AgentPlays
Synthesia vs HeyGen
Both turn a script into a video with an AI avatar and both have free plans.
Quick verdict by use case
- Training and explainer videos: Synthesia (free: about 10 minutes a month, watermarked).
- Short social videos and translation: HeyGen (free: 3 videos a month, up to 1 minute).
- Paid entry price: Both start at $29/month.
Pricing and free tier, side by side
| Synthesia | HeyGen | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Makes presenter-style videos with AI avatars from a script. | Makes AI avatar videos and video translations. |
| Is it actually free? | Free tier with limits | Free tier with limits |
| Free plan limits | Basic ($0): 500 credits a month, about 10 minutes of video creation or dubbing; videos carry a Synthesia watermark. | Free ($0/month): 3 videos per month, up to 1 minute each, 1 custom video avatar. |
| Pricing | Free; Starter $29/month; Pro $89/month (billed monthly); Enterprise custom. | Free; Creator $29/month; Pro $49/month; business plans available. |
| Best for | Training and explainer videos without filming. | Short avatar videos and translating videos into other languages. |
| Not great for | Videos where a real person on camera matters. | Longer videos on the free plan (1-minute cap). |
| Last checked | 2026-10-13 | 2026-10-13 |
Official site: synthesia.io ↗ Official site: heygen.com ↗
Strengths and weaknesses
Synthesia
Good for: Training and explainer videos without filming.
Not great for: Videos where a real person on camera matters.
HeyGen
Good for: Short avatar videos and translating videos into other languages.
Not great for: Longer videos on the free plan (1-minute cap).
Other options
Descript
Edit video and podcasts by editing the transcript, with AI cleanup tools.
CapCut
ByteDance's video editor for short-form social video, with AI features.
Sources
- Synthesia: synthesia.io pricing ↗ (checked 2026-10-13)
- HeyGen: heygen.com pricing ↗ (checked 2026-10-13)