HeyGenvs
Synthesia
Both turn text into a presenter speaking to camera, in many languages, with lip-sync. HeyGen is easier to start with and cheaper. Synthesia is built for an organisation that will make hundreds of videos and needs them all on-brand and auditable.
Published · updated
The short answer
- An individual or a small team making product and marketing video → HeyGen
- Company-wide training, compliance content, brand-managed templates → Synthesia
- SOC 2 is a hard requirement → Synthesia
Side by side
| HeyGen | Synthesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | From $24/mo | From $22/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Ease of starting | High | Moderate |
| Languages | Many including Japanese | 170+ |
| Avatar realism | Avatar IV is strong | Strong |
| Brand template management | Basic | Built for it |
| Compliance | Check per plan | SOC 2, GDPR |
| Likeness avatars | Verification and higher plan | Enterprise process |
Highlighted cells mark where one is clearly ahead on that row. Pricing and specifications come from published vendor information and change without notice.
Who wins what
Individuals and small teams
HeyGen
A free tier, a gentler learning curve and a lower commitment to get a usable video out.
Enterprise training programmes
Synthesia
Brand-compliant templates and governance are designed in, which matters at hundreds of videos.
Language coverage
Synthesia
More than 170 languages, which is the deciding factor for global rollouts.
Security review
Synthesia
SOC 2 and GDPR compliance are already in place.
Strengths and trade-offs
HeyGen
Strengths
- Free tier and a low barrier to a first video
- Avatar IV produces natural expression and mouth movement
- Many languages including Japanese
- From $24/mo with commercial use permitted
Trade-offs
- A true likeness avatar needs verification and a higher plan
- Template governance is basic
- Compliance depends on the plan — check before committing
Synthesia
Strengths
- More than 170 languages
- Brand-compliant template management
- SOC 2 and GDPR compliance
- Designed for organisational standardisation
Trade-offs
- No free tier
- Heavier than an individual needs
- Setup assumes an organisation, not one person
What it costs
Entry prices are within two dollars of each other, which makes the list price misleading. The real difference is what you are buying: HeyGen sells you videos, Synthesia sells you a managed video programme.
Which one, for who you are
Solo creator or marketer
HeyGen
A few videos a month
Free tier, faster to a result, enough quality for the job.
Enterprise L&D team
Synthesia
Training library in several languages
Governance and language coverage are the requirement.
Mid-size company trialling video
HeyGen first
Not sure how much they will make
Lower commitment while you find out whether the format works.
Questions we get
- Can I create an avatar that looks like me?
- Both support it, with identity verification. HeyGen requires a higher plan; Synthesia handles it through an enterprise process. Either way you can only do this for yourself or with explicit written consent.
- How good is the Japanese?
- Both handle Japanese narration well enough for internal training and product content. For a public brand campaign, have a native speaker review the output before it ships.
- Which is better value?
- HeyGen for fewer than roughly twenty videos a month. Beyond that, the governance features in Synthesia start saving more time than the price difference costs.