Creating professional-looking videos used to be a job for agencies, expensive software, or a lot of late nights learning editing tricks. HeyGen changed that with customizable AI avatars and the ability to roll out spokesperson videos in a few hours, if not minutes.
But if you’ve hit a wall with its customization limits, pricing, or voice options, you’re not alone.
Many users love the idea of AI video generation using HeyGen but find it’s not flexible enough for specific use cases—like brand storytelling, multilingual content, or dynamic team collaboration.
That’s why this post rounds up the best HeyGen alternatives that give you more control, creativity, or affordability—depending on what you’re looking for.
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhy Go for HeyGen Alternatives?
HeyGen makes AI video generation easier, but it’s not for everyone. Here’s why users are exploring alternatives (based on real reviews):
- Limited customization for avatars and environments: Users report hitting creative ceilings—no real control over gestures, backgrounds, or branded elements without upsells
- Voice quality can feel robotic or inconsistent: Some voices lack emotional nuance or pacing, especially in longer or multilingual videos, leading to less engaging outputs
- Pricing scales quickly with volume: While it starts free, advanced features like voice cloning or multiple avatars get expensive fast. This makes it hard to scale HeyGen affordably
- No true collaborative workspace for teams: HeyGen lacks built-in project management or review tools, which can slow things down for video marketing teams or agencies
- Basic editing capabilities: You can’t do much beyond swapping scenes or text overlays. More personalized video production (like B-roll, screen recording, layering) requires other tools
- Limited scriptwriting or AI ideation tools: You need to come in with a script ready; the AI doesn’t help with brainstorming, outlining, or actual scriptwriting
- Occasional lag or rendering delays: A common complaint on review sites is that render times can be slow during high traffic, impacting quick-turnaround projects
These limitations are why we’ve handpicked video creation tools that do much better than HeyGen on features essential for professional quality videos. Let’s explore them.
Summarize this article for me pleaseHeyGen Alternatives at a Glance
| Tool | Key features | Best for | Pricing* |
|---|---|---|---|
| ClickUp | End-to-end video project management, AI scripting with ClickUp Brain, collaborative Docs and Whiteboards, video proofing, and Clips for webcam/screen recording | Small to enterprise teams managing video production from script to feedback in one place | Free plan available; Paid plans start at $7/user/month; Custom pricing for enterprises |
| Synthesia | AI avatars in 120+ languages, script-to-video, PowerPoint conversion, bulk video generation, lip sync | Mid-sized to enterprise teams creating multilingual training and internal videos | Free trial available; Paid plans start at $18/month; Custom pricing for enterprises |
| VEED | Browser-based editor with AI avatars, subtitles, text-to-speech, Magic Cut, resizing for social | Freelancers and small teams creating short-form content and social-ready videos | Free plan available; Paid plans start at $12/user/month; Custom pricing for enterprises |
| Rask | Voice cloning, dubbing with lip-sync, speaker separation, subtitle exports, translation memory | Mid-sized to large content and localization teams repurposing video for global audiences | Free trial available; Paid plans start at $60/month; Custom pricing for enterprises |
| InVideo | AI script-to-video, stock footage, voiceovers, captions, social-ready export formats | Small teams and marketers producing branded content and fast-paced social videos | Free plan available; Paid plans start at $35/month; Custom pricing for enterprises |
| Runway | Text-to-video, Gen-4 avatar consistency, background removal, cinematic effects, AI motion tools | Creative teams and solo content creators producing advanced AI-generated storytelling | Free plan available (limited use); Paid plans start at $15/user/month; Custom pricing for enterprises |
| Elai.io | Convert documents into avatar-led videos, interactive quizzes, SCORM export, 75+ languages | Small to mid-sized L&D and HR teams building training videos and onboarding materials | Free plan available; Paid plans start at $29/user/month; Custom pricing for enterprises |
| AI Studios (DeepBrain) | 2000+ avatars, 150+ languages, GPT-powered scripting, gestures, voice control | Mid-sized to enterprise training, sales, and comms teams producing lifelike avatar content | Free plan available; Paid plans start at $29/user/month; Custom pricing for enterprises |
| Lumen5 | Turn blog posts into videos, brand kits, stock footage, multi-format exports | Small teams and solo marketers repurposing written content into visual assets | Free plan available; Paid plans start at $29/month; Custom pricing for enterprises |
| Colossyan Creator | SCORM support, multilingual avatars, video templates, quizzes, e-learning features | Small to mid-sized L&D and enablement teams creating onboarding or internal video content | Free plan available; Paid plans start at $27/month; Custom pricing for enterprises |
| Hour One | Script wizard, 100+ avatars, 60+ languages, role-based access, brand kits | Small to mid-sized business teams scaling internal comms and explainers | Free trial available; Paid plans start at $30/month; Custom pricing for enterprises |
Summarize this article for me pleaseThe Best HeyGen Alternatives to Use
How we review software at ClickUp
Our editorial team follows a transparent, research-backed, and vendor-neutral process, so you can trust that our recommendations are based on real product value.
Here’s a detailed rundown of how we review software at ClickUp.
Here’s an in-depth look at the best of the best HeyGen alternatives:
1. ClickUp (Best for managing video projects and team collaboration)
If you’re not just creating videos—but managing everything around them—ClickUp is built for you.
Unlike HeyGen, which focuses only on AI-generated avatars, ClickUp helps creative teams plan, script, record, review, and track progress across the entire video production pipeline. Think of it less as a video editor and more as the ultimate command center—aka the everything app—for content teams.
Start by drafting your script directly in ClickUp Docs, where collaborators can edit text live, drop comments for feedback, tag teammates for action, and embed reference links or media.
You needn’t go it alone. Use ClickUp Brain’s AI assistance to generate a first script or improve your draft based on a creative brief. It’s not your regular GenAI tool.
What makes it more powerful than Claude or ChatGPT is its context-awareness. It has deep knowledge of the tasks, docs, and chats in your ClickUp workspace—which helps tailor your videos to your exact needs and reduces rework. Plus, you can access the latest LLMs (including Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, and more) directly from ClickUp Brain, too!
With your vision locked in, ClickUp Brain also helps you summarize research, reword clunky lines, or even break a large script into modular parts.
When you’re ready to ideate or visualize the storyline, ClickUp Whiteboards make it easy to map out scenes, annotate voiceovers, and sketch your video’s flow—great for storyboarding or client approvals.
💡 Pro Tip: The Storyboard Template by ClickUp is great for visually mapping out scenes and sequences before recording begins.
From there, ClickUp Clips let you record screen + webcam walkthroughs or narrations right from your browser without switching apps. Need to iterate? Review and comment on any Clip, Doc, or Whiteboard inside the platform, no back-and-forth emails.
And because everything lives inside ClickUp Tasks, assigning next steps, such as creating animations, sourcing B-roll, or reviewing cuts, is just a click away. Custom Statuses, Task Priorities, Dependencies, and real-time ClickUp Chat help creative teams move faster and stay in sync.
To speed things up even more, you can start with the Video Production Template in ClickUp—a ready-to-use workspace that helps you plan shoots and track every stage of the production process, from pre- to post.
Record shoot dates, talent, location, file links, and approval status using ClickUp Custom Fields. Assign individual tasks to writers, editors, and reviewers, and track everything with built-in Gantt charts, Calendars, and Dashboards for a clear view of timelines and bottlenecks.
✅ Go for it if: You need a centralized platform to plan, script, manage, and review video projects with your team.
⚠️ Don’t choose it if: You’re looking for AI avatars or a tool solely focused on generating finished video content.
ClickUp best features
- Record and share ideas, feedback, and suggestions instantly with ClickUp Clips for async communication
- Transcribe Clips with timestamps using AI
- Embed video into workflow by dropping Clips into Docs, comments, Chat, or Tasks
- Write and summarize scripts and drafts in seconds with ClickUp Brain (no third-party AI apps)
- Review and annotate professional video files within ClickUp using native proofing features
- Move faster from pre to post-production with purpose-built video workflow templates
ClickUp limitations
- Not built for avatar-led or cinematic editing
- A massive feature set can be overwhelming for users new to video production workflows
ClickUp pricing
free forever
Best for personal use
Free Free
Key Features:
60MB Storage
Unlimited Tasks
Unlimited Free Plan Members
unlimited
Best for small teams
$7 $10
Everything in Free Forever plus:
2GB Storage per user
Unlimited Folders and Spaces
Unlimited Integrations
business
Best for mid-sized teams
$12 $19
Everything in Unlimited, plus:
Google SSO
Unlimited Storage
Unlimited Teams
enterprise
Best for many large teams
Get a custom demo and see how ClickUp aligns with your goals.
Everything in Business, plus:
White Labeling
Conditional Logic in Forms
Team Sharing for Spaces
* Prices when billed annually
The world's most complete work AI, starting at $9 per month
ClickUp Brain is a no Brainer. One AI to manage your work, at a fraction of the cost.
ClickUp ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (10,000+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (4,000+ reviews)
What are real-life users saying about ClickUp?
A user on G2 calls ClickUp the “one-stop solution” for all their teams and projects:
📮ClickUp Insight: 62% of our respondents rely on conversational AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude. Their familiar chatbot interface and versatile abilities—to generate content, analyze data, and more—could be why they’re so popular across diverse roles and industries.
However, if a user has to switch to another tab to ask the AI a question every time, the associated toggle tax and context-switching costs add up over time.
Not with ClickUp Brain, though. It lives right in your Workspace, knows what you’re working on, can understand plain text prompts, and gives you answers that are highly relevant to your tasks! Experience 2x improvement in productivity with ClickUp!
2. Synthesia (Best for creating AI avatar videos for training and internal comms)
Want to create polished AI avatar videos that are ideal for training, internal comms, and explainer content without hiring actors or studios?
Synthesia offers a rich library of realistic avatars with expressive facial gestures and natural lip-sync across 120+ languages. The AI video platform supports script-to-video workflows, PowerPoint-to-video conversion, custom avatars (via a webcam upload or a professional, studio recording), and a growing suite of collaboration tools.
✅ Go for it if: You want polished avatar-led videos for training, onboarding, or multilingual communication.
⚠️ Don’t choose it if: You need deep creative control over scene design, visuals, or editing workflows.
Synthesia best features
- Export scripts and generate videos in 120+ languages in one click
- Use natural lip sync to ensure realism.
- Automate at scale by generating bulk videos from documents
- Lock in your brand style across videos with reusable assets and backgrounds
Synthesia limitations
- Doesn’t support advanced scene editing—limited flexibility for dynamic visuals
- Rendering speed varies depending on the project queue and video length
Synthesia pricing
- Starter: $18/month (billed annually)
- Creator: $64/month (billed annually)
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Synthesia ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (2,000+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (300+ reviews)
What are real-life users saying about Synthesia?
A G2 review says:
📚 Also Read: Synthesia alternatives for AI-generated videos
3. VEED (Best for fast, browser-based video editing with AI tools)
VEED is a browser-based editor built for creators who want AI-powered video editing, subtitles, avatars, and screen recording in one place.
VEED delivers a powerful mix of features: drag‑and‑drop editing, text‑to‑speech, background removal, filler‑word cut, screen/webcam recorder, and a searchable stock library. Teams can collaborate in real time, and exports include platform-specific formats up to 4K.
✅ Go for it if: You’re a solo creator or social team who wants fast AI editing, subtitles, and browser-based publishing.
⚠️ Don’t choose it if: You need professional-grade timeline editing or high-quality avatar narration.
VEED best features
- Auto‑transcribe and subtitle videos in multiple languages
- Remove noise and filler words for clean audio with one click
- Use AI avatars or clone voices to narrate your videos
- Use Magic Cut to auto‑remove silences and tighten pacing
- Auto‑resize video for Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, etc.
VEED limitations
- The free plan adds a watermark and limits the upload length
- It lacks deep timeline controls
VEED pricing
- Lite: $12/user/month
- Pro: $29/user/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
VEED ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.6/5 (1,300+ reviews)
- Capterra: 3.3/5 (50+ reviews)
What are real-life users saying about VEED?
A Capterra review shares:
👀 Did You Know? The top use-cases for AI in video production/marketing are:
- Generating transcripts or captions (59% of respondents)
- Brainstorming ideas or drafting a script (50%)
- Creating visuals or fixing voiceovers (35%)
4. Rask (Best for dubbing and translating videos)
Perfect for businesses that need seamless translation, dubbing, and localization, Rask does all this and more while preserving speaker identity and brand tone.
It enables AI dubbing in 130+ languages with true lip-sync, speaker separation, and subtitle export (SRT). Unique features include voice cloning in 29 languages, translation memory, and team workspaces. These make it ideal for large-scale, multilingual video production workflows.
✅ Go for it if: You need to localize existing videos at scale with dubbing, voice cloning, and accurate translations.
⚠️ Don’t choose it if: You’re starting from scratch and need a tool to actually create new videos.
Rask best features
- Create voiceovers in your own voice across 29 languages
- Auto-tag multiple voices in multi‑speaker content
- Use translation memory to maintain phrasing consistency
Rask limitations
- Not suitable for creating new video content—focused solely on localization
Rask pricing
- Creator: Starts at $60/month
- Creator Pro: Starts at $150/month
- Business: Starts at $750/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Rask ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (270+ reviews)
- Capterra: Not enough reviews
What are real-life users saying about Rask?
Straight from a G2 review:
5. InVideo (Best for turning scripts into social-ready marketing videos)
A social‑media-first video creator with AI‑powered scripts, talking avatars, stock library, and template editing, InVideo works right in your browser.
It lets users convert text into ready-to-post social videos using clean transitions, captions, and voiceovers. Its stock library of millions of clips makes it easy to build branded content fast. Users appreciate its consistent speed even under load.
✅ Go for it if: You want to quickly turn scripts into marketing videos with stock footage and auto-voiceovers.
⚠️ Don’t choose it if: You need original visuals, avatars, or cinematic editing features.
InVideo best features
- Turn your prompt into a complete voiceover script instantly
- Convert text-to-video. Automatically match scenes and voice in one click
- Replace clips, voiceovers, or music instantly without re-rendering
- Add captions in multiple languages and recalibrate timing
- Get one-click export in platform-specific formats (TikTok, YouTube, etc.)
InVideo limitations
- Templates can feel generic for brand-driven use cases
InVideo pricing
- Free (doesn’t include AI)
- Plus: $35/month
- Max: $60/month
- Generative: $120/month
- Team: $999/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
InVideo ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.5/5 (160+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (400+ reviews)
What are real-life users saying about InVideo?
Here’s a Capterra reviewer’s opinion:
🧠 Fun Fact: 51% of marketers have used AI for producing videos as opposed to 49% who haven’t.
6. Runway (Best for AI-native content creators working with text-to-video)
A powerhouse for AI-native video creators, Runway offers cutting-edge text-to-video, background removal, video expansion, and studio-grade editing in one cloud-native suite.
Runway combines text-to-video models (Gen‑1/2/3/4), image-to-video conversion, effects, and scene extension tools—all backed by Hollywood-level innovation. Its Gen‑4 model retains character consistency across multiple shots, a breakthrough in video storytelling.
✅ Go for it if: You’re an advanced creator exploring AI-native storytelling—like text-to-video or scene generation.
⚠️ Don’t choose it if: You’re new to video marketing tools or just need a simple platform for editing social content.
Runway best features
- Preserve characters & objects across shots using Gen 4—with a single reference image
- Remove backgrounds, add transitions, and stylize scenes with ease
- Use “Expand Video” to lengthen vertical clips in a landscape orientation and vice versa
Runway limitations
- Since it’s mostly aimed at pros, there is a learning curve for first-time users
Runway pricing
- Free (one-time use)
- Standard: $15/user/month
- Pro: $35/user/month
- Unlimited: $95/user/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Runway ratings and reviews
- G2: Not enough reviews
- Capterra: Not enough reviews
What are real-life users saying about Runway?
Here’s what a G2 user wrote in their review:
📚 Also Read: Storyboard templates
7. Elai.io (Best for building interactive training videos with quizzes and SCORM export)
Designed for L&D teams, marketers, and educators, Elai.io transforms PDFs or scripts into avatar-narrated, interactive training videos with built-in quizzes and SCORM export.
🧠 Fun Fact: SCORM stands for Sharable Content Object Reference Model—a set of technical standards used to ensure e-learning content works across any LMS (Learning Management System). If your video tool exports SCORM files, it means your training videos can plug directly into platforms like Moodle, Docebo, or TalentLMS—complete with progress tracking, quizzes, and completion data.
You start with text or PowerPoint input, select from 80+ avatars, pick from 75+ languages, and add clickable quizzes or branching interactions. It shines for e-learning use cases requiring structured viewer engagement.
✅ Go for it if: You’re building structured training content and need avatar-led narration, SCORM export, and interactivity.
⚠️ Don’t choose it if: You want high creative freedom or polished marketing visuals with B-roll and effects.
Elai.io best features
- Scaffold learning by generating interactive quizzes and branching logic
- Upload your own avatar or voice for brand fidelity
Elai.io limitations
- The interface is tailored more toward structured content, offering less creative freedom
- It lacks cinematic editing
Elai.io pricing
- Free
- Basic: $29/user/month
- Advanced: $59/user/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Elai.io ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.6/5 (110+ reviews)
- Capterra: Not enough reviews
What are real-life users saying about Elai.io?
A G2 review reads:
8. AI Studios by DeepBrain AI (Best for realistic avatars and multi-language corporate videos)
Specializing in human-like avatar videos for marketing, customer service, and training, AI Studios by DeepBrain AI offers access to over 2000 avatars and 150+ languages on a credit-based model.
It provides intuitive scene editing, avatar gestures, and ChatGPT‑style scripting tools. It’s a cost-effective choice for businesses looking to localize or personalize video content at scale.
✅ Go for it if: You need business-style avatar videos with professional delivery across multiple languages.
⚠️ Don’t choose it if: You’re looking for creative flexibility, heavy scene editing, or short-form social content.
AI Studios best features
- Generate narrative videos without expensive equipment
- Reflect human expressions and natural movements with emotive avatars
- Choose flexible video minute tiers with no watermark
AI Studios limitations
- Users report that creative editing (e.g., B-roll integration) is basic at best
AI Studios pricing
- Free
- Personal: $29/user/month
- Team: Starts at $69/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
AI Studios ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.3/5 (860+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (50+ reviews)
What are real-life users saying about AI Studios?
A G2 user recommends the tool:
9. Lumen5 (Best for converting blog posts into engaging branded videos)
Lumen5 is a user-friendly AI video creator ideal for marketers and small teams who want quick, polished social or blog-to-video content.
Lumen5 converts text (like blog posts or scripts) into engaging videos using AI to match visuals, narration, and pacing—with access to stock media and brand customization. Templates and automated layouts help complete the process within minutes, with minimal design skills.
✅ Go for it if: You want to repurpose blogs or scripts into clean, branded videos with minimal effort.
⚠️ Don’t choose it if: You need avatar narration, voice cloning, or deep editing controls.
Lumen5 best features
- Apply your colors, logo, and fonts to all videos easily
- Export content in multiple aspect ratios (16:9, 9:16, etc.) with one click
- Use AI voiceovers or upload your own to personalize videos
Lumen5 limitations
- The voiceover quality and lip-sync accuracy may vary
- Some users report getting copyright claims when using stock assets for their YouTube videos
Lumen5 pricing
- Community: Free
- Basic: $29/month
- Starter: $79/month
- Professional: $199/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Lumen5 ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.5/5 (60+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (140+ reviews)
What are real-life users saying about Lumen5?
A Capterra review highlights:
📚 Also Read: Podcast script templates
10. Colossyan Creator (Best for scalable e-learning content with interactive features)
A training-focused AI video tool with realistic avatars, multilingual support, quiz embeds, and SCORM export, Colossyan Creator is perfect for creating e-learning content and onboarding teams.
The app converts scripts or uploaded slides into avatar-narrated videos in over 70 languages, enabling conversation-mode scenes with multiple avatars and interactive quizzes. It’s a good fit if you want to balance usability with scale.
✅ Go for it if: You’re in e-learning or HR and need multilingual, interactive training videos with SCORM support.
⚠️ Don’t choose it if: You need cinematic storytelling, social-focused formats, or creative direction over visuals.
Colossyan Creator best features
- Localize content globally by auto-generating videos in 70+ languages
- Invite unlimited viewers with role controls
- Integrate into LMS platforms seamlessly
Colossyan Creator limitations
- Creative flexibility and editing options are limited
Colossyan Creator pricing
- Free
- Starter: Starts at $27/month
- Business: Starts at $88/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Colossyan Creator ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.5/5 (470+ reviews)
- Capterra: Not enough reviews
What are real-life users saying about Colossyan?
A G2 review says:
11. Hour One (Best for hyper-realistic virtual presenters in corporate comms)
Hour One is a business-grade AI avatar video creator that delivers hyper-realistic virtual presenters and fast turnaround—geared for marketing, training, and internal communication at scale.
It offers over 100 avatars and supports 60+ languages. It also provides script and template wizards, brand kits, and secure collaboration tools.
✅ Go for it if: You need lifelike presenters for corporate communication, product explainer videos, or internal updates.
⚠️ Don’t choose it if: You want low-cost video production or are experimenting with AI video casually.
Hour One best features
- Finish videos in minutes with script wizards
- Get up to speed quickly with a simple UI
- Invite editors and viewers with secure role permissions
- Translate videos easily with multi-language support and built-in captions
Hour One limitations
- Users feel that some AI avatars appear uncanny
- The setting up of custom avatars may require help from support
Hour One pricing
- Free trial
- Lite: $30/month
- Business: $112/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Hour One ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.5/5 (120+ reviews)
- Capterra: Not enough reviews
What are real-life users saying about Hour One?
Here’s a G2 user’s take on the tool:
📚 Also Read: Content writing templates
Summarize this article for me pleasePicking the Best HeyGen Alternative
HeyGen may have opened the door to avatar-led content, but as teams grow, so do expectations: better control, smarter collaboration, flexible pricing, and features that go beyond face-swapping or lip-syncing.
Tools like Synthesia and Colossyan excel at fast avatar-led training videos. Rask and DeepBrain shine for localization. And for short-form content that moves fast, VEED, Runway, and InVideo AI deliver with style.
Your use case, team size, and creative goals will define what “best” means to you.
But ClickUp is our recommendation if you’re looking to manage the entire video production process—from scripting to task reviews—within a single platform.
Want to move on from scattered workflows? Try ClickUp for free—and see what happens when AI meets collaboration.
Everything you need to stay organized and get work done.
