Content creator costs depend on what you are buying.
If you need UGC assets for ads, most creators charge around $50 to $500 per short-form video, plus usage rights and add-ons like hook variations or raw footage.
If you need an influencer to post to their audience, costs scale with reach and platform. Posting fees can range from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands per post for larger creators.
In this guide, you will get a 2025 price list for UGC and influencer posting, the biggest cost drivers, and a simple way to estimate your budget before you start outreach.
That said, let’s dive right in!
What Does a Creator Do?
A content creator is someone who produces marketing assets for a brand, like short-form videos, product photos, scripts, or edited ad variations.
Brands usually hire creators for two different jobs:
- UGC creation: the creator produces assets you publish on your brand channels or run in paid ads.
- Influencer posting: the creator publishes content to their own audience to drive reach and engagement.
Common creator deliverables include:
- TikTok style UGC videos for paid ads
- Instagram Reels style product demos
- Creator shot product photos for PDPs and ads
- Hook and CTA variations for performance testing
- Scripts, voiceovers, and raw footage for in-house edits
UGC creators vs influencers: what you are paying for
UGC pricing is based on deliverables. Follower count is not the main driver.
You are paying for creative skill, production quality, and usage rights.
Influencer pricing is based on reach. You are paying for distribution to the creator’s audience, so follower count and engagement rate drive the cost.
This is why a UGC creator with a small audience can charge the same as a creator with a large audience if the deliverables and usage rights are the same.
To know how to decide where to spend your marketing budget, check our detailed guide on UGC creators vs influencers.
Types of Creators by audience size
If you are paying for posting and reach, creators are often grouped by audience size:
- Nano: 1,000 to 10,000 followers
- Micro: 10,000 to 50,000 followers
- Mid-tier: 50,000 to 200,000 followers
- Macro: 200,000 to 1,000,000 followers
- Mega: 1,000,000+ followers
These tiers are a budgeting shortcut. Always confirm pricing with real quotes because platform, niche, and deliverables change the rate.
Why micro-creators are often the sweet spot
Micro-creators usually work well when you want credible content and consistent output without paying for massive reach.
What benefits does your brand stand to gain from working with micro-creators?
- More creator variety for testing different hooks and styles
- Faster content volume for ads and always-on social
- Strong niche fit when you need category-specific creators
- A practical balance between cost and quality for ongoing campaigns
Micro-creators are a good fit if you need repeatable UGC or a steady monthly cadence. If your goal is a single large awareness push, macro or mega creators may be a better match.
Now, let’s look at what influences the cost of creating content with creators.
7 Factors that Affect the Cost of Creator Campaigns
1) Content only vs posting
Content only is usually cheaper. Posting adds a distribution fee.
2) Deliverable complexity
Length, number of scenes, editing, props, and location all raise cost.
3) Usage rights
Paid usage and longer terms can add 30% to 150%+ on top of creation fees.
4) Add-ons
Hook variations, raw footage, scripting, and rush delivery are common upsells.
5) Creator track record
Creators with proven performance, strong portfolios, or niche expertise charge more.
6) Exclusivity
If you ask a creator not to work with competitors for 30 to 90 days, expect a premium.
7) Turnaround time and seasonality
Rush timelines and Q4 demand can increase rates.
How Much Do Content Creators Cost in 2025?
If you are buying UGC assets for ads, budget $50 to $500 per short-form video as a common baseline, then add usage rights and any add-ons.
If you are buying influencer posting, budget based on platform and audience tier. Posting fees rise quickly as reach increases.
UGC Price List (deliverables)
Influencer Posting Price List (includes posting to the creator’s audience)
Now Over to You
Finally, we’ve come to the end of this guide!
We hope you now have a pretty good idea about how much content creators cost.
Are you thinking about working with creators for UGC ads?
We’ll be happy to help out.
So, don’t hesitate to book a demo with Insense.
We’re eager to walk you through your brand’s content creation journey.
FAQ
How much do content creators charge per video?
For UGC videos used in ads, a common baseline is $100 to $250 per short-form video, then add usage rights and add-ons.
Do follower counts matter for UGC pricing?
Not much. For UGC, you are paying for deliverables and usage rights. Audience size matters when the creator posts to their own channel.
How much should I budget for usage rights?
Paid usage often adds 30% to 100% of the base creation fee depending on term length. Buyouts can cost 100% to 150% more than the base fee.
What is whitelisting or Spark Ads, and how does it affect price?
Whitelisting and Spark Ads let brands run ads through a creator handle. Many creators price this as a monthly fee on top of the base creation rate.
Is it cheaper to buy “content only” and run it on my brand account?
Often yes. Content-only UGC is usually cheaper than paying for posting and reach.
