AI avatars and video translation with lip-synced dubbing.
Head-to-head
HeyGen vs Synthesia (2026): which AI avatar tool should you use?
Enterprise-grade AI avatar video platform for presenter-style videos in 140+ languages.
Both turn a script into a talking-avatar video. HeyGen suits creators who want their own digital twin, longer videos and 4K on higher plans. Synthesia is cheaper to start if you pay yearly ($18/mo) and has a more generous free allowance in minutes, but every download is capped at 1080p and the free plan carries a watermark and no downloads.
Quick verdict
- Pick HeyGen if you make Shorts, TikToks or YouTube videos with a clone of yourself, want 4K (Pro, $49/mo) or need videos up to 30 minutes on the entry paid plan.
- Pick Synthesia if you want the cheapest watermark-free paid plan billed yearly ($18/mo), make training or explainer videos, and 1080p is enough.
Side-by-side comparison
| HeyGen | Synthesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes: 3 videos/mo, up to 1 min each, 1 custom avatar, 1 voice clone, no card | Yes (Basic): 10 min/mo, 500 credits, 9 stock avatars, Synthesia watermark, no downloads |
| Cheapest paid plan | Creator $29/mo, or $24/mo billed yearly | Starter $29/mo, or $18/mo billed yearly |
| Usage on entry plan | 600 credits/mo (minutes per credit not stated) | Up to about 12 extra min/mo, or about 150 min/yr on yearly |
| Watermark on paid | Removed from Creator up | Removed from Starter up |
| Max resolution | 1080p on Creator; 4K on Pro and Business | Full HD 1080p on every paid plan |
| Max video length | 1 min free, 30 min Creator/Pro, 60 min Business | Not stated on the pricing page |
| Stock avatars | Not counted on the pricing page | 9 free, 125+ Starter, 180+ Pro |
| Commercial terms | Not stated per plan (Enterprise lists "commercial terms") | Not stated on the pricing page |
| Next tier | Pro $49/mo (1,000 credits, 4K) | Pro $89/mo, or $64/mo yearly (~60 min/mo) |
Pricing in practice
HeyGen sells credits, and its pricing page doesn't convert them into minutes. Usage depends on the avatar model and video length, so test on the free plan first. Synthesia gives rough minute counts, which makes budgeting easier: Starter yearly works out to about 150 minutes a year for $216.
If you only post a few one-minute Shorts a month, HeyGen Free covers three videos. It's enough to test whether an avatar fits your channel before paying. Synthesia's free plan gives more minutes but no downloads, so you can't post what you make.
Which fits short-form creators?
- Faceless or twin-based Shorts: HeyGen. A custom avatar and voice clone come even on the free plan.
- Explainers, courses, internal training: Synthesia. Predictable minutes, cheaper yearly entry plan, and many stock avatars.
- You need 4K: HeyGen Pro. Synthesia's pricing page lists 1080p downloads on every plan.
- Tight budget, yearly billing: Synthesia Starter at $18/mo beats HeyGen Creator at $24/mo.
For the full workflow, see our faceless channel stack.
Questions
Is HeyGen better than Synthesia?
For creators making vertical videos with their own clone, usually yes: free custom avatar, 4K on Pro, and 30-minute videos on Creator. For business explainers on a budget, Synthesia's yearly Starter is cheaper.
Is HeyGen free?
There is a free plan with 3 videos a month, each up to 1 minute. Watermark removal is listed only from the Creator plan, $29/mo or $24/mo yearly.
Does Synthesia have a free plan?
Yes, Basic gives 10 minutes a month and 9 stock avatars, but videos carry a Synthesia watermark and downloads are not included.
Can I use HeyGen or Synthesia videos commercially?
Neither pricing page spells out commercial-use rights per plan. Check each company's terms of service before running ads with avatar videos.
Sources: heygen.com/pricing, synthesia.io/pricing. Checked on 13 October 2026. Based on published plans, not a hands-on test.