Synthesia vs HeyGen (2026): Free Plans, Credits and Limits
Vorec Team · 2026-10-22 · About 4 min read
Synthesia and HeyGen both turn a script into a video with an AI presenter; Synthesia leans toward company training (SCORM, quizzes and one-click translation on Enterprise), while HeyGen's entry plans are single-user, with a cheaper path to 4K and long videos. Both price in credits, and neither publishes one fixed credits-to-minutes conversion, so headline prices compare poorly. Facts come from Synthesia's pricing page captured 10 and 20 October 2026 and HeyGen's captured 30 September and 20 October 2026; prices are dollars as displayed, we did not test either tool, and "not checked" means we could not confirm it. Vorec, which publishes this page, is covered at the end.
Side-by-side
| Synthesia | HeyGen | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Basic: 10 video minutes a month (matrix), 500 credits, 9 stock avatars, 1 editor, watermarked | Free: 3 videos a month, up to 1 minute each, 1 custom video avatar, 30+ languages, no watermark removal |
| Entry paid plan | Starter $29 a month ($18 on annual billing) | Creator $29 a month ($24 on annual billing, $288 a year) |
| Entry allowance | 1,250 credits a month (or 15,000 a year upfront), on top of the free allowance | 600 credits a month |
| Next tier | Pro from $89 ($64 annual), 6,000 credits, up to 5 personal avatars | Pro from $49 ($41 annual), 1,000 credits; Business $149 ($119 annual) |
| Seats on entry plan | 1 editor + 3 guests | 1 user |
| Video length and resolution (entry) | Not checked | 30 minutes a video, 1080p on Creator; 4K from Pro |
| Languages | 140+ languages and voices on every plan | 175 languages and dialects on Creator |
| Training features | Branching and calls to action from Pro; quizzes, SCORM and one-click translation on Enterprise | Interactive quizzes, SCORM and LMS integrations on Business |
HeyGen tiers above Creator come from its 30 September capture, which rendered in an English (India) locale; Synthesia's from 10 October.
How the credits compare
Neither vendor fixes how many minutes a credit buys. Synthesia's page shows estimates (Starter: up to about 12 extra video minutes a month) and its FAQ says Starter totals about 22 minutes a month including the free allowance, while warning usage varies. HeyGen's pricing page states that consumption depends on model, duration and complexity and publishes no per-minute conversion. Compare them on a short test video of your own rather than on credit counts.
Which to choose
Choose Synthesia if you produce training for a company: more seats on the entry plan (1 editor plus 3 guests), 140+ languages on every plan, and a path to quizzes, SCORM and one-click translation on Enterprise.
Choose HeyGen if you are one creator who wants long videos and high resolution soon: Creator allows 30-minute videos at 1080p, Pro adds 4K from $49 a month, and Business supports 60-minute videos.
Cost over a year, entry tiers
| Monthly billing x 12 | Annual billing | |
|---|---|---|
| Synthesia Starter | $348 | $216 (from the $18 monthly equivalent) |
| HeyGen Creator | $348 | $288 (as billed) |
Where Vorec fits
Vorec works from screen recordings rather than avatars: it records with its own macOS recorder or takes an uploaded recording, drafts narration matched to each on-screen step, voices it and can generate a written guide from the same capture. Plans: a 7-day trial with 100 credits and no card, then Starter $9, Pro $24 or Business $59 a month. See Vorec pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Is Synthesia or HeyGen cheaper?
Both start at $29 a month. On annual billing Synthesia Starter works out to $18 a month and HeyGen Creator to $24. See Synthesia pricing and HeyGen pricing.
Which has the better free plan?
They cap different things: Synthesia Basic lists 10 video minutes a month with a watermark; HeyGen Free allows 3 videos of up to one minute each.
Can you make long videos?
HeyGen lists 30 minutes a video on Creator and Pro and 60 on Business. We did not confirm Synthesia's per-video limit.
Which is better for training videos?
Synthesia, if you need SCORM, quizzes and translation at company scale (Enterprise); HeyGen Business also lists SCORM and LMS integrations.
Related reading: HeyGen alternatives, Synthesia alternative for screen tutorials and the alternatives and comparisons hub.
See also: Synthesia vs Colossyan (2026): Plans, Minutes, Credits.
Teaching software rather than presenting on camera? Upload a screen recording and get AI narration matched to every step. Start the 7-day trial: 100 credits, no card. Trial includes up to 3 projects; exports carry a watermark.