D
DHeyGen vs Synthesia
Pricing, features, platforms and who each one suits — side by side.
H
Choose HeyGen if…
- you're in its core audience: marketers, l&d and training teams
S
Choose Synthesia if…
- you want the lower entry price ($19/mo vs $24/mo)
- you're in its core audience: learning & development teams, hr and internal communications
Side by side
Feature HeyGen Synthesia
Pricing modelFreemiumFreemium
Starting price$24/mo$19/mo
Free plan
Free trial
API
Open source
Cost per minute of generated video—$1.58
Trains AI on your contentYes, unless you opt out—
Data retentionBackups kept 60 days after deletion, then permanently erasedCustomer Data retained per customer's instructions and applicable law
Security and complianceSOC 2 Type II, GDPR, CCPAGDPR
Updates, last 90 days—10
Photo-to-avatar—
Custom video avatar
Voice cloning—
Lip-synced translation—
Doc/PPT to video
Interactive elements
SCORM export
Real-time avatar agents—
PlatformsWeb, APIWeb, API
CategoryAvatar & Talking-Head VideoAvatar & Talking-Head Video
CompanyHeyGen Technology, Inc.Synthesia Limited
Based inUnited StatesUnited Kingdom
Founded—2017
Part of——
Key features
H HeyGen
- Custom AI avatars from your own likeness
- Text, image, audio and PPT/PDF to video
- Video Agent creates editable videos from prompts
- Video translation with lip-sync in 175+ languages
- Voice cloning
- AI Studio script editor with gesture and emotion control
- Brand kit, auto captions and B-roll
- APIs for generation, translation and lip-sync
S Synthesia
- AI avatar videos from a script in 140+ languages
- Personal avatar created from a single photo
- Convert docs, PPTs or links into narrated video
- Video dubbing with voice cloning and lip-sync
- Interactive videos with quizzes, branching and CTAs
- Avatar roleplay and conversational survey sessions
- Publish via link, embed or SCORM with analytics
- API and MCP server for programmatic video creation
Plans and prices
From each vendor's site. Prices change — confirm before buying.
HeyGen
Free$0/mo
Creator$29/mo ($24/mo billed yearly)
Pro$49/mo
Business$149/mo + $20/seat
EnterpriseCustom
Synthesia
BasicFree
Starter$19/mo ($9 first month)
Pro$89/mo ($49 first month)
EnterpriseCustom
Roleplay Training add-on$29/learner/month
Strengths and limitations
HeyGen
- Free plan with no credit card required
- Lip-sync translation in 175+ languages and dialects
- Cites SOC 2 Type II, GDPR and CCPA compliance
- Integrations with Zapier, Make, n8n and HubSpot on Business
- Free videos are watermarked and capped at 1 minute
- 4K export requires Pro plan or higher
- Business plan charges $20 per extra seat
- No dedicated desktop or mobile apps listed
Synthesia
- Free plan with 10 minutes of video per month, no credit card required
- 140+ languages and voices on every plan
- API, MCP server and LiveKit plugin for developers
- Lists SOC2, GDPR, ISO42001 and SAML/SSO compliance
- Free plan videos carry a Synthesia watermark and cannot be downloaded
- SCORM export, SAML/SSO and Brand Kits are listed only on Enterprise
- Roleplay learner seats cost an extra $29/month each
- Studio avatars are a $1,000/year add-on for annual plans only
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Freemium
Built from each vendor's public website; we haven't tested them hands-on. Editorial policy