AIDealsPro is reader-supported. Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our verdicts. How we review: https://aidealspro.com/how-we-review/
Best for: HeyGen suits marketers and creators who want fast avatar videos with minimal setup; Synthesia suits training teams producing multilingual courses at scale.
Not for: cinematic or creative video — both are presenter tools, not text-to-video generators. For that, see our AI video tools hub: https://aidealspro.com/ai-video-tools/
Starting price: HeyGen Creator $29/month, Synthesia Starter $19/month ($14/mo billed annually) — checked 9 Oct 2026.
Table of Contents
The short answer
HeyGen and Synthesia do the same core job — turn a script into a video of an AI avatar presenting it — but they bill differently and serve different buyers. HeyGen sells monthly credits you spend across features; Synthesia sells an annual pool of video minutes. For a solo creator making marketing videos, HeyGen’s credit model and larger avatar library are usually the easier fit. For
a company producing training in many languages, Synthesia’s minute pool, translation workflow, and SCORM export (Enterprise) are built for exactly that.
The 30-minute free-tier test
Don’t decide from this page alone. Both tools have free tiers — run the same 60-second script through HeyGen’s 3 free videos and Synthesia’s Basic plan in one sitting. Score lip-sync, avatar naturalness, and how much editing the output needs. Thirty minutes of testing beats thirty days of second-guessing. Full reviews: HeyGen review.
If you outgrow both free tiers, the decision above holds: HeyGen Creator $29 for expressive avatar video, Synthesia Starter $19 for training and explainers. Either way, start monthly — both let you cancel at the cycle’s end.
Where voice quality matters more than the avatar
For some videos the avatar is secondary and the narration carries everything — video essays, documentaries, faceless channels. In that case compare the voice engines too: ElevenLabs review covers the voice-quality leader, and Best free AI video generators lists every free tier worth testing. The full ranking: Best AI video generators.
What each tool is
HeyGen
HeyGen is an AI video platform centered on avatars: pick from 700+ stock avatars (500+ on the free plan), or create a custom digital twin from your own footage. You type or paste a script, pick a voice from 1,000+ options or clone your own, and export. It also offers Avatar IV (expressive avatar generation), video translation with lip-sync, and an API. According to its pricing page, it positions itself for creators, marketers, and teams (checked 9 Oct 2026).
Synthesia
Synthesia is an AI video platform focused on corporate and training video: 230+ stock avatars, personal avatars built from your footage, 160+ languages, AI dubbing, and (on Enterprise) one-click translation into 80+ languages and SCORM export for learning management systems. Its pricing is built around video minutes per year rather than monthly credits (checked via multiple October 2026 sources citing the official pricing page).
Pricing compared (checked 9 Oct 2026)
HeyGen figures below are from HeyGen’s official pricing page, checked 9 Oct 2026. Synthesia figures are from Synthesia’s official pricing page as reported by multiple October 2026 sources — confirm at checkout, since Synthesia’s page renders prices dynamically.
HeyGen pricing
| Plan | Price | Key allowance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 3 videos/month, no credit card | 1-minute max, 500+ avatars, 30+ languages, watermarked |
| Creator | $29/month ($24/month annual) | 600 credits/month | 30-min videos, 1080p, 700+ avatars, 175 languages, no watermark |
| Pro | From $49/month | From 1,000 credits/month | 4K export, higher tiers up to 100,000 credits |
| Business | $149/month + $20/seat | 1,500 shared credits | Team workspace, collaboration |
Synthesia pricing
| Plan | Price | Key allowance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $0 | 500 credits/month (~10 min video), watermarked | 9 avatars, Synthesia logo, no downloads, no credit card |
| Starter | $19/month ($14/month billed annually) | 15,000 credits/year (~12 min/month video, on top of free allowance) | 125+ avatars, 3 personal avatars, downloads, logo removal |
| Pro | $89/month ($59/month billed annually) | 72,000 credits/year (~60 min/month video) | 180+ avatars, 5 personal avatars, API access |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | SCORM export, SSO, 1-click translation |
Prices in USD. HeyGen checked on heygen.com/pricing 9 Oct 2026; Synthesia per official pricing page via October 2026 reports.
Free plan vs free plan
Both have real free tiers, and both are for evaluation only. HeyGen gives up to 3 videos a month (1 minute each), 500+ avatars, and 30+ languages — no credit card. Synthesia’s Basic gives about 10 minutes a month with 9 avatars and 160+ languages — also no card. Both watermark exports and both exclude commercial polish: HeyGen caps free exports at 720p with watermark; Synthesia keeps its logo and blocks downloads. For a genuine side-by-side test, generate the same 60-second script on both free tiers and compare avatar realism, lip-sync, and voice quality yourself — that one test tells you more than any review.
Monthly video minutes: the real comparison
The billing units are different, so normalize them:
| HeyGen Creator $29/mo | Synthesia Starter $19/mo | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing unit | 600 credits/month | 15,000 credits/year (~12 min/month) |
| Per month, roughly | 600 credits (flexible across features) | ~12 minutes |
| Annual cost | $348 ($288 on annual) | $228 ($168 on annual) |
| Overage model | Buy more credits / upgrade | Annual credit pool cap, upgrade to Pro |
Credits do not convert cleanly to minutes on HeyGen — costs vary by model and feature (third-party tests put Avatar IV around 20 credits per minute). Synthesia’s minutes are literal: 10 minutes a month, no conversion needed. If you know your exact monthly minutes, Synthesia’s math is simpler. If your usage is bursty — some months heavy on translation, some on avatars — HeyGen’s credits flex better.
Feature comparison
| Feature | HeyGen | Synthesia |
|---|---|---|
| Stock avatars | 700+ (500+ free) | 230+ |
| Custom/personal avatars | 1 free, more as add-ons | 3 (Starter), 5 (Pro) |
| Languages | 175+ (30+ free) | 160+ |
| Max video length | 1 min (free), 30 min (paid) | ~10 min/month pool (free), annual credit pools (paid) |
| Export quality | 720p free, 1080p Creator, 4K Pro | 1080p on paid plans |
| Video translation/dubbing | Lip-sync translation | AI dubbing; 1-click translation (Enterprise) |
| API | Paid add-on tiers | Pro plan and up |
| LMS/SCORM export | No | Enterprise |
Pros and cons
HeyGen — pros
- Large avatar and voice library (700+ avatars, 1,000+ voices).
- Easy to start: free tier needs no credit card.
- Credit rollover (one month on monthly plans; accumulated on annual).
- 175 languages on paid plans.
- Fast workflow for marketing videos.
HeyGen — cons
- Credit costs vary by model and feature, so real monthly cost is hard to predict before you render.
- Free tier is watermarked and capped at 720p.
- Premium capabilities cost extra (priority processing and voice cloning are paid add-ons per third-party reports).
- Avatar IV, the most expressive mode, consumes credits fast (about 20 credits per minute per third-party tests).
Synthesia — pros
- Built for training teams: minute pools, guests, and collaboration.
- SCORM export and 1-click translation on Enterprise — the corporate checklist, covered.
- Free Basic tier is genuinely usable for evaluation (10 min/month).
- 160+ languages.
Synthesia — cons
- Key features (SCORM export, 1-click translation) are locked to custom-priced Enterprise.
- Annual minute caps with overage friction are a common buyer complaint.
- Less suited to creative or marketing video than HeyGen — it is a training tool first.
- Higher step-up cost: Pro is $89/month vs HeyGen Pro from $49.
Who should choose which
Choose HeyGen if:
- You make marketing videos, social content, or explainers.
- You want the biggest avatar/voice library.
- You prefer monthly credits over annual minute pools.
- You need video translation with lip-sync on a self-serve plan.
Choose Synthesia if:
- You produce training, onboarding, or compliance videos.
- You need SCORM/LMS export (Enterprise).
- You localize into many languages at scale.
- You want an annual pool of minutes shared across a team.
Who should NOT use each
Skip HeyGen if:
- You need cinematic text-to-video — HeyGen is a presenter tool, not a clip generator. See our AI video tools hub: https://aidealspro.com/ai-video-tools/
- You need SCORM or LMS export for training courses.
- Your videos are long-form training (20+ minutes each) — annual minute pools fit that shape better.
Skip Synthesia if:
- You make marketing or social video — HeyGen’s avatar library and workflow fit creator content better.
- You want the tool to also generate cinematic clips — Synthesia does not.
- You want monthly flexibility — Synthesia’s paid value is in annual minute pools.
Alternatives
For cinematic text-to-video rather than avatars, compare Higgsfield vs Runway: https://aidealspro.com/higgsfield-vs-runway/ (publishing in this phase). For the full category, see our AI video tools hub: https://aidealspro.com/ai-video-tools/
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, HeyGen or Synthesia?
For marketing videos and creator workflows, HeyGen — bigger avatar library, simpler credit model, stronger free tier for testing. For corporate training at scale, Synthesia — minute pools, multilingual workflow, and SCORM export on Enterprise. There is no universal winner; match the tool to the job.
Which is cheaper, HeyGen or Synthesia?
Synthesia Starter is $19/month ($14/mo billed annually) with 15,000 credits/year (~12 min video/month, on top of the free allowance); HeyGen Creator is $29/month ($24 annual) with 600 monthly credits. Compare your monthly video minutes against each allowance — the cheaper one depends on your volume.
Can I use HeyGen or Synthesia for YouTube?
Yes on paid plans, which remove watermarks and grant proper usage rights. Free tiers watermark exports and are meant for evaluation, not publishing.
Do HeyGen and Synthesia offer free trials?
Both offer free tiers (not time-limited trials): HeyGen up to 3 videos/month, Synthesia about 10 minutes/month, neither requiring a credit card.
Which has more realistic avatars?
Both are strong and the gap changes with each model update. The honest test: generate the same script on both free tiers and compare. Do not trust side-by-side screenshots in marketing pages — motion and lip-sync only show in video.
Can I cancel anytime?
HeyGen: yes — downgrades and cancellations take effect at the end of the billing cycle (per its pricing FAQ). Synthesia: monthly plans cancel anytime; annual plans are annual commitments.
Which is better for a faceless YouTube channel?
HeyGen — faster script-to-video workflow, bigger avatar and voice library, monthly credits that suit irregular publishing. Synthesia’s strength is corporate training, not creator content.
Do they offer free trials of the paid plans?
Not time-limited trials — both offer permanent free tiers instead (HeyGen: 3 videos/month; Synthesia: ~10 minutes/month; neither needs a credit card). Treat the free tier as the trial.
Can I use my own face as the avatar?
Yes, on both. HeyGen: custom digital twin from your footage (1 free on paid plans). Synthesia: personal avatars (3 on Starter, 5 on Creator). Both require you to verify consent for your own likeness — the process takes a few minutes.
Last updated 9 Oct 2026. Prices checked on official pricing pages on that date — confirm at checkout.
The AIDealsPro team reads the official pricing and docs for every tool we cover and re-checks prices monthly.
How we reviewKeep reading
Best Free AI Video Generators (2026): Real Free Plans, Honest Limits
The best free AI video generators in 2026 — real free plans only, with every limit listed: watermarks,…
InVideo AI Review (2026): Pricing, Features & Who Should Use It
InVideo AI review 2026: real pricing, prompt-to-video workflow, free plan limits, and who should skip it. Prices via…
Best AI Tools for Faceless YouTube Channels (2026): Full Workflow
The best AI tools for faceless YouTube channels in 2026: script, voice, video, and thumbnail workflow with real…