HeyGen vs Runway
Runway scores higher overall: 76/100 (A-tier) vs 74/100 (A-tier) for HeyGen in Video generation & editing. HeyGen leads on ease and value. Runway leads on job fit, momentum and trust & maturity. They tie on openness & portability and builder/gamer bonus.
Scores are initial editorial estimates from public information, not hands-on tests. How we score →
Side by side
| HeyGen | Runway | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | A | A |
| Overall score | 74/100 | 76/100 |
| Job fit | 20/30 | 22/30 |
| Ease / time-to-first-result | 14/15 | 13/15 |
| Value | 11/15 | 10/15 |
| Momentum | 12/15 | 13/15 |
| Openness & portability | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Trust & maturity | 8/10 | 9/10 |
| Builder/gamer bonus | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| What it does | Generates presenter videos with AI avatars, voice cloning and translation. | AI video generation and editing tools; the company now frames its research around "real-world intelligence" world models. |
| Best for | You want spokesperson or explainer videos without filming. | You want pro-grade AI video tools in one suite. |
| Skip it if | You want cinematic footage. | You are on a tight budget. |
| Pricing | Free plan ($0/mo); Creator $29/mo; Pro $49/mo ✓ verified on the official pricing page, Oct 18, 2026 | Free plan (125 one-time credits); Standard $15/mo ($12 annually); Pro $35/mo ✓ verified on the official pricing page, Oct 18, 2026 |
| Starting paid price | $29/mo | $15/mo ($12/mo billed annually) |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | web · API | web · iOS · API |
| Open source | No | No |
| Official site | heygen.com | runway.com |
| Last reviewed | Oct 18, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 |
Which should you pick?
Pick HeyGen if…
You want spokesperson or explainer videos without filming.
Pick Runway if…
You want pro-grade AI video tools in one suite.
FAQ
Is HeyGen better than Runway?
Runway scores higher overall: 76/100 (A-tier) vs 74/100 (A-tier) for HeyGen in Video generation & editing. HeyGen leads on ease and value. Runway leads on job fit, momentum and trust & maturity. They tie on openness & portability and builder/gamer bonus. The better pick depends on the job: choose HeyGen if you want spokesperson or explainer videos without filming. Choose Runway if you want pro-grade AI video tools in one suite.
Do HeyGen and Runway have free tiers?
HeyGen: free tier listed (verified on the official pricing page Oct 18, 2026). Runway: free tier listed (verified on the official pricing page Oct 18, 2026). Unverified means an editorial summary not yet confirmed on the vendor's pricing page.
Is HeyGen or Runway open source?
HeyGen is not open source; Runway is not open source.
How are these scores calculated?
Both tools are scored out of 100 on the same public rubric (job fit 30, ease 15, value 15, momentum 15, openness 10, trust 10, builder/gamer bonus 5) within their category. Current scores are initial editorial estimates from public information, not hands-on tests. Sponsors cannot buy points.
Keep exploring
- HeyGen review and score breakdown
- Runway review and score breakdown
- Best AI video generators and editors
- Video generation & editing tier list