HeyGen alternatives: switching cost & savings matrix
Every tracked tool that does the same job as HeyGen, ranked by how much you'd save per year by switching — at low, medium and high usage.
- HeyGen prices checked against HeyGen's official pricing page.
- Synthesia prices checked against Synthesia's official pricing page.
The top pick at 60 video minutes/mo depends on HeyGen's avatar engine.
- Avatar V (48 credits/min)Switch to Synthesia and save $720/yr
- Avatar IV, Video Look (31 credits/min)Switch to Synthesia and save $120/yr
- Avatar IV, Photo Look (16 credits/min)HeyGen is already the cheapest: $49/mo
- Avatar III, Photo Look (7 credits/min)HeyGen is already the cheapest: $29/mo
- Avatar III, Video Look (4 credits/min)HeyGen is already the cheapest: $29/mo
Annual savings vs HeyGen
Positive numbers are what you save per year by switching; negative numbers are what switching would cost you. 1 seat, monthly billing, cheapest plan per tool. HeyGen figures use Avatar V (48 credits/min), HeyGen's default for real-human avatars and Digital Twins.
| Rank | Alternative | Low10 video minutes | Medium60 video minutes | High3,000 video minutes | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | HeyGen (current) | $29/mo | $149/mo | $7,274/mo | |
| #1 | SynthesiaAffiliate: we may earn a commission | +$348/yr$0/mo | +$720/yr$89/mo | No public planContact sales | Visit SynthesiaCompare |
Billing gotchas to check before switching
Hidden billing gotchas
- HeyGen bills in credits. Minutes here use the per-minute rate HeyGen's help center publishes for the avatar engine you pick: Avatar V 48 credits/min, Avatar IV 31 (Video Look) or 16 (Photo Look), Avatar III 7 (Photo Look) or 4 (Video Look). HeyGen names Avatar V the default for real-human avatars and Digital Twins.
- A HeyGen blog post updated 10 Oct 2026 puts Avatar III at 3 credits/min, below the help center's 4; we use the help center figure.
- Video Agent (80 credits/min, or 240 with Seedance) and Avatar IV custom motion (+40 credits/min) cost more than any engine listed here.
- Only Business can buy extra credits, at $5 per 100; Creator and Pro must move up a tier when credits run out.
- Business includes one seat; extra team seats cost $20/month each and add no credits.
- The Free plan has no credits: 3 watermarked videos a month, up to 1 minute each.