Yes, HeyGen has a free plan and you don't need a credit card. HeyGen Free lets you make 3 videos a month, each up to 1 minute long, and they carry a HeyGen watermark. You also get limited trial access to premium features such as Avatar IV and Video Agent, one custom video avatar and 500+ ready-made presenters.
So HeyGen Free is good for seeing whether AI avatar video works for your business, and not much more. The watermark and the one-minute cap rule it out for most published content. Here's exactly what you get and what changes when you pay.
What HeyGen Free includes
- 3 videos a month, watermarked.
- Videos up to 1 minute each.
- Access to Avatar IV and Video Agent, which HeyGen describes as limited trial access on Free.
- One custom video avatar, plus 500+ ready-made presenters.
- 30+ languages.
- No credit card required to start.
HeyGen's FAQ also mentions limited trial access to lip-sync translation on Free, so you can test how a video sounds in another language before paying.
What you can't do on the free plan
| Limit on Free | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Watermark on every video | Not suitable for client work or ads |
| 1 minute per video | Fine for a short intro, too short for a training video |
| 3 videos a month | Enough to test, not to publish regularly |
| Limited access to premium features | You can try Avatar IV, not rely on it |
How HeyGen's paid plans work
HeyGen's paid plans run on credits. Its FAQ calls credits HeyGen's single currency for video and asset creation: every paid plan includes a monthly allocation you spend across features, and the number of credits a video uses depends on what you make. For solo creators, HeyGen lists the Creator plan at $29 a month, as of October 2026.
What happens to unused credits
This is a useful detail. HeyGen says monthly subscribers' unused credits roll over for one more month, and annual subscribers' credits build up until the annual renewal date. But credits don't carry over after cancellation, so use them before you cancel.
| Situation | What HeyGen's FAQ says |
|---|---|
| Monthly plan, credits left over | They roll over for one more month |
| Annual plan, credits left over | They build up until your renewal date |
| You cancel | Credits don't carry over |
| You run out on Creator or Pro | Upgrade to a higher plan or tier |
| You run out on Business | Buy one-time credit packs or turn on auto-reload |
How to run a useful test on the free plan
- Sign up for the Free plan; no card is needed.
- Write a script under one minute, the free cap per video.
- Make your first video with a ready-made presenter to learn the editor.
- Use a second video to try your one custom avatar or Avatar IV.
- Keep the third for a translated version, so you can hear the lip-sync result.
If you want a fuller walkthrough, my guide to using HeyGen to make an avatar video covers the steps from script to export. To compare it with its best-known rival, see HeyGen versus Synthesia.
Who should pay for HeyGen
| You want to... | Free enough? |
|---|---|
| Test whether AI avatars suit your brand | Yes |
| Post a short welcome video on your site | No, the watermark shows |
| Make weekly social videos | No, 3 a month won't cover it |
| Translate existing videos for new markets | Test free, then pay |
What the Creator plan adds
HeyGen's pricing page lists what changes when you move from Free to Creator, as of October 2026:
- 600 credits a month to spend across features.
- Video export in 1080p.
- Avatar III and Avatar IV, with Avatar V on limited usage.
- Video Agent with expanded access.
- HeyGen Voice, with up to 10 hours of text to speech.
- HeyGen Video 1 for text, image and reference to video.
The jump that matters most for business use is moving off the watermarked free tier to a plan HeyGen describes as for publishing video, with 1080p export, because those two things decide whether a video looks finished on your website or in an ad. Higher plans add more credits; HeyGen also lists Pro and Business plans and an Enterprise option through sales.
Free versus Creator at a glance
| Feature | Free | Creator (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | No card needed | $29 a month |
| Videos | 3 a month | Uses 600 monthly credits |
| Watermark | Yes | Not listed |
| Export | Not listed | 1080p |
| Avatars | Limited trial access to Avatar IV | Avatar III and Avatar IV, Avatar V limited |
| Text to speech | Not listed | Up to 10 hours with HeyGen Voice |
HeyGen says upgrades take effect straight away, with prorated billing and the extra credits added, and its yearly billing option advertises 2 months free compared with paying monthly. If you're sure you'll publish regularly, the yearly option is the cheaper way in.
Languages are another step up. The Free plan covers 30+ languages, while HeyGen's plan comparison lists 175 languages and dialects on Creator, which matters if you want to reach customers in several markets from one script.
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My advice
Use your 3 free videos as a structured test: one with a stock presenter, one with your own avatar, one translated. If the results are good enough that you'd publish them without the watermark, the Creator plan is where to start. Keep scripts tight, because both the free cap and paid credits reward short videos. And if you ever cancel, spend your credits first; HeyGen says they don't carry over.
Frequently asked questions
Is HeyGen free to use?
Yes. HeyGen's Free plan needs no credit card and makes up to 3 videos a month, each up to 1 minute, with a watermark.
Does HeyGen Free have a watermark?
Yes. HeyGen lists the Free plan as 3 videos a month, watermarked.
How long can HeyGen free videos be?
Up to 1 minute each on the Free plan.
How much is HeyGen's paid plan?
HeyGen lists the Creator plan at $29 a month for solo creators, as of October 2026.
Do HeyGen credits roll over?
HeyGen says monthly subscribers' unused credits roll over for one more month, and annual subscribers' credits build up until renewal. Credits don't carry over after cancellation.
Do I need a credit card for HeyGen's free plan?
No. HeyGen says you can try it free with no credit card required.
What resolution does HeyGen export on the paid plan?
HeyGen lists 1080p export on the Creator plan, which costs $29 a month as of October 2026.
