Descript

AI-powered video and audio editing as easy as editing a document

HeyGen

AI video generation platform with realistic avatars, voice cloning, and multilingual dubbing

Descript

Moderate

12/25

HeyGen

Moderate

13/25

Score Breakdown

DimensionDescriptHeyGen

Data Residency

Where is your data stored and processed?

Descript: Descript primarily hosts data in the United States. No EU-specific data residency option is currently available.

HeyGen: Data hosted on AWS in the US; no publicly documented EU data residency option for standard plans; DPA available for enterprise customers

2/5

Descript primarily hosts data in the United States. No EU-specific data residency option is currently available.

2/5

Data hosted on AWS in the US; no publicly documented EU data residency option for standard plans; DPA available for enterprise customers

Legal Jurisdiction

Which laws govern the company and your data?

Descript: Incorporated in Delaware, US. Subject to US laws including the CLOUD Act. Offers GDPR compliance with Data Processing Agreements for European customers.

HeyGen: US-incorporated company subject to CLOUD Act; GDPR compliance via DPA and Data Privacy Framework; EU-based customers should assess cross-border transfer mechanisms

2/5

Incorporated in Delaware, US. Subject to US laws including the CLOUD Act. Offers GDPR compliance with Data Processing Agreements for European customers.

2/5

US-incorporated company subject to CLOUD Act; GDPR compliance via DPA and Data Privacy Framework; EU-based customers should assess cross-border transfer mechanisms

Data Retention & Training

Is your data used for model training?

Descript: Media and project data is retained while the account is active. Users can delete individual projects and media at any time. Account data is deleted upon account closure after a grace period.

HeyGen: HeyGen does not train models on customer avatars or voice clones; retention settings configurable at enterprise tier; daily backups maintained

3/5

Media and project data is retained while the account is active. Users can delete individual projects and media at any time. Account data is deleted upon account closure after a grace period.

3/5

HeyGen does not train models on customer avatars or voice clones; retention settings configurable at enterprise tier; daily backups maintained

Certifications

ISO 27001, SOC 2, Cyber Essentials, etc.

Descript: Holds SOC 2 Type II certification with regular audits. Does not currently hold ISO 27001 certification independently.

HeyGen: SOC 2 Type II certified; GDPR, CCPA, and EU AI Act alignment claimed; no ISO 27001 certification confirmed

3/5

Holds SOC 2 Type II certification with regular audits. Does not currently hold ISO 27001 certification independently.

3/5

SOC 2 Type II certified; GDPR, CCPA, and EU AI Act alignment claimed; no ISO 27001 certification confirmed

Regulatory Fit

Suitability for regulated industries and professional services

Descript: Suitable for general business and creative use cases. GDPR and CCPA compliant. Not designed for highly regulated industries such as healthcare or financial services.

HeyGen: Suitable for enterprise marketing and L&D teams with standard compliance needs; synthetic media governance and consent requirements require careful policy work for regulated sectors

2/5

Suitable for general business and creative use cases. GDPR and CCPA compliant. Not designed for highly regulated industries such as healthcare or financial services.

3/5

Suitable for enterprise marketing and L&D teams with standard compliance needs; synthetic media governance and consent requirements require careful policy work for regulated sectors

Total Score

12/25

13/25

Best For

Descript

Best for teams that prioritise data retention & training (scores 3/5) and need a bronze-tier tool.

HeyGen

Best for teams on a tight budget.

Detailed Comparison

Descript vs HeyGen: Trust & Compliance Comparison

Descript (Descript, US) scores 12/25 overall with a Bronze (Moderate) trust badge. AI-powered video and audio editing as easy as editing a document. HeyGen (HeyGen, US) scores 13/25 with a Bronze (Moderate) trust badge. AI video generation platform with realistic avatars, voice cloning, and multilingual dubbing.

Dimension-by-Dimension Breakdown

#### Data Residency

Both score equally at 2/5.

●Descript (2/5): Descript primarily hosts data in the United States. No EU-specific data residency option is currently available.

●HeyGen (2/5): Data hosted on AWS in the US; no publicly documented EU data residency option for standard plans; DPA available for enterprise customers

#### Legal Jurisdiction

Both score equally at 2/5.

●Descript (2/5): Incorporated in Delaware, US. Subject to US laws including the CLOUD Act. Offers GDPR compliance with Data Processing Agreements for European customers.

●HeyGen (2/5): US-incorporated company subject to CLOUD Act; GDPR compliance via DPA and Data Privacy Framework; EU-based customers should assess cross-border transfer mechanisms

#### Data Retention & Training

Both score equally at 3/5.

●Descript (3/5): Media and project data is retained while the account is active. Users can delete individual projects and media at any time. Account data is deleted upon account closure after a grace period.

●HeyGen (3/5): HeyGen does not train models on customer avatars or voice clones; retention settings configurable at enterprise tier; daily backups maintained

#### Certifications

Both score equally at 3/5.

●Descript (3/5): Holds SOC 2 Type II certification with regular audits. Does not currently hold ISO 27001 certification independently.

●HeyGen (3/5): SOC 2 Type II certified; GDPR, CCPA, and EU AI Act alignment claimed; no ISO 27001 certification confirmed

#### Regulatory Fit

HeyGen leads with 3/5 vs 2/5.

●Descript (2/5): Suitable for general business and creative use cases. GDPR and CCPA compliant. Not designed for highly regulated industries such as healthcare or financial services.

●HeyGen (3/5): Suitable for enterprise marketing and L&D teams with standard compliance needs; synthetic media governance and consent requirements require careful policy work for regulated sectors

Certifications at a Glance

Certification	Descript	HeyGen
SOC 2 Type II	Yes	Yes

Overall Verdict

Descript and HeyGen are closely matched on trust and compliance, with scores of 12/25 and 13/25 respectively. The right choice depends on your specific regulatory requirements and existing technology stack.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for EU compliance, Descript or HeyGen?

Descript has a TrustKit score of 12/25 while HeyGen scores 13/25. HeyGen currently rates higher across data residency, legal jurisdiction, data retention, certifications, and regulatory fit.

How do Descript and HeyGen compare on data residency?

Descript scores 2/5 for data residency (Descript primarily hosts data in the United States. No EU-specific data residency option is currently available.), while HeyGen scores 2/5 (Data hosted on AWS in the US; no publicly documented EU data residency option for standard plans; DPA available for enterprise customers).

Are Descript and HeyGen GDPR compliant?

Both tools are assessed across five compliance dimensions. Descript has a regulatory fit score of 2/5 and HeyGen scores 3/5. Check the full comparison above for a detailed breakdown.

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