Comparison

HeyGen vs Synthesia vs D-ID

A side-by-side look at three AI avatar video platforms, drawn from their index records.

At a glance

Three avatar-video platforms that turn a script (and often a face) into a talking presenter. They compete on avatar libraries, languages, and enterprise packaging rather than text-to-video clips.

Scrolling keeps every product column reachable

HeyGen vs Synthesia vs D-ID
Dimension	HeyGen	Synthesia	D-ID
Company	HeyGen	Synthesia	D-ID
Category	Video Generation	Video Generation	Video Generation
Business model	Freemium	Paid	Paid
Licence	—	—	—
Pricing	A free tier is available; paid plans add video credits, custom avatars, and API access. Pricing ↗	A limited free tier is available; paid plans add more video minutes, avatars, and enterprise controls. Pricing ↗	D-ID offers a limited free trial, tiered monthly subscriptions based on video minutes, and usage-based API pricing. Pricing ↗
Documentation	Documentation ↗	Documentation ↗	Documentation ↗
Launched	2022	2019	2017
Availability	Global	Global	Global
Typical output	Avatar / translation video Not independently verified — Editorial characterisation written to compare the products; no single vendor page states it in these words.	Training / presenter video Not independently verified — Editorial characterisation written to compare the products; no single vendor page states it in these words.	Talking-head from a photo Not independently verified — Editorial characterisation written to compare the products; no single vendor page states it in these words.
Buying motion	Self-serve plus business Not independently verified — Editorial characterisation written to compare the products; no single vendor page states it in these words.	Enterprise-leaning Not independently verified — Editorial characterisation written to compare the products; no single vendor page states it in these words.	API plus apps Not independently verified — Editorial characterisation written to compare the products; no single vendor page states it in these words.
Entry paid plan	$29/month (Creator) Source ↗ Verified 2026-10-10	$29/month (Starter) Source ↗ Verified 2026-10-10	Not readable Not independently verified — D-ID's Studio and API pricing pages both returned 200 on 2026-10-10, but their prices are rendered by client-side script and no figure was readable, so no amount is recorded.
Free tier	Yes — 1 custom avatar Source ↗ Verified 2026-10-10	Yes — watermarked, 10 min/month Source ↗ Verified 2026-10-10	Not readable Not independently verified — The D-ID pricing page returned 200 but renders its price block client-side; no free-tier wording was readable on 2026-10-10, so this cell is not asserted either way.
Updated	2026-10-10	2026-10-10	2026-10-10

Fields taken from the product records use the record dates shown. Sourced claims are labelled per product: verified against the linked page on the date shown, taken from the product record without re-checking, or not independently verified.

Quick answer

HeyGen can be used free of charge to start.

Where they differ — the rows worth reading first: Business model, Launched.
Identical on the record: Licence, Where it runs, Works offline, Runs on.

When to choose each

HeyGen — When you want consumer-friendly avatar and translation video with a public self-serve plan.
Synthesia — When workplace training and enterprise presenter video with a large stock-avatar library is the job.
D-ID — When you need talking-head APIs or to animate a still photo more than a full course studio.

Each tool on the record

HeyGen

HeyGen is made by HeyGen. The record lists it as Freemium, first recorded in 2022, and fit for Video generation. Its values below carry their own source and date.

HeyGen is listed under Video Generation: Text-to-video and AI video creation services.

Company: HeyGen
Category: Video Generation
Business model: Freemium
Licence: proprietary
Launched: 2022
Availability: Global
Tasks it fits: Video generation
How you use it: Web app
Runs on: Web
Where it runs: Vendor cloud
Works offline: Not recorded
Commercial use: Not recorded

Pricing on the record: A free tier is available; paid plans add video credits, custom avatars, and API access.

Sources on the record: Official website, Help center, Official pricing, API documentation.

Not recorded for HeyGen: Works offline, Commercial use. An empty field is reported as unknown rather than guessed.

Synthesia

Synthesia is made by Synthesia. The record lists it as Paid, first recorded in 2019, and fit for Video generation. Its values below carry their own source and date.

Synthesia is listed under Video Generation: Text-to-video and AI video creation services.

Company: Synthesia
Category: Video Generation
Business model: Paid
Licence: proprietary
Launched: 2019
Availability: Global
Tasks it fits: Video generation
How you use it: Web app
Runs on: Web
Where it runs: Vendor cloud
Works offline: Not recorded
Commercial use: Not recorded

Pricing on the record: A limited free tier is available; paid plans add more video minutes, avatars, and enterprise controls.

Sources on the record: Official website, Synthesia (Wikipedia), Synthesia: #1 AI Video Platform for Business, Official pricing, API documentation.

Not recorded for Synthesia: Works offline, Commercial use. An empty field is reported as unknown rather than guessed.

D-ID

D-ID is made by D-ID. The record lists it as Paid, first recorded in 2017, and fit for Video generation. Its values below carry their own source and date.

D-ID is listed under Video Generation: Text-to-video and AI video creation services.

Company: D-ID
Category: Video Generation
Business model: Paid
Licence: proprietary
Launched: 2017
Availability: Global
Tasks it fits: Video generation
How you use it: Web app
Runs on: Web
Where it runs: Vendor cloud
Works offline: Not recorded
Commercial use: Not recorded

Pricing on the record: D-ID offers a limited free trial, tiered monthly subscriptions based on video minutes, and usage-based API pricing.

Sources on the record: Official website, Documentation, Quickstart, Studio pricing, API pricing.

Not recorded for D-ID: Works offline, Commercial use. An empty field is reported as unknown rather than guessed.

Frequently asked questions

Which of these has been available longest?

D-ID — first recorded in 2017.

Which of these can I start using for free?

Free to start: HeyGen.

Which of these is open source?

None of these is open source; every tool in this comparison is proprietary.

Which of these works offline?

None of these is recorded as working offline.

Which of these has a public API?

A public API is recorded for HeyGen, Synthesia, D-ID.

Which platforms do these run on?

Recorded platforms — HeyGen: Web · Synthesia: Web · D-ID: Web.

Can any of these be self-hosted or run locally?

None of these is recorded as self-hosted or local; all run as a hosted service.

Is this the same as Runway or Veo?

No. Those are general video generators. These three specialize in presenter avatars and lip-sync.

Can I use my own face?

Products offer custom avatars with consent flows. Terms and pricing vary; see each record and vendor policy.

Why does D-ID show no price?

D-ID's Studio and API pricing pages returned 200 on 2026-10-10 but render their plan prices in JavaScript, so no figure in the response could be cited. The cell is left unreadable rather than estimated.

How to use a comparison

Start from the task, not the brand: filter the index by what you need to get done.
Check the evidence: a value marked “verified” names the source page and the date it was checked.
Prefer the vendor’s own page for the final decision: prices and limits change without notice.

Related guides

AI video generators

Sources and record dates

Record dates describe index updates, not independent product tests. Check linked documentation for current features and pricing.