Head-to-head
HeyGen vs Synthesia: which one in 2026?
HeyGen from HeyGen Technology and Synthesia from Synthesia Ltd both turn a script into video with a talking AI presenter, and both start at $29 per month. HeyGen sells to marketers with photo avatars, 30-minute videos and per-seat team pricing. Synthesia sells credits to training and communications teams and states EU data storage.
Verdict
Synthesia comes first for companies where legal, security or HR will read the vendor documents, because EU storage and its certification list are stated plainly. HeyGen is the better buy for a marketer who wants photo avatars, 4K and cheaper seats. Both tools bill by credits or minutes, so price your real monthly video minutes against each calculator before choosing, and ask HeyGen about training exclusion in the contract.
HeyGen and Synthesia side by side
| HeyGen | Synthesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Price entry | $29 per month (Creator, $24 billed annually) | $29 per month (Starter) |
| Entry paid plan | Creator is $29 per month with 600 credits, 1080p export, no HeyGen branding and a custom avatar with your own voice and likeness. | Starter is $29 per month billed monthly with 1,250 credits, which Synthesia says covers about 12 minutes of video, plus logo removal and downloads. |
| Free plan | Free gives three watermarked videos a month, each up to one minute, with one custom video avatar and access to Avatar IV. | Basic is $0 with 10 minutes of video or dubbing a month, 500 credits, a nine-avatar library, and a watermark on every video. |
| Mid tier | Pro is $49 per month with 1,000 credits, 4K export, 30-minute videos, faster processing, and access to cinematic avatar scenes. | Pro is $89 per month for 6,000 credits (about 60 minutes of video), five personal avatars, interactive videos, and branded video pages. |
| Team seats | Business is $149 per month with a shared workspace, SAML/SSO and SCORM export. Extra members cost $20 per seat per month. | Starter and Pro include one editor plus guests who comment. Live team editing, SAML/SSO and SCORM export are listed under custom-priced Enterprise. |
| Language reach | Creator and above list 175+ languages and dialects, and the Pro tier adds editing and proofreading of translation scripts. | Enterprise lists one-click translation into 140+ languages. The Starter and Pro pages describe dubbing minutes drawn from the credit pool. |
| Data location | HeyGen states all customer data is stored in the United States on AWS, with EU-US Data Privacy Framework certification and Standard Contractual Clauses. | Synthesia's help center states customer data is stored in the EU under GDPR, though the help center does not name the cloud provider or region. |
| Certifications | The security page lists SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, CCPA and the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, with a data protection officer based in Europe. | The help center lists SOC 2 Type II, ISO/IEC 27001, 27701 and 42001, and UK Cyber Essentials. Reports on the trust center were not opened. |
| Content licence | The terms grant HeyGen a licence to use uploaded content to train or improve its AI and machine learning models. | A training policy for customer content was not checked on Synthesia's pages during this review, so ask for it in writing before signing. |
Where each one wins
HeyGen wins on
- Unlimited photo avatars on paid plans and Avatar IV, which suits marketers who want a face from a single photo.
- The $49 Pro tier adds 4K export and 30-minute videos for roughly half Synthesia's mid-tier price.
- Business adds team members for $20 per seat per month, a published price instead of a sales call.
Synthesia wins on
- EU data storage and ISO 27001, 27701 and 42001 are stated on its own pages, which compliance reviewers can cite.
- Credits cover video, dubbing and survey responses from one pool, with a calculator that translates minutes into cost.
- Pro includes interactive videos and Roleplay sessions for training, which HeyGen's pricing page does not list.
Which to pick
Pick HeyGen if
You make short marketing or sales clips, want photo avatars and 4K output, and can accept United States storage and its content licence.
Pick Synthesia if
You build repeatable training or internal videos, need EU storage and ISO certifications on record, and expect your team to review rather than edit together.
Each tool in context: HeyGen profile, Synthesia, and the full Best AI Video Generators in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is HeyGen cheaper than Synthesia?
At the entry level they match at $29 per month, but the mid tier differs: HeyGen Pro is $49 per month and Synthesia Pro is $89 per month as of October 2026. The two count usage differently, with HeyGen using credits and caps on video length and Synthesia pricing about 100 credits per video minute.
Which one stores data in the EU?
Synthesia states in its help center that customer data is stored in the EU. HeyGen states that all customer data is stored in the United States on AWS, and relies on the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and Standard Contractual Clauses for transfers. European buyers with strict residency rules should confirm the setup in the contract.
Does HeyGen train on my videos?
HeyGen's terms of service grant it a licence to use your content to operate and improve its services, including to train or modify its AI and machine learning models. If that is a problem for your legal team, ask HeyGen about a contractual exclusion, which the public pages do not describe.
Can a team of ten work in HeyGen or Synthesia?
HeyGen Business at $149 per month shares a workspace and adds members at $20 per seat per month. Synthesia Starter and Pro give one editor plus guests, so a ten-person team needs a custom Enterprise quote for live collaboration. Check pricing for your exact headcount with each vendor.