Quick answer: Both are AI avatar video tools: type a script, pick an avatar and get a presenter video without a camera. HeyGen leans toward creators, with a digital twin of yourself and video translation that keeps your voice and lip-sync. Synthesia leans toward training and explainers, with slide-style editing and more free minutes.
Pick HeyGen if…
- You want a digital twin of yourself presenting your videos
- You want to translate videos you already made, in your own voice
- You make longer videos (up to 30 minutes on Creator)
Pick Synthesia if…
- You make training, onboarding or product explainer videos
- You like editing scenes the way you edit slides
- You want 10 free minutes of video a month to try it
HeyGen vs Synthesia at a glance
| HeyGen | Synthesia | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | HeyGen is an AI video tool that turns text, images, or audio into videos featuring AI-generated avatars and voices. | Synthesia is an AI video platform that turns typed text into videos with AI avatars and voiceovers for business use. |
| Best for | Content Creator, Coach / Course Creator, Freelancer | One-Person Agency, Coach / Course Creator, Micro Team (2 to 5) |
| AIME Score | 87 | 84 |
| Reviews | Proven (1,000+ reviews) | Proven (1,000+ reviews) |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | Creator: $29 a month ($24 a month billed yearly, $288) (as of October 2026) | Starter: $14 a month, billed yearly ($19 monthly) (as of October 2026) |
| Platforms | Not listed | Not listed |
| Works with | ChatGPT | Not listed |
| Standout features |
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Reviews: our public review level, never exact counts. Free plan and prices: from each tool’s own pricing page; plans change, so check there before you buy.
Where they differ
Free plans: The HeyGen free plan makes 3 videos a month, up to 1 minute each. The Synthesia free Basic plan gives 10 minutes of video a month. Both free plans add a watermark.
Translation: HeyGen translates a video you upload, or a YouTube link, into another language with your own voice and matching lip movements, with lip-sync in 175+ languages. Synthesia dubs into 70+ languages on its self-serve plans and 140+ on Enterprise, with an editor to fix the translated transcript.
Editing: Synthesia edits scenes like slides and starts from a prompt, script, PDF, PowerPoint or URL. HeyGen uses a script-based editor where changing the words changes the video, with Voice Director and Gesture Control for delivery.
Avatars: HeyGen lists 500+ stock avatars on Free and 700+ on paid plans, plus custom avatars of yourself. Synthesia lists 240+ avatars, and personal avatars from a photo or video come with Pro.
Paid plans: Synthesia Starter is $14 a month billed yearly ($19 monthly). HeyGen Creator is $24 a month billed yearly ($29 monthly) and adds voice cloning and videos up to 30 minutes.
AIME Score: HeyGen has the higher AIME Score: 87 out of 100, against 84 for Synthesia. Both are Proven tools (4.0 stars or better from 25 or more verified reviewers). How the AIME Score works
Where they’re the same
Both turn a script into a presenter video with AI avatars, translate and dub videos, import PowerPoint or PDF decks, run on monthly credits and have a free plan to try.
Pricing in plain words
HeyGen
Try the Free plan first. Creator suits most solo creators: longer videos, no watermark, voice cloning and 175+ languages. Pro adds 4K and more credits. Business is for teams that need more seats, longer videos and LMS tools.
- Free: $0 a month
- Creator: $29 a month ($24 a month billed yearly, $288)
- Pro: $49 a month ($41 a month billed yearly, $488)
- Business: $149 a month ($119 a month billed yearly), extra seats $20 each
Enterprise has custom pricing through sales. Cancelling keeps paid features until the end of the billing cycle, then the account moves to Free. Prices from heygen.com/pricing on October 11, 2026; check there before you buy.
Synthesia
Try it on Basic, which is free with 10 minutes of video a month. Starter removes the watermark and adds downloads for a few videos a month. Pro adds personal avatars and many more credits.
- Basic: $0 per month
- Starter: $14 a month, billed yearly ($19 monthly)
- Pro: $59 a month, billed yearly ($89 monthly), at the base credit level
- Enterprise: Custom (book a demo)
Pro comes in several credit levels. Credits reset each billing period; on yearly plans the year's credits are available up front. Prices from synthesia.io/pricing on October 11, 2026; check there before you buy.
Who should choose which
Choose HeyGen
HeyGen suits creators, freelancers, and small teams who need videos without cameras, editing software, or production skills.
Best for: Content Creator, Coach / Course Creator, Freelancer
Choose Synthesia
Synthesia suits teams that need to produce training, sales, marketing, or internal communication videos without filming or hiring presenters.
Best for: One-Person Agency, Coach / Course Creator, Micro Team (2 to 5)
Questions
What is the difference between HeyGen and Synthesia?
HeyGen centers on your own digital twin and translating videos in your own voice. Synthesia centers on slide-style editing for training and explainer videos.
Is HeyGen or Synthesia cheaper?
Synthesia costs less to start: Starter is $14 a month billed yearly, against $24 for HeyGen Creator. Both run on credits, so the real cost depends on how many minutes you make.
Do HeyGen and Synthesia have a free plan?
Yes, both have a free plan. Free plans have limits, so check what each one includes in the pricing section above.
Which has the higher AIME Score, HeyGen or Synthesia?
HeyGen has the higher AIME Score: 87 out of 100, against 84 for Synthesia. Both are Proven tools (4.0 stars or better from 25 or more verified reviewers). The AIME Score is our 0 to 100 score for every AI tool; partner links never change it.
Should I pick HeyGen or Synthesia?
Pick HeyGen if you want a digital twin of yourself presenting your videos. Pick Synthesia if you make training, onboarding or product explainer videos.
More comparisons
Sources
- HeyGen: AI Made Easy profile and Spotlight research (checked October 11, 2026)
- Synthesia: AI Made Easy profile and Spotlight research (checked October 11, 2026)
- AIME Score and review level: How the AIME Score works. We never show exact review counts or other sites’ ratings.