Which AI Lip Sync Tool Should You Use?
A filmmaker’s hands-on breakdown of Higgsfield Speak vs. HeyGen Avatar 4
Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen a wave of new AI lip-sync tools hit the scene.
Two of the most promising—Higgsfield Speak and HeyGen Avatar 4—both bring serious firepower to AI-driven character animation.
But which one actually works best?
As someone building AI filmmaking workflows daily, I took both tools for a full spin: uploading voices, testing facial angles, comparing motion effects, and pushing the limits with alien characters and even a baby podcast host.
Below is what I found.
Higgsfield Speak: Cinematic, expressive, but a little loose
Higgsfield brings serious style. Their motion presets like “Steadycam Rage” or “Crash Zoom with Tentacles” inject dynamic character animation that feels alive.
It’s built for creators who want cinematic energy, not just talking heads.
You upload an image, pick a motion/emotion type, load your voice (max 14 seconds), and optionally write a prompt like:
“The camera slowly zooms in on the speaker as he talks.”
✅ Pros
Wild and creative motion presets
Full video generation with dynamic backgrounds
Strong expression and camera movement
Good for stylized or character-driven scenes
❌ Cons
Lip sync accuracy isn’t always there
Limited to short clips (14 seconds)
Visual quality can vary, especially with background fidelity
HeyGen Avatar 4: Clean, controlled, hyper-accurate
HeyGen’s Avatar 4 is all about lip-sync precision. It won’t give you the same cinematic flourishes as Higgsfield, but what it does do, it does incredibly well.
Upload your image, drop in audio (up to 60 seconds), and generate.
It handles half covered faces, close-ups, and even babies—yes, I tested that too.
✅ Pros
Best-in-class lip sync
Handles longer clips
Faster rendering time
Solid background motion on some clips
❌ Cons
No custom camera movement
Feels static in comparison
Some images generate no background motion at all
Real-world testing
I ran the same poem through both tools multiple times:
“I once met a bot on the lot
Who claimed it could act on the spot...”
In side-by-sides:
Higgsfield nailed mood and gestures but struggled with precise mouth sync.
HeyGen consistently got the lips right—even on strange characters and side angles.
Higgsfield performed better with aliens and non-humans.
HeyGen couldn’t lip-sync kids on some platforms, but did succeed on its own.
My takeaway
If I need absolute lip-sync precision:
👉 HeyGen Avatar 4 wins.
If I want cinematic motion and energy:
👉 Higgsfield Speak is the better fit.
Each tool has a role in an AI filmmaker’s kit. Choose based on your creative intent. And keep experimenting—these tools evolve fast.
Let me know what you’re using or if there’s another one I should test.
Be well, do good, and make awesome things.
— Gabe Michael
About the Author
Gabe Michael is an award-winning AI filmmaker and creative technologist shaping the future of production with AI. He currently serves as VP and Executive Producer of AI at Edelman, where he consults internal and external teams, enhances production workflows and explores new creative possibilities with AI.
As an early adopter of AI technology in film, video and creative production, Gabe's work has earned accolades for 'Best Odyssey' at Project Odyssey, ‘Best Character’ and ‘Best Art Direction’ at the Runway Gen:48 AI Film Competitions, leading to his entry into many creative partner programs with top AI video tools.
With extensive experience as a director and producer in the creator economy, Gabe collaborates with top film studios, brands, and digital platforms, and shares his expertise on LinkedIn, YouTube, and in classrooms at UCLA.