The Good: User-Friendly Interface

Credit where it’s due: HeyGen’s interface is intuitive and well-designed. Even those new to tech will find it easy to navigate. The team clearly put thought into creating an accessible user experience. I was able to import my slides and add my transcripts to generate videos in 5-15 minutes. It was a great user experience and minimal learning curve. I was up-and-running in about 10 minutes.

I also have to give credit to HeyGen that the quality of their video is very good and they also offer 3 videos (max 3 minutes long) per month. Some other platforms require you to upgrade to see your talking head video quality (and there’s a LOT of variability in this space between providers.)

The Bad: Publishing Nightmare

1. Overzealous Content Moderation: HeyGen’s moderation algorithms lack nuance. They flagged my videos on PII, HIPAA, and SOC compliance immediately. These were straightforward discussions of best practices, not controversial content. Once I started generating most of my videos, most of them were getting flagged for moderation.

2. Unresponsive Customer Support: I reached out to their support team, but weeks went by and as of today, 6 weeks later, my videos still awaiting approval. The lack of resolution was frustrating and unprofessional.

3. Refund Difficulties: When I attempted to get my money back because my content ws being moderated, HeyGen was uncooperative. They told me that since I used the credits, I could not get a refund. I ended up disputing the charges with my credit card company – an unnecessary hassle.

The Problematic: Pricing Structure

1. Use It or Lose It Model: HeyGen’s membership model lacks flexibility. You either use your credits or watch them expire. This system makes it challenging to align video creation with credit allocation.

2. Upgrade or Downgrade Dilemma: Running out of credits forces you to upgrade to a pricier plan. Downgrading means losing features. This rigid structure doesn’t accommodate varying user needs.

The Bottom Line

While I appreciate innovation, HeyGen’s current setup needs significant improvement. The combination of moderation issues, unresponsive support, and inflexible pricing creates a frustrating user experience.

Recommendations for Improvement

* Refine content moderation to reduce false positives.

* Improve support team responsiveness and communication.
* Implement more flexible pricing options, such as rollover credits or pay-as-you-go.

A Silver Lining: Bring Your Own Code

I couldn’t find another solution that didn’t have similar problems and didn’t want to re-create hundreds of hours of audio. 

Instead, I coded my own solution using Claude.ai, Streamlit, Python, and Dreamfactory. While it doesn’t yet include a talking head avatar, it successfully:

* Displays my slides
* Generates transcripts from talking points
* Allows transcript modification
* Creates my voice mp3 file using Elevenlabs.io (which offers affordable monthly and per-minute pricing)
* Compiles the final video

I’m still exploring options for adding an avatar that’s looks “real enough” and is cost-effective. It took several weeks (and was a different frustrating experience), however with these tools, it’s possible to create tailored solutions when existing products fall short. I love my solution and the level of productivity I have with my custom-built app – thanks to Claude.  I’ve code-named this app “Course Machina” which will be open-sourced and available soon.

While HeyGen shows potential, it has significant areas for improvement. When evaluating tools, take a look at content moderation policies and be prepared to innovate when necessary. As technologists, we should strive to create solutions that truly empower users and adapt to their needs. Predatory pricing models that receive money for nothing should be outlawed.