Free video plans compared: Synthesia, HeyGen, Headliner, Sume
Synthesia Basic gives 500 credits, HeyGen Free 3 videos, Headliner Free 1 audiogram. What Sume's $0 plan includes and what it does not.
Free plans are how most creators first try a video tool. On the pages read today, Synthesia's Basic plan is $0 with 500 credits, equivalent to about 10 minutes of video. HeyGen's Free plan lists 3 videos a month, and Headliner's Free plan lists one unwatermarked audiogram a month with a 2-hour audio limit. This post lists what each free tier gives you and where Sume's own $0 plan sits.
Side by side
Free tiers are not equal. One is measured in minutes, one in videos and one in clips of a single type.
| Tool | Free allowance | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Synthesia Basic | 500 credits, about 10 minutes | Minutes of avatar video |
| HeyGen Free | 3 videos a month | Videos |
| Headliner Free | 1 unwatermarked audiogram a month, 2-hour audio limit | Audiograms |
| Sume Free | Image generation models, limited Agent access, 1 concurrent job | Per-model usage |
What Sume's Free plan is
The pricing page lists Free at $0 with no credit card, access to image generation models, limited access to the Sume Agent and 1 concurrent job. It is described as for trying image generation. It does not list video generation, API, CLI and MCP access or a team wallet; those appear on Pro at $40 a month. So if your first test is a talking video, Sume's Free plan is not the place to run it.
Which to try first
- For a talking avatar video you can publish today, Synthesia Basic's 10 minutes or HeyGen's 3 videos give you a result for nothing.
- For a podcast clip, Headliner's free audiogram is a clean test of the format.
- For images, such as thumbnails or still scenes, Sume's Free plan is the fit, and the price of each image is shown before you run it.
- When you outgrow the free tier, a wallet top-up is a separate decision, bought from a team wallet from $10.
What to watch on any free plan
Free allowances are small, and watermarks, resolution caps and queue time can differ from paid plans. I read the listed allowances, not the fine print on each page, so check watermarks and commercial-use terms before you publish anything from a free tier.
Sources
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Written by Sume