Guide · video budget
How much does a video ad cost? What you actually pay
How much a video ad costs depends mostly on who makes it. Clutch puts the average video production agency project at $42,280, though most come in under $10,000. A UGC creator charges about $212 a video on average, according to ppc.io's comparison of six marketplaces. Freelancers bill by the day, in-house costs your time, and an AI tool is a monthly plan.
What a video ad costs at an agency
Clutch, a directory of B2B agencies, publishes a video production pricing guide, updated on 21 September 2026. It puts the average agency project at $42,280, running about five months, with hourly rates of $100 to $149 in the United States, Canada and Australia. The same page says most video projects on Clutch cost less than $10,000: a handful of large budgets pull the average up.
Vidico, a video agency with offices in Melbourne, Sydney and New York, publishes its own ranges: $3,000 to $12,000 for a simple social media ad, $10,000 to $30,000 for a multi-format one, and $2,000 to $8,000 for a standard 30 to 60 second promo from a mid-tier agency.
The two are not measuring the same thing. Clutch counts whole projects, often several videos produced over months. Vidico prices a single piece, and it is an agency describing what it sells.
Video ad cost by who makes it
The same need, a short video for your social accounts, costs very different amounts depending on who produces it.
| Who | What it includes | Sourced price range | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agency or studio | Script, casting, shoot, edit, sometimes media buying | Average project $42,280, most under $10,000 (Clutch); $3,000 to $12,000 for a simple social ad (Vidico) | Weeks to months: Clutch reports about five months for an average project |
| UGC creator | A creator films themselves using or talking about your product, usually on a phone | $212 a video on average across six marketplaces; Billo packs work out at about $68 to $83 a video (ppc.io) | Depends on the creator and the platform |
| Freelancer or local specialist | One person or a small crew, you usually supply the brief | $300 to $3,500 a day (Vidico); UK promo video specialists £715 on average, from £400 to £2,000 (Bark) | The days billed, plus revisions |
| In-house, with a phone | You or a team member: script, shoot, edit in an app | No invoice, but your time and the music rights | One to two days for 30 seconds |
| AI tool like adkix | Script, voice-over, generated shots, music, captions, no shoot | Monthly plan, 1,000 free credits when you sign up (see below) | About 30 minutes |
Amounts as published by each source, in US dollars or pounds sterling. Read in October 2026.
What drives the cost of a video ad
Length matters less than most people expect. Vidico splits a typical budget into pre-production (20 to 25%), production (50 to 60%) and post-production (20 to 25%): the shoot is where most of the money goes. Five lines explain most quotes.
Location plays a part too, and the sources do not line up neatly. Vidico prices a 60-second video at $6,350 in the United States and $4,100 in Western Europe, while Bark's UK price guide shows promo video specialists cheaper in London, £500 on average, than across the country, £715.
- On-screen talent: $500 to $5,000 a day, according to Vidico.
- Voice-over: $300 to $1,000 per finished minute for a professional voice, per Vidico.
- Revisions: each extra round costs $400 to $1,000 at Vidico, so check how many are included.
- Music licensing: $500 to $1,500 according to Vidico. Check the rights for the voice and for any face on screen as well.
- Rush delivery: a 25 to 50% premium, per Vidico.
UGC creators and freelancers: two very different price tags
ppc.io compared six UGC marketplaces in January 2026 and found an average of $212 for a single video. The spread is wide: Collabstr lists $50 to $1,000 or more per video depending on the creator, UGC Planet $100 to $200, and Billo sells packs that work out at $68 to $83 a video.
Freelance video producers price their time instead. Vidico gives $300 to $3,500 a day, and Bark's UK guide shows promo video specialists from £400 to £2,000.
The gap is not only about price. A UGC video is a person filming themselves with your product; a freelancer brings a camera, lighting and editing. Look at experience, usage rights and what is included before you compare.
Where an AI tool fits, and where it doesn't
Picture the owner of a beauty salon who wants one video a week on Instagram. An agency means a budget every time; a phone means her evening. With adkix, she gives her website address, the tool reads her promise, her colours and her logo, suggests angles, and she approves the angle, the style and the script before anything is produced.
She gets a vertical video of 15 seconds, 30 seconds or one minute: voice-over, shots generated in her colours, original music, word-by-word captions. If one scene is off, she redoes it herself.
But adkix does not film your place or your real product, and it has no presenter, no avatar and no timeline editor. If your ad depends on your team on camera, you need a videographer or your phone. And no tool can guarantee views or sales.
What a video costs on adkix
You get 1,000 free credits when you sign up, no credit card. After that, monthly plans with no commitment, including scheduled posting to your networks. Current prices:
Starter
€39/month
≈ €0.60 per second of video
8,000 credits a month. To post every week.
- Script, voice-over and music included
- Animated captions
- Scene-by-scene edits
- 81 languages
- Scheduled posting to your networks
- 3 brands
- Extra credits at your plan's price
- Most popular
Pro
€89/month
≈ €0.55 per second of video
19,800 credits a month. To post several times a week.
- Script, voice-over and music included
- Animated captions
- Scene-by-scene edits
- 81 languages
- Scheduled posting to your networks
- 10 brands
- Extra credits at your plan's price
Business
€279/month
≈ €0.50 per second of video
68,000 credits a month. For several brands or one post a day.
- Script, voice-over and music included
- Animated captions
- Scene-by-scene edits
- 81 languages
- Scheduled posting to your networks
- 30 brands
- Extra credits at your plan's price
No subscription? Buy credits one time (≈ €0.70 per second of video): make and download your videos, without scheduled posting.
Where these figures come from
- Clutch, Video Production Pricing Guide (updated 21 September 2026)
- Vidico, How Much Does a Marketing Video Cost in 2026?
- Vidico, Promo Video Cost: What You'll Pay for Professional Video in 2026
- ppc.io, UGC Rates in 2026: What 6 Marketplaces Actually Charge
- Bark, Promotional Video Production Specialists, UK price guide
Read on
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 30-second video ad cost?
It depends more on the shoot than on the length. Vidico quotes $2,000 to $8,000 for a 30 to 60 second promo from a mid-tier agency, and a UGC creator averages $212 a video according to ppc.io.
Is a freelancer cheaper than an agency?
Often per project, yes, but freelancers bill by the day. Vidico puts freelance rates at $300 to $3,500 a day, so count the days and check what is included.
Is music licensing included in the price?
Not always, so look for the line on the quote. Vidico lists music licensing at $500 to $1,500 as a hidden cost. On adkix, every video gets an original track composed for it.
Can an AI video replace a shoot?
No, not when you need to show your place, your real product or a person talking. It is for posting regular videos that tell your offer, without a shoot or an edit.
How much does a video cost on adkix?
1,000 credits are free when you sign up, no credit card. The monthly plans are shown in the pricing block above, with no commitment.
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