Synthesia vs HeyGen
Synthesia is aI video platform that turns scripts into presenter-led avatar videos. HeyGen is aI avatar video generator with video translation and voice cloning. Here is how they compare on price, free plan, platforms and the jobs each does best, from each vendor's own pages.
| Synthesia | HeyGen | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | AI video platform that turns scripts into presenter-led avatar videos | AI avatar video generator with video translation and voice cloning |
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | $18/mo billed annually (Starter) | $24/mo billed annually (Creator) |
| Free trial | None stated | None stated |
| Platforms | Web, API | Web, API |
| Integrations (vendor's figure) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Open source | No | No |
| Made by | Synthesia Ltd | HeyGen |
Choose Synthesia if…
- Price matters: its cheapest paid plan is $18/mo against $24/mo.
- The job is turning a training script into a presenter-style video without filming.
- The job is producing the same video in several languages.
Choose HeyGen if…
- The job is making talking-head marketing or explainer videos with an AI avatar.
- The job is translating existing videos into other languages.
Still weighing it up?
If neither is quite right, see how other AI video and voice tools compare: Descript vs CapCut.
What Synthesia does
- AI avatars presenting scripted videos, with 160+ languages and voices
- AI Dubbing and an AI Video Assistant
- Personal avatars: 5 on Creator, unlimited on Enterprise
- Branded video pages and interactive videos on Creator
- API access on Creator
- SCORM export, SAML/SSO and 1-click translation into 80+ languages on Enterprise
Watch out for
- Basic (free) plan: up to 10 minutes of video per month and 9 AI avatars
- Video downloads and Synthesia logo removal start on the Starter plan
- Yearly Starter plan is capped at 120 minutes of video per year
What HeyGen does
- AI avatar videos with 500+ stock avatars (700+ on paid plans)
- Avatar IV video generation
- Video translation in 175+ languages and dialects on paid plans
- Voice cloning and photo avatars
- Export up to 1080p on Creator and 4K on Pro
- SCORM export, LMS integrations and SAML/SSO on Business
Watch out for
- Free plan: 3 videos per month, each up to 1 minute
- Watermark removal is listed from the Creator plan up
- Individual plans include 1 user seat; Business adds seats at $20 per seat per month
Questions
Is Synthesia or HeyGen cheaper?
On published entry prices, Synthesia is cheaper: $18/mo billed annually (Starter) for Synthesia against $24/mo billed annually (Creator) for HeyGen. What each plan includes differs, so compare the limits too.
Do Synthesia and HeyGen have free plans?
Both do. Synthesia: 1,200 credits per month (up to 10 minutes of video, or 10 minutes of AI dubbing, or 25 AI-generated video assets); 1 editor; 9 AI avatars. HeyGen: 3 videos per month, up to 1 minute each; 500+ stock video avatars; 1 custom video avatar; up to 3 photo avatars; 30+ languages.