Is HeyGen the Right AI Video Tool for You?

When I was searching for a video creation AI tool, I came across HeyGen. I wasn’t expecting much —just another AI video generator, right? But after testing it for a few days, I realized this tool isn’t just another clone; it’s a compelling way to create videos with real impact.

In this post, I’ll walk through my hands-on experience with HeyGen—what impressed me, where it fell short, and how it compares to other platforms like Synthesia and Colossyan. If you’re thinking about using AI for video content, this breakdown should give you a clear picture of what to expect.

About Hygen and why I used it?

HeyGen uses lifelike avatars to deliver your scripts. You type in the script, choose an avatar, and it generates a clean, professional-looking video in minutes.

As someone who works across various brands, I was always chasing one thing: high-converting content that doesn’t eat up my entire day. Video works best, no question—but setting up lighting, scripting, filming, and editing? It kills momentum and budget. I needed a faster, more scalable way to create professional video content without compromising quality, and Hygen checked most of the boxes.

• I have created a video using a pre-built avatar from HeyGen.
• Uploaded a script and selected a voiceover.
• Generated the video in under 10 minutes, with minimal editing.
• Saved time and costs compared to traditional video production.
• Delivered a personalized, professional video to the client quickly.

Features I Liked The Most

Downsides? A Few You Should Know

HeyGen isn’t flawless. Here are the key issues I’ve faced as a paying Creator Plan user: 

Video Queue Times Are Still Long—Even on a Paid Plan: I’m on the $29/month Creator Plan, and I still had a video stuck "in line for processing" for over an hour. Support mentioned that processing can take up to 36 hours, depending on system load. That’s a serious bottleneck when you're on a schedule, and honestly, it's disappointing given the subscription cost. A paid tier should ideally include some level of rendering priority.

No Reliable Real-Time Status: Some videos show a helpful progress bar, like “54% Ready,” while others stay stuck on vague messages like “In line for processing,” without any time estimate. This lack of clarity makes it difficult to plan tasks or deliver content on time.

Pricing Feels Disconnected from Performance: At $29 per month, I expected consistent processing times or faster delivery. When paid users experience the same delays as free-tier users, the value proposition becomes questionable, especially if you're producing content on tight timelines.
Voice Emotion Still Needs Work: While the AI voices are clear and natural, many still sound too flat for sales videos or emotional storytelling. I’ve had to rework scripts to suit the limited tone range of the voices available.
Pronunciation Issues with Brand Names: Words like "Tieup.io" were often mispronounced. I had to spell them out phonetically to achieve a better result. If you use brand-specific terms or acronyms, be prepared to do some testing and tweaking.

What Users Are Saying (Not Just Me)

Are These Just My Issues? What Reviews Say Across the Web

After facing long render times and unclear progress updates—even on the paid Creator Plan—I wanted to see if others were running into the same problems. Turns out, I’m not alone.
Across multiple platforms, HeyGen users echo similar praise and frustrations:

On Trustpilot (4/5 stars), many users highlight HeyGen’s excellent avatar quality and easy interface, but also mention recurring delays, limited customer support responsiveness, and issues with billing transparency.

Over on G2, reviews average at 4.3/5 stars, leaning more positive. Users on G2 often praise HeyGen for its innovation and video quality, especially for content creators and small businesses. However, reviews still note lag in video rendering and occasional glitches in voice or avatar behavior.

The Reddit thread on r/GenerativeAI offers more unfiltered takes. While some users call it a “game changer” for lean marketing teams, others complain about slow support, lack of polish in final output, and frustration with rendering queues, especially during high-demand periods.

These external reviews confirm my experience: HeyGen delivers impressive results, but the infrastructure hasn’t fully caught up with its growing user base. If you're using it for content with tight deadlines, it’s worth planning buffer time or having a backup solution in place.

HeyGen’s Pricing Plans

Free Plan: Allows users to create up to 3 videos per month with 720p resolution and access to basic avatars. Ideal for casual or first-time users.

Creator Plan ($29/month): Designed for individual creators, this plan supports longer videos (up to 30 minutes), 1080p resolution, voice cloning, and access to a wider range of avatars.

Team Plan ($39 per seat/month): Includes everything in the Creator plan, plus 4K video exports, team collaboration tools, and brand kit customization—suitable for content teams and agencies.

Enterprise Plan: Offers customized solutions for larger organizations needing advanced workflow controls, enhanced security, and premium support. Pricing is tailored based on specific requirements.

Comparison: HeyGen vs. Other Top AI Video Tools

Key Takeaways:

• HeyGen has quickly become my go-to. It's easy to use, affordable, and perfect for creating polished videos for marketing and training without the heavy costs.
• Synthesia is impressive in terms of realism, but it's pricey. Unless you have a bigger budget or need ultra-realistic videos, it might be overkill.
• Colossyan works well for corporate training, but I found it too rigid in terms of customization. The templates and avatars are more limited, while HeyGen gives me more creative flexibility.
• Rephrase.ai is great for personalized videos, especially in sales outreach. But when it comes to bulk video creation, it’s not the best choice.

You can choose the one which best fits your specific goals, the size of your team, and the type of videos you need to create.

Is HeyGen Worth It? 

Based on my experience, HeyGen offers solid value, especially for small businesses and solo creators looking for an affordable AI video tool. At $29/month, the Creator Plan gives you voice cloning, 1080p resolution, and access to 100+ avatars—a great package for creating professional videos quickly and easily.

However, it’s not perfect. Rendering times can be long, even on the paid plan, sometimes taking 36 hours depending on demand, which can be frustrating if you're on a tight schedule. Also, some advanced features like 4K export and team collaboration are only available at higher-tier plans.

Overall, HeyGen is worth it if you need affordable, quick video production and don’t require high-end features. But if you need faster processing or advanced customization, you may want to consider other options.