Head-to-head comparison
HeyGen vs Synthesia, comparison 2026
HeyGen
8.5/10
HeyGen Inc.
Talking AI avatars with lip-sync, your own digital twin from a 15-second recording.
Synthesia
8.3/10
Synthesia
Enterprise B2B AI avatars in 160+ languages, the Fortune 500 choice for training and compliance.
TL;DR, key differences
| Attribute | HeyGen | Synthesia |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $29/mo | $29/mo |
| Pro / higher plan | $149/mo | $89/mo |
| English prompts | yes | yes |
| Native audio | yes | yes |
| Image-to-video | no | no |
| Max clip length | n/a | n/a |
| Availability | worldwide | worldwide |
| Rating (our tests) | 8.5/10 | 8.3/10 |
Strengths
HeyGen, pros
- +Avatar V: your own avatar from a 15-second phone recording
- +175+ languages with voice clone and lip-sync
- +Translation of finished videos with matched lip movement
- +Cheap start: Creator at $29, custom avatar already included
- +Pay-as-you-go API and integrations, including Canva
Synthesia, pros
- +125+ avatars from Starter, 180+ on Creator, 240+ on Enterprise
- +160+ languages with native voice (full English support)
- +SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, ISO 27001 (enterprise-ready)
- +Screen recording + avatar in one video (great for tutorials)
- +AI Script Assistant helps write scripts from a brief
Weaknesses
HeyGen, cons
- −Credits instead of minutes: Avatar V uses 48 credits per minute, about 12 minutes of video on Creator
- −No credit top-ups on Creator and Pro, you have to upgrade
- −Generates a presenter, not scenes; B-roll needs another tool
- −Acronyms, numbers, and foreign names often need script fixes
- −Free plan: 3 videos up to 1 minute, with watermark
Synthesia, cons
- −Pricey when billed monthly (Starter $29, Creator $89), Enterprise is custom-priced
- −Free Basic plan: 10 min/month, 9 avatars, no custom avatar, Synthesia logo
- −Personal avatars are capped: 3 on Starter, 5 on Creator
- −No scene generation (talking-head + screen only)
- −Somewhat stiff body movement vs HeyGen instant avatar
When to choose which tool
Choose HeyGen if
- →Online course lessons and internal training
- →YouTube talking-head without a camera
- →Language versions of one recording
- →Ads and product videos with an AI presenter
- →Personalized sales videos
Choose Synthesia if
- →HR and compliance training (OSHA, GDPR)
- →Employee onboarding across 10+ markets
- →Product tutorial videos with screen recording
- →Internal corporate communications
- →Content marketing localization into 160+ languages
Verdict
In our tests, HeyGen (8.5/10) outscores Synthesia (8.3/10) in overall quality. Choose HeyGen if you need: Online course lessons and internal training, YouTube talking-head without a camera. Choose Synthesia if you need: HR and compliance training (OSHA, GDPR), Employee onboarding across 10+ markets.