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Hei.io vs HeyGen

Two fact sheets from our own research, side by side — pricing, platforms, API access and status re-checked by us rather than quoted from the vendors. Hei.io starts at $39, HeyGen at $24. Only HeyGen has a free tier. Only HeyGen ships a public API.

Hei.ioGenerates subtitles, translations and AI dubbed voiceovers for video in 140+ languages.HeyGenAvatar videos and translation with lip-sync

Side by side

FactHei.ioHeyGen
CategoryDubbing & Voice TranslationAI Avatars & Talking Heads
Pricing modelPaidFreemium
Starts at$39 month$24 month
Public APINoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, API
CompanyHeiTech OyHeyGen
Launched—2020
Last verifiedSep 1, 2026Sep 6, 2026

What our research says

Hei.io

Hei.io covers the full localization pipeline, captions, translated subtitles, and dubbed voiceover, in one place, which saves stitching together a transcription tool and a separate dubbing tool. Voice cloning in 32 languages is a real differentiator versus subtitle-only tools, though lip-sync is still listed as coming rather than available. The plan structure mixes per-minute plan allowances with a separate pay-as-you-go hourly rate, which is hard to compare at a glance.

Pros

  • Combines captioning, translation, and AI dubbing in one workflow
  • 440+ voice options and cloning across 32 languages
  • Exports to standard formats (MP4, MP3, SRT) rather than a proprietary player
  • 140+ supported languages for translation

Cons

  • Lip-sync is not yet available, only listed as upcoming
  • Pricing mixes monthly plan minutes with a separate hourly pay-as-you-go rate
  • No visible permanent free plan, only a trial

HeyGen

The strongest avatar fidelity on the market right now, but the credit arithmetic decides whether it is affordable, not the sticker price.

Pros

  • Avatar and lip-sync quality is ahead of most competitors at the price
  • Free plan lets you judge output quality before paying anything
  • Video translation covers a wide language list with synchronised lips
  • Credits roll over for a month rather than expiring at the billing date

Cons

  • Newer avatar models cost roughly seven times the credits of the older ones
  • Free tier is watermarked and capped at three one-minute videos
  • Business tier stacks a $20 per-seat charge on top of a $149 base
  • Custom avatars and the better models are gated behind higher tiers

Which one fits

Choose Hei.io if you need

  • Video agencies localizing content into many languages at once
  • YouTube creators wanting dubbed versions instead of just subtitles
  • Marketing teams needing translated voiceovers without hiring voice actors

Choose HeyGen if you need

  • Marketing and product teams shipping talking-head video without a studio
  • Localising existing footage into other languages with matched lip movement
  • Creators who want a cloned avatar for repeatable short-form output

More comparisons

All HeyGen alternatives →Browse all Dubbing & Voice Translation →