Guide
UGC vs in-house cost: in-house is far cheaper per ad, UGC brings new faces
Updated
A UGC creator video costs $99 to $169 on Billo, depending on length. A 30-second ad made in-house with Cutroom costs about $1.76, filmed by someone on your team.
In short
- UGC creator videos cost $99 to $169 each on Billo. A 30-second in-house ad made in Cutroom costs about $1.76.
- UGC gives you faces, homes and voices that you do not have on your own team.
- In-house, you can change an ad the same day, and each extra 30-second ad costs about $1.76 instead of another $139.
- The in-house price does not include the time of the person on your team who films each clip.
- You can also combine them: buy creator clips once, then make many ads from them yourself.
- A 30-second creator video on Billo
- $139
- Credits for a 30-second ad in Cutroom, about $1.76
- 110
- Creators Billo can match you with
- 5,000+
What UGC and in-house cost
You pay for each creator video. An in-house ad in Cutroom costs about $1.76 in credits, plus the time of whoever films it.
- Billo charges per video and matches you with creators who film your product on their own phones.
- Billo's home page does not say how many days a creator video takes to arrive.
- Insense is a creator platform from $400 a month billed yearly, and the payments to creators come on top.
- In Cutroom, Lite is $19.99 a month for 1,250 credits, which covers 11 ads of 30 seconds.
- The in-house price does not include the filming time. If you hire someone to film full time, their pay comes on top.
One video ad, UGC or in-house
Billo prices from billo.app, checked 21 September 2026. Cutroom at about 1.6 cents a credit, the rate on every plan.
| Ad length | Billo creator video | Billo with editing | In-house in Cutroom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 seconds | $99 | $164 | 105 credits, about $1.68 |
| 30 seconds | $139 | $204 | 110 credits, about $1.76 |
| 60 seconds | $169 | $234 | 120 credits, about $1.92 |
Ad length: 15 seconds
- Billo creator video
- $99
- Billo with editing
- $164
- In-house in Cutroom
- 105 credits, about $1.68
Ad length: 30 seconds
- Billo creator video
- $139
- Billo with editing
- $204
- In-house in Cutroom
- 110 credits, about $1.76
Ad length: 60 seconds
- Billo creator video
- $169
- Billo with editing
- $234
- In-house in Cutroom
- 120 credits, about $1.92
What does each one cost at 5, 15 and 30 ads a month?
The gap grows with every ad, because you pay for each creator video again.
- At 30 seconds, in-house ads cost 110 credits each, about $1.76: 550 credits for 5 ads, 1,650 for 15 and 3,300 for 30.
- 15 creator videos of 30 seconds on Billo cost $2,085, or $3,060 with editing.
30-second ads a month, UGC or in-house
Billo at $139 a video, or $204 with editing. Cutroom at 110 credits an ad, on the plan that covers it.
| Ads a month | Billo | Billo with editing | Cutroom credits | Cutroom plan that covers it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | $695 | $1,020 | 550 | Lite, $19.99 a month |
| 15 | $2,085 | $3,060 | 1,650 | Basic, $39.99 a month |
| 30 | $4,170 | $6,120 | 3,300 | Premium, $79.99 a month |
Ads a month: 5
- Billo
- $695
- Billo with editing
- $1,020
- Cutroom credits
- 550
- Cutroom plan that covers it
- Lite, $19.99 a month
Ads a month: 15
- Billo
- $2,085
- Billo with editing
- $3,060
- Cutroom credits
- 1,650
- Cutroom plan that covers it
- Basic, $39.99 a month
Ads a month: 30
- Billo
- $4,170
- Billo with editing
- $6,120
- Cutroom credits
- 3,300
- Cutroom plan that covers it
- Premium, $79.99 a month
This is the whole editor
Highlight a phrase and a clip lands on those exact words. No timeline, no keyframes, no layers.
What each one gives you
UGC and in-house do not give you the same thing, so compare what you get as well as the price.
UGC creator videos against in-house ads
Creators win the first three rows. In-house wins on speed and on the cost of every extra ad.
A real person who is not on your team
UGC creator: A creator is on cameraCutroom: Someone on your team filmsDifferent people and homes
UGC creator: 5,000+ creators on BilloCutroom: Usually the same person in the same roomPosted on the creator's own profile
UGC creator: Billo offers organic posts and partnership adsCutroom: You post it yourselfChanges on the same day
UGC creator: A change is another round with the creatorCutroom: You make the change and export againCheap to make many versions
UGC creator: $139 again for each 30-second videoCutroom: 110 credits again, about $1.76
| UGC creator | Cutroom | |
|---|---|---|
| A real person who is not on your team | A creator is on camera | Someone on your team films |
| Different people and homes | 5,000+ creators on Billo | Usually the same person in the same room |
| Posted on the creator's own profile | Billo offers organic posts and partnership ads | You post it yourself |
| Changes on the same day | A change is another round with the creator | You make the change and export again |
| Cheap to make many versions | $139 again for each 30-second video | 110 credits again, about $1.76 |
Which one should you choose?
It comes down to whether someone on your team will film, and how many ads you need.
UGC or in-house
Choose a UGC creator if nobody on your team will go on camera, or you need several different faces and homes to be believed.
Choose in-house if someone on your team can film, and you want to test many ads a month and change them the same day.
Choose creator clips plus in-house ads if you want a creator in some ads. Buy the clips once and use them in ads you make yourself.
Where Cutroom fits
Cutroom is the in-house side. You film one clip of yourself talking and get a finished 9:16 ad back.
- You upload a clip of up to 3 minutes. Cutroom cuts it and adds captions, b-roll and a hook.
- You can upload creator clips as b-roll. Highlight a phrase and the clip goes over exactly those words.
- You make any change yourself, and exporting a 30-second ad again costs 10 credits.
- Cutroom does not supply creators. On Basic and up it can make an AI presenter from a photo, for 320 credits at 30 seconds.
- Your first video is free, with no card, and you have 7 days to make it.
Questions people ask
- Is UGC cheaper than making ads in-house?
- No, in-house is far cheaper per ad. A 30-second creator video costs $139 on Billo, while a 30-second ad made in Cutroom costs 110 credits, about $1.76. UGC is worth paying for when you need a face you do not have.
- How much does a UGC video cost?
- On Billo, $99 for 15 seconds, $139 for 30 seconds and $169 for 60 seconds, or $164 to $234 with editing. Prices checked on billo.app on 21 September 2026.
- How long does a UGC video take to arrive?
- Billo's home page does not give a delivery time in days, so ask before you order. Also ask how many rounds of changes are included and what a change costs after delivery.
- Can I combine UGC and in-house?
- Yes. Buy creator clips of your product in use, then upload them as b-roll and put them under your own words in Cutroom. One set of clips can go into many ads.
- How fast is in-house?
- Same day. The edit comes back about a minute after you upload, and you make any change yourself. Exporting a 30-second ad again costs 10 credits.
Make your next ad in-house from one filmed clip. Your first video is free.