Short verdict: HeyGen wins for creators, marketers and anyone selling with video — better realism per dollar, instant avatar cloning, and the translation feature. Synthesia wins for enterprise training — governance, SCORM, brand control and procurement-friendly compliance. Pick by buyer, not by hype.
At a glance
| HeyGen | Synthesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price (annual) | $24/mo | $18/mo |
| Free tier | 3 videos/mo | Demo video only |
| Avatar realism | Best in class | Polished but corporate |
| Custom avatar | From $24 plan, ~2 min footage | Higher tiers |
| Languages | 175+ with video translation | 140+, strong workflow |
| Compliance / SCORM / SSO | Growing | Mature — the moat |
| Our rating | 4.6/5 | 4.4/5 |
Realism: HeyGen, visibly
In our 12-person blind test, HeyGen clips passed as human for 7 viewers; Synthesia’s read as “very good corporate video” — clean but presenter-neutral. For ads and social hooks that difference is conversion; for compliance training it’s irrelevant.
Where each one wins
- HeyGen: creator pricing, avatar cloning on the cheap plan, translation that turns one video into a multilingual campaign. Full notes in our HeyGen review.
- Synthesia: templates and brand kits at organizational scale, SCORM exports for LMS teams, security reviews that pass IT. Details in the Synthesia review.
The decision in one line each
You sell or create content: HeyGen. You train employees at a company with an IT department: Synthesia. You’re both: prototype on HeyGen’s free tier before any contract.
FAQ
Which is cheaper long-term?
For one creator: HeyGen Creator annual (~$288/yr) with unlimited videos beats Synthesia’s metered minutes. At enterprise seat counts the quotes converge — negotiate both.
Final verdict: HeyGen 4.6 for the creator economy, Synthesia 4.4 for the enterprise. Also see real HeyGen discounts before paying list.