Zeely has five tools for creating videos: Video ad, Talking-head video, Playground, Animated image, and Viral video. Each one starts from something different and gives you a different result, so the right choice depends on what you want your video to do.
Use this guide to compare what each tool creates, whether people in the video can speak, what sound you get, and who can appear in the frame. Not sure where to start? Jump straight to Which tool fits your goal? below.
Compare the tools at a glance
Tool | Speech | Sound | People | Duration |
Video ad | Yes, from script | Speech only | 1–2, more via prompt | 6–30 s |
Talking-head video | Yes, from script | Speech + music | 1 | 30 s |
Playground | Yes, from prompt | Speech, music, effects | Any | Up to 30 s |
Animated image | No | Depends on model | Any | 5–10 s |
Viral video | From reference | From reference | 1 | 12 s |
What each tool does
Video ad
Creates UGC-style video ads where AI avatars talk about your product, like the content you see on TikTok or Instagram Reels. You choose a reference, keep or swap the avatar, write the Hook and Body script, and Zeely creates the video.
Speech: avatars speak your script in any language you write it in. Several people can talk in one video, for example in a Street interview. Write each line on a separate line in the script, and describe who says what in your prompt.
Voice: you can choose the tone of voice, emotion, and accent. These settings apply to everyone in the video, but male and female avatars still sound different. If the accent you need isn't on the list, try describing it in your prompt. You can't record or upload your own voice.
People in the frame: most references show one or two people. To add more, describe them in your prompt before you create the start image.
Sound: speech only. No background sounds or music are added.
Learn more: How to create Video ad
Talking-head video
Creates a 30-second video where an AI avatar presents your product while your product images appear in the background. It feels like having your own presenter introduce your product.
Speech: the avatar reads your script in the language you write it in. Pick a ready-made scenario or write your own, and click Listen to hear it before you generate the video.
Voice: each avatar comes with its own voice, and there are no voice settings. To get a different voice, choose a different avatar. You can't record or upload your own voice.
People in the frame: one AI avatar.
Your product: choose a product, and its images appear in the background. You need at least 7 images.
Sound: the avatar's voice plus background music, which is always added. If you don't pick a track, Zeely adds one automatically. You can choose another track from Zeely's library, but you can't turn the music off or add your own.
Visual hook: optional. Choose a short clip from Zeely's library to play at the start of your video. It grabs viewers' attention in the first seconds, so they're more likely to keep watching. The hook doesn't make the video longer than 30 seconds.
Learn more: How to create Talking-head video
Playground
Turns your idea into a video: describe the scene, add your product or other images, and AI brings it to life. Playground gives you the most creative control over the setting, camera movement, pacing, and sound.
Your product and images: add your product images or upload your own as a Start frame, an End frame, or up to 3 extra images. Then type @ in your prompt to pick an image and describe how it should appear in the scene.
Speech: write each person's lines in your prompt and say who speaks them. The model creates the voices itself, and male and female voices sound different. There are no separate voice settings.
People in the frame: any number. Describe them in your prompt or add images of people.
Sound: all models can generate sound. Describe what should be heard in your prompt: dialogue, music, ambient noise, or sound effects.
You can't add your own music or audio in Playground.
Learn more: How to create a video in Playground
Animated image
Turns a product image into a short video clip. First, Zeely creates a start image from your product image, a reference, and your prompt. Then it animates that image into a video of 5 to 10 seconds, depending on the AI model.
Speech: not supported. People in the video can't talk, even if you write a line of dialogue in the prompt.
People in the frame: people appear at the start image step, so plan them before you generate the video. Choose a reference with several people or upload your own, and describe in your prompt who should appear and what they're doing.
Sound: depends on the AI model. Kling 2.5 Turbo Pro, Seedance 1.0 Pro, and Wan 2.5 Preview create silent videos. With Kling 2.6 Pro, you can turn sound on or off. Veo 3.1 Fast always generates sound.
When sound is on, the model creates it from your prompt and the action in the scene. To get specific sounds or background music, describe them in your prompt. If you don't, the video may stay silent. You can't add your own music or audio.
Learn more: How to create Animated image
Viral video
Recreates a trending video with an AI avatar. Pick a reference video and an avatar, either from Zeely's library or your own, and add a headline. Zeely copies the movements, emotions, and sound from the reference. There's no prompt in Viral video.
Speech: the avatar speaks only when the person in the reference does, and uses the same audio. You can't change what the avatar says, but you can replace the text on the screen with your own headline.
People in the frame: one person. All references in Zeely's library feature one person, and your avatar takes their place.
Sound: comes from the reference: music, sounds, or speech. You can't edit it, but you can turn it off and add your own audio when you publish the video. To use specific audio, upload your own reference with that sound (MP4 or MOV, 3–30 seconds, up to 100 MB).
Headline and your product: in Headline, choose your product and write the text you want to show on the screen instead of the reference's text. Your product doesn't appear in the video itself, so the headline is where you tell viewers about it.
Learn more: How to create Viral video
Which tool fits your goal?
Whatever you sell or promote, from books and handmade mugs to real estate or language lessons, here's what each tool does best and what you can create with it.
Video ad
Best for: ads where real-looking people talk about your product or service: reviews, testimonials, recommendations, street interviews, podcast-style conversations, and problem–solution stories.
Example ideas:
A customer tells the camera why your handmade mug became their favorite.
Two friends discuss a book they can't stop reading, like in a podcast.
A street interviewer asks passersby whether they'd rather rent or buy, and one of them recommends your real estate agency.
A student shares how your language lessons helped them speak with confidence.
Talking-head video
Best for: a quick product presentation with minimal setup. An AI presenter introduces your product while your product images play in the background.
Example ideas:
A presenter introduces your new collection of paintings while the artworks appear behind them.
A presenter highlights the best features of a property while listing photos play in the background.
A presenter announces your bestseller or a seasonal sale in an online store.
Playground
Best for: any scene you can imagine, with full control over the setting, camera, and sound. Use it for cinematic product shots, short stories, dialogues with background music or ambient sounds, and scenes built from your own images or frames.
Example ideas:
Coffee is poured into your handmade mug in a cozy kitchen while rain taps on the window.
A short, cinematic trailer for your new book.
The camera moves slowly through a bright living room, created from a photo of your listing.
A tourist confidently orders coffee in a café, showing what your language course helps students do.
Animated image
Best for: bringing a product photo to life in a short clip, without speech. Great for product showcases, catalog visuals, and eye-catching social media posts.
Example ideas:
Steam rises from a cup of tea in your handmade mug.
Pages of your book flutter in a light breeze on a sunny table.
Soft light moves across your painting hanging on a gallery wall.
A model poses with your product while photographers take pictures around them.
Viral video
Best for: organic content that follows trends: emotional reactions, glow-ups, and relatable moments that help people notice and remember your brand. Your product doesn't appear in the video, so tell your story through the headline.
Example ideas:
Your avatar reacts with joy, with the headline When readers finally reach chapter 12.
A relatable reaction with the headline Me when a student finally gets the past perfect.
An emotional moment with the headline When clients see the view from their new home for the first time.
Good to know
None of the tools lets you upload your own voice. In Video ad, you can adjust the tone, emotion, and accent. In Talking-head video, the voice comes with the avatar you choose. In Playground, there are no voice settings: the model creates the voices itself.
Only Viral video takes sound from a reference. In the other tools, sound is created by the AI model or isn't added at all.
Available models, durations, and credit costs may change. Check the current settings in each tool before you generate a video.
Not sure which tool fits your idea? Reach out to us at [email protected] or open the in-app chat. We're always happy to help.