Compare/Head to head

HeyGen vs Synthesia

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Starting price

HeyGen

$24/mo Free tier

HeyGen is a fast-growing AI avatar and video translation tool that suits recruiters and small talent teams making job ad, employer brand and outreach videos. A free plan covers testing, Creator is $24 a month billed annually, and Business at $149 adds team workspaces, SSO and SCORM.

Where HeyGen fits

  • Recruiters making their own job ad or intro videos
  • Translating employer brand videos for global hiring
  • Personalized candidate outreach at scale
  • Small teams on a creator budget

Synthesia

$14/mo Free tier

Synthesia is the best-known AI avatar video platform, used by HR and L&D teams to turn scripts into onboarding, training and recruiting videos in 140+ languages without a camera. The free plan is enough to test, Starter is $14 a month billed annually, and larger teams move to Enterprise for unlimited minutes and SCORM.

Where Synthesia fits

  • Onboarding and policy videos
  • Multilingual training for distributed teams
  • Explainer videos for job ads and careers pages
  • L&D teams that update content often

At a glance

DetailHeyGenSynthesia
Starting price$24/mo$14/mo
Free tier✓Yes✓Yes
MCP server–No✓Yes
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underAI videoAI video

Where they pull apart

HeyGen

Stands out: A very large avatar library, a custom avatar of yourself on the free plan, and translation into 175 languages and dialects with lip sync. Business connects to Zapier, Make, n8n and HubSpot, and there is a developer API.

Watch out: Usage runs on credits that vary by model and video length, so heavy use can mean upgrading tiers. Team features such as shared workspaces, SSO and SCORM only start at the $149 Business plan.

Not the right fit for

  • Teams that need SCORM on a low-cost plan
  • Authentic, unscripted employee stories
  • Buyers who want flat unlimited usage

Synthesia

Stands out: Huge avatar and language range, 1-click translation, smart updates so a policy video changes everywhere when you edit it, and both an API and an official MCP server. Personal avatars let a real recruiter or leader appear in every video.

Watch out: Credits run out quickly on Starter, about 12 extra minutes a month, and full translation, SCORM and SSO sit on Enterprise. Avatar videos suit training and explainers better than authentic employee stories.

Not the right fit for

  • Authentic employee testimonial videos
  • One-off personal outreach to candidates
  • Teams needing unlimited minutes on a small budget

Pros and cons

HeyGen

  • Custom avatar even on free plan
  • 175 languages with lip sync
  • Low entry price for creators
  • Credit-based usage can climb
  • Team features start at $149
  • Avatars, not real employee stories

Synthesia

  • Free plan to start
  • 140+ language translation
  • API and official MCP server
  • Credits run out fast on Starter
  • SCORM and SSO on Enterprise only
  • Avatars, not real employee stories

What each one costs

HeyGen

$24/mo

HeyGen's Free plan makes 3 watermarked videos a month, each up to 1 minute, with one custom video avatar and 500+ stock presenters in 30+ languages. Creator is $29 a month, or $24 billed annually, with 600 credits, 1080p export, no watermark and 175+ languages. Pro is $49 a month with 1,000 credits, 4K export, videos up to 30 minutes and tiers up to 100,000 credits. Business is $149 a month with 1,500 credits, a shared workspace, 5 custom avatars, SAML SSO, SCORM export and integrations with n8n, Make, HubSpot and Zapier, plus $20 per extra seat a month. Enterprise is priced by quote. Annual plans include two months free. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 26 Oct 2026

Synthesia

$14/mo

Synthesia's Basic plan is free: 10 minutes of video or dubbing a month, 9 avatars, share links only and a Synthesia watermark. Starter is $14 a month billed annually ($19 monthly) with 1,250 credits a month (about 12 extra minutes), downloads, no watermark and 125+ avatars. Pro is $59 a month billed annually ($89 monthly) with 6,000 credits a month (about 60 extra minutes), 5 personal avatars, interactive videos and 180+ avatars, with higher credit tiers available. Enterprise is custom, with unlimited video minutes, 1-click translation into 140+ languages, SAML SSO and SCORM export. Studio avatars are a $1,000 a year add-on and roleplay learner seats are $25 to $29 each. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 26 Oct 2026

Common questions

Is HeyGen cheaper than Synthesia?
Synthesia starts lower, at $14/mo against $24/mo for HeyGen. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try HeyGen or Synthesia for free?
HeyGen and Synthesia carry a free tier on our listing.
Does HeyGen or Synthesia have an MCP server?
Synthesia ships a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 26 Oct 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?