutes per feature

Also in this guide: Pro Tips | Common Mistakes | Troubleshooting | Pricing | Alternatives

Why Trust This Guide

I’ve used Elai for eight months and tested every feature covered here.

This tutorial comes from real hands-on work — not vendor screenshots.

Elai is one of the strongest AI video tools available today.

But most people only ever touch the basic text box.

Instructional videos keep growing as more learning moves onto online platforms.

Studies show people retain more information watching a video than reading.

This guide shows you how to use Elai end to end.

Step by step, with screenshots and pro tips.

Elai Tutorial

This How to Use Elai tutorial walks you through video creation in Elai from first log in to finished render.

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Getting Started with Elai

Before using any feature, finish this one-time setup.

It takes about three minutes.

Here is what my first week with the tool actually looked like:

Now let’s walk through each step.

Step 1: Create Your Account

Go to the Elai website and click Sign Up.

Enter your email and create a password.

✓ Checkpoint: Check your inbox for the confirmation email.

Step 2: Log In and Open the Dashboard

Elai runs fully in the browser, so there is nothing to install.

Log in and you land straight on the projects screen.

Here’s what the workspace gives you:

✓ Checkpoint: You can see the New video button.

Step 3: Complete Initial Setup

Pick your default language and set your workspace name.

Then browse the templates — Elai ships diverse templates for common cases.

Every template accepts your own visuals and scripts, so nothing looks generic.

Clear walkthroughs also help new staff learn how your business works.

How to Use Elai Custom Avatar

Custom Avatar lets you build a selfie avatar that looks and sounds like you.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open the Avatars Tab

Log in and click Avatars in the left sidebar.

Pick Create custom avatar to start the wizard.

Step 2: Upload Your Footage

Record two minutes of footage facing the camera.

Speak naturally and keep your background plain.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: Your upload shows a green Processing badge.

Step 3: Train and Test

Submit the clip and wait for training to finish.

Drop your new avatar into a scene and preview it.

A human face on screen builds trust that plain slides never earn.

How to Setup Elai Avatar Dialogues

Avatar Dialogues lets you place two presenters in one scene and script a conversation.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Add a Second Avatar

Open a scene and click the Avatar panel.

Choose Add avatar and position both figures on canvas.

Step 2: Split the Script

Assign each line of text to one speaker.

Elai reads the tags and alternates the speech automatically.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: Both avatars appear in the scene thumbnail.

Step 3: Set the Timing

Add a short pause between turns so replies land cleanly.

How to Use Elai Interactive Panels

Interactivity lets you add quizzes, clickable buttons and branching scenarios inside the editor.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open the Interactive Panel

Select a scene and click the Interactivity icon.

Pick quiz, button, or branching from the menu.

Step 2: Build the Question

Type your question and mark the correct answer.

Point each wrong answer at a remedial scene.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: Each answer jumps to the scene you mapped.

Step 3: Test the Branches

Preview the video and click every path once.

How to Use Elai Real-Time Chat

Real-Time Chat lets you turn a presenter into a live agent viewers can talk to.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Enable Chat Mode

Open the project menu and switch on Real-Time Chat.

Step 2: Feed It Knowledge

Paste your help docs, FAQ text, or product notes.

The avatar answers only from the content you connect.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: The avatar replies within a couple of seconds.

Step 3: Share the Link

Copy the share link and send it to testers.

How to Use Elai Voice Cloning

Voice Cloning lets you clone your voice and reuse it across every project.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open Voices

Go to Voices and click Clone my voice.

Step 2: Record a Clean Sample

Read the prompt script in a quiet room.

Use a headset mic — bad audio ruins the clone.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: Your voice appears under Custom voices.

Step 3: Apply the Voice

Select your clone in the scene speech settings.

Bad audio stops viewers following your instructions, so test one scene first.

How to Use Elai Text-to-Video Generation

Text-to-Video Generation lets you turn a script, a blog URL, or a topic into a full storyboard.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Choose Your Source

Click New video and pick text, URL, or topic.

Paste the source and hit Create.

Step 2: Review the AI Storyboard

The AI Storyboard splits your content into logical scenes.

It suggests visuals for each one automatically.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: Each scene shows a script block and a suggested image.

Step 3: Edit and Generate

Swap any weak visual, then click the Generate button.

How to Use Elai Multilingual Videos

Multilingual Videos lets you translate a finished video into more than 75 languages.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Finish the Master Video

Lock your script before translating anything.

Step 2: Pick Target Languages

Open Translate and select your markets.

Elai carries over 65 language options for voice alone.

✓ Checkpoint: A separate project appears for each language.

Step 3: Proof the Output

Have a native speaker check names and numbers.

How to Use Elai Stock Media Library

Stock Media Library lets you pull footage, images and music without leaving the editor.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open the Media Panel

Click Media inside any scene.

Step 2: Search and Drop

Search a keyword and drag the clip onto the canvas.

Swap weak stock images for screenshots where you can.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: The clip fills the scene background.

Step 3: Add Background Music

Pick a royalty-free track or upload your own.

How to Use Elai Brand Kit

Brand Kit lets you lock your fonts, colours and logo across every project.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open Brand Kit

Find Brand Kit in workspace settings.

Step 2: Upload Your Assets

Add your logo, hex codes and heading font.

Save the set so new projects inherit it.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: Your logo sits in the corner of each scene.

Step 3: Apply Across Scenes

Use Bulk Change to push the style to every scene at once.

Elai Pro Tips and Shortcuts

After eight months of daily use, these are the shortcuts I actually reach for.

Creative visuals, clear explanations and a conversational tone carry most of the weight.

Video quality has a direct impact on whether your message actually lands.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Hidden Features Most People Miss

• Bulk Change: Update styles or prompts across every scene at once instead of editing scene by scene.
• Full preview before render: Play the whole video first to check visuals line up with the speech.
• Export presets: Render to MP4, Full HD or 4K, then push the file straight to YouTube.

Elai Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Writing the Script Inside the Editor

Mistake #2: Cramming Everything Into One Scene

Mistake #3: Ignoring Silent Viewing

Elai Troubleshooting

Problem: The Render Never Finishes

Cause: Heavy stock footage or too many scenes in one project.

Fix: Split the project in two and render each half. A short video normally finishes around the 03 00 mark.

Problem: The Avatar Mouth Looks Out of Sync

Cause: Numbers and acronyms confuse the speech engine.

Fix: Spell them phonetically in the script box, then preview that scene again.

Problem: Your API Key Won’t Generate

Cause: Only the account admin can create and manage API keys.

Fix: Ask your admin for access, or log in with the admin account and issue the key there.

📌 Note: If none of these fix your issue, contact Elai support.

What is Elai?

Elai is an AI video generator that turns text into video with a presenter on screen.

Think of it like a small studio that never needs a camera.

Watch this quick overview:

It includes these key features:

• Custom Avatar: Train a personal presenter from a short phone recording in minutes.
• Avatar Dialogues: Two avatars trade lines in a single scene for role-play training.
• Interactivity: Quizzes, buttons and branching scenarios built directly into the video editor.
• Real-Time Chat: A conversational avatar that answers viewer questions in the moment.
• Voice Cloning: Record once, then reuse your cloned voice in any future script.
• Text-to-Video Generation: Paste text or a link and get a scene-by-scene draft back.
• Multilingual Videos: One master video, translated into 75+ languages without re-recording.
• Stock Media Library: Built-in footage, images and royalty-free music for every scene.
• Brand Kit: Saved fonts, colours and logos applied to every new project.

The Elai API extends all of this outside the editor.

You can generate videos from any source such as text, HTML, a topic, or a URL.

It also allows dynamic changes to texts, speech and images for every individual video.

Connect it to Zapier and you get that automation without writing code.

The video API does take more development effort than the no-code route.

It works on both paid and trial accounts.

For a full review, see our Elai review.

Elai Pricing

Here’s what Elai costs in 2026:

Free trial: Yes — the Free Trial plan is $0 and needs no card.

Money-back guarantee: Not advertised, so test properly during the trial.

💰 Best Value: Creator at $23/user/month — enough render minutes for weekly video content.

Elai vs Alternatives

How does Elai compare? Here’s the wider market:

Quick picks:

• Best overall: Synthesia — the most polished avatars for big teams
• Best budget: Vidnoz — a usable free tier for short clips
• Best for beginners: Elai — templates and storyboarding do the heavy lifting
• Best for interactive lessons: Elai — quizzes and branching live inside the editor

🎯 Elai Alternatives

Looking for Elai alternatives? Here are the top options:

• 🚀 HeyGen: Fast avatar videos with polished lip-sync and a large template shelf.
• 🌟 Synthesia: The enterprise standard for corporate training and compliance videos.
• 👶 Colossyan: Built around learning teams, with strong scenario and quiz tooling.
• 💰 Veed: Cheap browser editor with subtitles, trimming and simple avatars.
• ⚡ Vidnoz: Generous free tier for quick social clips and short promos.
• 🏢 Deepbrain: Kiosk and broadcast-grade avatars for large deployments.
• 🧠 Synthesys: Deep voice library for creators who care most about narration.
• 💼 Hour One: Photoreal presenters aimed at product and sales teams.
• 🔧 D-ID: Developer-first API for animating a single still photo.
• 🎯 Virbo: Mobile-first avatar app for short vertical marketing clips.
• 📊 Vidyard: Sales video hosting with viewer analytics baked in.
• 🔥 Fliki: Blog-to-video workflow with a huge voice catalogue.
• 🔒 Speechify: Text to speech first, with accessibility as the main use.
• 🎨 InVideo: Prompt-driven editing for marketers who want full timeline control.
• ⭐ Creatify: Product-url to ad video, tuned for paid social.
• 📱 Captions AI: Phone-based studio for creators shooting talking-head content.

For the full list, see our Elai alternatives guide.

⚔️ Elai Compared

Here’s how Elai stacks up against each competitor:

• Elai vs HeyGen: HeyGen renders faster; Elai wins on interactivity, branching and learning workflows.
• Elai vs Synthesia: Synthesia has more polish; Elai costs far less and opens its api sooner.
• Elai vs Colossyan: Close call for training teams; Elai edges ahead on translation reach.
• Elai vs Veed: Veed is a better plain editor; Elai is the stronger AI video generator.
• Elai vs Vidnoz: Vidnoz is cheaper to test; Elai handles long-form lessons far better.
• Elai vs Deepbrain: Deepbrain suits kiosks; Elai fits marketing and course teams better.
• Elai vs Synthesys: Synthesys leads on voice range; Elai leads on scene building and quizzes.
• Elai vs Hour One: Hour One looks sharper; Elai gives you more control per scene.
• Elai vs D-ID: D-ID is a developer toolkit; Elai ships a full editor around it.
• Elai vs Virbo: Virbo owns short vertical clips; Elai owns structured training content.
• Elai vs Vidyard: Vidyard hosts and tracks; Elai actually creates the video.
• Elai vs Fliki: Fliki is faster for blog posts; Elai gives better avatar presence.
• Elai vs Speechify: Speechify only reads text aloud; Elai turns that speech into video.
• Elai vs InVideo: InVideo wins on timeline editing; Elai wins on presenter quality.
• Elai vs Creatify: Creatify is built for ads; Elai is built for teaching.
• Elai vs Captions AI: Captions AI needs you on camera; Elai never does.

Start Using Elai Now

You learned how to use every major Elai feature:

• ✅ Custom Avatar
• ✅ Avatar Dialogues
• ✅ Interactivity
• ✅ Real-Time Chat
• ✅ Voice Cloning
• ✅ Text-to-Video Generation
• ✅ Multilingual Videos
• ✅ Stock Media Library
• ✅ Brand Kit

Next step: Pick one feature and try it now.

Most people start with Text-to-Video Generation.

Paste a topic, click generate, and watch the first draft build itself.

Good video content takes attention to detail and a bit of creative spark.

The goal stays the same — communicate one idea clearly to the viewer.

It takes less than five minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Elai work?

You type or paste text, pick an avatar and voice, then click Generate. Elai builds scenes, adds speech and renders an MP4 you can download.

Is Elai.io free?

There is a Free Trial plan at $0 so you can test video creation. Paid plans start at $23 per user per month for the Creator tier.

How to use elai AI?

Create an account, start a new project from text, a topic or a URL, choose your avatar, edit the storyboard, then render the finished video.

Does elai work?

Yes. It reliably turns scripts into avatar videos, clones voices and translates into 75+ languages. Complex branching projects need a preview pass first.

How to create a tutorial with AI?

Plan your steps, write a short script, paste it into Elai, add screenshots to each scene, then generate. No prior video experience is needed.