HeyGen vs Synthesia: What Does a Minute of AI Avatar Video Actually Cost in 2026?
Both platforms use credits, but a credit is not a finished minute. HeyGen burn varies by avatar mode, while Synthesia documents a flat 120 credits per minute. This guide separates credit usage from dollar cost and gives you a calculator for your own plan.
Get The NotCheapAI Brief →Two different credit systems
HeyGen's current help documentation lists Avatar III Video Look at 4 credits per minute, Avatar III Photo Look at 7, Avatar IV Photo Look at 16, Avatar IV Video Look at 31 and Avatar V Video Look at 48. Custom motion, translation and Video Agent use separate rates. The selected mode therefore changes how many finished minutes your allowance can produce.
Synthesia's current knowledge base describes a simpler model: each second uses 2 credits, or 120 credits for one minute. That rate is not directly comparable with HeyGen's allowance because the vendors define and price their credits differently. Check the official HeyGen pricing page and Synthesia pricing page before buying.
Credit burn is not dollar cost
The calculator multiplies finished minutes by the selected burn rate. It then divides your entered monthly plan price by your entered included credits and applies that dollar-per-credit rate. Formula: effective dollar cost per minute = plan price ÷ included credits × credits per minute.
This keeps the uncertain part visible. Annual billing, taxes, plan limits, unused allowance, rollover rules, translation and retries can change the result. Do not use a headline credit count as if it represented the same number of minutes on both platforms.
For a wider production budget, compare the AI video cost-per-second guide and cinematic AI video comparison. For voice tracks, see ElevenLabs real cost per minute.
Choose by finished workflow
A basic presenter workflow may fit HeyGen Avatar III Video Look at a lower credit burn. A photo-based or higher-fidelity workflow consumes more credits per minute. Synthesia's fixed rate can be easier to budget for scripted training, product education and multilingual presenter content.
Neither result is a universal winner. Enter the plan price and allowance you actually see, then compare the output with your required quality, language, editing and commercial-use constraints. The calculator is a planning estimate, not a provider quote.
Retakes matter. HeyGen says cancelled or failed videos are not charged credits, while edits and re-renders can consume credits; Synthesia documents additional consumption when edits add duration. Verify the current rules for your account before a high-volume production run.
Common questions
How many HeyGen credits does one minute use?
It depends on the avatar mode: the current official table lists 4, 7, 16, 31 or 48 credits per minute for the modes modelled here.
Does Synthesia charge the same for every avatar?
The current official documentation describes 120 credits per minute, or 2 credits per second. Confirm the current plan and feature rules before purchase.
Which is cheaper?
There is no single answer. HeyGen's mode, your plan price and allowance, and your finished-minute requirement determine the comparison. Use the calculator rather than assuming credits are equivalent.
Sources: HeyGen credit documentation and Synthesia credit documentation. Prices and limits can change. Report a correction with the official source and date.