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Arcads vs HeyGen
Pick Arcads for the most believable AI actors at high ad volume; pick HeyGen for the strongest custom-avatar pipeline and clean B2B video.
By Mark Gradler · Scores verified 2026-10
Choose Arcads if…
You ship many ad variations a month and actor realism is the deciding factor.
Choose HeyGen if…
You want a polished custom avatar of a real spokesperson and corporate-grade output.
Side by side
| Arcads | HeyGen | |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 8.1/10 | 7.5/10 |
| Category | AI actors for performance ads | Custom avatars & B2B video |
| Best for | High-volume performance marketers and agencies | B2B, explainers, and custom-avatar spokespeople |
| Pricing from | around $110/mo (Starter, ~10 videos) | free tier; paid around $29/mo |
| Free trial | No | Yes (free tier) |
| Actors / avatars | 300+ AI actors | 700+ avatars, strong custom-avatar support |
| Languages | 35+ languages | 175+ languages |
| Custom avatars | Yes | Yes |
| Output realism | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Workflow & speed | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Actors & languages | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Value for money | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Fit & support | 8/10 | 7/10 |
Where they differ
- Output realism: Arcads leads HeyGen, 9/10 to 8/10. How believable the AI actor / avatar / voice looks and sounds. Lip-sync, hands, and audio naturalness. The thing that decides whether an ad reads as human.
- Workflow & speed: Arcads leads HeyGen, 8/10 to 7/10. How fast you get from idea to a usable ad, and how much manual editing is left over. Batch generation, script tools, hooks, captions, variations.
- Actors & languages: Arcads leads HeyGen, 9/10 to 8/10. Breadth of AI actors/avatars, custom-avatar support, and language/accent coverage. Matters most for localisation and for finding a face that fits your brand.
- Value for money: HeyGen leads Arcads, 7/10 to 6/10. Real cost per usable video once credits, add-ons, and re-rolls are counted, against comparable tools. Not sticker price - effective price.
- Fit & support: Arcads leads HeyGen, 8/10 to 7/10. How well the tool fits a specific job (app ads, e-commerce, B2B, localisation), plus onboarding, docs, and support quality.
Arcads in one line
The most believable AI actors in the category, best justified when you are shipping dozens of ad variations a month rather than a handful.
HeyGen in one line
The best choice when you want a polished custom avatar of a real person or spokesperson - closer to B2B explainer video than gritty UGC, with fair credit rollover.
Common questions
How much do Arcads and HeyGen cost?
Arcads: around $110/mo (Starter, ~10 videos). HeyGen: free tier; paid around $29/mo. Pricing shifts often, so confirm on each vendor's site.
Do Arcads or HeyGen have a free trial?
Arcads: No. HeyGen: Yes (free tier).
Can you make a custom avatar with Arcads or HeyGen?
Arcads: yes. HeyGen: yes.