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SEO & AI toolsSynthesia vs HeyGen
By Cathy Riddell · Prices checked 1 Nov 2026 · Last updated 1 Nov 2026
How this page was made: I compared each vendor’s official pricing and feature pages on 1 Nov 2026. Hands-on test notes are added only after I’ve used the product on a real account; until then they’re marked as pending. My review method.
Synthesia vs HeyGen at a glance
| Synthesia | HeyGen | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Basic: 10 minutes of video a month, Synthesia watermark, 9 AI avatars | 3 videos a month up to 1 minute each, watermarked; one custom video avatar plus 500+ presenters |
| Entry paid plan | Starter: US$19/mo, or US$14/mo billed yearly (US$168/yr) | Creator: US$29/mo, or US$24/mo paid annually |
| Next plan up | Pro: US$89/mo, or US$59/mo billed yearly (US$708/yr) | Pro: from US$49/mo (1,000 credits), with higher credit tiers |
| Teams | Enterprise: custom pricing, SAML/SSO, live collaboration | Business: US$149/mo plus US$20 per seat a month |
| Max video length | Up to 3 minutes on every listed plan | 1 minute on Free; up to 30 minutes on Creator and Pro |
| Export | No watermark on paid plans | 1080p on Creator; 4K on Pro |
| Stock avatars | 125+ on Starter, 180+ on Pro, 240+ on Enterprise | 500+ on Free, 700+ on paid plans |
| Languages | 140+ languages and voices on every plan | 30+ on Free; 175+ languages and dialects on paid plans |
| How usage is metered | Credits: about 100 credits per finished minute of video; unused allowance doesn’t roll over | Credits: monthly credits roll over one month (annual plans accumulate until renewal) |
| SCORM export (LMS) | Listed on Enterprise | Not confirmed from the pricing page text |
| Security claims on pricing page | Says SOC 2 and GDPR compliant | Links to a security portal and GDPR page |
All figures from each vendor’s official pricing page, read 1 Nov 2026. USD.
Synthesia
Short, presenter-led videos your team can update
- Free Basic plan: 10 minutes of video a month (watermarked)
- Starter: US$14/mo billed yearly, or US$19 monthly (official page, 1 Nov 2026)
- 125+ AI avatars and 3 personal avatars on Starter; 140+ languages and voices
- Says it is SOC 2 and GDPR compliant
- SCORM export, SSO and unlimited video minutes on Enterprise
Which is cheaper, Synthesia or HeyGen?
On the entry plans, Synthesia. Starter is US$14/mo billed yearly against HeyGen Creator at US$24/mo paid annually; on monthly billing it’s US$19 vs US$29. At the next level, HeyGen Pro starts at US$49/mo and Synthesia Pro is US$59/mo billed yearly (US$89 monthly).
Both now meter usage in credits, so the headline price isn’t the full story. Synthesia says a typical finished minute uses about 100 credits and estimates Starter at up to about 150 minutes of video a year on top of the free 10 minutes a month; Pro is up to about 720 minutes a year. HeyGen says credit use varies by AI model, video length and complexity, and Creator includes 600 credits a month.
Which is better for longer videos?
HeyGen. Its pricing page lists a maximum of 30 minutes per video on Creator and Pro. Synthesia lists videos of up to 3 minutes on every plan, including Enterprise. If your training modules are longer than that, you’d split them into shorter videos in Synthesia.
Which is better for training and L&D teams?
Synthesia leans harder into workplace training: its plans include roleplay sessions, interactive surveys, PowerPoint import and, on Enterprise, SCORM export for an LMS, SAML/SSO and brand kits. It also states SOC 2 and GDPR compliance on its pricing page, which matters if IT has to sign off on a tool. HeyGen’s pricing page lists learning features such as interactive video and quizzes in its comparison table, but I couldn’t confirm plan-by-plan availability from the page text, so check before you buy.
Synthesia: the pick for short business videos
Synthesia’s free Basic plan includes 10 minutes of video a month, 9 AI avatars, share links and templates, with a Synthesia watermark. Starter (US$19/mo, or US$14/mo billed yearly at US$168/yr) adds downloads, logo removal, the AI Video Assistant, 125+ avatars, 3 guests and chat/email support. Pro (US$89/mo, or US$59/mo billed yearly at US$708/yr) adds 5 personal avatars, branded video pages, interactive videos and 180+ avatars. Enterprise is custom-priced, with unlimited video minutes, 1-click translation into 140+ languages, SAML/SSO and SCORM export (official page, 1 Nov 2026).
Trade-off: the 3-minute cap per video, and Synthesia says unused monthly allowance doesn’t roll over.
Make a free video with Synthesia Affiliate link · disclosure
HeyGen: the pick for longer videos and 4K
HeyGen’s Free plan gives 3 watermarked videos a month, up to 1 minute each, access to Avatar IV and its Video Agent, one custom video avatar and 30+ languages. Creator (US$29/mo, or US$24/mo paid annually) includes 600 credits, 1080p export, no HeyGen branding, a custom video avatar with your own voice and likeness, 175+ languages and dialects, and videos up to 30 minutes. Pro starts at US$49/mo with 1,000 credits and 4K export, and HeyGen says Pro tiers go up to 100,000 credits a month at US$4,300. Business is US$149/mo plus US$20 per seat a month (official page, 1 Nov 2026).
Trade-off: individual plans include 1 user seat; team features sit on Business.
Visit HeyGen Not an affiliate link
Which should you choose?
- Choose Synthesia for short training, onboarding and explainer videos, especially if IT wants SOC 2 and GDPR answers, or you’ll grow into SCORM and SSO.
- Choose HeyGen for videos longer than 3 minutes, 4K export, or creator and marketing content.
- Not sure? Both have free plans. Make the same 1-minute video in each before you pay.
Looking wider? See my Synthesia alternatives and best AI video generators guides.
Frequently asked questions
Is Synthesia or HeyGen cheaper?
Synthesia, on the entry plans: Starter is US$14/mo billed yearly (US$19 monthly) and HeyGen Creator is US$24/mo paid annually (US$29 monthly), per the official pricing pages checked 1 Nov 2026.
Which makes longer videos, Synthesia or HeyGen?
HeyGen lists videos up to 30 minutes on Creator and Pro. Synthesia lists videos up to 3 minutes on every plan (official pages, 1 Nov 2026).
Do Synthesia and HeyGen have free plans?
Yes. Synthesia Basic includes 10 minutes of video a month with a watermark. HeyGen Free includes 3 watermarked videos a month, up to 1 minute each (official pages, 1 Nov 2026).
Is Synthesia or HeyGen better for corporate training?
Synthesia leans towards workplace training, with SCORM export, SAML/SSO and brand kits on Enterprise, and says it is SOC 2 and GDPR compliant. HeyGen suits longer or higher-resolution videos.
Can I remove the watermark for free?
No. Both free plans add a watermark; Synthesia removes it on Starter and HeyGen removes its branding on Creator.
Cathy is an Adelaide-based digital agency founder who sets up and runs small-business software for real clients. She writes every BizStacked guide and keeps the prices on each page dated and sourced. How I review →
Related guides
Sources
- https://www.synthesia.io/pricing: Synthesia official pricing page, checked 1 Nov 2026
- https://www.heygen.com/pricing: HeyGen official pricing page, checked 1 Nov 2026
Prices are in USD unless stated and come only from the official vendor pages above. Vendors change prices and run promotions often, so confirm on the official page before you buy. Star ratings aren’t published until hands-on testing is complete.