Type a script and a lifelike presenter reads it, in your voice or any language.
Video & Audio
Hedra
Make talking-character videos and other AI video by briefing a creative agent.
3.7our rating
FreemiumFrom $0Works with Claude Code
Quick take
- Give it a face and a voice track and it makes a talking video with matching lip sync and expressions.
- The Creative Studio is now an agent: brief it and it plans and makes the video using Kling, Veo, Seedance and other models.
- Credits go quickly with the premium models. Plans were repriced in September 2026, starting at about $20 a month.
- The company now focuses heavily on serving AI models for businesses, so keep an eye on where the creative app goes.
What is Hedra?
Hedra made its name turning one photo and a voice track into a video of that character talking, with matching lip movements and expressions. It still does that, and it's now part of a bigger Creative Studio where you brief an AI agent and it plans, generates and edits the video for you.
The studio brings several top models into one canvas: Kling, Veo, Seedance and Hailuo for video, GPT Image and Flux for images, and ElevenLabs for voices. You can save characters and products as Elements so they look the same in every clip, turn repeated prompts into reusable Skills, and work with teammates on the same canvas. There's an API, an MCP and a command line tool, so Claude Code can drive it too.
Be aware that Hedra the company now puts a lot of its focus on serving AI models for other businesses. The creative app is still there, but plans and prices were reshuffled in September 2026 and you only see the full details once you sign in.
Who's using it, and who it's for
- Content creators
- Marketers
- Animators
- Agencies
Creators and marketers who want talking-character videos, AI spokespeople or animated mascots without filming.
Key features
Talking characters
Upload a photo or drawing and a voice, and get a video of it speaking with natural expressions.
Creative agent
Describe what you want and the agent plans, generates and edits the video on one canvas.
Many models in one place
Use Kling, Veo, Seedance, Hailuo, GPT Image, Flux and ElevenLabs without separate accounts.
Elements
Save characters, products and references so they look the same across every clip.
Skills and team spaces
Turn repeated workflows into reusable Skills and work on the same canvas as your team.
API, MCP and CLI
Developers and AI assistants like Claude Code can make videos in Hedra for you.
How we rate it
3.7 / 5
Our rating
From using the tool ourselves. The average of the five scores.
- Ease of use
- 4.0
- Features
- 4.0
- Output quality
- 4.0
- Value for money
- 3.0
- Speed & reliability
- 3.5
How quickly someone non-technical gets value from it.
How completely it covers its own job, and how well the pieces fit together.
How good the results are before you fix them.
What you get for the price, including the free plan.
How fast it is and how often it falls over.
Hedra pricing
Which plan should you pick?
Try the free credits, then pick Basic if you only need the odd talking clip. Pro makes sense once you use premium models like Veo or Kling every week. Credits don't roll over, so don't buy more than you'll use.
Prices in USD unless noted, checked 3 November 2026. Vendors change plans often, so confirm on their site before you buy.
Best use cases
Ways Hedra can slot into your week.
- 1
A brand mascot that talks
Draw or generate a mascot, add a voiceover, and use it in Reels and ads.
- 2
Explainer with a presenter
Turn a headshot into a presenter who reads your script, without filming.
- 3
Podcast visuals
Turn audio-only podcast clips into talking-character videos for social.
- 4
Product B-roll
Brief the agent for product shots and let it pick the right video model.
How it fits your tech stack
Hedra is strongest for stylised and character-led videos. For realistic business avatars at scale, HeyGen or Synthesia are more polished. Finish the edit and captions in CapCut or Descript.
Connects to
- Kling
- Veo
- Seedance
- ElevenLabs
- Claude Code
Pros and cons
Pros
- Some of the most expressive talking characters from a single image
- Several leading video and image models in one workspace
- Saved characters keep a mascot consistent
- API, MCP and command line for automation
Cons
- Premium models eat credits fast, and credits don't roll over
- Plans changed in September 2026 and full details sit behind sign-in
- The company's focus has shifted towards serving models for businesses
- Less suited to realistic corporate avatars than HeyGen or Synthesia
Hedra alternatives
The closest alternatives to Hedra in the library, best rated first.
ElevenLabs
4.6
Best for video voiceovers
Compare with HedraBest for product demo videos for a website or launch
Compare with Hedra
TurboScribe
4.4
Best for interview and research transcripts
Compare with HedraBest for rescuing poorly recorded interviews
Compare with Hedra
Why it made the list
It's one of the best-known tools for making a still image talk, and its studio puts several leading video models in one place.
Hedra FAQ
How much does Hedra cost?
There's a free plan, and paid plans start at $0. Prices checked 3 November 2026 against Hedra's pricing page.
Is Hedra free?
Yes, Hedra has a free option. Try the free credits, then pick Basic if you only need the odd talking clip. Pro makes sense once you use premium models like Veo or Kling every week. Credits don't roll over, so don't buy more than you'll use.
What is Hedra best for?
Hedra is best for making a photo or character talk, animated mascots and AI spokespeople and trying several video models in one canvas. Creators and marketers who want talking-character videos, AI spokespeople or animated mascots without filming.
What are the best Hedra alternatives?
The closest alternatives are ElevenLabs, Screen Studio, TurboScribe and Adobe Podcast. ElevenLabs is best for video voiceovers.
More tools in Video & Audio
Make talking-avatar videos from a photo, and AI agents that talk to your visitors.
Turn product photos into ad images and short video clips, using many AI models in one app.
Phone and web app that edits talking-head videos and adds animated captions for you.