Synthesia vs HeyGen

A 2026 side-by-side comparison of Synthesia and HeyGen — pricing, key features, platforms, API access, and the trade-offs of each, based on data collected from their official sites.

Tagline

Create studio-quality AI avatar videos

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

Category

Pricing

Paid
Freemium

Rating

0.0 (0)
0.0 (0)

Platforms

Web
WebiOSAndroid

API

Yes
Yes

Open source

No
No

Description

Synthesia generates videos with realistic AI avatars in 140+ languages without cameras.

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

  • Shot lists
  • Camera notes
  • PDF 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

  • 230+ AI avatars
  • 140+ languages
  • Custom avatars available
  • No cameras or studios needed
  • Enterprise SSO and SOC 2
  • Templates library
  • API access
  • Team collaboration
  • 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

  • Avatars can feel uncanny
  • No free tier
  • Subscription is expensive
  • Requires script preparation
  • Lip-sync varies by language
  • Not for live video
  • Custom avatars are costly
  • Default look is very corporate
  • 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

  • BasicUSD0/month
    • try for free
    • Quickly start creating AI videos
    • Create videos in 160+ languages
    • No credit card required
  • StarterUSD29/month
    • Create AI videos with your own Personal Avatar
    • What you get in Basic +
    • Custom on-brand Avatars
    • Try for FREE
  • StarterUSD18/month
    • Create AI videos with your own Personal Avatar
    • What you get in Basic +
    • Custom on-brand Avatars
    • Try for FREE
  • CreatorUSD89/month
    • Produce AI videos regularly with your team
    • What you get in Starter +
    • 5 Personal Avatars
    • For teams
  • CreatorUSD64/month
    • Produce AI videos regularly with your team
    • What you get in Starter +
    • 5 Personal Avatars
    • For teams
  • Enterprise
    • What you get in Creator +
    • Unlimited Personal Avatars
    • Live team collaboration
    • Dedicated Customer Success team
  • 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

Which one should you pick?

  • Choose Synthesia if you need Shot lists.
  • Choose HeyGen if you need AI Avatar Generator.
  • On budget: Synthesia is paid, HeyGen is freemium.