Synthesia vs HeyGen: Which Avatar Platform, and Why
Both start at $29/mo. What separates them now is language coverage and who the tier is actually for.
Short answer
Synthesia and HeyGen both start at $29/mo and both have a free tier, so price is not the tiebreaker. Synthesia is the enterprise and training option: its Studio Avatar add-on is $1,000/yr, its paid plans cover 140+ languages, and its top tier lists 240+ stock avatars. HeyGen is the creator option and is now ahead on language reach — 175 languages and dialects on Creator, against Synthesia's 140+ — with 700+ stock avatars, 600 credits a month on Creator and 1,000 on Pro. That reverses the older advice that Synthesia wins on languages; check the vendor page rather than any comparison, this one included.
These two are the default comparison in AI avatar video, and the usual summary has stopped being true. The older advice was that Synthesia wins on languages and HeyGen on avatar variety. Both have a free tier and both open their paid plans at $29/mo, and on language coverage the position has reversed.
Synthesia is built for enterprise and training output: compliance-friendly, with a Studio Avatar add-on priced at $1,000/yr, 140+ languages across its paid plans, and a top tier that lists 240+ stock avatars. If your videos are internal training that has to pass a review, that posture is the product. HeyGen is the creator-facing one, and its current pricing lists 175 languages and dialects on Creator and Pro — more than Synthesia — with 700+ stock avatars, 600 credits a month on Creator at $29/mo and 1,000 credits on Pro at $49/mo. Descript, listed alongside these, is a different job again: transcript-driven editing rather than avatar generation, from $16/mo.
| Synthesia | HeyGen | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry paid tier | Starter $29/mo | Creator $29/mo |
| Free tier | Yes, limited minutes | Yes, 3 videos/mo, watermarked |
| Languages on paid plans | 140+ | 175 languages and dialects |
| Stock avatars (paid) | Up to 240+ at the top tier | 700+ |
| Included quota | Minutes per plan | 600 credits/mo Creator, 1,000 Pro |
| Custom avatar | Studio Avatar add-on, $1,000/yr | Included looks, add-ons for more |
Two things to carry into a purchase. First, the language figure is the one most likely to be stale in any comparison, ours included — the vendor page is the only authority, and it changes. Second, the tiers are not comparable line for line: Synthesia meters minutes of video, HeyGen meters credits, and a credit buys different amounts depending on whether you are generating with an avatar, dubbing or using B-roll. So a $29 plan on each side does not buy the same quantity of output. Decide on the posture — compliance and training against creator flexibility — and test the specific render you need on the free tier before committing.
Pick by output and process:
- Internal training and compliance review → Synthesia's enterprise posture
- Marketing and social video, wide language reach → HeyGen
- A custom presenter of your own face → compare the $1,000/yr add-on against HeyGen's included looks
- Transcript-driven editing rather than avatars → Descript, a different tool entirely
Frequently asked questions
- Which has more language support, Synthesia or HeyGen?
- HeyGen currently lists 175 languages and dialects on its paid plans against Synthesia's 140+, which reverses the older advice. Verify on the vendor pages, since this figure moves.
- Do both have a free tier?
- Yes. Synthesia offers limited minutes; HeyGen allows three videos a month with a watermark. Both are for evaluation rather than production.
- Why is Synthesia considered the enterprise option?
- Because of its compliance posture and its Studio Avatar add-on at $1,000/yr for a custom presenter, aimed at training and internally reviewed video rather than social output.
- Can I compare the $29 plans directly?
- Not line for line. Synthesia meters minutes of video while HeyGen meters credits that are consumed differently by avatars, dubbing and B-roll, so equal prices are not equal output.
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