Runway vs HeyGen

Tagline

Generative video and creative tools for filmmakers

Create and localize professional AI videos from text scripts in minutes, without cameras or video editing skills.

Category

Pricing

Rating

Platforms

API

Open source

Description

Runway offers Gen-3 text-to-video, image-to-video, and pro editing tools used by top studios.

HeyGen is an AI video generator that enables businesses to create, localize, and scale professional video content. With features like realistic AI avatars, custom voice cloning, and support for over 175 languages, HeyGen simplifies the production of product demos, microlearning, training, and marketing videos without requiring a camera, crew, or extensive editing.

Key features

• Beat-synced cuts
• LUT library
• One-tap 4K export

• AI Avatar Generator
• AI Voice Cloning
• Video Translator
• Lip Sync AI
• AI Dubbing
• Text to Video
• Image to Video
• Audio to Video
• Talking Photo AI
• LiveAvatar
• Video Agent (prompt-to-video script)
• PPT to video workflow

Pros

• State-of-the-art Gen-3 video model
• Text-to-video and image-to-video
• Motion brush and camera controls
• Green-screen and rotoscoping
• Frame interpolation
• Text-to-3D features
• Regular model releases
• Used by pro studios

• Users can start creating videos for free without requiring a credit card.
• Allows localization of video content into more than 175 languages and dialects with lip-sync translation.
• Maintains robust data protection being SOC 2 Type II certified and both GDPR and CCPA compliant.
• Unused monthly credits roll over for one month for active monthly subscribers and accumulate annually for yearly subscribers.
• Provides built-in Video Agent to automatically write scripts and generate storyboards from short prompts.
• Supports high-quality video exports up to 4K resolution on appropriate paid tiers.
• Allows editing and regenerating only changed video sections by updating text narration or swapping images instead of full reshoots.
• Provides access to over 500 stock digital twins and custom digital twins.

Cons

• Credit system gets expensive fast
• Watermark on free tier
• Short max clip length
• Occasional visual artifacts
• No native audio generation
• Queue times during peak load
• Complex UI for beginners
• Shot-to-shot consistency limited

• The Free plan does not include watermark removal, which requires a paid upgrade.
• Videos on the Free plan are strictly limited to a maximum length of 1 minute.
• The platform does not include a built-in screen recorder, requiring separate capture tools.
• Unused credits do not carry over and expire immediately upon subscription cancellation.
• Higher-tier avatar engines (Avatar IV & V) consume significantly more credits at 20 credits/min compared to Avatar III at 3 credits/min.

Pricing plans

• FreeUSD0/month
  • • Free forever
  • • For individuals looking to explore Runway's AI Tools
  • • Gemini 3 Pro
• StandardUSD12/month
  • • Access to all models
  • • All AI images and video models (Gen-4.5, Nano Banana Pro, Aleph, Veo 3.1, and more)
  • • 4K Upscaling
  • • No watermarks
• ProUSD28/month
  • • Everything in Standard
  • • Access to all models and audio tools
  • • For creators leveling up their craft
  • • All AI images and video models
• MaxUSD76/month
  • • Everything in Pro
  • • Best value for heavy usage
  • • Credit roll over 1 mo.
  • • For teams scaling AI video production
• Enterprise—
  • • For teams scaling AI video production
  • • Custom credits
  • • Enterprise-wide onboarding
  • • Custom team sizes

• FreeUSD0/month
  • • Access to Avatar IV and Video Agent
  • • Standard video processing
  • • 500+ Stock Digital Twins
  • • 1 Custom Digital Twin
• CreatorUSD29/month
  • • 1080p video export
  • • Extended Avatar IV video generation
  • • Fast video processing
  • • Watermark removal
• ProUSD49/month
  • • 4K video export
  • • Faster video processing
  • • Customizable monthly usage
  • • Edit & proofread translation script
• BusinessUSD149/month
  • • 2x more concurrency than Pro
  • • 5 Custom Digital Twins
  • • Scale your brand and centralize assets
  • • Invites & team management
• Enterprise—
  • • Enterprise-grade security & privacy
  • • Team Member MFA
  • • Enterprise Community access
  • • 10+ Custom Digital Twins

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