Synthesia

AI video generation platform for creating professional videos with AI avatars

HeyGen

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

Synthesia

Strong

21/25

HeyGen

Moderate

13/25

Score Breakdown

DimensionSynthesiaHeyGen

Data Residency

Where is your data stored and processed?

Synthesia: EU data processing available for European customers on AWS EU infrastructure

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

4/5

EU data processing available for European customers on AWS EU infrastructure

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?

Synthesia: UK-incorporated company under English law; strong GDPR compliance posture

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

4/5

UK-incorporated company under English law; strong GDPR compliance posture

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?

Synthesia: Customer content not used for AI model training; data retained per contractual terms

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

4/5

Customer content not used for AI model training; data retained per contractual terms

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.

Synthesia: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, and pioneering ISO 42001 AI management certification

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

5/5

SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, and pioneering ISO 42001 AI management certification

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

Synthesia: Strong fit for regulated EU and UK organisations; ISO 42001 demonstrates responsible AI governance

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

4/5

Strong fit for regulated EU and UK organisations; ISO 42001 demonstrates responsible AI governance

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

21/25

13/25

Best For

Synthesia

Best for teams on a tight budget.

HeyGen

Best for EU-headquartered organisations needing maximum data sovereignty; organisations requiring broad certification coverage (SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, ISO 42001); regulated industries (ICO); privacy-conscious teams who need strong data retention controls.

Detailed Comparison

HeyGen vs Synthesia: Trust & Compliance Comparison

HeyGen (HeyGen, US) scores 13/25 overall with a Bronze (Moderate) trust badge. AI video generation platform with realistic avatars, voice cloning, and multilingual dubbing. Synthesia (Synthesia Limited, GB) scores 21/25 with a Silver (Strong) trust badge. AI video generation platform for creating professional videos with AI avatars.

Dimension-by-Dimension Breakdown

#### Data Residency

Synthesia leads with 4/5 vs 2/5.

●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

●Synthesia (4/5): EU data processing available for European customers on AWS EU infrastructure

#### Legal Jurisdiction

Synthesia leads with 4/5 vs 2/5.

●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

●Synthesia (4/5): UK-incorporated company under English law; strong GDPR compliance posture

#### Data Retention & Training

Synthesia leads with 4/5 vs 3/5.

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

●Synthesia (4/5): Customer content not used for AI model training; data retained per contractual terms

#### Certifications

Synthesia leads with 5/5 vs 3/5.

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

●Synthesia (5/5): SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, and pioneering ISO 42001 AI management certification

#### Regulatory Fit

Synthesia leads with 4/5 vs 3/5.

●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

●Synthesia (4/5): Strong fit for regulated EU and UK organisations; ISO 42001 demonstrates responsible AI governance

Certifications at a Glance

Certification	HeyGen	Synthesia
ISO 27001	No	Yes
ISO 42001	No	Yes
SOC 2 Type II	Yes	Yes

Overall Verdict

Synthesia has a clear trust advantage, scoring 21/25 compared to HeyGen's 13/25. Synthesia particularly excels in data residency, legal jurisdiction, data retention & training, certifications, regulatory fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for EU compliance, Synthesia or HeyGen?

Synthesia has a TrustKit score of 21/25 while HeyGen scores 13/25. Synthesia currently rates higher across data residency, legal jurisdiction, data retention, certifications, and regulatory fit.

How do Synthesia and HeyGen compare on data residency?

Synthesia scores 4/5 for data residency (EU data processing available for European customers on AWS EU infrastructure), 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 Synthesia and HeyGen GDPR compliant?

Both tools are assessed across five compliance dimensions. Synthesia has a regulatory fit score of 4/5 and HeyGen scores 3/5. Check the full comparison above for a detailed breakdown.

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