What is Hedra?
Hedra is an AI video studio that turns an image and audio into expressive talking-character videos with lip sync, for creators and marketers. It is made by Hedra, a startup backed by a16z, whose Character-3 model animates faces, expressions and gestures to match a voice track. Hedra says it serves around 20 million users, developers and businesses.
Hedra stands out for character performance rather than general scene generation. You can upload a photo, illustration or generated character, add a voice recording or AI voice, and get a video where the character speaks with matching mouth movements and emotion. It also gives access to other image and video models in the same studio. Common uses include talking-head explainers, animated mascots, podcast clips, memes, product spokespeople and short story videos.
Main Features
- Animates a still image into a talking video synced to an audio track.
- Generates expressive faces, head movement and gestures with its Character-3 model.
- Creates voices with built-in text-to-speech or uses your own recording.
- Works with photos, illustrations, 3D renders and AI-generated characters.
- Offers other image and video generation models in the same studio.
- Allows commercial use of videos on paid plans.
- Provides team workspaces and an API for businesses.
How to Get Started with Hedra
- Sign up for a free account at hedra.com.
- Upload a character image or generate one in the studio.
- Add audio by recording, uploading a file or typing a script for an AI voice.
- Generate the video, review it and download the result.
Hedra Pricing
Hedra is free to start with a small number of credits. Basic costs $20 per month for 2,000 credits, Pro costs $50 per month for 7,200 credits, and Ultra costs $100 per month for 18,000 credits, all with commercial use. Teams costs $75 per month and Enterprise is priced by quote.
Who Should Use It?
- Content creators making talking-character clips for social media.
- Marketers producing spokesperson and explainer videos.
- Podcasters turning audio into animated video.
- Educators creating animated presenters for lessons.
- Game and story creators bringing characters to life.
Hedra Alternatives
- HeyGen: better for realistic business avatars and translation
- D-ID: talking photos with an API for developers
- Synthesia: enterprise training videos with stock avatars
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hedra free?
Yes, Hedra is free to start with a small credit allowance. Paid plans begin at $20 per month for more credits and commercial use.
What is Hedra used for?
Hedra is used to make talking-character videos from a single image and an audio clip. People use it for explainers, mascots, podcast clips and social videos.
Can I use Hedra videos commercially?
Yes, on paid plans. Hedra lists commercial use on Basic, Pro, Ultra and Teams plans.
Hedra vs HeyGen: which is better?
Hedra is better for expressive, stylized characters from any image, while HeyGen is better for realistic business presenters and video translation. Pick based on whether you want a character or a corporate avatar.