The short answer
HeyGen is the better pick for marketing and most small teams; Synthesia is the better pick for enterprise training at a predictable price. HeyGen’s avatars look more realistic, its video translation dubbing into 175+ languages is best in class, and its $29/month Creator plan includes voice cloning and 600 generation credits. But Synthesia’s annual pricing undercuts HeyGen ($18 vs $24/month at the entry tier), its minute-based pricing is far more predictable than HeyGen’s model-dependent credit burn, and its governance features are built for large L&D teams.
Bottom line: choose HeyGen when realism and translation matter most; choose Synthesia when you want a fixed minute budget, several personal avatars on the entry plan, and the cheapest annual entry price.
| Feature | HeyGen | Synthesia | Who wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 3 videos/month, 1 minute each, 720p, watermarked | Basic: 10 video minutes/month, 9 avatars, watermarked | Synthesia (more free minutes) |
| Entry paid (monthly / annual) | Creator $29/month, ~$24/month annual | Starter $29/month, ~$18/month annual | Synthesia (cheaper annual) |
| Mid tier (monthly / annual) | Pro from $49/month (~$41/month annual), 1,000 credits, 4K | Creator $89/month (~$64/month annual), 360 min/year, API, interactive video | HeyGen (half the price at mid-tier) |
| Business / Enterprise | Business $149/month + $20/seat (SCORM, SSO, LMS); Enterprise custom | Enterprise custom (unlimited minutes, SSO, SCORM, 1-click translation) | HeyGen (listed Business price beats “call us”) |
| What’s metered | Credits — cost per minute depends on avatar model (48 credits/min on the newest Avatar V vs 4 on Avatar III) | Minutes — predictable pool (120 min/year on Starter) | Synthesia |
| Languages | 175+ languages and dialects, with voice-preserving dubbing and lip-sync | 160+ languages and voices, 1-click translation | HeyGen |
| Avatar realism | Best-in-class realism by G2 user ratings (per HeyGen’s own figures); Digital Twin of yourself | Strong, enterprise-focused; 240+ avatars at Enterprise | HeyGen |
| Personal avatars on entry plan | 1+ digital twin | 3 personal avatars on Starter | Synthesia |
| API / interactive video | API access at higher tiers | API and interactive videos from Creator ($89/month) | Synthesia |
| SCORM / LMS export | Included from the free tier | Enterprise only | HeyGen |
What each one actually is
HeyGen: the realism-first video maker
HeyGen’s pitch is simple: the most realistic AI avatars you can buy, and video translation that dubs your existing footage into 175+ languages while keeping your voice and re-syncing the lips. Its killer feature is the Digital Twin — record a few minutes of yourself and you get an avatar that looks and sounds like you, ready to narrate scripts in any language. The catch is the credit model: how far your 600 monthly Creator credits go depends entirely on which avatar model you pick, from 4 credits a minute on the older Avatar III to 48 on the newest Avatar V. That’s a 12x swing in what a minute costs, and every re-render of an edited scene spends credits again.
Synthesia: the enterprise training platform
Synthesia is the veteran — the AI video platform for business, claiming 90%+ of the Fortune 100 have used it. Its 2026 refresh added a real free tier and lowered annual prices. What you pay for is predictability and governance: minutes are minutes regardless of avatar model, the pool is annual (a busy month borrows from a quiet one), and Enterprise brings unlimited minutes, SCORM, SSO, and 1-click translation. It’s less exciting than HeyGen’s Digital Twins but much easier to budget for — and at $18/month annual for Starter, it’s the cheapest paid entry in the category.
Where HeyGen clearly wins
Avatar realism. HeyGen’s own figures cite it as the most realistic avatar platform on G2, and side-by-side tests consistently describe its Digital Twins as a step ahead of Synthesia’s presenters. If the video has to fool the eye — customer-facing content, a founder who needs to “be” in videos without filming — that’s worth real money.
Video translation. Dubbing existing footage into 175+ languages while preserving the speaker’s voice and re-lip-syncing is HeyGen’s signature feature. Synthesia has translation too, but HeyGen built its reputation on it.
SCORM from the free tier. If you’re making courses, HeyGen hands you SCORM export — the format learning platforms need — without paying a cent. Synthesia gates SCORM behind custom-priced Enterprise.
Where Synthesia clearly wins
Predictable pricing. Synthesia’s minute-based billing means you always know what a video costs. HeyGen’s credit burn depends on the avatar model you choose, and a re-render after an edit spends credits again — a real and common cost complaint.
Cheapest annual entry. Starter at ~$18/month billed annually undercuts HeyGen’s ~$24/month. Both list $29/month for monthly billing, so the gap only appears on annual plans — but it’s a 25% difference.
Personal avatars on the entry plan. Synthesia Starter includes 3 personal avatars; HeyGen Creator lists “1+” digital twins. If your team needs several team members as avatars, Synthesia gives you more at the starting tier.
Which should you pick?
- Pick HeyGen if: avatar realism matters most, you translate existing footage into many languages, you’re a solo creator who wants a twin of yourself fast, or you need SCORM export without an Enterprise budget.
- Pick Synthesia if: your team wants a fixed, predictable minute budget, you need several personal avatars on the entry plan, you want the cheapest annual entry price, or you need enterprise governance and unlimited minutes at scale.
- Consider both: both free tiers are real — run the same script through both and compare the avatars with your own eyes before committing to a paid plan.
Frequently asked questions
Is HeyGen better than Synthesia?
For avatar realism and video translation, yes — HeyGen’s Digital Twins and 175-language dubbing are best in class. For predictable pricing and enterprise training programs, Synthesia is the safer choice. Neither is universally better; it depends on your use case.
How much do HeyGen and Synthesia cost?
Both entry plans are $29/month on monthly billing — but Synthesia’s annual billing drops it to ~$18/month versus HeyGen’s ~$24/month. At the mid tier, HeyGen Pro (~$49/month) is much cheaper than Synthesia Creator ($89/month), though they meter usage differently.
Can I try both without paying?
Yes. HeyGen’s free plan gives you 3 videos a month, up to 1 minute each. Synthesia’s free Basic plan gives 10 minutes a month across 9 avatars, watermarked. Run the same script through both and compare.
Which supports more languages?
HeyGen advertises 175+ languages and dialects with automatic dubbing and lip-sync on paid plans. Synthesia advertises 160+ languages and voices. Verify current counts on each vendor’s site before buying, as these numbers change.
Why does HeyGen’s pricing feel confusing?
Because it meters credits, not minutes — and the credit cost of a minute ranges from 4 to 48 depending on which avatar model you pick. That’s a 12x difference, and re-rendering an edited scene spends credits again. Synthesia’s minute-based billing is much easier to predict.
Research reviewed October 2026. Pricing changes — verify on each company’s site before you subscribe.