HeyGen is a US service for making video with "avatars": digital people with realistic looks who read your script in front of a camera, with no one filming. Its second and perhaps more famous job is video translation: it takes a video you recorded in one language, converts it into another, clones your voice and matches lip movement to the new language. Its difference from competitors is speed, avatar variety and popularity among marketers and content creators.
What is HeyGen good for?#
- Product intro videos without filming: An online shop writes a product script and an avatar explains it on camera.
- Translating video for foreign markets: A teacher or exporter with a video in one language makes another-language version in their own voice.
- Digital twin: By recording a short video of yourself you build a personal avatar and then just supply text.
- Training and internal company video: You make instructions or staff training quickly, and easy to update.
- Personalized messages: For important customers, you generate a welcome video with their own name.
Strengths and weaknesses#
Strengths:
- Video translation in the speaker's own voice with lip-sync, among the best on the market
- Wide variety of avatars and ready templates
- Building a personal avatar from a short video
- A mobile app and API for bulk creation
Weaknesses:
- Avatars still look a bit artificial in longer videos
- Pronunciation can be off, especially for names and English words mixed into other languages
- Credits go quickly on advanced features
- Making an avatar from someone else's face carries a risk of misuse and impersonation
Free version and pricing#
HeyGen is freemium. The free plan gives a few short watermarked videos per month and a limited translation trial. Paid plans unlock longer video, higher quality, watermark removal, more languages and a full personal avatar, and there are separate plans for teams and the API. Check the official site for current prices.
Language support#
HeyGen's translation and voice list includes many languages and gives acceptable results for simple text, but the tone can be stiff, and it can misread loanwords or numbers. Always listen to the whole video before publishing, and if needed rewrite the script phonetically. Review subtitles by hand too.
Getting started in three steps#
- Sign up and pick one of the ready-made avatars.
- Write a short script, choose language and voice, and preview.
- For translation, upload a short video with clear audio and no background music.
HeyGen alternatives#
- Synthesia: better suited to corporate training and large teams with stronger security controls.
- ElevenLabs: if you only want voice and dubbing, it has better voice quality.
- CapCut: simpler avatars and subtitles alongside a full video editor.
To use AI video well, read making and editing video with AI: what is possible and what isn't. Because this technology is also used to fake voices and faces, don't miss AI scams: fake voices, phishing and how to spot them.
