HeyGen

Key facts: HeyGen creates talking-head videos from a script using realistic AI avatars — no camera, studio or presenter required. You can pick a stock avatar, clone your own likeness, translate a video into other languages with lip-sync, and generate training, marketing and explainer videos at a pace a human shoot cannot match.

Plans: HeyGen is free to start with a monthly credit allowance, and paid plans add longer videos, more avatars and commercial use. The free plan is enough to test whether avatar video fits your workflow.

Best for: training teams, marketers and creators who publish presenter-led video regularly. Watch out: disclose AI presenters where your audience expects a real person, and check likeness-consent rules for cloned avatars. Who should skip it: people who need a real human presenter on camera, or who will not disclose an AI presenter to their audience.

Pros

• Creates talking-head videos from a script using realistic AI avatars, with no camera, studio or presenter required.
• Pick a stock avatar or clone your own likeness for a consistent presenter.
• Translates a video into other languages with lip-sync, so one script reaches many audiences.
• Generates training, marketing and explainer videos at a pace a human shoot cannot match.

Watch out for

• Disclose AI presenters where your audience expects a real person.
• Check likeness-consent rules for cloned avatars before using someone's face or voice.
• Output is metered in credits on paid plans, so budget by credits, not just by video count.

Pricing

HeyGen is free to start: the free plan gives 3 videos a month of up to 1 minute each, with a watermark. Creator is $29 a month, or $24 a month billed annually, with 600 credits a month, videos up to 30 minutes and the watermark removed. Pro starts at $49 a month with 1,000 credits and 4K export, and Business is $149 a month plus $20 per extra seat.

FAQs

Do I need a camera to make a HeyGen video? No, you write a script and pick an avatar; no camera, studio or presenter is required.

Can I clone my own likeness? Yes, you can clone your own likeness, subject to likeness-consent rules.

Does HeyGen translate videos? Yes, it can translate a video into other languages with lip-sync.

What does the free plan include? 3 videos a month of up to 1 minute each, with a watermark; it is enough to test whether avatar video fits your workflow.