HeyGen vs Synthesia
Same Google query. Different buyer. HeyGen is the social avatar. Synthesia is the training-video default.
Pick Synthesia if the video is training, onboarding, or a talking head that has to look like a company, not a creator. Pick HeyGen if the avatar has to look like a person on TikTok or YouTube and you will sit in their editor.
They are not substitutes. Watch current samples, not 2023 screenshots.
| HeyGen | Synthesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Job | Social / marketing avatars, translation, lip sync | Business training and internal video |
| Avatar vibe | Closer to a creator on camera | Stock presenters. Custom avatar is a production |
| Entry paid plan (Sep 2026, check vendor) | Creator $29/mo monthly, about $24/mo yearly | Starter $29/mo monthly, about $18/mo yearly |
| Free tier | 3 videos/month, 1 min each | About 10 minutes/month, no card |
| Languages | Strong dubbing. 175+ on paid | 160+ narration languages, L&D localization |
They are not substitutes
People Google this matchup because both say “AI avatar video.” The buyers are different. Synthesia sells to learning teams who will not hire an actor. HeyGen sells to people who want a face that can sell a product in a 9:16 cut.
If you want one subscription and you will never show your face: Synthesia is the less embarrassing talking head for a course or an SOP. If the course needs quizzes, branching, or SCORM without Enterprise, that is Synthesia vs Colossyan. If you are building a faceless YouTube channel that still needs a “person” in frame, watch current HeyGen samples. Do not take 2023 screenshots as gospel. Avatar quality moves every quarter.
Pricing that actually changes the pick
On yearly billing, Synthesia Starter is cheaper on paper. HeyGen’s paid plans are credit-based. Credits roll over, but heavy Avatar IV use burns them faster than a minute cap. If you publish daily talking-head shorts, model the credits, not the sticker.
Synthesia Creator jumps to $89/mo monthly for personal avatars, API, and more minutes. That is the plan companies actually sit on. HeyGen Pro starts at $49/mo. Neither number is a reason to buy both.
Check the demos
Lip sync, gesture, and “does it look dead” are demo questions. Open both free tiers with the same 30-second script and decide with your eyes.
Public pricing pages checked September 2026.