Imaginode vs Hedra: characters that speak or shots that tell
An alternative to Hedra for videos without a talking character: Imaginode generates shots by the cent, no subscription. Hedra starts at $15 a month.
Competitor data verified on August 20, 2026
Frank HoubreFounder of Imaginode
Recorded at Hedra on August 20, 2026
- Free : Free100 credits/month
- Basic : $15/month1,500 credits/month
- Creator : $30/month5,400 credits/month
- Professional : $75/month14,400 credits/month
Our pricing, same day
- Starter : $17/month900 credits/month
- Creator : $55/month3,100 credits/month
- Studio : $188/month10,500 credits/month
Hedra does one thing remarkably well: give an image a voice. Character-3 animates a still face with credible speech and gesture, which makes it a strong pick for presenter videos without a shoot.
Its pricing is readable: free with 100 watermarked credits, Basic at $15 a month for 1,500 credits, Creator at $30 for 5,400, Professional at $75 for 14,400. Credits count per second of output: about 180 credits for 30 seconds at 720p, roughly eleven minutes a month on the Creator plan.
Imaginode manufactures shots first, even though it can also make an image speak through lip sync. Over twenty video models, reference images, end frames, generated audio, and a price shown before every generation. The two serve different needs inside the same video.
Job
Hedra
Animating a talking face, lip sync
Imaginode
Generating video shots and images
Entry price
Hedra
Free 100 watermarked credits, Basic $15/month (1,500 credits)
Imaginode
$17 excl. tax per month (900 credits) or a top-up from $7 with no subscription
Real cost
Hedra
About 180 credits for 30 s at 720p, roughly 11 min/month on Creator at $30
Imaginode
26 credits for 5 s on Kling 720p, price shown before the click
Credit lifetime
Hedra
Monthly credits do not roll over, only add-on packs do
Imaginode
Purchased credits never expire, monthly credits last the paid month
Watermark
Hedra
On the free tier
Imaginode
Never
Models
Hedra
Character-3 and in-house models
Imaginode
100+ models across providers
Failed generation
Hedra
Credits consumed
Imaginode
Credits refunded automatically
Hedra pricing checked on 20 August 2026 against consistent third-party records. Prices in US dollars, excluding tax. Check hedra.com.
When to choose Hedra
- You want to make a portrait or a drawn character speak: Character-3 is excellent there.
- You produce presenter videos with no shoot and no corporate avatar.
- You need multilingual lip sync.
When to choose Imaginode
- Your video has no spokesperson: product, set, motion.
- You want all your credits to roll over, not only purchased packs.
- You want to compare several video models on one shot.
- You also produce the project's stills from the same balance.
- You want a trial with no watermark.
Frequently asked questions
Does Imaginode do lip sync?
Yes, with the Sync 3 and InfiniTalk lip sync models, which make an image speak. If talking characters are the core of your production, Hedra's Character-3 remains more specialised.
How many minutes does $30 buy at Hedra?
About eleven minutes of Character-3 video at 720p per the 20 August 2026 records.
Can the two be combined?
Yes: the speaking character at Hedra, the context and product shots at Imaginode.
Is Imaginode a good alternative to Hedra?
If your video has no spokesperson, you want several video models on one shot and a trial with no watermark, yes. If you want a portrait or a drawn character to speak with Character-3, or need multilingual lip sync, Hedra is the better tool.
Sources
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Same rules: pricing grids recorded on a given date, source cited, updated as soon as a price changes.
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Judge for yourself
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