AI Video Generation · Pricing comparison
HeyGen vs Synthesia: Pricing
Synthesia is cheaper to start and built for corporate training. HeyGen is stronger for marketing, personal avatars and translation.
Last checked September 27, 2026
At a glance
Synthesia is the cheaper option ($6.00/mo less), both offer a free plan.
Our take
Synthesia Starter is $18/mo billed yearly ($29 monthly), with Creator at $89. HeyGen Creator is $24/mo yearly ($29 monthly), with Pro at $49 and Business at $149. Both have free plans for testing.
Synthesia is used heavily for training and internal communications: 230+ stock avatars, 140+ languages and SCORM export for learning platforms. HeyGen leans into personalisation: cloning an avatar from your own footage, translating videos with lip-sync, and personalised sales outreach.
At the same monthly price ($29), the choice is about use case, not cost.
- Choose HeyGen if you make marketing videos, need your own avatar, or translate content.
- Choose Synthesia if you produce training or internal videos at scale.
Watch out: Video minutes are tightly capped on both entry plans. Check the minutes before the price.
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HeyGen vs Synthesia: side-by-side
| Feature | HeyGen | Synthesia |
|---|---|---|
| Category | AI Video Generation | AI Video Generation |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan details | Free plan with limited watermarked videos. | Free plan with ~10 video minutes per month. |
| Starting price | $24/mo (Creator, billed yearly) | $18/mo (Starter, billed yearly) |
| Highest known plan | $149/mo (Business) | $89/mo (Creator), custom Enterprise |
| Trial of paid plan | No (free plan instead) | No (free plan instead) |
| Best for | Sales and marketing teams doing personalized or translated video | L&D and internal-comms teams producing training video at scale |
| Team support | Yes | Yes |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
| Editor rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
Pricing and free plans
HeyGen uses a freemium model, starting at $24/mo (Creator, billed yearly). Creator is $29/mo or $24/mo yearly; Pro $49/mo; Business $149/mo plus $20 per extra seat. The free plan allows 3 videos/month up to 1 minute. Its free plan: Free plan with limited watermarked videos.
Synthesia uses a freemium model, starting at $18/mo (Starter, billed yearly). Starter is $29/mo or $18/mo billed yearly. Creator is $89/mo. The free Basic plan includes about 10 minutes of video per month. Its free plan: Free plan with ~10 video minutes per month.
Which is cheaper?
If budget is the deciding factor, Synthesia wins on entry price. If output quality or specific features matter more, weigh the feature lists below before deciding.
HeyGen: pros and cons
Pros
- Best translation/lip-sync in class
- Personal avatar from phone footage
- Strong API
Cons
- Credits burn fast on premium avatars
- Watermark on free tier
- Quality varies by avatar type
Synthesia: pros and cons
Pros
- Enterprise-grade avatar quality
- Massive language coverage
- Fortune-100 adoption
Cons
- Minutes cap tightly on cheap plans
- Not for cinematic video
- Custom avatars cost extra
Who each tool is best for
- Best for beginners: Synthesia — lower barrier to entry and easier to start for free or cheaply.
- Best for teams: HeyGen.
- HeyGen is best for: Sales and marketing teams doing personalized or translated video.
- Synthesia is best for: L&D and internal-comms teams producing training video at scale.
Verdict
Synthesia is cheaper to start and built for corporate training. HeyGen is stronger for marketing, personal avatars and translation. Choose HeyGen if you make marketing videos, need your own avatar, or translate content; choose Synthesia if you produce training or internal videos at scale.
HeyGen vs Synthesia FAQ
Which is cheaper, HeyGen or Synthesia?
Synthesia has the cheaper entry price — about $6.00/mo less. HeyGen starts at $24/mo (Creator, billed yearly), while Synthesia starts at $18/mo (Starter, billed yearly).
Does HeyGen or Synthesia have a free plan?
Both offer a free plan. HeyGen: Free plan with limited watermarked videos. Synthesia: Free plan with ~10 video minutes per month.
Is HeyGen or Synthesia better for beginners?
Synthesia tends to be the easier starting point thanks to its pricing and free access, though both cover the same core ai video generation needs.
Which is better for teams?
HeyGen is the stronger team pick given its collaboration support and rating.