Brandwave

Elai vs HeyGen:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, HeyGen had more branded searches than Elai among AI avatar video platforms in New Zealand. HeyGen had about 3,600 branded searches, while Elai had 10. HeyGen made up 53% of all AI avatar video platform searches we track, and Elai accounted for 0.15%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about AI avatar video platforms, HeyGen appeared in all five answers and Elai in none.

Among AI avatar video platforms in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

HeyGen, about 360 searches for every 1 for Elai

HeyGen 3.6K searchesElai 10 searches

Who does AI mention more?

HeyGen, mentioned in every answer we collected

HeyGen in 5 of 5Elai in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

HeyGen, the only one of the two named

HeyGen first in 4Elai never named

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Top AI avatar video platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, HeyGen appeared in all five answers. Elai did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. HeyGen1st
  2. Synthesia2nd
  3. D-ID3rd
  4. Colossyan4th
  5. Elai–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • HeyGen5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Synthesia4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • D-ID3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Colossyan2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Elai0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about AI avatar video platforms

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 20, 2026.

Is Elai or HeyGen more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Elai and HeyGen by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all five AI avatar video platforms we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Elai and HeyGen among AI avatar video platforms in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for HeyGen, Elai. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthHeyGenD-IDSynthesiaColossyanElai
Oct 202547.7%31.8%19.6%0.27%0.53%
Nov 202548%32%19.3%0.27%0.4%
Dec 202548.8%32%18.5%0.51%0.17%
Jan 202654.1%28.6%16.8%0.3%0.15%
Feb 202654.1%28.5%16.5%0.45%0.45%
Mar 202653.3%29.1%17.2%0.24%0.12%
Apr 202659.1%25.5%14.9%0.4%0.13%
May 202655.6%30.3%13.7%0.25%0.13%
Jun 202659.3%25.6%14.6%0.4%0.13%
Jul 202656.8%30%12.6%0.32%0.32%
Aug 202660.4%26.1%12.9%0.41%0.14%
Sep 202653%35.3%11.3%0.15%0.15%

How has the Elai and HeyGen comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • HeyGen was ahead of Elai in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Elai’s share of searches among AI avatar video platforms in New Zealand moved from 0.53% to 0.15%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 40 to 10.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, HeyGen’s share of searches among AI avatar video platforms in New Zealand moved from 47.7% to 53%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 3.6K.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand AI avatar video platforms in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, HeyGen lost share of searches among AI avatar video platforms in New Zealand, from 60.4% to 53%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Elai in New Zealand fell 75% over 12 measured months, from 40 to 10 in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Elai’s and HeyGen’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Elai

2 branded search terms

  • elai
  • elai ai

HeyGen

1 branded search term

  • heygen

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among AI avatar video platforms

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