Synthesia vs HeyGen (2026): which AI avatar video tool should you pay for?
1. Pricing and minutes per dollar
The sticker prices look identical — both start at $29/month — but the minutes you actually get differ a lot. Synthesia sells plain minutes. HeyGen sells credits, and the credits-per-minute rate depends on which avatar model you render with: Avatar IV/V cost 20 credits per minute, the older Avatar III costs 3.
| Plan | Synthesia | HeyGen |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 · 10 min/mo · 9 avatars · no personal avatar, no dubbing | $0 · 3 videos/mo · max 1 min each · watermark · 500+ stock avatars |
| Entry paid | Starter $29/mo or $18/mo annual · 12 min/mo · 125+ avatars · 3 personal avatars · downloads, AI dubbing, no branding | Creator $29/mo or $24/mo annual · 600 credits ≈ 30 min/mo on Avatar IV (≈200 min on Avatar III) · 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 credits ≈ 50 min/mo on Avatar IV · 4K export · advanced models |
| Team / business | Enterprise custom · unlimited minutes · 240+ avatars · SCORM export · SAML/SSO · dedicated CSM | Business $149/mo + $20/seat · 1,500 credits · videos up to 60 min · SCORM · SSO · interactive video · LMS integrations |
| Cost per included minute (entry plan, monthly billing) | $29 ÷ 12 = $2.42/min | $29 ÷ 30 = $0.97/min (Avatar IV) |
| Cost per included minute (mid tier) | $89 ÷ 30 = $2.97/min | $49 ÷ 50 = $0.98/min |
On raw minutes HeyGen is roughly 2.5× cheaper at the entry level. Two caveats: Synthesia's Enterprise plan is unlimited minutes, which flips the math for teams producing hours of content, and HeyGen's cheap "Avatar III" minutes are visibly older-generation output. Use our cost calculator to plug in your own monthly minutes.
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) |
HeyGen has invested heavily in expressive, gesture-rich avatars aimed at social and marketing video; Synthesia's avatar library is smaller but built around a presenter-at-a-desk style that suits instructional content. Both now offer translation/dubbing that lip-syncs the avatar. If avatar realism is your deciding factor, render the same 30-second script on both free plans — it costs nothing and takes ten minutes.
3. Training & L&D vs marketing & social
Where Synthesia is stronger
- 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
- Track record with enterprise buyers; G2 4.6/5 across 2,800+ reviews
Where HeyGen is stronger
- 2.5× more minutes per dollar at the entry level
- Longer single videos (30–60 min) on paid plans
- 4K export from $49/month
- Credit rollover — unused credits aren't wasted
- Faster-moving avatar tech, popular with creators and marketers; the company passed $200M ARR in June 2026
4. Free plan limits you'll hit first
Synthesia Free: 10 minutes a month across 9 avatars, no personal avatar, no dubbing, and download/branding restrictions. Enough to evaluate the editor and voice quality, not enough to ship a real project.
HeyGen Free: three videos a month, each capped at one minute, with a watermark. You can test the avatar quality properly, but you cannot publish anything client-facing.
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 · want the most avatar minutes for $29 · 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 the entry level, yes — $29 buys about 30 minutes of Avatar IV video on HeyGen versus 12 minutes on Synthesia. Synthesia's Enterprise plan is unlimited minutes, so for high-volume teams the comparison depends on your negotiated contract.
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/mo + $20/seat). If SCORM on a self-serve plan matters, HeyGen's Business tier is the more transparent route; Synthesia requires a sales conversation.
Do the prices include commercial use?
Paid plans on both include commercial use. Free plans carry watermarks/branding restrictions and are for evaluation.
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.