# Provider research snapshot

Checked 2026-07-18. Reconfirm prices and terms before purchasing or launching.

## Recommended MVP stack

- Orchestration: n8n plus a small Node.js provider-adapter layer.
- Talking avatar: HeyGen Direct API behind an adapter. Its current API offering includes Avatar III/IV generation, templates, photo avatars, libraries, and pay-as-you-go access beginning at $5. Web-plan and API balances are separate.
- Voice: begin with the avatar provider's licensed stock voice for operational simplicity. Add an ElevenLabs adapter when finer voice control is justified. Paid ElevenLabs usage supports commercial output; custom/cloned voices require valid rights and consent.
- Assembly: Shotstack for transparent per-minute economics or Creatomate when template editing and feed-driven variations are more important.
- Storage: an S3-compatible or Google Drive adapter owned by the operator.

## Expression control: honest boundary

Expression control is provider-dependent and not equivalent to directing a human actor. The portable approach is to split the script into emotional sections and control voice style, pace, pauses, captions, camera cuts, backgrounds, and B-roll. Avatar-specific gesture or expression controls should be treated as optional adapter capabilities.

## Current official pricing signals

- HeyGen web Creator is advertised around $29/month with 600 credits; studio Avatar III is listed at 3 credits/minute and Avatar IV/V at 20 credits/minute. Direct API uses a separate pay-as-you-go balance.
- ElevenLabs API pricing currently lists roughly $0.05 per 1,000 characters for Flash/Turbo and $0.10 per 1,000 for Multilingual v2/v3, before tax and plan effects.
- Shotstack currently lists $0.30/minute pay-as-you-go and $0.20/minute on its subscription tier, billed to the second.
- Creatomate states that one minute of 720p video at 25 fps is approximately 14 credits; renders are automatically deleted after 30 days.

Because HeyGen's direct-API per-output cost depends on the wallet and selected engine, the application must record returned usage and refuse to promise margins based only on web-plan credits.

## Sources

- https://www.heygen.com/api-pricing
- https://www.heygen.com/pricing
- https://elevenlabs.io/api
- https://elevenlabs.io/pricing/api
- https://shotstack.io/pricing/
- https://creatomate.com/pricing