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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.

The short answer

Cheaper paid plan
Hei.io — $10/mo vs $24/mo for HeyGen
Free plan
Only HeyGen (Hei.io has paid plans only)
Public API
HeyGen has one; not confirmed by us for Hei.io
Higher Trust score
HeyGen — 94 vs 81 for Hei.io
Best fit
Hei.io: Video agencies localizing content into many languages at once · HeyGen: Marketing and product teams shipping talking-head video without a studio

From our own records as of each tool's last check. Anything we have not confirmed is left out rather than guessed. How we verify

Side by side

FactHei.ioHeyGen
CategoryDubbing & Voice TranslationAI Avatars & Talking Heads
Pricing modelPaidFreemium
Starts at$10/mo$24/mo
Public APINot confirmedYes
Trust score81 / 10094 / 100
PlatformsWebWeb, API
CompanyHeiTech OyHeyGen
Launched—2020
Last verifiedOct 15, 2026Oct 15, 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

Hei.io vs HeyGen: the questions people ask

Is Hei.io cheaper than HeyGen?

On published entry prices, Hei.io starts lower — $10/mo against $24/mo for HeyGen. Entry price is the lowest paid plan as we last verified it; what each plan includes differs.

Does Hei.io or HeyGen have a free tier?

HeyGen has a free tier; Hei.io has paid plans only.

Which has a public API, Hei.io or HeyGen?

HeyGen ships a public API, as of our last verification. A public API for Hei.io is not confirmed by us — check its developer docs before you plan an integration.

All HeyGen alternatives →Browse all Dubbing & Voice Translation →