HeyGen vs Synthesia

Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

HeyGen

AI video generator that turns scripts into videos presented by lifelike avatars, with dubbing.

Free plan + paid

Visit HeyGen HeyGen profile

Synthesia

AI video platform for training and business videos presented by AI avatars in 140+ languages.

Free plan + paid

Visit Synthesia Synthesia profile

The short answer

HeyGen and Synthesia both turn scripts into videos presented by AI avatars. HeyGen leans toward marketers and social creators, with fast video translation, mobile apps and a larger free stock avatar library. Synthesia is aimed at companies making training and internal videos, with SCORM export for learning systems and SOC 2 and GDPR compliance. Pick HeyGen for marketing and social content; pick Synthesia for corporate L&D.

HeyGen or Synthesia: our take

The core workflow is the same: choose a stock avatar or create one of yourself, paste a script, and the browser editor produces a presenter-led video with voice and captions. Both translate videos into many languages; HeyGen lists 175 languages and dialects and does lip-synced translation of existing footage with a cloned voice, while Synthesia lists 140+ languages and voices, with one-click translation and a multilingual player.

Where they part is audience. HeyGen targets marketers, sales teams, course creators and social media creators, and adds photo-to-talking-clip tools, interactive avatars, an API and integrations with Zapier, Make and HubSpot on higher plans. It also has iOS and Android apps. Synthesia positions itself firmly at businesses: scripts can be imported from documents or slide decks, videos export as SCORM packages for an LMS, and newer roleplay and survey sessions let viewers talk to an avatar. It is web only, and highlights SOC 2 and GDPR compliance for enterprise buyers.

On pricing, both have free plans with watermarks. HeyGen's free plan allows up to 3 videos per month, capped at one minute, with 500+ stock avatars; paid plans start at $29/month (Creator), and Business is $149/month plus $20 per seat. Billing is credit-based, which makes monthly costs harder to predict. Synthesia's free plan gives 10 minutes of video per month, and Starter is $19/month on monthly billing. Its free and lower plans include only part of the avatar library, and there is no pay-per-video option.

A marketing team producing explainers, personalised outreach and localised social clips will likely find HeyGen a better fit. An L&D or HR team that needs videos inside a learning management system, plus compliance paperwork for procurement, should look at Synthesia first.

Choose HeyGen if…

Marketers and creators who want avatar-led videos and fast video translation
You need iOS and Android, which Synthesia doesn't list
Large library of stock avatars plus custom avatars of yourself
Video translation with voice cloning and lip-sync in many languages

Choose Synthesia if…

L&D and enterprise teams producing training videos in many languages
SCORM export and LMS-friendly features for training teams
Over 140 languages and voices with one-click translation

What is HeyGen?

HeyGen makes videos where an AI avatar reads your script on camera. You pick one of hundreds of stock presenters or create a custom avatar of yourself from a short recording, type or paste a script, and the browser-based editor produces the talking-head video with your chosen voice, layout and captions. It also translates existing videos into many languages with lip-sync and a cloned voice, turns photos into talking clips, and offers interactive avatars and an API for developers. Marketers, sales teams, course creators and social media creators use it to produce explainers, personalised outreach and localized versions without filming. There's a free plan with a few short watermarked videos a month; paid Creator, Pro and Business plans use monthly credits and add longer videos, 1080p or 4K export, more custom avatars and team features. Enterprise plans add SSO and security reviews.

What is Synthesia?

Synthesia is a London-based AI video platform used mostly by companies for training, onboarding, internal communications and sales enablement. You write or import a script, from a document or slide deck, choose a stock AI avatar or a personal avatar of yourself, and the browser editor generates a presenter-led video with on-screen media and captions. Videos can be translated into many languages in one click, played in a multilingual player, and exported as SCORM packages for a learning management system. Newer features include roleplay and survey sessions where viewers talk to an avatar, plus an API for generating videos programmatically. A free Basic plan gives a small monthly allowance with a watermark; Starter and Pro add credits, downloads and more avatars, and Enterprise unlocks unlimited minutes, the full avatar library, SSO and brand kits. It positions itself firmly at businesses rather than social media creators.

Side by side

Attribute	HeyGen	Synthesia
Pricing	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Open source	No	No
Self-hostable	No	No
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Web
Best for	Marketers and creators who want avatar-led videos and fast video translation	L&D and enterprise teams producing training videos in many languages
Status	Active	Active

Verified facts, compared

Facts both apps publish, checked on each vendor's own site.

Fact	HeyGen	Synthesia
Free plan	Yes, 3 videos per month	Yes, $0 with 500 credits a month
Starting price	$29/month (Creator), or $24/month billed annually	$19/month, or $14/month billed yearly (Starter)
Languages	175 languages and dialects	140+ languages and voices
Pro plan	From $49/month	$89/month, or $59/month billed yearly