Runway vs HeyGen: Which is Better in 2026?
At a Glance
Overall Scores
Overall
Runway
88
HeyGen
83
Quality
Runway
90
HeyGen
82
Ease of Use
Runway
82
HeyGen
90
Value
Runway
75
HeyGen
78
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Runway | HeyGen |
|---|---|---|
| Text To Video | ||
| Image To Video | ||
| Video To Video | ||
| Motion Brush | ||
| Background Removal | ||
| Green Screen | ||
| Inpainting | ||
| Upscaling | ||
| Audio Sync | ||
| Lip Sync | ||
| API Access | ||
| Custom Training |
Specifications
| Spec | Runway | HeyGen |
|---|---|---|
| Max Video Length | 16 seconds per generation (Gen-3 Alpha) | 30 min per video (Business) |
| Max Resolution | 1080p native, 4K with upscaling | 1080p |
| Generation Speed | ~60-120 seconds per clip | ~2-5 minutes per minute of video |
| Model Version | Gen-3 Alpha, Gen-2 (legacy) | HeyGen Avatar V5 |
| Fps | 24 fps | 30 fps |
| Export Formats | MP4, GIF, PNG sequence | MP4, SRT (subtitles) |
Pricing Comparison
Pros & Cons
What Reddit Says
Runway
74% positiveRunway is widely regarded as the industry leader for AI video. Filmmakers and advertisers praise Gen-3 Alpha's quality. The credit system and pricing are the main complaints — professional use burns through credits quickly.
HeyGen
70% positiveHeyGen is highly praised in business and marketing subreddits for avatar quality and localization capabilities. The uncanny valley issue is acknowledged but seen as rapidly improving. Most criticism targets pricing for heavy enterprise use.