HeyGen vs Synthesia
Synthesia scores 9.3 to HeyGen's 8.9 among the AI avatar video tools we rate, and is the better pick for 2 of the 4 kinds of buyer below.
Synthesia wins, 9.3 to 8.9
Both are $29 to start, both put an AI avatar on screen, and both handle enough languages to localise anything. What separates them is who signed off on the purchase. Synthesia is used by over 90% of the Fortune 100 and carries SOC2, GDPR and ISO42001. HeyGen is aimed at creators and advanced individuals, with 4K export, voice cloning and generative B-roll through Veo 3, Sora 2 and Seedance integrations.
Pick HeyGen if you are making the videos yourself and want range. Video translation across 175+ languages with lip-sync matched to the new voice is the standout, and the AI Studio editor lets you adjust tone, delivery and gesture timing through text rather than re-recording. 4K export and voice cloning included.
Pick Synthesia if the video has to pass a procurement review. SOC2, GDPR and ISO42001 plus adoption across 90% of the Fortune 100 is the answer to questions HeyGen cannot answer as easily, and 160+ languages covers most L&D and onboarding needs. The whole workflow runs in-browser with no camera or studio.
Best for
Who each one suits, decided on the criteria that matter to that buyer and the checked facts where the two differ.
- Monthly price, cheapest paid plan: $14 against $29
- But HeyGen leads on stock avatars in the library: 700 avatars against 240 avatars
- Highest export resolution: 4K against 1080p
- Does not train AI on your videos: Synthesia yes, HeyGen does not say
How they score
Both are scored the same way, against the other AI avatar video tools we rate, from facts on each vendor's own pages. They split the criteria 2 each, with the rest level.
Where they differ
Every point where the two vendors' published facts disagree, with a link to where each fact was read. "Not published" means the vendor does not say either way.
Published by only one of them
Where they match (14)
Pricing, plan by plan
Every plan each vendor publishes, monthly and yearly where both are offered.
HeyGen
Synthesia
For everything else about each tool, read the full HeyGen review and Synthesia review.
The complaint that recurs about Synthesia
Avatar stiffness. It comes up across reviews consistently: on-screen presenters often read as unnatural or robotic. For compliance training that is survivable and arguably expected. For anything customer-facing or brand-led, watch a full-length sample rather than a showreel before committing, because the showreel is not where stiffness shows.
And about HeyGen
The feature set is described as getting busy, which means a steeper climb for new users navigating everything on offer. Its claimed base of 100,000+ businesses lacks independent verification — not a reason to avoid it, but treat the number as marketing.
Where the pricing really diverges
Both start at $29 and both have free tiers, so the entry point is identical. Synthesia's higher tiers create a feature wall that enterprise buyers clear comfortably and smaller teams quietly cannot. If you are a small team, check which tier holds the feature you actually need before treating this as a $29 decision.
Language counts are close enough to ignore
175+ against 160+ is not a real difference for most projects. Choose on lip-sync quality for your specific languages, which you can only judge by generating the same script in both.
HeyGen vs Synthesia: common questions
Which has better avatars?
Avatar stiffness is a recurring complaint about Synthesia across reviews. HeyGen's AI Studio gives more control over tone, delivery and gesture timing through text. Generate the same script in both before deciding, since this is subjective and important.
Which is better for enterprise?
Can either translate an existing video?
HeyGen is the stronger option, translating across 175+ languages with lip-sync matched to the new voice, which is what makes translated video watchable rather than obviously dubbed.
