HeyGen vs Synthesia (2026): Which AI Video Platform Wins for European Teams?
Published 27 Sept 2026 · Updated 3 Oct 2026 · 6 min readHeyGen (US) and Synthesia (London) both turn a script into a video presented by an AI avatar. The short answer: HeyGen's plans are built around marketing and social video, with 4K output from its Pro plan and video translation into 175+ languages and dialects; Synthesia's are built around training content, with SCORM export for learning management systems from its Pro plan.
TL;DR: Which One Fits Your Team?
- Choose HeyGen if you produce product demos, ads or social clips, want 4K output, or need to translate existing videos into many languages.
- Choose Synthesia if your videos go into an LMS: SCORM export is included from the Pro plan, and the yearly Starter plan has the lower entry price.
- Neither is the better tool in general — the plan limits below matter more than the brand.
1. Plans and Prices Side by Side
Both vendors publish prices in US dollars. HeyGen's Creator plan costs $29 a month, or $24 a month billed yearly; Synthesia's Starter costs $29 a month, or $18 a month billed yearly ($216 a year).
| Plan level | HeyGen | Synthesia |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 — videos up to 1 minute, up to 1080p, 1 custom video avatar | $0 (Basic) — 10 minutes of video a month, 9 avatars, 1 editor |
| Entry | Creator — $29/mo ($24/mo yearly), 600 credits a month, videos up to 30 min, 1080p | Starter — $29/mo ($18/mo yearly), about 12 min a month (~150 min a year), 125+ avatars, 1 editor + 3 guests |
| Mid | Pro — $49/mo, 1,000 credits a month, up to 4K | Pro — $89/mo ($64/mo yearly), about 60 min a month (~720 min a year), 180+ avatars, 5 personal avatars, SCORM export |
| Team | Business — $149/mo + $20 per extra seat, 1,500 credits, videos up to 60 min, API access | — |
| Enterprise | Custom — no video length limit, full API | Custom — unlimited minutes, 240+ stock avatars, unlimited personal avatars, SCORM |
Note the different units: HeyGen counts credits, Synthesia counts video minutes. Before comparing, estimate how many finished minutes you produce a month and check how each plan converts that.
2. Avatars, Languages and Translation
| HeyGen | Synthesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock avatars (paid plans) | 700+ | 125+ (Starter), 180+ (Pro), 240+ (Enterprise) |
| Your own avatar | 1+ on Creator and Pro, 5+ on Business, 10+ on Enterprise | 5 personal avatars on Pro, unlimited on Enterprise |
| Languages | Video translation into 175+ languages and dialects on paid plans (30+ on Free) | 160+ languages and voices; 1-click translation into 80+ languages on Enterprise |
For European teams the useful question is not the total count but whether the exact languages and accents you need — German, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Polish — sound natural. Both offer a free plan: generate a short sample in each of your languages before you pay.
3. Training Content and LMS Export
Synthesia lists SCORM export on its Pro and Enterprise plans, so a training video can be uploaded to an LMS such as Moodle or Cornerstone as a trackable course item. HeyGen's pricing page does not list SCORM export; teams using HeyGen for training usually upload the video file itself, which an LMS can play but not track as a SCORM package.
4. GDPR and Where Your Data Is Stored
HeyGen states on its security page that all customer data is stored in the United States on AWS, that it holds SOC 2 Type II, participates in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and has appointed a Data Protection Officer based in Europe. Synthesia is headquartered in London; its hosting regions and certifications are published in its Trust Center, which you should check against your own requirements.
Whichever you choose, under GDPR Article 28 you need a Data Processing Agreement with the vendor before uploading staff faces, voices or customer data. If an employee becomes an avatar, also get their written consent.
5. Which Should You Choose?
| If you need… | Pick |
|---|---|
| Marketing, product or social video, 4K output | HeyGen (4K from Pro) |
| Courses tracked in an LMS | Synthesia (SCORM from Pro) |
| Lowest yearly entry price | Synthesia Starter ($18/mo billed yearly) |
| Translating many existing videos | HeyGen (175+ languages and dialects) |
| Several seats with API access | HeyGen Business, or either vendor’s Enterprise plan |
Try Both Platforms for Free
Sources (checked 3 October 2026): heygen.com/pricing; heygen.com/security; synthesia.io/pricing. Prices are the vendors' published USD list prices before VAT; plans and limits change often, so confirm on the vendor's site before buying. SaaSEuro has not run its own tests of these tools.