This page shows what our model says each deliverable is worth, and then shows where the rest of the money is. The figures are 2026 planning estimates from our calculator model and public rate cards. They are not a promise of what you will be offered, and they are not an average of what creators report earning, because we do not collect that.
The numbers
| Deliverabletypical, then low to high | Nanounder 5k followers | Micro5k to 25k followers | Mid25k to 100k followers | Established100k+ followers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production | ||||
| UGC video, 15 to 30sper finished video | $150$100 to $250 | $225$150 to $350 | $375$250 to $600 | $650$400 to $1,000 |
| UGC video, 30 to 60sper finished video | $195$130 to $325 | $295$195 to $455 | $490$325 to $780 | $845$520 to $1,300 |
| Photo set (5 edited photos)per set | $175$100 to $250 | $225$125 to $350 | $350$200 to $550 | $550$300 to $900 |
| Raw footage pack (10 clips)per pack | $150$100 to $200 | $200$150 to $300 | $300$200 to $450 | $450$300 to $700 |
| Add-ons | ||||
| Raw footage add-onper video, 30% with a floor | $50$50 to $75 | $70$50 to $105 | $115$75 to $180 | $195$120 to $300 |
| Hook variationper extra opener, 20% with a floor | $30$25 to $50 | $45$30 to $70 | $75$50 to $120 | $130$80 to $200 |
2026 planning estimates from our calculator model and public rate cards. Not a quote, and not drawn from our creator database. Production rows are per finished asset, add-on and rights rows are per video. Every figure is derived from the same model as the UGC rate calculator.
Estimate your own brief
The same model as the table, with your inputs. Nothing is sent anywhere and there is no signup.
The four things a paid UGC deal is made of
One, the production fee: making the asset. Two, add-ons: raw footage at 30% of the video fee and each extra hook at 20%. Three, rights: paid usage at 25% of production for 3 months, 50% for 6 months, 100% for 12 months, whitelisting at 30%, and category exclusivity on the same three shares. Four, timing: rush delivery under seven days adds 25% to the whole subtotal.
Written out like that, the rights are not a footnote. A nano creator making one 15 to 30 second video for $150 who grants 12 months of paid usage and whitelisting is delivering a deal worth $150 plus $150 plus $45. If you quote only the production fee and then agree to everything else for free, you have given away most of the value of the job.
Where paid UGC opportunities actually come from
Brands find UGC creators three ways: a marketplace, an agency, or direct search. Direct search is the one that pays best and the one most creators neglect, because there is no platform fee in the middle and the brand is usually briefing a specific need rather than shopping a catalogue. Being findable for that search is a portfolio problem, not a follower problem.
That is visible in our own index. We hold 24,032 UGC-qualified creators and only a minority have a portfolio link on file. A creator with a visible portfolio is quoting against evidence and negotiates from a much stronger position than one asking a brand to imagine the output. It is the single cheapest upgrade available to anyone doing this work.
What to say yes and no to
Say yes to bundles. Three videos in one session is more money for less work than three videos across three weeks, and it is the arrangement brands most want. Say yes to raw footage at the 30% line, because exporting files you already have is the easiest money in the deal.
Be careful with two things. Unbounded revisions, which turn a fixed fee into an hourly job with no hourly rate, so name the number of included rounds. And long exclusivity, which is priced at 100% of production for 12 months in our model but costs you every competitor deal in the category for a year. Short terms and named categories protect your income.
Getting paid, and getting paid on time
Agree the payment terms in the same message as the rate, because the two are one decision. Net 30 on delivery is the common default and it is worth pushing to 50% up front on a first order with a brand you have not worked with, particularly on a bundle where you are carrying several days of work before any money moves. A deposit is not an unusual ask in production work; it is the norm everywhere except creator marketing.
Then put the invoice details in writing before you shoot: who the invoice goes to, what reference they need, and what happens if it is late. Most late payment in this category is administrative rather than deliberate, and a purchase order number collected at brief stage removes almost all of it. If a brand will not name a payment term at all, treat that as information about the rest of the relationship.
Questions people ask
How much does paid UGC pay per video?
Our model puts a 15 to 30 second video at $150 typical for a nano creator and $225 for a micro creator, with bands of $100 to $250 and $150 to $350. These are 2026 planning estimates from our calculator model and public rate cards.
Should I charge extra for usage rights?
Yes, always, as a separate line. Our model prices 3 months of paid usage at 25% of the production fee, 6 months at 50% and 12 months at 100%. A video running in paid ads for a year is worth twice a video posted once.
Is gifted work ever worth taking?
As portfolio material early on, sometimes. As an ongoing arrangement, no, because a portfolio built entirely on gifted work gives you nothing to point at when you quote. Two paid deliverables are worth more to your rate than ten gifted ones.