Tool profile
HeyGen: cost, fit and limits
HeyGen is an AI video platform made by HeyGen Technology, Inc. that turns a script, a photo or a recorded video into a spoken presenter video or a translated, lip-synced version. It sells credit-based subscriptions for individuals and teams, plus a separate developer API.
What to know first
HeyGen runs on a single credit pool that paid plans spend across avatar video, translation and other generation, and the cost of a video depends on the model, the length and the complexity. Pro is the only individual tier that scales: the plan stays the same while the monthly credit allowance rises, from 1,000 credits at $49 to 100,000 at $4,300. Teams start at the $149 Business plan with a $20 charge per extra seat.
HeyGen at a glance
| Maker | HeyGen Technology, Inc., United States |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | $29 per month (Creator, $24 billed annually) |
| API access | Yes |
| Category | Best AI Video Generators in 2026, rank 7 of 11 |
| Website | heygen.com |
Who HeyGen is best for
Teams localizing existing video
Paid plans list 175 languages and dialects for translation, and Pro adds a script editor to proofread the translation before rendering, which matters when a wrong term would reach customers.
Learning and development groups
The Business plan lists interactive quizzes, video branching, SCORM export and LMS integrations, so a course can leave the tool as a package an LMS accepts instead of a loose MP4.
Creators who want a digital double
Every plan includes one custom video avatar, and Creator and above add voice cloning, so a person can record once and reuse their own likeness for later scripts.
Agencies and automation builders
Business lists integrations with n8n, Make, HubSpot and Zapier, and the pricing page points to a separate API price list, so batches of personalized videos can be triggered from a CRM or workflow.
HeyGen plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 3 videos per month of up to 1 minute, 500+ stock avatars, Avatar IV access, 1 custom video avatar, up to 3 photo avatars, 30+ languages and standard processing speed. |
| Creator | $29 per month ($24 per month billed yearly) | 600 credits, videos up to 30 minutes, 1080p export, unlimited photo avatars, voice cloning, 175+ languages, watermark removal and credit rollover. |
| Pro | $49 per month for 1,000 credits, up to $4,300 per month for 100,000 | Everything in Creator plus 4K export, faster processing, translation script editing and access to all advanced AI models. Only the credit allowance changes between Pro tiers. |
| Business | $149 per month plus $20 per extra seat | 1,500 credits, videos up to 60 minutes, 5 custom avatars, SAML/SSO, workspace collaboration, SCORM export, interactive video, credit top-ups or auto-reload and double the concurrency of Pro. |
| Enterprise | Contact sales | No maximum video duration, 10+ custom avatars, SCIM provisioning, multi-workspace control, proofreader seats for translation, invoice billing and a dedicated customer success manager. |
Checked October 2026.
What HeyGen does
- Avatar IV generation
- Avatar IV is the avatar model listed on every plan, including the free one. Paid plans add extended Avatar IV generation, and the comparison table lists motion and gesture control as a separate feature row.
- Video translation with lip sync
- An existing video can be re-rendered in another language with matching mouth movement. Pro and above can edit and proofread the translated script first, and Enterprise adds proofreader seats for reviewers who are not paying creators.
- Photo avatars and custom avatars
- A still photo can become a talking presenter, with unlimited photo avatars on paid plans. A full custom video avatar is a separate asset, with 1 on Free, 5 or more on Business and 10 or more on Enterprise, and extra ones sold as add-ons.
- Interactive and LMS output
- Business lists in-video quizzes, branching and decisions, link embedding and SCORM export. Those features turn a finished video into trackable training content rather than a file someone watches passively.
- Studio editor and templates
- A browser editor includes 75+ templates, PowerPoint and PDF import, audio input and a screen recorder. A deck can become a narrated video without leaving the workspace, and designs can be saved as team templates.
How HeyGen handles your data
HeyGen's terms of service say it does not claim to own Your Content, but the user grants a royalty-free, worldwide, irrevocable license that includes training or improving its AI and machine learning models. Its security page says enterprise data is excluded from training by default, and non-enterprise customers may opt out by contacting HeyGen. The same page states all customer data is stored in the United States on AWS, lists SOC 2 Type II, GDPR and EU-US Data Privacy Framework compliance, and describes AES-256 encryption at rest and TLS 1.2 or higher in transit.
Where HeyGen falls short in practice
- Free output cannot be used commercially. The terms license free-plan output for personal, non-commercial and internal evaluation use only, and bar advertising and client work. A trial video cannot be reused in a paid campaign.
- The opt-out is manual and not in the contract. Training exclusion for non-enterprise accounts requires emailing HeyGen, while the terms grant the training license by default. Anyone uploading a real face or a client's footage should settle that before the first render.
- Credit use is hard to forecast. The pricing page says credits used vary by AI model, duration and complexity, and gives no per-minute table. Pro tiers begin at $49 and end at $4,300, so a heavy month can outrun the plan.
- Data stays in the United States. The security page states all customer data is stored in the United States. European customers rely on transfer mechanisms (the Data Privacy Framework and standard contractual clauses) rather than hosting in the EU.
Works with
Alternatives to HeyGen
HeyGen: common questions
How long can a HeyGen video be on each plan?
As of October 2026 the pricing page lists 1 minute on Free, 30 minutes on Creator and Pro, 60 minutes on Business, and no maximum on Enterprise. Translation has the same caps. Avatar IV videos are capped at 1 minute on Free and 30 minutes on paid individual plans.
Do HeyGen credits roll over?
Yes, with a condition. Unused credits from a monthly subscription roll over for one more month, and annual subscribers accumulate credits until the annual renewal date. After cancellation they expire, so a lapsed subscription does not keep a balance, so use them before you cancel.
How do I stop HeyGen from training on my videos?
The security page says enterprise data is excluded from model training by default and non-enterprise customers may opt out at any time by contacting HeyGen. The terms still contain the training license, so request the opt-out in writing and keep the reply.
Can I add team members without moving to Enterprise?
Yes. The Business plan at $149 per month allows additional seats at $20 per seat per month and adds a shared workspace, draft commenting, team management and centralized billing. Single sign-on through SAML is included at that tier, while SCIM provisioning is Enterprise only.
Is HeyGen compliant with GDPR for European companies?
HeyGen's security page lists GDPR, the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and standard contractual clauses for EU, UK and Swiss customers, and names a Data Protection Officer based in Europe. Data is stored in the United States, so check whether your policy accepts transfer-based compliance.