HeyGen vs Runway
A source-aware comparison of pricing, documented capabilities and workflow fit.
Short answer
- Price: not directly comparable — HeyGen is free tier available, Runway is free tier available.
- How to start: both are free tier available.
- Where they differ: only HeyGen has sso (saml) and only Runway has mobile app; both offer public api.
These lines are generated from the pricing we track, not from a paid placement. How we score tools.
What HeyGen is
HeyGen creates avatar videos and translates existing footage into other languages with matched lip movement. Translating existing footage with matched lip movement is the feature that saves real money on localisation. Avatar output is convincing in short business formats and still recognisable as synthetic at length.
What Runway is
Runway generates and edits video with AI, covering text-to-video, inpainting and motion tools. It is aimed at people who edit rather than prompt: generation sits next to inpainting, masking and motion tools in one timeline. Output length and consistency remain the practical limits, which is why it supplements rather than replaces production.
Side by side
What HeyGen is built to do
- Avatar video
- Produces presenter video from a script without filming.
- Video translation
- Redubs footage into other languages with matched lip movement.
- Brand templates
- Reuses layouts and voices across a series of videos.
What Runway is built to do
- Text and image to video
- Generates clips from prompts or reference stills.
- Video inpainting
- Removes or replaces objects across frames.
- Editing timeline
- Combines generated and filmed footage in one editor.
Choose HeyGen if
- Teams localising video content across markets.
Choose Runway if
- Video teams and creators exploring generative footage.
Evidence and freshness
Where a claim on this page comes from a vendor page, it is linked here.
HeyGen: pros & cons
- Video translation with lip sync
- Custom avatars from your own footage
- Fast turnaround
- Credit-based pricing runs down quickly
- Quality varies by language
- Consent and likeness issues need care
Runway: pros & cons
- Leading quality in generative video
- Editing tools alongside generation
- Fast iteration on ideas
- Credits are consumed quickly
- Output still needs human editing
- Costs mount on longer projects
Our verdict on HeyGen
The translation feature is the standout. Get explicit consent for any real person's likeness.
Our verdict on Runway
The strongest generative video tool for now. Budget credits carefully; experimentation is expensive.