HeyGen credits explained (2026): how many minutes do 600 credits actually buy?
Credits per minute by avatar model
| Avatar model | Credits per minute | Minutes from 600 credits (Creator) | Minutes from 1,000 credits (Pro) | Minutes from 1,500 credits (Business) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avatar IV / Avatar V (current) | ~20 | ~30 | ~50 | ~75 |
| Avatar III (previous generation) | ~3 | ~200 | ~333 | ~500 |
The 6.7× gap between models is the whole story of HeyGen pricing. The $29 sticker is real, but only the Avatar III minutes are "cheap"; if you want the expressive current-generation avatars that made HeyGen popular, plan on ~30 minutes for $29. Features like translation, voice cloning and certain effects may draw additional credits — check the estimate HeyGen shows before you hit Generate.
What each plan's credits are worth
| Plan | Price | Credits / month | ≈ Avatar IV minutes | Cost per Avatar IV minute | Max video length | Export |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 3 videos/mo (1 min each, watermark) | 3 | — | 1 min | 1080p |
| Creator | $29/mo · $24/mo annual | 600 | ~30 | $0.97 ($0.80 annual) | 30 min | 1080p |
| Pro | $49/mo | 1,000 | ~50 | $0.98 | 30 min | 4K |
| Business | $149/mo + $20/seat | 1,500 | ~75 | $1.99 (before seats) | 60 min | 4K |
| Enterprise | Custom | Flexible | — | — | Unlimited | 4K |
Notice that Business is more expensive per minute than Creator or Pro — you're paying for SCORM, SSO, LMS integrations, 60-minute videos, team workspaces and interactive video, not for minutes. A team that only needs volume is better on two Pro seats than one Business seat, unless SCORM or SSO is required.
Rollover, top-ups and the annual discount
- Rollover: HeyGen's paid plans roll unused credits forward, which suits lumpy production (a heavy launch month after two quiet ones). Synthesia's minutes reset monthly.
- Top-ups: extra credits can be bought inside the app; the per-credit price is higher than the plan rate, so if you're topping up every month, move to Pro.
- Annual: Creator drops from $29 to $24/month on annual billing, taking the Avatar IV minute to about $0.80.
HeyGen vs Synthesia vs Colossyan, per minute
| Tool · plan | Price | Minutes | Cost per minute |
|---|---|---|---|
| HeyGen Creator (Avatar IV) | $29 | ~30 | $0.97 |
| HeyGen Pro (Avatar IV) | $49 | ~50 | $0.98 |
| Colossyan Professional (NEO) | $59 | 30 | $1.97 |
| Synthesia Starter | $29 | 12 | $2.42 |
| Synthesia Creator | $89 | 30 | $2.97 |
HeyGen is the minutes-per-dollar leader by a wide margin. The reasons to pay more elsewhere are specific: Synthesia's 160+ languages, templates and enterprise track record (Synthesia vs HeyGen); Colossyan's SCORM and course tooling on a $59 plan (training-tools guide). Plug your own volume into the calculator.
FAQ
How many credits is one minute of HeyGen video?
About 20 credits per minute on Avatar IV/V and about 3 on Avatar III, per HeyGen's published credit tables. Extra features can add to the total; the app shows an estimate before rendering.
How many minutes do I get on the $29 plan?
600 credits ≈ 30 minutes of Avatar IV video, or ≈ 200 minutes on Avatar III.
Do HeyGen credits roll over?
Yes on paid plans, according to HeyGen's plan cards. Check the current terms for any cap.
Is the free plan useful?
For judging avatar quality, yes — three one-minute videos a month. They carry a watermark, so nothing client-facing.
Method: pricing page verified on the date shown; per-model credit rates from HeyGen's published tables as reported in June 2026 breakdowns and labelled approximate. HeyGen is not an affiliate partner. Related: Synthesia vs HeyGen · Cost calculator.