Puppetry turns a photo into an AI talking video with 500+ voices in 65+ languages. Free plan available; paid plans from $15/month. Read the full review.
Researched and fact-checked by Bartu Cavusoglu · Updated October 26, 2026
Puppetry is a web-based AI video platform that turns a still portrait into a talking head video. A user uploads an image, adds a script or audio, and the software animates the face with lip sync, head movement and expression. It is built by ELBO AI Inc. and aimed at people who need on-camera style video without filming.
The input does not have to be a photograph. The site says selfies, headshots, illustrations, cartoon characters and AI-generated faces all work, as long as there is a face to animate. A clear, front-facing portrait is recommended for the best results, and common formats such as PNG and JPG are supported.
The company reports 229K+ creators and 480K+ videos made, with users in more than 50 countries. It positions the product for educators, marketers, YouTubers, course creators and businesses, and it is part of the 500 Global accelerator, Batch 34.
The workflow has three steps. First, the user uploads a portrait or picks a ready-made puppet from the gallery. Second, the user types a script, uses the AI script generator, or uploads an audio file through the Animate with Audio option. Third, Puppetry generates the video, which can be downloaded, shared or given captions.
Puppetry uses AI to animate a face from whichever input is supplied: text, audio or a driving video. Most videos finish in minutes, though timing depends on script length and queue load. Studio plan users get priority rendering for faster turnaround.
Usage is measured in creations. A creation counts a generation action rather than a minute or a finished project, so video renders and separately generated assets such as voiceovers or images can each use one. In Stories, each scene being rendered reserves one creation.
The voice library is the most prominent feature: 500+ AI voices across 65+ languages, with different accents, tones and styles. Users can instead upload their own voiceover, and Studio subscribers can clone a voice from about 30 seconds of audio. ElevenLabs voices are available, with their own per-request and daily character limits.
On the visual side, the Puppet Generator creates AI avatars, and a cartoonify option restyles a photo into Disney/Pixar, anime or comic book looks before animation. A gallery offers ready-made presenters and characters, including fruit and animal puppets aimed at teachers and content creators.
Production tools include an AI script generator with templates for YouTube tutorials, TikTok hooks and podcast intros, captions, Magic Edit on paid plans, and Stories for multi-scene projects. Studio adds a Developer API beta with 10 API video credits per month.
Puppetry is an AI video creation platform that turns a portrait photo into a talking video. Users upload an image, add a typed script, audio or driving video, choose a voice and receive a lip-synced video in minutes. It is made by ELBO AI Inc.
Puppetry has a free plan at $0 with 3 creations per month. Creator costs $15 per month for 100 creations and Studio costs $30 per month for 300 creations. Yearly billing saves 25%, at $135 and $270 per year respectively.
Yes. The free plan includes 3 creations per month, core talking-photo creation and Puppetry voices in 65+ languages, with no credit card required. Exports from the free plan are watermarked.
Yes, on the Studio plan. The site says about 30 seconds of audio is needed, and the cloned voice can be used across the 65+ supported languages. You can also upload your own recorded voiceover on any plan using Animate with Audio.
Yes, on paid plans. Creator and Studio include commercial usage rights covering marketing, social media, client projects and e-learning. The free plan does not list a commercial license.
Standard audio uploads currently allow up to 3 minutes per clip, and other models have their own limits. For longer projects, the site suggests making shorter clips and combining them in a video editor. Typed scripts on Creator are limited to 3,600 characters.
Yes. Puppetry offers a 7-day money-back guarantee, and users can request a full refund by contacting hi@puppetry.com within 7 days of purchase. Subscriptions can be canceled at any time without fees.
Puppetry suits educators, course creators, YouTubers, marketers and agencies who want talking head videos without filming. It is a fit for short lesson, explainer and social clips rather than long-form, high-resolution productions.