AI video · head to head
HeyGen vs Runway
What each costs, whether there's a free plan, and what each is best for, from prices checked on their own sites.
| Fact |  HeyGen |  Runway |
|---|---|---|
| From | $24/mo | $12/mo |
| Free plan | Yes · 3 videos/month, up to 1 minute each | Yes · 125 one-time credits |
| Best for | AI avatar videos and video translation. | AI video generation and editing tools. |
| Checked | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 17, 2026 |
| Website | Visit | Visit |
The difference in short
- Runway costs less to start: $12/mo against $24/mo for HeyGen.
- Both have a free plan, trial or credit to start with.
HeyGen pricing
All about HeyGen| Plan | Price | Specs / includes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | 3 videos/month, 1 min max, Avatar IV access, 1 custom avatar | free |
| Creator | $24/mo | 600 credits/month; videos up to 30 min; 1080p; voice cloning; 175+ languages; credit rollover | billed annually ($288/yr). Monthly billing: $29/mo. |
| Pro | $41/mo | 1,000 credits/month; videos up to 30 min; 4K export; faster processing; customisable monthly usage | billed annually ($488/yr). Monthly billing: $49/mo. FAQ says Pro 'starts at $49/month and scales up to tiers with more credits' (higher tiers not read). |
| Business | $119/mo | 1,500 credits/month; videos up to 60 min; 5 custom avatars; SAML/SSO; SCORM export; team collaboration | billed annually ($1,428/yr), plus $20 per additional seat per month. Monthly billing: $149/mo + $20/seat/month (FAQ). |
Runway pricing
All about Runway| Plan | Price | Specs / includes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | 125 one-time credits; 5 GB storage | free |
| Standard | $12/mo | 625 credits/month (about 52 s of Gen-4.5); all video and image models; 5 parallel generations; 3 projects; no watermark; 4K upscaling; 20 GB storage | billed annually (page: 'Save $36/year'; 7,500 credits/year). Non-annual price shown as $15/mo (struck through), consistent with the $36/year saving. Credits do not roll over. |
| Pro | $28/mo | 2,250 credits/month; 15 parallel generations; 5 projects; 1 Brand Kit; 1 custom voice clone; top-up credits; Runway MCP; unlimited 4K upscaling; 100 GB storage | billed annually (page: 'Save $84/year'; 27,000 credits/year). Non-annual price shown as $35/mo (struck through). Labelled 'Popular'. |
| Max | $76/mo | 9,500 credits/month with 1-month rollover; 20 parallel generations; 10 projects; 3 Brand Kits; 3 voice clones; early model access; HDR/ProRes output; 500 GB storage | billed annually (page: 'Save $228/year'; 114,000 credits/year). Non-annual price shown as $95/mo (struck through). Labelled 'Best value'. This is the top self-serve tier; there is no 'Unlimited' plan on the current page (Wan 3.0 is 'Unlimited in Tool Mode until October 18'). |
Other AI video options
Cheapest first where the prices compare.
Descript
SynthesiaFAQ
Which is cheaper, HeyGen or Runway?
Runway costs less to start: $12/mo against $24/mo for HeyGen. Prices checked Oct 17, 2026 on each company's own site.
Do HeyGen and Runway have a free plan?
HeyGen: Yes. 3 videos/month, up to 1 minute each. Runway: Yes. 125 one-time credits.
What else should I compare with HeyGen and Runway?
Other AI video options we've checked: Descript ($16/mo), Synthesia ($18/mo).
Keep comparing
Built from the prices and facts we checked on each company's own site. We haven't tested either hands-on.How we work