Went through the free credits on pretty much every platform I could get my hands on for comparison. HeyGen’s new Avatar 4.0 has genuinely leveled up on lip sync and micro-expressions. D-ID’s Express wins on speed — batch generation feels smooth. The domestic options, Guiji Zhineng and Tencent Zhiying, nail Chinese intonation and localization better, and they’re cheaper too.
But if we’re talking full replacement for a real human on camera, I still feel like something’s missing — wide-to-close shot transitions, hand movements, that improvised pause-and-breathe feel… the moment it moves, you can tell it’s not real.
Good enough for talking-head content and earnings report narration, standardized stuff. But if you want emotional acting, you still need a real person. Pick based on what you need: chase lip sync quality, go with the big names; need volume and value, go with the two domestic options.