Synthesia vs HeyGen (2026): which AI avatar video tool should you pay for?
1. Pricing and minutes per dollar
Both products use shared credits. HeyGen rates depend on the model: Avatar IV Photo Look uses 16 credits/minute, Video Look 31, and Avatar V 48. Avatar III uses 7 for Photo Look and 4 for Video Look. Official rates checked 21 September 2026.
| Plan | Synthesia | HeyGen |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 · 10 min/mo · 9 avatars · check current avatar and dubbing limits | $0 · 1–3 free videos depending on region · max 1 min each · watermark · 500+ stock avatars |
| Entry paid | Starter $29/mo or annual price requires checkout verification · 10 min/mo · 125+ avatars · 3 personal avatars · downloads, AI dubbing, no branding | Creator $29/month · 600 shared credits: 37.5 Photo Look or 19.35 Video Look minutes on Avatar IV · videos up to 30 min · voice cloning · credit rollover · 1080p |
| Mid tier | Creator $89/mo · 30 min/mo · 180+ avatars · 5 personal avatars · API · branded video pages · interactive video | Pro $49/mo · 1,000 shared credits: 62.5 Photo Look or 32.25 Video Look minutes on Avatar IV · 4K export · advanced models |
| Team / business | Enterprise custom · unlimited minutes · 240+ avatars · SCORM export · SAML/SSO · dedicated CSM | Business $149/mo for first seat + $20/mo per additional seat · 1,500 credits · videos up to 60 min · SCORM · SSO · interactive video · LMS integrations |
| Cost per included minute (entry plan, monthly billing) | $29 ÷ 10 = $2.90/min | $29 × 16 ÷ 600 = $0.77/min Photo Look; $29 × 31 ÷ 600 = $1.50/min Video Look |
| Cost per included minute (mid tier) | $89 ÷ 30 = $2.97/min | $49 × 16 ÷ 1,000 = $0.78/min Photo Look; $49 × 31 ÷ 1,000 = $1.52/min Video Look |
These calculations assume the full balance goes to the named model. Minutes are rounded down; cost ratios use unrounded allowances. Revisions and other features can change usable output. Compare your expected consumption in the calculator.
2. Avatars, voices and languages
| Synthesia | HeyGen | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock avatars | 125+ (Starter) → 180+ (Creator) → 240+ (Enterprise) | 500+ (Free) → 700+ (paid) |
| Personal / custom avatars | 3 on Starter, 5 on Creator, unlimited on Enterprise | 1+ on Creator/Pro, 5+ on Business, 10+ Enterprise |
| Languages | 160+ voices; 140+ for dubbing | 175+ languages & dialects |
| Voice cloning | Included with personal avatar workflow | Included from Creator plan |
| Max video length | Governed by plan minutes | 30 min (Creator/Pro), 60 min (Business) |
| Export | 1080p | 1080p (Creator), 4K (Pro and up) |
Render the same short script with each model you are considering. Score pronunciation, lip sync, gestures and editing effort separately; plan descriptions do not establish comparative output quality. Record your actual generation time and credit deductions.
3. Training & L&D vs marketing & social
Synthesia features to evaluate
- SCORM export, SSO and a dedicated customer success manager on Enterprise — the boxes an L&D or compliance team has to tick
- Large template library for onboarding, policy, product-training formats
- API on the $89 Creator plan (HeyGen's API is a separate product)
- Interactive video and branded video pages on Creator
HeyGen features to evaluate
- Model-specific allowances; compare the look you will actually use
- Longer single videos (30–60 min) on paid plans
- 4K export from $49/month
- Rollover is limited: monthly credits carry one additional billing cycle; annual allocations arrive monthly and unused credits expire at annual renewal
4. Free plan limits you'll hit first
Synthesia Free: use the editor to test your script and inspect the current export and feature restrictions before choosing it for a deliverable. The shared credit balance is not a separate allowance for every feature.
HeyGen Free: the official guide lists 1–3 free videos depending on region, up to one minute each, with a 720p sharing link. Check your account quota and export options before planning a project.
5. Who should choose which
Choose Synthesia if you”¦
Produce training, onboarding, SOP or compliance videos · need SCORM/LMS delivery or SSO · want a template-driven workflow non-designers can use · localize into many languages with one source video · are buying for a team with a budget owner who asks about G2 ratings and security.
Try Synthesia freeChoose HeyGen if you”¦
Make marketing, social, sales-outreach or YouTube videos · have checked the allowance for your chosen model · need 4K or long-form output · want your own avatar cheaply · like credit rollover for uneven months.
See HeyGen plansFAQ
Is HeyGen cheaper than Synthesia?
At $29/month, HeyGen Creator permits 37.5 Avatar IV Photo Look minutes or about 19.35 Video Look minutes when the full balance is used for that model. Synthesia Starter lists up to 10 video minutes. This compares allowances, not measured quality or finished output cost.
Can I use my own avatar on both?
Yes. Synthesia includes 3 personal avatars on Starter and 5 on Creator. HeyGen includes at least 1 custom avatar from the Creator plan (5+ on Business).
Which one supports SCORM for my LMS?
Both — Synthesia on Enterprise, HeyGen on Business ($149/month for the first seat; $20/month per additional seat). If SCORM on a self-serve plan matters, HeyGen's Business tier is the more transparent route; Synthesia requires a sales conversation.
What should I check before publishing?
Confirm the license for your selected avatar, voice and assets, along with any branding or export restrictions. A subscription price alone does not establish permission for every intended use.
How often does this page get updated?
Monthly, or sooner if either vendor changes plans. Each table shows the verification date at the top of the page.
Method: we compare published pricing pages, plan documentation and help-center credit tables, verified on the date shown, and we add hands-on output notes as we run test scripts through each tool. We do not accept payment for placement and we do not run sponsored reviews.