HeyGen and Synthesia are two of the best-known AI avatar video platforms. Both let you type a script and get a talking presenter, but they differ in plans, credits, avatar allowances and the way they describe security and consent.
This guide explains what to compare and lays out the documented differences we could verify. It does not name a winner, because we have not run our own tests.
How we researched this: we did not run hands-on tests for this article. It is based on the vendor’s own documentation and public sources, checked on 11 November 2026. Features and prices change, so confirm details on the vendor’s site before you buy.
Key takeaways
- Both tools use credits or similar metering, so compare cost per finished minute from your own test, not headline prices.
- HeyGen lists a $29 entry paid plan; Synthesia lists $19 for Starter. The tiers differ in credits, length limits and seats, so they are not like for like.
- Synthesia states no pre-training on customer data; HeyGen’s help page we read did not say either way.
- HeyGen lists SSO and SCORM on Business; Synthesia lists them on Enterprise.
- Neither page we read described a detailed consent process for replicating a real person, so set your own rules.
Why compare HeyGen and Synthesia
HeyGen and Synthesia both turn a script into a video presented by an AI avatar. They are often shortlisted together by teams producing training, product explainers, sales outreach and internal communications. On the surface they look alike. Underneath, they meter usage differently, bundle different features into each plan, and describe their security and consent practices in different ways.
This article is a decision framework with researched facts, not a ranking. We list the criteria that matter, give the documented differences for each, and show you how to run a short test. For the wider method, see our guide on comparing AI tools side by side fairly.
What these tools are for
Avatar video tools suit repeatable, script-led content where filming a person each time is costly. They are less obviously suited to work that depends on a real person’s presence. If you are new to writing instructions for AI video, our beginner’s guide to AI video prompts is a useful starting point.
Quick overview table
| Item | HeyGen | Synthesia |
|---|---|---|
| Plans listed | Free, Creator, Pro, Business, Enterprise | Basic (free), Starter, Pro, Enterprise |
| Usage unit | Credits | Credits, with approximate minutes of video shown per plan |
| Stock avatars | 500+ on Free, 700+ on paid plans | 9 on Basic, 125+ on Starter, 180+ on Pro, 240+ on Enterprise |
| Languages | 30+ on Free, 175+ on paid plans | 140+ languages and voices on Basic through Pro |
| Security statement | SOC 2 Type 2; HIPAA on Enterprise only | SOC 2 Type II; practices aligned with ISO/IEC 42001 |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Custom pricing, demo request |
All figures were read from each vendor’s pages on 11 November 2026. Both pricing pages offer API access with separate pricing, which we did not review.
Criteria that matter
- Usage metering. How credits or minutes are counted, and what costs extra.
- Avatars and customisation. Stock avatars, custom or personal avatars, and what each plan allows.
- Languages and dubbing.
- Team features. Seats, shared workspaces, brand kits, SSO.
- Security, privacy and consent. Certifications, data use, and rules about whose likeness may be used.
- Total cost at your volume.
Pricing models and plan facts
HeyGen
HeyGen’s pricing page lists Free at $0, with a 1 minute maximum video length, a watermark and 3 videos a month. Creator is $29 a month (a $24 a month annual rate appears in its FAQ), with 600 credits, videos up to 30 minutes and export up to 1080p. Pro is $49 a month with 1,000 credits at the base tier (higher tiers go up to 100,000 credits) and export up to 4K. Business is $149 a month plus $20 per seat, with 1,500 credits and videos up to 60 minutes. Enterprise is custom. The page says monthly subscribers’ unused credits roll over for one month, while annual subscribers’ credits accumulate until renewal.
Synthesia
Synthesia’s pricing page lists Basic at $0 with 500 credits a month and a Synthesia watermark. Starter is $19 a month ($9 for the first month) or $14 a month billed yearly at $168, with 1,250 credits a month. The third tier is $89 a month ($49 first month) or $59 a month billed at $708 yearly, with 6,000 credits a month. The page’s visible content calls it Pro while its web address and metadata say Creator, so check the name when you buy. Enterprise is custom, with unlimited video minutes. The page also shows approximate minutes: about 12 minutes of video a month on Starter monthly and about 60 on the third tier monthly.
| Plan level | HeyGen monthly price | Synthesia monthly price |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 (Basic) |
| Entry paid | $29 (Creator) | $19 (Starter) |
| Mid | $49 (Pro) | $89 (Pro or Creator) |
| Team | $149 plus $20 per seat (Business) | Not a separate tier; Enterprise is custom |
Checked on 11 November 2026. The tiers are not like for like, because credits, length limits and seats differ, so do not compare the headline numbers alone. Our guide to reading an AI tool’s pricing page explains how to turn credits into a cost per finished minute using your own test videos.
Avatars, languages and extras
HeyGen lists 500+ stock avatars on Free, 700+ on paid plans, and custom avatars from 1 on Free up to 5+ on Business (Avatar V) and 10+ on Enterprise. Synthesia lists stock avatars rising from 9 to 240+ by plan, personal avatars (digital twins) from none on Basic to 3 on Starter, 5 on its third tier and unlimited on Enterprise subject to reasonable use, and a paid Studio Express-1 avatar add-on at $1,000 a year for annual plans.
On languages, HeyGen lists 175+ on paid plans. Synthesia lists 140+ languages and voices, 70+ dubbing languages on Basic through Pro and 140+ on Enterprise, with one-click translation on Enterprise only. Counts of avatars and languages tell you little about quality, so check the specific language and avatar style you need.
Synthesia’s page also notes that lip-sync uses 2x credits when enabled, and that its Syren video agent typically uses 1,000 to 2,000 credits per one minute video. These are the sort of multipliers to look for on any credit-based plan.
Team and enterprise features
| Feature | HeyGen | Synthesia |
|---|---|---|
| Seats on self-serve plans | 1 on Creator and Pro; Business is 1 plus extra seats at $20 each | 1 editor, with 3 guests on Starter and 5 on the third tier |
| SSO | SAML/SSO listed under Business | SAML/SSO listed under Enterprise |
| SCORM export | Business | Enterprise |
| Brand kit | Business | Enterprise |
| SCIM provisioning | Enterprise | Not listed |
If you need SSO for a small team, HeyGen’s page places it lower in its plan ladder, while Synthesia places it in Enterprise. That is a documented difference, not a quality judgement.
Privacy, security and consent
HeyGen’s help centre says it has completed a SOC 2 Type 2 audit, with the report available through its security portal, and that it is HIPAA compliant on Enterprise only, once a Business Associate Agreement is signed. The page we read did not say whether user data is used to train models, so check the privacy policy and data processing addendum. Its trust and safety page says users must hold the legal rights and explicit consent of anyone whose likeness they use, and describes machine learning scans of content with human review of flagged items.
Synthesia’s AI governance page says it is SOC 2 Type II compliant and aligns with ISO/IEC 42001, with certificates on its trust portal when available. It says no pre-training uses customer data, including inputs and outputs, and that fine-tuning happens only on written instruction from the customer. It says stock avatars use paid actors and models, content is moderated at the point of generation, and free videos carry watermarks by default. The page did not describe a consent process for people whose voice or likeness is replicated.
Both vendors describe moderation. Neither description replaces your own policy for avatars of real employees or customers. For general practice, see our guide on protecting company data when using AI tools.
Who each may suit
HeyGen may suit you if
- You want a lower entry price for paid use, and 1080p or 4K exports on the tiers that list them.
- You need SSO or SCORM export in a mid-size team plan, as its Business tier lists.
- You need long videos, since the page lists up to 30 minutes on Creator and Pro and 60 on Business.
Synthesia may suit you if
- You want written statements on no pre-training with customer data and alignment with ISO/IEC 42001.
- You want approximate minutes shown per plan to plan training volumes.
- You want a free tier with a small number of stock avatars to test the workflow.
Look elsewhere or test further if
- You need a precise consent process for creating avatars of employees. Neither page we read set one out in detail.
- You need predictable costs but expect heavy use of credit-hungry features.
How to run your own test
Follow the steps in how to test an AI tool before you pay for it, adapted for video:
- Write one 60 second script that is typical for your work, including product names and numbers.
- Render it in both tools using a stock avatar and the same voice language.
- Record credits used, render time and any watermark or export limits on the free plan.
- Show both clips to three people who were not involved and ask what feels off.
- Try a second language if you need one, and have a native speaker review it.
- Ask each vendor in writing about data use, retention and avatar consent.
Decision checklist
- How many finished minutes do I need each month, and what do credits convert to?
- Do I need custom avatars, and what does each plan allow?
- Which languages do I need, and have a native speaker checked them?
- Do I need SSO, SCORM or SCIM?
- Have I read the privacy terms on data use?
- Have I confirmed current prices on both vendor pages?
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, HeyGen or Synthesia?
It depends on your volume. HeyGen lists $29 a month for Creator and Synthesia lists $19 for Starter, but credits, length limits and seats differ. Test one real script in each and compare credits used.
Do both have a free plan?
Yes. HeyGen lists a Free plan with a 1 minute maximum video length and a watermark, and Synthesia lists a free Basic plan with 500 credits a month and a watermark.
Do they use my videos to train AI?
Synthesia says no pre-training uses customer data and that fine-tuning happens only on written instruction. The HeyGen help page we read did not say, so check its privacy policy and data processing addendum.
Can I make an avatar of myself?
Both list custom or personal avatars on some plans. HeyGen lists 1 on Free and Creator and 5+ on Business, and Synthesia lists 3 on Starter. Confirm limits and consent rules on the vendor pages.
Are they secure enough for enterprise use?
Both state SOC 2 Type II or Type 2 audits. Ask for the reports through their security or trust portals and check them against your own requirements.
Do prices change?
Yes. Both pages showed promotions or toggles when we read them, so confirm prices on the vendor sites.
Conclusion
HeyGen and Synthesia look similar from a distance but differ in how they package credits, avatars, team features and security statements. Decide which criteria matter to you, run the same script through both, and ask each vendor for written answers on data use and consent. Start with how to choose an AI tool if you have not yet defined your needs.
Sources
- HeyGen, pricing, accessed 11 November 2026
- Synthesia, pricing, accessed 11 November 2026
- HeyGen Help Center, privacy and security standards, accessed 11 November 2026
- HeyGen, trust and safety, accessed 11 November 2026
- Synthesia, AI governance practices, accessed 11 November 2026
