HeyGen vs Runway
HeyGen vs Runway: HeyGen makes talking AI avatar videos from $24/mo; Runway generates cinematic AI shots from $15/mo. Different jobs, compared.
HeyGen
VS
Runway
HeyGen from: $24/mo
Runway from: $15/mo
Last updated by the Faceless team
HeyGen vs Runway: at a glance
HeyGen and Runway are both AI video generators, but they generate different things. HeyGen generates a presenter: an AI avatar that speaks your script with lip-sync in 175+ languages, with voice cloning. Runway generates footage: Gen-3 text-to-video, motion brush, and generative fill for short stylized shots, with no narration, captions, or voice cloning.
Runway is cheaper to start at $15/month, but Gen-3 generations burn credits quickly on text-to-video work. HeyGen starts at $24/month. Both have free tiers, and neither posts to social platforms for you.
Pricing comparison
HeyGen
$24/month
Runway
$15/month
HeyGen and Runway at a glance
HeyGen
For sales, training, and localization videos with a presenter
$24
/month
Strengths
- Lip-synced avatars in 175+ languages
- Voice cloning
- Free tier
Limitations
- Does not generate cinematic footage
- No auto-posting
Runway
For creative teams generating one-off hero shots
$15
/month
Strengths
- Gen-3 text-to-video
- Motion brush and generative fill
- Lowest entry price ($15/month)
Limitations
- Credits burn quickly on text-to-video
- No captions, narration, or voice cloning
Feature comparison
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Auto Post YouTube | ||
| Auto Post TikTok | ||
| Auto Post Instagram | ||
| Voice Cloning | ||
| B-roll Library | ||
| Captions | ||
| Free Tier | ||
| Reddit Import | ||
| Series Automation | ||
| Multi Channel |
Which one should you pick?
HeyGen wins
3- Talking presenter or explainer video
HeyGen's lip-synced avatars are built for exactly this. Runway does not make presenters.
- Localizing into many languages
HeyGen supports 175+ languages with lip-sync.
- Using your own voice
HeyGen supports voice cloning. Runway does not list it in our data.
Runway wins
2- Cinematic generated shots
Runway's Gen-3 text-to-video and motion brush lead for short stylized clips.
- Lowest entry price
Runway starts at $15/month, HeyGen at $24/month, though Runway's credits go quickly on text-to-video.
Verdict
Final verdict
HeyGen when the video needs someone talking to camera. Runway when the video needs striking generated visuals. They solve different problems, and some teams use both.
A third option: where Faceless fits
Neither HeyGen nor Runway is built around publishing a daily faceless channel. If that is the job, Faceless turns a prompt, script, or Reddit URL into a narrated video and auto-posts it to YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram from $29/month. It is not a replacement for what either tool here does best.
See how Faceless compares to other tools
Same testing methodology, different head-to-heads. Pick a competitor.
How much does Faceless.so cost?
Faceless.so plans start at $29/month for about 25 AI faceless videos a month, created and auto-posted to YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. Every plan is month to month, cancel anytime.
Starter
$29/mo
~25 videos/month
Growth
$39/mo
~50 videos/month
Influencer
$69/mo
~100 videos/month
Ultra
$99/mo
~250 videos/month
What creators say
“Simple and fast. The automation saves me time, and it's a great starting point for YouTube Shorts and TikTok. The platform keeps improving.”
“I love the Slideshows feature. I think I'll use it 80% of the time or more. You're doing a fantastic job.”
“A very helpful app with everything I need to create and edit viral shorts. The limits are generous, and the support is top-notch.”
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about our platform
They do different jobs. HeyGen makes avatar presenters; Runway generates stylized footage. Pick by the kind of video you need.
Runway starts at $15/month and HeyGen at $24/month. Runway's text-to-video uses credits quickly, so heavy use costs more.
Not in our data. Runway generates footage without narration, captions, or voice cloning.
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