HeyGen is an AI-powered video-generation platform. In short, it lets you create
professional-looking videos from nothing more than a script—no camera or live actors required.
The software drives digital avatars (virtual people and faces) that automatically deliver
your text, perfectly lip-synced to the AI-generated voice. The goal is to provide a fast,
accessible way to produce informational, promotional, or educational videos: just type what
you want the virtual presenter to say, pick a style, and HeyGen produces the finished video
in minutes. Its user-friendly interface and large library of ready-made assets mean that even
complete beginners can achieve high-quality results.
Originally launched as Movio and re-branded as HeyGen in
2023, the tool is gaining traction among marketers, trainers, and content creators
worldwide. Inside HeyGen you already have more than 200 video templates and over 80 talking
avatars to choose from, so you can cover everything from business presentations to online
lessons simply by combining the elements on offer. In short, HeyGen is like a virtual
production studio: you supply the text and a few creative choices, and the AI animates a
believable presenter who speaks with a natural voice. In the rest of this article we will
look in detail at its features, a step-by-step workflow, the pros and cons, pricing, and a
few comparable alternatives.
The main features include:Virtual avatars – At the heart of HeyGen are its AI-generated digital actors.
The platform offers a catalog of dozens of faces (different ethnicities, ages, and styles) so
you can pick the one that best matches your audience. These avatars move their lips and facial
expressions in sync with the audio, giving the impression of a real human presenter. You can
place them anywhere on the canvas and resize them as you like—for example, a half-body shot or
full-body over a slide background.
Advanced speech synthesis – HeyGen’s text-to-speech engine supports dozens of
languages and accents, letting the avatar speak Italian, English, Spanish, Chinese, and many
more with a realistic voice. More than 80 AI voices are available, so your video can literally
“speak” the language of your target market. Punctuation drives intonation: an exclamation mark
yields emphasis, a question mark raises the tone, and so on. If you prefer, you can upload your
own audio recording and keep the virtual presenter on screen while using a real or professional
voice-over.
Hundreds of ready-made templates – To speed creation, HeyGen provides over 200
continuously growing templates grouped by use case: ads, product demos, course intros, newscasts,
e-commerce videos, and more. Each template is a complete graphic style—layout, backgrounds,
placeholder text, and animations—so you only need to replace the content (text, logo, avatar,
colours). You can also start from a blank project if you want total control.
Web-based drag-and-drop editor – Once you pick a template you enter HeyGen’s
browser editor, designed to be intuitive. You can customise every scene: add or remove text,
change the background, insert images or supporting clips, reposition the avatar, add background
music, and so on. A built-in media library offers numerous graphics and stock clips. In short,
the editor supplies the essentials to assemble a video with no technical skills: drag items in,
type your script, and the AI animates the avatar and composes the final result.
Automatic video translation – Create a video in Italian and, with a few clicks,
HeyGen can translate the script and generate a new version with the same avatar speaking English
or Spanish. It swaps the original audio for a new track in the target language while keeping
lip-sync intact, so you can localise videos for multiple markets rapidly.
Mixed-language projects – Multilingual support is not limited to translation:
during initial creation you can combine several languages in one video—for instance, two avatars
conversing, one in Italian and the other in English. With 80+ languages and multiple accents
available, HeyGen removes the language barrier for global content.
Custom avatars (Instant Avatar / AI Clone) – Besides the standard public
avatars, HeyGen lets you create your own unique avatar using images or a short video of a real
person—yourself or a spokesperson. The AI trains on the supplied material and produces an
exclusive virtual likeness that can speak in your videos.
Personalised video at scale – HeyGen supports mass generation of personalised
videos via its API or tools like Zapier. You can build one master video with variable segments
(viewer name, specific data) and, by feeding a list of values, generate dozens of slightly
different videos, each aimed at a single recipient—perfect for personalised marketing.
Interactive avatars and developer API – One of the most innovative features is
interactive avatars that can respond in real time (e.g., in a Zoom meeting or as a chatbot with
an AI face). HeyGen also exposes an API, enabling developers to integrate automated video
generation into large-scale workflows or other software.
Step-by-step Guide
Below is a step-by-step tutorial on how to use HeyGen. From signing up to exporting the final video, we’ll walk through every key stage, illustrated with interface examples.Step 1: Choose a template. After logging in, click “Create Video” or pick a template from the start gallery. HeyGen shows all available templates, organised by category (e.g., Advertisement, E-commerce, Breaking News, Learning & Development). Select the most suitable template to open its editor — or start from a blank canvas.Step 2: Select an avatar. With your project open, first choose the AI avatar who will present the video. In the editor’s left panel, click the “Avatar” tab and pick one from the gallery, or replace the template’s default avatar. Make sure the voice (language, accent) is set correctly.Step 3: Enter the script. In the “Text Script” box at the bottom, paste or type the lines the avatar should speak. One minute of video equals roughly 100–150 words. Use the “Play Script” button to preview pronunciation; adjust spelling for proper names or acronyms as needed. Alternatively, you can upload your own recorded audio file.Step 4: Add media elements. A video with only an avatar and static background can feel flat. Use the “Element” panel to insert images, stock footage, shapes, on-screen text, background music, and more. A built-in stock library is available. Drag items into the scene and arrange them. Use the timeline below to set durations and transition order.Step 5: Preview and refine. Click “Preview” to watch a draft version (lip-sync may not be perfect at this stage). Check layout, text and timing. Tweak audio levels, scene lengths or element positions until you’re happy.Step 6: Generate and share the video. When everything looks right, press “Submit” (or “Generate”) to start the final AI render. Once finished, you can view/download the video and share it as you like. The free plan adds a watermark; paid plans produce a clean video.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
Ease of use: The interface is truly intuitive and dramatically lowers the barrier to creating videos. Even people who have never edited video can find their way thanks to templates and drag-and-drop tools.
Production speed: You can get a finished video in just a few minutes, saving days of work compared with traditional shooting and editing.
Versatility and variety: More than 300 templates, avatars, and AI voices cover many styles—formal presentations, e-learning, social media clips, ads, and more.
Multilingual and localization: The ability to translate videos automatically into dozens of languages is a unique strength, ideal for international companies or global creators.
Customization and innovation: Custom avatars, API and Zapier integrations, and large-scale personalization (viewer name, etc.) make HeyGen suitable for advanced use cases.
Video and audio quality: HD export (up to 1080p) plus high-quality avatars and voices deliver professional results for marketing or training.
Cons
Cost for heavy use: Free and basic plans have duration limits and a watermark. To produce many videos or longer clips you need higher-tier plans, which can be costly for small organisations.
Technical limits on lower tiers: Maximum length of 5 minutes (Creator plan) or 20 minutes (Business plan). Custom-avatar count and video credits are capped, which can hold back larger projects.
Avatar/voice customisation not absolute: You cannot fine-tune every emotional nuance or arm movement. AI voices are good, but not always perfect on more “human” inflections.
Slight artificial feel: Attentive viewers may notice the avatars’ synthetic nature, especially with certain faces or very long scripts.
Less-common languages & proper-name pronunciation: Not every language is covered, and proper names may need spelling tweaks.
Pricing and Available Plans
Free Plan – US $0. Lets you test HeyGen with a watermark, 1 credit per month (~1 minute of video) and a maximum length of 1 minute. Access to many public avatars and one basic custom avatar.Creator Plan – US $24/month (annual billing). Removes the watermark, offers 15 monthly credits (~15 minutes of video), 5-minute maximum per video, 3 custom avatars and 1 user seat. Suited to individual creators or small businesses.Business Plan – US $72/month (annual billing). Includes 30 video credits per month, 20-minute maximum length, 3 user seats, 3 custom avatars and advanced features. Ideal for small teams or mid-size companies.Enterprise Plan – Custom pricing. For large companies needing high volume. Provides tailored solutions, Studio avatars, SSO and dedicated enterprise support.In general, 1 credit = 1 minute of generated video. You can buy extra credits or upgrade plans if you need higher volumes. Compared with similar tools (Synthesia, Colossyan, etc.), HeyGen is in the same price bracket and offers a permanent free tier for risk-free testing.
Alternatives
Other similar software worth considering:
Synthesia – Perhaps the most famous competitor. Creates AI-avatar videos in 120+ languages. Base plan ~US $30/month for 10 minutes. Editor is less flexible than HeyGen’s, but the avatar library is extensive.
Colossyan Creator – Very similar to HeyGen: virtual presenters, free trial and plans from ~US $27/month. Good multilingual support and e-learning features. Interface is less “drag-and-drop.”
D-ID – Specialises in animating photos to speak. Simpler (single talking face) but fewer templates and editing options. Useful if you need a specific photo lip-synced.
DeepBrain AI (aiFellow) – Realistic avatars and accurate sync, plans from ~US $30/month. Less intuitive interface but solid avatar and voice quality.
InVideo – A general AI video maker with templates and stock footage (no avatars). Better for quick text-plus-image edits, not talking-head videos.
Overall, HeyGen and Synthesia dominate the “AI presenter” market. Try the free versions first to decide which editor and output suit you best.
FAQ
What are HeyGen’s features?
• Video avatars from text (stock, custom, generative)
• Video translation with voice-cloning and lip-sync
• 175+ languages/dialects with automatic subtitles
• “AI Video Studio” editor with templates, brand kit, and motion controls
• Interactive streaming avatars for demos or 24/7 assistance
• Export up to 4K and integrations (Notion, Slack, etc.)
• REST API for production, translation, templates, and webhooks.
How do I use HeyGen?
1. Sign up (Google / e-mail) at app.heygen.com.
2. Write your script or upload a video to translate.
3. Choose avatar, voice, and language; optionally apply a template.
4. Press “Generate” → wait for cloud rendering.
5. Download, share via public link, or embed on your site.
In the iOS app tap “＋” to create and follow similar filters to desktop.
Where can I download HeyGen?
• Web app: app.heygen.com (works in any browser).
• Mobile: HeyGen – AI Avatar Video on the Apple App Store (iPhone/iPad).
• No official Android app yet: use the web app in a browser or unofficial APK/guide.
Which languages does HeyGen support?
The Free plan includes 30+ languages; the Creator, Team, and Enterprise plans unlock the entire package of 175+ languages and dialects with lip-sync and voice clone.
Where is HeyGen headquartered?
HeyGen Technology Inc. is based in Los Angeles (CA), 12130 Millennium Dr., Suite 300, with additional offices in San Francisco, Palo Alto, and Toronto.
Is HeyGen free?
Yes. A Free plan (USD 0/month) allows three videos per month (max 3 min, 720 p) with one custom avatar and 30+ languages. Paid versions start at USD 29/month (Creator) and expand duration, resolution, languages (175+), avatars, and remove the watermark.
What does HeyGen do?
HeyGen is an AI video-generation platform that transforms text, images, or existing videos into clips with realistic avatars, translating them into dozens of languages and cutting cost and time versus traditional production.
How can I cancel my HeyGen subscription?
1. Log in to your HeyGen account.
2. Go to Settings → Subscriptions.
3. Click the ▼ next to your plan and choose Cancel.
4. Confirm — service remains active until the billing cycle ends, then will not be charged again.
From the iOS app: iOS Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions → HeyGen → Cancel.
Does HeyGen have APIs?
Yes. The HeyGen API (REST) provides endpoints for Video Avatar, Photo Avatar, Video Translate, Interactive Avatar Streaming, custom templates, and webhooks. API keys are enabled from the dashboard or a dedicated plan.
Does HeyGen have an app?
• iOS/iPadOS: native app with creation, upload, and video-management features.
• Desktop: full web app.
• Android: currently web app only; native version not yet officially announced.
What are the alternatives to HeyGen?
• Synthesia – text-to-video with avatars in 120+ languages.
• D-ID – “Live Portrait” photo animation and speech.
• Elai.io – text-to-video platform with LMS integration.
• DeepBrain AI – deep-learning avatars for news and e-learning.
• Other competitors: Colossyan, Vidnoz, Rephrase.ai.
Author
Nicolò Caiti
I’ve made MarTech my career, focusing on artificial intelligence for digital marketing. In this blog I analyse how AI is transforming the sector—improving web performance, optimising digital strategies and speeding up everyone’s work. With years of experience in marketing automation and advanced customer-journey management, I share practical insights, case studies and best practices to help people harness AI’s potential in their roles.I hope you find the answers you’re looking for!
