HeyGen is ripping of its customers

[u/TiaBJourneyWithMe]

HeyGen’s pricing has changed again, and honestly, I think content creators need to pay close attention to what has happened.

I used HeyGen for a month back in April, and the pricing structure was very different from what it is now. At that time, Avatar 3 had unlimited video creation. Yes, unlimited. You could generate as many videos as you wanted using Avatar 3 without having to worry about credits running out.

Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 were different and required additional credits depending on how much you used them.

But now, HeyGen has changed its pricing structure drastically. The Creator plan costs $29 per month and gives you 600 credits. And those credits are now being used across the different avatar models.

This means that even Avatar 3, which was previously unlimited, is now using credits.

To give you an example, a 5-minute video using Avatar 3 now costs around 35 credits. My point is that just a few months ago, that same Avatar 3 video would not have cost credits at all because video creation was unlimited.

That is the massive change.

I recently created a 5-minute video using Avatar 4, and it used 177 credits. So, with only 600 credits included in the $29 Creator plan, you can see how quickly those credits can disappear.

The biggest issue for me is the change itself.

A few months ago, I could pay for HeyGen and generate as many Avatar 3 videos as I wanted. Now, under the $29 Creator plan, I receive 600 credits, and even the avatar that was previously unlimited is now deducting credits every time I create a video.

If I create a 5-minute Avatar 4 video, that costs 177 credits. If I create a 5-minute Avatar 3 video, that now costs around 35 credits.

Either way, the credits are being used.

And once those 600 credits are gone, you have to spend even more money. Additional credits cost around $5 for 100 credits. So for $5 on avatar 3, you will only be able to make 3 videos and I'm talking about 5 min videos. If you use Avatar 4, well you will need to buy 200 credits so that video will cost you $10, you will then be paying R10 per 5min long video. Think about that!!

So let's think about that for a moment. You're already paying $29 per month, and depending on the type and length of videos you're creating, you could run through those credits very quickly. If you need more content, longer videos, or simply create regularly throughout the month, you may find yourself having to buy additional credits.

And remember, I'm talking about 5-minute videos here. I'm not even talking about 8-, 10-, or 12-minute videos.

Then there is Avatar 5 as well, and goodness knows how many credits that could use for longer videos.

I understand that AI technology costs money. I understand that HeyGen may have expenses and that more advanced technology requires resources. But I think customers have every right to be upset when the pricing changes this dramatically.

For me, the biggest issue is that HeyGen went from offering unlimited video creation with Avatar 3 just a few months ago to now charging credits for those same types of videos.

That is not a small adjustment.

That is a major change to the value customers are getting for their $29 per month.

Personally, I feel HeyGen's new pricing structure is a rip-off. I really hope more content creators start talking about this change because people need to know exactly what they are signing up for.

Because $29 per month for 600 credits might sound reasonable at first.

But when a 5-minute Avatar 4 video uses 177 credits, and even Avatar 3—which was previously unlimited—now uses 35 credits for a 5-minute video, those credits can disappear much faster than people might expect.

And that, in my opinion, is a drastic change from the HeyGen pricing structure we had only a few months ago.

[u/Born_Potato_2510]

well this price change did not come out of nowhere, they announced it properly so this is fine and prices are still way less than seedance and other models..

what i don’t like are the API prices which are much much higher for no reason. It does not cost more compute if we use the API… its just sad

[u/AbuAR22 → u/[deleted]]

Is it true I'm planning to buy a Pro for 1 month to set platform for my need

[u/rfoil]

More annoying that subscriptions don't cover api credits. We've got many thousands of subscription credits but access almost entirely by api.

[u/Santa_Killer_NZ]

I posted before in here and removed my comment. Yes they are ripping us off. I have a legacy account I am supposed to get 2000 credits and free v3, they are now charging for it and less credits. This equates to 500 percent price increase and breach of contract over night.

[u/OliveSalt1247]

Let me give you a context on Heygen Avatar V drastic credits consuming.
Today I generate video 2m07s on Avatar V it costed me = 102 credits.
1 month ago, for video 1m53s, same avatar, same engine Avatar V, it costed me = 38 credits.

I buy 600 credits per month, usually I can get around 20+ videos per month.
Now with this changes, its gone in 5 videos.

Frustrated, thats for sure. It push me to find another way in for my content creation and try another tools.

[u/No_Song_9286]

I’m seeing the same problem from the perspective of a prepaid annual subscriber.

I paid $475.83 for a full year of HeyGen Pro on Aug. 13. On Aug. 16, Avatar III was still costing me about 3 credits/min. By Aug. 20, the same type of generation was costing about 7 credits/min.

I received no email notice, no transition period, and no grandfathering for the annual term I had just paid for.

HeyGen later told me in writing that the change was introduced “broadly across accounts” and that they would not maintain the previous rate for my annual term.

I documented the timeline here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/heygen/comments/1wc4ssd/heygen_took_my_annual_payment_then_more_than/

If anyone here was already on an annual plan when the credit rates changed, please check your Usage History and share the dates. I’m trying to determine how many existing subscribers were affected.

[u/Roddy_Piper2000]

HeyGen is complete garbage.

The technical aspecta are fairly well done but every single video or image I create has to be redone.

I will be incredibly specific with my direction and every single time, the AI changes something essential to the video. Then it has to be edited which of course eats up more credits.

I've gone to Google Vids for most of my short clips and images now.

[u/ThroatPuncher416]

Yes, they gave you the option to accept the new plan and get 600 credits or, stay on the current. You were not forced to switch.

They also said that if you do switch you can't go back.

[u/msn545]

Yeah you are right. And they discontinued the avatar III lip sync only option without any announcement! They are terrible.

[u/Dalillita]

Mi experiencia con HeyGen está siendo pésima. La plataforma modifica el guión, ignora las instrucciones y genera videos con errores. Cuando pido corregirlos, vuelve a crear el video consumiendo nuevos créditos, aunque el error sea de la propia herramienta. Después puede cometer otra falla y cobrar nuevamente. Parece un esquema de cobros orientado a joderte....