HeyGen vs Runway (2026)
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Verdict
- Pick HeyGen if heygen vs runway for you means talking-head content: avatars, voice cloning and translation into 175+ languages, from Creator at $29 per month with 600 credits.
- Pick Runway if you want general AI video, image and audio generation, 4K upscaling and an API on web, iOS and Android, from Standard at $15 per month ($12 billed yearly) for 625 credits.
- Price: HeyGen Free, Creator $29 ($24 annual), Pro $49, Business $149; Runway Free (125 one-time credits), Standard $15 ($12), Pro $35 ($28), Max $95 ($76). All USD per month.
HeyGen
Create AI videos with personalized avatars, voice cloning, and translation.
From $29/mo · Free plan
Try HeyGen free
Runway
AI platform for generating and editing video, images, and audio.
From $15/mo · Free plan
Try Runway freeSide by side
| Feature | HeyGen | Runway |
|---|---|---|
| Category | AI Video | AI Video |
| Price from (monthly billing) | $29/mo | $15/mo |
| Lowest annual-billing price | $24/mo | $12/mo |
| Plans | Free, Creator, Pro, Business, Enterprise | Free, Standard, Pro, Max |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | not published | not published |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, api | Web, iOS, Android |
| Key limits | Free: 3 videos a month, watermarked; Videos up to 1 minute each · Creator: 600 credits | Free: 125 one-time credits, 5GB asset storage · Standard: 625 credits /mo, Up to 3 projects, 20GB storage |
| Pricing page | Official pricing page checked 2026-10-21 | Official pricing page checked 2026-10-24 |
Cost for About 600 credits / 1,000 to 2,250 / 1,500 to 9,500 monthly credits
Plan price per month, compared by the credits each plan states: HeyGen 600, 1,000 and 1,500; Runway 625, 2,250 and 9,500. Both cards are in USD.
| monthly credits | HeyGen | Runway |
|---|---|---|
| About 600 credits | $29/mo monthly · $24/mo annual (Creator, 600 credits) | $15/mo monthly · $12/mo billed yearly (Standard, 625 credits) |
| 1,000 to 2,250 | $49/mo (Pro, 1,000 credits) | $35/mo monthly · $28/mo yearly (Pro, 2,250 credits) |
| 1,500 to 9,500 | $149/mo (Business, 1,500 credits) | $95/mo monthly · $76/mo yearly (Max, 9,500 credits) |
A credit is not the same unit in both products, so equal credit counts do not mean equal output. HeyGen's cards show an annual price for Creator only. Runway's Standard and Pro credits reset monthly without rollover, while Max lets unused credits roll over for one month.
Which one to choose
Choose HeyGen if…
- Your videos need a human-looking presenter without a camera or crew.
- You localize content and want lip-synced translation into many languages.
- You convert slides or documents (PPT/PDF) into video.
Choose Runway if…
- You want text-to-video and image-to-video clips, plus image and audio generation, in one suite.
- You need 4K video upscaling, background removal or custom voice clones on a paid plan.
- You want mobile apps and an API for developers.
Pros and cons
HeyGen: Pros
- Custom video avatars and voice cloning
- Over 175 languages and dialects with lip-syncing
- Free plan: up to three videos a month
- Text-based AI Studio editor for tone and gestures
HeyGen: Cons
- Free videos carry a watermark and stop at 1 minute
- Collaboration needs Business, at $20 per added seat
- Unused credits are lost on cancellation
- Pro and Business show monthly prices only
Runway: Pros
- Free plan with 125 one-time credits and 5GB of storage
- Video, image and audio generation, plus 4K upscaling
- Web, iOS and Android access, and an API
- Max rolls unused credits over for one month
Runway: Cons
- Standard and Pro credits do not roll over
- Free credits are one-time, not monthly
- Credit limits cap generation volume
- Paid plans cap projects at 3, 5 and 10
Head to head
Scope
Runway is a cloud creative suite for generating and editing video, images and audio, with an API for developers and a robotics toolkit for policy inference and simulation. HeyGen is narrower: a video generation platform around avatars, cloned voices and translation. If the output you picture is a presenter reading a script in several languages, HeyGen's description matches; for generated scenes and effects, Runway's does.
Free plans
Both offer a Free plan, structured differently. HeyGen's resets every month: three watermarked videos of up to one minute. Runway's is a single grant of 125 credits with 5GB of storage. Monthly freshness favors HeyGen for ongoing small tests; Runway's grant suits a quick exploration.
Paid tiers
Entry paid plans are close in credits (625 against 600) but apart in monthly price ($15 against $29). Runway lists storage, projects and a custom voice clone on Pro; HeyGen lists seat pricing and collaboration on Business and above. HeyGen's Enterprise sets credit volume to your usage; Runway's top published tier is Max.
Frequently asked questions
Is Runway cheaper than HeyGen?
On entry paid plans, yes by list price: Runway Standard is $15 per month, or $12 billed yearly, for 625 credits, while HeyGen Creator is $29, or $24 annually, for 600. Credits measure different outputs in each product, so the credit counts do not guarantee similar results.
Which is better for AI avatars, HeyGen or Runway?
HeyGen's card centres on custom video avatars, voice cloning and translation into over 175 languages. Runway's card lists video, image and audio generation, upscaling and custom voice clones on Pro, but names no avatar feature. Based on vendor pages alone, HeyGen matches avatar use.
Do HeyGen and Runway offer a free plan?
Yes, both. HeyGen Free gives up to three watermarked videos a month, each up to one minute. Runway Free gives 125 one-time credits and 5GB of asset storage, with no monthly refresh. HeyGen's allowance repeats every month, so it suits ongoing small tests; Runway's does not.
Do credits roll over on HeyGen or Runway?
HeyGen credits roll over for one month on monthly subscriptions, and annual plan credits accumulate until renewal; unused credits do not carry over after cancellation. Runway Standard and Pro credits reset monthly without rollover, and Max lets unused credits roll over for one month.
Can I use HeyGen or Runway on mobile or via API?
Runway lists web access, dedicated iOS and Android applications and an API for developers. HeyGen's card describes its video generation tools but does not state mobile apps or an API. Check the vendor's official pages if either is a requirement before choosing.
Other comparisons and alternatives
Explore further
How we check
Plans, prices, trials and limits in the table are copied from each tool's card, which is built from the vendor's official pages and dated. The page is only as fresh as the older of the two checks above. How we review.
Sources: HeyGen official site, Runway official site.
Data is collected and checked by AI agents from official vendor pages; the owner is responsible for the project.
Partner link: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our order or verdicts. Affiliate disclosure