HeyGen vs Synthesia
AI Video Generation
| H HeyGen | S Synthesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | ✓ Free tier | ✓ Free tier |
| Pricing model | subscription | subscription |
| Price | $29 (Creator) | $29 (Starter) |
| Features | ||
| Languages | en, ja, zh, ko, fr, de | en, ja |
| API | ✓ Available Docs ↗ | ✓ Available Docs ↗ |
| Homepage | HeyGen ↗ | Synthesia ↗ |
| Pricing Plans | Free$0/月3本/月、1本1分まで Creator$29/月年払は月$24。600クレジット/月、30分まで、1080p、音声クローン1件 Pro$49/月1,000クレジット、4K書き出し Business$149/月1,500クレジット、60分まで、追加席$20/月 Enterprise要問合せ動画の長さ上限なし | Basic$0/月500クレジット/月、透かしあり Starter$29/月年払は月$18。1,250クレジット/月 Pro$89/月年払は月$64。6,000クレジット/月、SCORM書き出し、API Enterprise要問合せ動画の分数無制限、SSO |
| Platforms | ||
| Integrations | HeyGen API, Zapier, Make (Integromat), HubSpot, Salesforce, Shopify | PowerPoint, Google Slides, Salesforce, HubSpot, Workday, LMS platforms (SCORM), Synthesia API |
- Video Translation re-voices and re-syncs lips on existing footage, 175+ languages and dialects on paid plans
- Voice clone keeps the original speaker's voice in translated versions (from Creator)
- Developer API covers avatar video, translation and real-time Live Avatar conversations
- 4K export from Pro; Business allows 60-minute videos
- Free is limited to 3 videos a month of up to 1 minute, without voice cloning
- Translation and generation draw on the same credits, so heavy localization drains them quickly
- Monthly-plan credits roll over only one month
- Translation and dubbing into 140+ languages from one source video
- SCORM export, in-video quizzes and branching scenarios on Pro and above
- Personal avatar lets a real spokesperson appear without new filming
- API for video creation and dubbing on Pro (360 minutes a year included) and Enterprise
- The free Basic plan watermarks every video and allows about 10 minutes a month
- Starter lacks SCORM export and API access, which L&D teams usually need
- Output is presenter-led; there is little control over camera movement or cinematic shots
Our Verdict
- You need length: Creator at $29/month allows videos up to 30 minutes, where Synthesia at the same price covers about 10 minutes a month.
- You want voice cloning, which is available from Creator.
- You need 4K export (Pro, $49/month).
- You want to automate production through an API.
- It is training material: SCORM export puts it into an LMS.
- The same content has to ship in many languages — 160-plus are supported.
- You want to see the output before paying: the Basic plan is free (watermarked, about 10 minutes a month).
Overview
HeyGen suits marketers and creators who need to localize videos they already have. Video Translation re-voices a recording and re-syncs the lips; the vendor lists 175+ languages and dialects on paid plans. Avatar videos from script, voice cloning and a developer API (including a real-time Live Avatar) cover the rest. The plan decides a lot: Free caps videos at one minute, Creator and Pro at 30 minutes, Business at 60, and 4K starts at Pro. Credits roll over only one month on monthly billing, so bursty production can waste allowance.
Synthesia fits teams that produce training, onboarding and internal update videos at volume and need them in many languages. Scripts become avatar-presented videos; one-click translation and dubbing cover 140+ languages, and Pro adds SCORM export, in-video quizzes and branching for LMS use. It is weak where creative control matters: the format is a presenter in front of a scene, not cinematic footage. The free Basic plan watermarks output, and SCORM and the API both start at Pro, so an L&D team should budget from Pro, not Starter.
