HeyGen vs Synthesia vs Runway (2026)
Three completely different tools that all make AI video — but for different jobs. HeyGen is for avatar presenter videos. Synthesia is for enterprise training at scale. Runway is for generative cinematic footage. New: Runway retired its "Unlimited" plan for new subscribers (May 2026) — replaced by "Max" ($76/mo annual, 9,500 credits, no more unlimited Explore Mode). Gen-4.5's credit cost is also confirmed higher than previously stated: 25 credits/second, not 12.
Find yourself first
Marketing teams
Creating presenter-led videos without filming. HeyGen's avatars and multilingual dubbing lead here.
L&D teams
Producing training videos for large workforces. Synthesia's SCORM/LMS export is purpose-built for this.
Filmmakers & creative directors
Exploring AI-generated footage. Runway is the only tool here that generates original cinematic video.
Content creators needing multilingual video
At scale. Both HeyGen and Synthesia cover 160+ languages, with HeyGen's lip-sync being the strongest.
Enterprises
Evaluating AI video for corporate communications. Synthesia's compliance posture leads here.
Anyone confused by "AI video"
These three tools do genuinely different things — this page maps out which is which.
Explore Mode is gone for new subscribers
The 10-second answer
HeyGen
Script-to-presenter video in minutes. 175+ languages with lip-sync dubbing. Free plan (3 videos/mo). Creator $24/mo annual. Best for training, marketing, and sales videos.
Free → $24/mo annualSynthesia
240+ diverse AI avatars, 160+ languages, SCORM and LMS integration. Free plan (10 min/mo) — best free plan here. Starter $18/mo annual. Trusted by 90%+ of Fortune 100.
Free → $18/mo annualRunway
Create cinematic footage from text or image prompts. Gen-4, Gen-4.5 (25 credits/sec), Veo 3.1. Free plan (125 credits one-time). Standard $12/mo annual. Max (formerly Unlimited) $76/mo — no more Explore Mode.
Free → $12/mo annualMatch your situation
| Your situation | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You want to turn a script into a presenter video without filming | HeyGen | Most realistic AI avatars — unlimited videos on Creator plan at $24/mo annual. |
| Corporate L&D team producing training videos for hundreds of employees | Synthesia | SCORM/LMS export, 240+ avatars, enterprise compliance — built for this exact job. |
| Filmmaker or creative director wanting AI-generated cinematic footage | Runway | Gen-4, Gen-4.5, Veo 3.1 — text-to-video and image-to-video for storytelling. |
| Marketing team wanting to dub videos into multiple languages | HeyGen | 175+ languages with natural lip-sync — best multilingual video dubbing here. |
| Free plan needed with meaningful video generation | Synthesia | 10 video minutes/month free — more useful than HeyGen (3 videos) or Runway (125 one-time credits). |
| You want truly unlimited AI video generation | None currently offer this | Runway's Explore Mode (the closest thing) was discontinued for new subscribers May 2026. |
| Need AI-generated B-roll footage for film or ad production | Runway | Designed for cinematic use — Gen-4 and Veo 3.1 produce footage-quality output. |
| Enterprise needing compliant, branded video at scale | Synthesia | SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, ISO 42001 — strongest enterprise compliance posture here. |
What will your setup actually cost?
These three tools have very different pricing models. HeyGen charges per seat on Business plans. Synthesia charges per video minutes. Runway charges per credit. Select your plan for each tool.
All prices are annual billing rates (USD/mo). HeyGen Business = $149 first seat + $20 each additional (shown as single-seat estimate). Runway Max (formerly Unlimited) now provides 9,500 credits/mo instead of Explore Mode. Gen-4.5 costs 25 credits/second on Runway. Synthesia and HeyGen Creator/Pro plans are individual, not per-seat.
The numbers that matter
Max plan replaces it — no more Explore Mode
vs old Unlimited's 2,250 + throttled Explore Mode
was stated as 12/sec — actual capacity is ~half
annual — old guides say $15, that's monthly
video/month free — best free plan here
with natural lip-sync dubbing — most here
Three tools, three philosophies
HeyGen — The Avatar Video Platform for Creators and Marketing Teams
Free → $24/mo annualTurn scripts into presenter-led videos with realistic AI avatars — 175+ languages with lip-sync dubbing.
- Most realistic AI avatars — Avatar IV model produces hyper-realistic results
- 175+ languages with natural lip-sync dubbing
- Unlimited video generation on Creator plan
- Strong integrations — HubSpot, Clay, Zapier, Make, n8n
- AI voice cloning and custom avatar creation
- Team plan deprecated January 2026 — Business plan is $149/mo first seat
- Premium Credits needed for advanced features (Avatar IV, lipsync translation)
- Credit system complexity — some features have per-use costs beyond subscription
- Less enterprise compliance posture than Synthesia
Synthesia — Enterprise L&D Video Platform Trusted by Fortune 100
Free → $18/mo annualCorporate training video platform — SCORM, LMS, 240+ diverse avatars, best compliance posture here.
- Best free plan — 10 video minutes/month, no credit card required
- 240+ diverse AI avatars with emotional expression
- SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, ISO 42001 compliant — strongest enterprise compliance
- SCORM and LMS integration on Business plans
- Real-time collaboration and version control
- Starter plan limited to 10 video minutes/month — runs out quickly
- Enterprise pricing ~$1,000+/mo — significant step up from Creator
- Less suited for creative generative video use cases
- Custom avatar creation is a $1,000/year paid add-on on annual plans
Runway — Generative AI Video, Now Without "Unlimited"
Free → $12/mo annual → $76/mo MaxGenerative AI video for filmmakers and creative directors — Gen-4, Gen-4.5, Veo 3.1 from text and image prompts.
- Most advanced generative video models — Gen-4, Gen-4.5, Veo 3.1
- Cheapest paid plan at $12/mo annual (Standard)
- Access to all third-party video models (Seedance 2.0, Kling 3.0 Pro)
- Max plan's 9,500 credits is a genuine improvement over the old Unlimited plan's value
- Used by professional film productions and major studios
- Explore Mode (unlimited relaxed-rate generation) discontinued for new subscribers May 2026
- Credits-based — generations are consumed per second of output, Gen-4.5 at 25 credits/sec
- Not suited for avatar-based presenter videos (that's HeyGen/Synthesia)
- Free plan has only 125 one-time credits — very limited for evaluation
Strengths at a glance
| Criteria | HeyGen | Synthesia | Runway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avatar realism | Best — Avatar IV | Best diversity — 240+ avatars | No avatar system |
| Free plan value | 3 videos/mo | Best — 10 min/mo | 125 one-time credits only |
| Generative footage | No | No | Best — Gen-4.5, Veo 3.1 |
| Enterprise compliance | Good | Best — SOC2, GDPR, ISO | Via Enterprise plan |
| Unlimited generation option | Yes — Creator plan | No — capped by minutes | No — Explore Mode discontinued |
| Cheapest paid entry | $24/mo | $18/mo | Best — $12/mo |
🟢 STRONG · 🟠 ACCEPTABLE WITH CAVEATS · 🔴 WEAK / WATCH OUT
Feature by feature
| Feature | HeyGen | Synthesia | Runway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary use case | AI avatar presenter videos — training, marketing, sales | Enterprise corporate training & L&D at scale | Generative cinematic footage from text/image prompts |
| Free plan | ⚡ 3 videos/mo, watermarked | ✓ Best — 10 video minutes/month | ⚡ 125 one-time credits |
| Entry paid (annual) | Creator $24/mo ($288/yr) | ✓ Starter $18/mo ($216/yr) | ✓ Standard $12/mo ($144/yr) |
| AI avatars | ✓ 500+ stock, custom Avatar IV | ✓ Best — 240+ diverse avatars | ✗ No avatar system |
| Generative video (text/image to video) | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✓ Best — Gen-4, Gen-4.5, Veo 3.1 |
| Multilingual dubbing with lip-sync | ✓ Best — 175+ languages | ✓ 160+ languages | ⚡ Custom voices on Pro+ |
| SCORM/LMS integration | ⚡ Business plan | ✓ Business plan — strongest here | ✗ No |
| Enterprise compliance | ⚡ Good | ✓ Best — SOC 2 II, GDPR, ISO 42001 | ⚡ Via Enterprise plan |
| Unlimited/max-tier generation | ✓ Creator plan and above | ✗ Capped by video minutes/month | ⚡ Max plan — 9,500 credits, no true unlimited |
Every plan, verified
Runway's plan structure changed materially in 2026 — "Unlimited" is gone for new subscribers, replaced by "Max." All prices are annual billing rates unless stated. Verify current pricing directly before purchasing.
| Tier | HeyGen | Synthesia | Runway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 3 videos/mo · 1 custom avatar · 500+ stock · watermarked | ✓ 10 video min/mo · 9 avatars · 160+ languages — best free here | 125 one-time credits · no watermark on exports |
| Entry paid (annual) | Creator $24/mo ($288/yr) · unlimited video gen | Starter $18/mo ($216/yr) · 10 min/mo video | ✓ Standard $12/mo ($144/yr) · 625 credits/mo, up to 5 users |
| Mid tier (annual) | Pro $79/mo ($948/yr) · 4K, 2,000 Premium Credits | Creator $64/mo ($768/yr) · 360 min video/yr | Pro $28/mo ($336/yr) · 2,250 credits/mo, up to 10 users |
| Top tier (annual) | Business $149/mo first seat + $20/additional | Enterprise custom — ~$1,000+/mo based on reviewer reports | Max (was "Unlimited") $76/mo ($912/yr) · 9,500 credits/mo, rolls over 1 month — Explore Mode discontinued |
| Credit cost — Gen-4.5 | N/A | N/A | 25 credits/second (corrected — was stated as 12) |
| Watch out for | Premium Credits needed for Avatar IV, lip-sync translation — add-on costs beyond subscription. Team plan gone — Business is $149/mo for first seat. | 10 min/month on Starter goes fast. Custom personal avatar is $1,000/yr add-on. Enterprise ~$1,000+/mo is a big jump from Creator. | Explore Mode (true unlimited generation) discontinued for new subscribers May 2026. Gen-4.5 at 25 credits/sec means real capacity is roughly half of older estimates. |
Choose by fit
Choose HeyGen if…
- You want script-to-presenter video without filming
- You need multilingual dubbing with natural lip-sync
- You produce marketing, training, or sales videos regularly
- You want unlimited video generation on a budget ($24/mo annual)
- You need HubSpot, Zapier, or CRM video integrations
Choose Synthesia if…
- You run an enterprise L&D team producing training at scale
- You need SCORM export and LMS integration
- Compliance (SOC 2, GDPR) is a procurement requirement
- You need a free plan that's actually useful (10 min/mo)
- Avatar diversity matters for your audience
Choose Runway if…
- You need AI-generated cinematic footage from text prompts
- You work in film, advertising, or creative production
- You want access to Gen-4, Gen-4.5, Veo 3.1, and third-party models
- You want the cheapest entry to serious AI video generation ($12/mo annual)
- You've budgeted realistically for Gen-4.5's 25-credit/sec cost, not the old 12/sec figure
Match the tool to your job
AI presenter videos
HeyGenMost realistic avatars, unlimited generation on Creator plan at $24/mo annual.
Enterprise L&D training
SynthesiaSCORM, LMS, SOC 2, 240+ avatars — built for this use case.
Cinematic AI footage
RunwayGen-4, Gen-4.5, Veo 3.1 — text-to-video for filmmakers.
Multilingual video dubbing
HeyGen175+ languages with natural lip-sync — most here.
Best free plan
Synthesia10 video minutes/month free — more useful than 3 videos or 125 credits.
Cheapest paid plan
Runway $12/moStandard at $12/mo annual — access to all Runway models.
AI B-roll for production
RunwayUsed by professional film productions — Gen-4.5 quality for real projects.
Enterprise compliance
SynthesiaSOC 2 Type II, GDPR, ISO 42001 — strongest posture here.
Heavy-volume generation
Runway Max9,500 credits/mo — most raw capacity, though not truly unlimited.
What vendors won't lead with
🚫 Runway — "unlimited" no longer exists at any tier
Explore Mode, the old Unlimited plan's unlimited relaxed-rate generation, was discontinued for new subscribers as of May 29, 2026. The replacement Max plan gives you a much larger but still finite 9,500 credits/month. If genuinely unlimited generation was your reason for choosing Runway, that option is gone for new signups.
🔢 Runway — Gen-4.5 costs more credits than often stated
Confirmed at 25 credits/second across multiple detailed 2026 sources — not 12/sec as some older comparisons (including a prior version of this page) stated. This roughly halves the real generation capacity per plan compared to that older math. Recalculate your expected output before committing to a tier.
🎭 HeyGen — Team plan deprecated January 2026
HeyGen's old Team plan is gone. The replacement Business plan starts at $149/month for the first seat plus $20/month per additional seat. Existing Team plan users who maintain continuous payments keep old terms — but new customers cannot access the old pricing.
💳 HeyGen — Premium Credits are a separate cost
The Creator/Pro/Business subscription gives you a base Premium Credits allowance. Advanced features (Avatar IV, lipsync translation, video generation via integrations) consume Premium Credits beyond the subscription price.
⏱️ Synthesia — video minutes run out fast on Starter
The Starter plan includes 10 video minutes per month. A typical 5-minute training video consumes half your monthly allowance. Teams producing regular content quickly need the Creator plan (360 minutes/year) or Enterprise.
💰 Synthesia — custom avatar is a $1,000/year add-on
Creating a custom personal AI avatar is not included in Starter or Creator plans — it's a $1,000/year paid add-on available only to annual plan subscribers.
Quick answers
HeyGen is best for AI avatar video — turning scripts into presenter-led videos without a camera or studio. It supports 175+ languages with natural lip-sync dubbing. The Creator plan at $24/month annual allows unlimited video generation. Note: HeyGen's Team plan was deprecated in January 2026 and replaced by the Business plan starting at $149/month for the first seat.
Runway retired the Unlimited plan for new subscribers as of May 29, 2026, replacing it with a Max plan at the same $76/month annual price. Max provides 9,500 credits/month (rolling over up to one month) instead of the old plan's 2,250 credits plus "Explore Mode" unlimited relaxed-rate generation. Explore Mode has been discontinued for new subscribers — there is no true unlimited-generation tier at Runway anymore. Existing Unlimited subscribers are grandfathered on their previous terms.
Runway Standard costs $12/month billed annually ($144/year) with 625 credits/month for up to 5 users. Pro costs $28/month annual with 2,250 credits/month for up to 10 users. Max (replacing the old Unlimited plan) costs $76/month annual with 9,500 credits/month. Gen-4.5 costs 25 credits per second of generated video — meaning Standard's 625 credits buy about 25 seconds of Gen-4.5 output per month.
Yes. Synthesia's free plan provides 10 video minutes per month, 9 stock avatars, and 160+ language support — the most practically useful free plan in this comparison. HeyGen's free plan allows 3 videos per month (watermarked), and Runway's free plan provides 125 one-time credits with no monthly refresh.
No — they serve fundamentally different use cases. HeyGen and Synthesia create avatar presenter videos from scripts. Runway generates original cinematic footage from text and image prompts. A content team might use HeyGen for avatar videos AND Runway for AI-generated B-roll in the same project.
HeyGen's Team plan was deprecated in January 2026 and is no longer available for new subscriptions. Existing subscribers who maintain continuous payments can keep their old terms. The replacement is the Business plan, starting at $149/month for the first seat plus $20/month per additional seat.
Ready to try these AI video tools?
All three offer free plans or trials. Synthesia's 10 min/month free plan is the most useful for evaluation.