How Much to Charge for UGC in 2026
Updated July 27, 2026 · by the Kora team
Quick answer for 2026: most working UGC creators charge $100 to $250 per finished video for organic usage, with experienced creators at $250 to $500+, then add for paid ad usage, exclusivity, extra hooks, and raw footage. The number on the invoice is really four decisions, so price each one deliberately instead of quoting one guess.
The base rate: the video itself
Your base rate covers concepting, filming, and editing one 15 to 60 second video the brand can post organically. Anchor it to your experience and the niche's stakes: finance, health, and software briefs pay above lifestyle unboxings because the content works harder. Batch discounts are normal (a 3-video pack at a modest discount), and retainers (for example, a monthly package of videos) deserve their own line because predictable income is worth trading a little rate for.
The add-ons, priced separately
| Add-on | What it is | Common pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Paid ad usage | The brand runs your video as an ad | +25% to 50% of the video rate per 30 days, more for perpetual |
| Exclusivity | You decline the brand's competitors for a window | Scaled to the window + category breadth; never free |
| Extra hooks / variations | Alternate openings for ad testing | +$25 to $75 per variation |
| Raw footage | Unedited clips the brand can recut | +30% to 100% of the video rate |
| Whitelisting / posting | Publishing to your own audience or ads run through your handle | Separate deal: this is influencer pricing, not UGC |
A simple quoting formula
Quote = base rate × number of videos, plus usage (per 30-day window), plus exclusivity if requested, plus variations and raw footage. Put the components on the quote separately: brands negotiate the total down far less when they can see what each piece buys, and you can concede a component instead of your base rate.
Reading a brief's real budget
- Per-video or per-post listings tell you the rate up front; decide if the volume makes it worth it.
- Monthly retainers (common on Kora's job board) reward consistency; divide by expected posts to sanity-check the effective per-video rate.
- View-bonus structures add upside on top of base pay; treat the bonus as upside, never as the rate.
Whatever you agree, get the rate, usage window, and payment date in writing before filming. Kora's contract reviewer flags usage, exclusivity, and payment terms in plain English, and the payments ledger keeps what is owed visible until it is paid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a fair starting rate for a UGC video?
Most new UGC creators in 2026 charge in the range of $100 to $200 per finished 15 to 60 second video with basic organic usage. Experienced creators with proven ad performance charge $250 to $500+, before usage and exclusivity add-ons.
Should I charge extra for usage rights?
Yes. Organic posting on the brand's page is usually included; paid ad usage is not. A common structure adds roughly 25% to 50% of the video rate per 30 days of paid usage, and perpetual ad usage should be priced accordingly higher.
What about exclusivity?
Exclusivity means declining that brand's competitors, which costs you future income. Price it separately, scale it to the exclusivity window and how broad the category is, and never grant it for free.
Do follower counts change UGC rates?
Not directly. UGC pricing is about content quality and usage, because the brand distributes the video on its own channels. If a brand also wants you to post to your audience, that is a creator partnership on top and priced separately.
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