Three ways to buy creator video
The names get used interchangeably, but these services work in very different ways, and the difference decides how much of your time each one takes.
- Managed services cast creators, brief them and deliver the content. You review and approve. Ad Army, MiniSocial and inBeat work this way, each with a different pricing model.
- Marketplaces give you access to many creators. You post a brief, choose from applicants or invite people, and manage delivery. Billo, JoinBrands, Insense and Influee are marketplaces; Billo, JoinBrands and Insense also sell managed options.
- Creator program software helps you recruit creators, contract them, pay them and track their posts over time. SideShift and Trybe fit here, and SideShift also offers a managed option.
If nobody on your team has hours each week to manage creators, start with managed services. Our guide to managed UGC vs in-house creator management helps you size that time honestly.
The platforms side by side
| Item | Model | Who picks creators | Fees on sales or ad spend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ad Army | Fully managed | Ad Army casts from its vetted roster; creators stay anonymous to you | None: 0% of sales or ad spend |
| Billo | Both: self-serve marketplace, or a managed service for a monthly fee | You browse, invite or choose from applicants; the managed service sources creators for you | None stated as a share of sales or ad spend; terms allow service fees or a markup on the price |
| SideShift | Self-serve plans, plus a managed option from a $20,000 a month campaign budget | You review applications and choose, or search and invite creators | None stated on sales or ad spend; payment-processing charges may apply to funding and payouts |
| Trybe | Software you run yourself (a demo can be booked) | Creators join your creator program; you approve their submissions | Yes: 1.5% of attributed sales, or 1.25% of ad spend, or 1.5% of flat-rate creator earnings |
| JoinBrands | Self-serve marketplace; a fully managed service is also offered | You invite creators from the marketplace or choose from applicants | No fee on sales or ad spend stated; 8% to 15% on creator payments, by plan |
| Insense | Self-serve marketplace, with a separate managed services option | You hire from creators who apply to your brief; at least 5 matching applicants promised | No fee on sales or ad spend stated; a 7% to 20% marketplace fee on creator payments, by plan |
| MiniSocial | Fully managed | MiniSocial selects and invites creators; you review and approve them | No extra fees stated |
| Influee | Self-serve marketplace: you post campaigns and work with creators | You choose from creators who apply, by portfolio, price and style | No fee on sales or ad spend stated; 10% of each creator's fee |
| inBeat | Managed agency; its former self-serve platform is now free tools only | inBeat sources, vets and briefs the creators | Not published |
Each competitor's details come from its own website as of October 14, 2026 and are linked under Sources below; each one also has a full head-to-head page. We make Ad Army, so we list it first; the rest follow in no particular order, and none of this is a ranking.
Each platform in brief
Ad Army
A managed service: you submit a request, we cast vetted creators from our roster, and you pay a flat price per approved video ($125 for 15 seconds, $175 for 30 seconds, $260 for 60 seconds plus raw), with revisions until approved, full content rights, 0% of sales or ad spend and no subscription. The trade-off: creators stay anonymous, so you can't pick or message them.
Billo
A marketplace where you browse, invite or choose creators, with 2 rounds of edits per video and full rights assigned on approval. Per-video prices sit inside the account; a managed service starts from $2,000 a month. Ad Army vs Billo.
SideShift
Software for running a creator program, from $299 a month, with creator pay funded separately and a managed option from a $20,000 a month budget. Strong cross-platform tracking. Ad Army vs SideShift.
Trybe
Free-to-start software for performance-based creator programs, charging 1.5% of attributed sales, 1.25% of ad spend or 1.5% of flat-rate creator pay, never stacked, with built-in last-click attribution. Ad Army vs Trybe.
JoinBrands
A large self-serve marketplace with UGC videos listed from $25+, an 8% to 15% platform fee by plan, Spark and Partnership Ad codes included, and TikTok Shop tools. Ad Army vs JoinBrands.
Insense
A self-serve marketplace on plans from $400 to $800 a month, with creator pay from $100 per UGC video, a 7% to 20% marketplace fee and direct ad platform integrations. Ad Army vs Insense.
MiniSocial
A managed micro-influencer service: projects start at $3,000 for 10 creators, creators are hand-picked for you to approve, and most campaigns take 4 to 6 weeks. Ad Army vs MiniSocial.
Influee
A self-serve marketplace on plans from $229 a month, where creators set their own rates (it publishes a $92 US average for a 30 second video) plus a 10% fee. Ad Army vs Influee.
inBeat
A creative growth agency covering UGC, influencer, TikTok Shop and paid media, with pricing agreed after a call. Ad Army vs inBeat.
How to choose
- Do you want to pick creators yourself? If yes, look at marketplaces or program software.
- Will the videos run as your ads, or post on creators' own accounts?
- Is any fee tied to your sales or ad spend? See flat fees vs commission.
- Is there a subscription or plan on top of the per-video cost?
- How long do the usage rights last, and do they cover paid ads?
- How many revisions are included, and who edits the final ad?
About this comparison
This comparison uses public information from each company's own website as of October 14, 2026; prices and terms change, so check the linked pages before you buy. Billo, SideShift, Trybe, JoinBrands, Insense, MiniSocial, Influee and inBeat are trademarks of their respective owners. Ad Army is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Spot something out of date? Email support@adarmy.app and we will correct it.
