HeyGen Review: AI Avatar & AI Video Creation Tool
Want to learn how to use a tool like HeyGen for creating a Digital Avatar?
You’re in luck.
A lot of creators have struggled to create content using video cameras and fancy equipment.
I’ve been there. I’ve recorded hundreds of podcast episodes, and tons of YouTube videos and supported marketing teams worldwide to develop content at scale.
HeyGen provides a streamlined AI-powered video creation solution. By leveraging advanced artificial intelligence (AI), it produces lifelike avatars that will communicate your script with natural nuances and quite a powerful delivery.
In this post, I’m going to do a detailed review of HeyGen.
We’ll cover the features, advantages, drawbacks, pricing, and more.
I’ve been using HeyGen to experiment with my own creations and the results have oftentimes turned heads.
Let’s dive deep into how HeyGen compares as an AI tool and Deepfake solution.
What is HeyGen AI?
HeyGen was founded by Joshua Xu and Wayne Liang. Joshua Xu is a former Snap employee and shared with Forbes that he believes AI-generated video is ready for a moment like Snapchat and Instagram had in the early days of the mobile photography revolution.
Personally?
I’m ready for this. I think the technology is fascinating and the tool they’ve built is impressive.
What does HeyGen do?
HeyGen is a content creation platform dedicated to harnessing AI technologies for video generation. It has made significant progress, introducing new translation features and enhancing quality continuously of their services.
HeyGen excels in various aspects of video generation and stands out as a frontrunner in generative AI tailored for video production. Among its standout offerings are an exceptional AI Avatar generator, cutting-edge AI-powered Text-to-Speech feature, and an innovative video translation service that dubs your voice and controls your mouth. These user-friendly tools are seamlessly integrated into an intuitive interface, empowering creators to enhance their productivity which we’re going to be diving deep into today and sharing the ins and outs of the tech.
Let’s start by diving into the key features of HeyGen.
Feature Review of HeyGen Video Generation
There are multiple key features that HeyGen brings to the table. From its innovative design to its user-friendly interface, HeyGen offers a range of functionalities that cater to various needs.
Let’s dive into some of the standout features it provides.
AI Avatar Video Creation
HeyGen offers a state-of-the-art AI avatar generator. With this feature, you can create realistic avatars of humans and animals that can be animated to deliver your script with natural nuances. This tool is especially useful for businesses and individuals who wish to create video content without needing to appear on camera. It also provides a range of customization options
As soon as you sign up you’re met with 110+ AI avatars, 310+ voices, and 310+ templates for various use cases, including product marketing, health care, sales outreach, and learning & development.
AI Video Templates
One of the most powerful features offered by HeyGen is a series of pre-developed templates that users can build on. These templates include things like “Employee Handbook” AI video templates where an HR pro could create a series of videos for new employees that talks them through all of the rules and policies of working at their company. HeyGen has already developed a template that these folks can use to get started with creating this type of material.
It doesn’t end with “Employee Handbooks”, there are more than 300 different templates that they have created that include everything from eLearning & YouTube intros to Event promotions and internal KPI Presentations. The possibilities of leveraging this tech to drive results are fascinating.
The video templates allow you to arrange various elements (text, images, music) along with your AI avatar in one place. The template experience is one of the key features that differentiate HeyGen from many of the competitors in the video AI market.
You can also create your own templates for a fully-branded experience that keeps your videos consistent.
AI Voice Cloning
HeyGen’s voice cloning feature utilizes artificial intelligence to craft a lifelike replica of a natural human voice. The audio output boasts crystal-clear quality, free from any background interference.
The process entails generating an AI clone of your voice through an audio recording or pre-recorded video. This versatile platform supports eight languages: English, German, Polish, Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, and Hindi. Your voice can be applied to a Public avatar or a custom avatar of yourself, depending on the chosen payment tier.
Locate the “Voice” menu on the side panel and select “Clone Voice.” Following these steps is essential. Firstly, you must provide “Consent” by vocalizing a brief legal paragraph.
Subsequently, you’ll need to “Record Voice,” offering the AI an adequate sample to formulate a voice clone for the text-to-speech tool integrated into the video creation features. HeyGen presents you with a predefined script to read. Press “Start Recording” to provide your voice to the system.
The recording process typically spans two minutes, during which you should aim for a natural delivery with appropriate inflection.
AI Personalized Video
One of the most underrated features within HeyGen has to be AI Personalized Videos.
Summed up, AI personalized videos give you the ability to at scale communicate with hundreds of people while making the video seem personalized. You can make one video that says “First Name” and have that video change to say “James” when it reaches James, “Farrah” when it reaches Farrah, and “Alicia” when it reaches Alicia. This is the power of HeyGen Personalized Video.
The process is easy:
Step 1: Import Your Contacts
Upload a CSV File: Prepare a CSV file with your contacts’ information, including details like names, companies, email addresses, and any other variables you plan to personalize in your video. Once ready, upload this file directly to HeyGen.
Connect to Your Online Form: Integrate HeyGen with your online forms to automatically import contact information into the platform. This method allows for a seamless flow of data from forms filled out by your audience directly into HeyGen, ensuring no lead is missed.
Or important from Typeform or Zapier.
Step 2: Prepare a Personalized Video Template
The next step involves setting up the video template you’ll use for personalization:
You can record directly in HeyGen or you can record using your own devices and upload.
Step 3: Personalize & Deliver
With your contacts imported and your video template ready, it’s time to personalize and deliver your content. You can customize the script for each video with variables like names and companies. HeyGen’s advanced AI ensures your own voice and lip-sync are perfectly matched with the personalized elements.
But it gets even better.
You can incorporate custom images like website screenshots or even a live video into a greenscreen style view. Once your videos are personalized, it’s time to deliver them to your contacts. You can embed the videos on landing pages, include them in personalized emails, or share them through other marketing channels all using HeyGen.
Boom. It’s that simple.
HeyGen’s TalkingPhoto
This unique feature allows you to animate any photo and give it a natural human voice in over 100 languages and accents. You can bring the script of what you want your image to say and use HeyGen to make it come alive.
This feature utilizes AI facial recognition to map facial expressions with your preferred voice. It works by adopting a text script and applying it to a simple image. It’s a fun and enjoyable way to bring your ideas to life, particularly for less serious projects like animating history lessons for making a business mascot come to life.
HeyGen Pricing Review
HeyGen operates on a credit-based pricing system, meaning that every video or animation produced consumes a specific number of credits. It’s important to note that any AI credits left unused by the end of the month will not carry over to the next billing cycle.
Each tier in the subscription model offers a step-up in features compared to the preceding tier. Users have the option to purchase additional credits for generating more videos utilizing the enhanced capabilities of their chosen tier. For added flexibility, HeyGen offers an annual payment alternative that reduces the overall plan cost as a benefit for making an early upfront payment.
This payment option not only eases the financial commitment but also ensures uninterrupted access to the platform’s premium functionalities throughout the year.
Here’s a breakdown of each pricing plan:
Free Plan ($0/month)
Credits: 1 free credit
Seats: 1 space seat
Features: Access to 120+ public avatars, 300+ public voices, TalkingPhoto, Generative AI Outfit, Avatar FaceSwap, and 400+ video templates.
Creator Plan ($59/month)
Credits: Total of 30 credits per month ($2/credit)
Seats: 1 space seat
Features: Includes everything in the Free plan plus normal priority service, premium voices, auto captions, and the option to use paid add-ons such as Avatar Finetune and Voice Clone.
Business Plan ($89/month)
Credits: Total of 30 credits per month ($3/credit)
Seats: 3 space seats
Features: Includes everything in the Creator plan plus high priority service, a brand kit, 4K resolution, and team collaboration options.
Enterprise Plan (Custom Pricing)
Customization: This plan is tailored to the specific needs of the organization.
Features: Large to unlimited usage, private studio avatars, custom number of seats, everything in the Business plan, highest priority service, API access, SSO (SAML), customized solutions, dedicated enterprise support, 24/7 support, and mandatory MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication).
My Estimate: You’re looking at $700+ /month for this offering.
Additional Details:
- There is a discount of 20% if you choose to pay yearly instead of monthly.
Pros and Cons of HeyGen
AI in video is an evolving technology.
While it has made significant progress, there is still room for growth.
Let’s dive into our impressions and observations on HeyGen’s AI video maker.
The Benefits of HeyGen
- Innovative Approach: The personalized AI feature, the partnership with ElevenLabs, and the integration with ChatGPT, Adobe Express, and Canva all make me LOVE where this is going.
- Smooth Onboarding Experience: HeyGen provides user-friendly onboarding videos, simplifying the process for newcomers to familiarize themselves. They also have a large library with articles, pictured below.
- Personalized Avatars: Whether customizing your own look or enhancing a pre-made avatar with various clothing choices, HeyGen presents a multitude of customization features.
- Intuitive Interface: The platform’s user-friendly design ensures that your focus remains on creativity rather than troubleshooting.
- Prompt Customer Support: Whenever you encounter an issue, HeyGen’s customer service team doesn’t just reply; they strive to resolve it efficiently.
The Downsides of HeyGen
- Credit Constraints: The platform functions on a credit-based system, where each video production incurs a cost. These credits are not transferable to the next period. That’s the one thing that I dislike the most. If you don’t use it – You lose it.
- AI Video Glitches: You won’t find any AI tool that is perfect with this yet but I still have video glitches in my own avatar that are consistently showing up.
Would I Recommend HeyGen?
Over the years, I’ve tried a lot of AI tools and HeyGen is one of a handful that have made my jaw drop. I’m impressed by what the technology can do for its users but also excited about the wide-ranging use-cases that are presented by this innovative technology.
I would recommend the Creator Plan for anyone interested in testing the technology and a Business Plan for those who are looking to make a serious investment.
You can sign up for either a Creator or Business Account here.
How to Use HeyGen to Create a Video
Creating a video is incredibly easy with HeyGen. We will show you how to make a simple video in under five minutes. Begin by selecting “Create Video” located in the top right corner of the screen.
Based on your HeyGen plan, various options are available for crafting your new video.
Let’s kick off with an “Instant Avatar“:
Choose your preferred “View Mode” for your avatar – options include “Half-body,” “Close-up,” and “Circle View.” Start by entering your script, using line breaks to create natural pauses in the avatar’s speech. Adjust the “Speed” and “Pitch” of the AI text-to-speech voice as needed. Click “Play” to preview the avatar’s voice. When satisfied, click “Submit” to publish your video. Each submission will deduct a credit.
The video rendering process may require several minutes as the voice, video, and other AI systems operate in the background. You also have the choice to directly share the video on a social platform. Furthermore, HeyGen provides various options for video quality and AI-generated captions.
Conclusion
Having delved into it, HeyGen stands out as an exceptional AI tool, competing effectively with top-tier AI voice, video, and avatar platforms like Descript and Synthesia AI.
Our overall experience was highly satisfying, particularly due to its user-friendly interface and diverse avatar options. The pricing structure is quite reasonable, offering multiple paid tiers for users to select according to their needs. The only drawback we noticed was related to its credit system, where purchased credits can expire at the start of a new billing cycle.
For those seeking more AI tools, be sure to explore this guide sharing a ton of AI powered tools.
If you’re considering alternatives to HeyGen, I would recommend checking out my detailed evaluations of DI-D, ElevenLabs, and Synthesia AI.