In short
- The cost of a video depends on the format, duration, production, objective, channel and volume.
- UGC offers videos from €70 on HICARI and packs from €399, with delivery in 4–7 days.
- For measurable results, speed and authenticity, UGC content stands out as the most cost-effective option.
In this article
Creating videos for social media has never been so important… or so confusing.
Marketing teams go crazy every week looking for the formula to make a viral video. Every day we see thousands of posts on TikTok, Instagram or YouTube Shorts, but how much does a social media video cost?
Free course: how to make a viral video on social media with UGC
Creating videos for social media is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity. Even more so with advances in Artificial Intelligence, SEO challenges (do SEO with videos) and even Paid.
The answer depends on many factors: type of content, duration, production level, and whether it is UGC or a professional studio video. In this article, we explain the actual price ranges in Spain, what each option includes and why UGC content has become the most cost-effective and effective solution for brands.
Types of social media videos and their cost
| Video type | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| UGC | Created by real people, organic style, ideal for ads and social media. | From €70 (at HICARI) |
| Studio video | Recorded with technical equipment, actors and advanced editing. | €800 – €3,000 |
| Animated or motion graphics | Requires design and animation, ideal for SaaS or education. | €500 – €2,000 |
| Influencer video | The cost depends on their audience. | €500 – €20,000 |
| Corporate content | Institutional content, corporate videos. | €1,000 – €5,000 |
| Promotional spot | Brand spots. | €6,000 – €40,000 |
What influences the price of a video?
- Duration and format: short videos (15-30 seconds) are the kings of engagement. The shorter they are, the lower the cost… and the more effective they can be if they’re done well.
- Production level: a content creator recording with their mobile is not the same as a shoot with a director of photography, technical script and post-production.
- Video objective: Branding: seeks awareness → more storytelling, more production. Performance / sales: seeks conversion → more UGC, more authenticity.
- Publishing channel: TikTok, Instagram and YouTube Shorts prioritise vertical, natural and fast-paced videos. Facebook, regular YouTube or LinkedIn may require more polished formats.
- Volume: video bundles (such as HICARI options from 399€) drastically reduce the unit cost per video. Find your trusted UGC platform with great quality and value for money, like HICARI.
Practical example of costs and results
Let’s suppose a brand invests €399 per month in UGC with HICARI and receives 6 videos:
- Cost per video: €60 (at HICARI)
- In 30 days, those videos generate: 1,200 organic views. 200 new followers. 10 qualified leads. 1 sale.
If the total value of that sale is €400 in direct return [(400 – 299) / 399× 100 = 25%], without counting branding or retargeting. But if that sale is repeated month after month thanks to evergreen content, or if the videos are reused in paid campaigns, the cumulative ROI can exceed 700% in three months.
ROI = [(Revenue generated – Video cost) / Video cost] × 100 (ROI calculator)
Real example: Flexicar, a HICARI client
Flexicar continuously creates UGC videos with the HICARI platform. In this case, it used Laura, a creator on the platform, asking her to travel to one of the nearest Flexicar centres and record this testimonial-style video. The video cost €190, including the extra of having the creator publish it on her profile.
Real example: Holaluz, a HICARI client
Holaluz used Claudia, a HICARI Pro creator, and a 15-second video, meaning the total cost of the video was €125, including all rights, platform use, support from HICARI, etc.
A genuinely low cost, considering the traditional costs of producing videos, spots and any type of content. A video made in 4 days, with modifications made at no extra cost.
This is the raw video (as the brand wanted to edit it) created on the HICARI platform. Here you can see more about Holaluz’s success story.
UGC vs traditional production: a real comparison
| Criterion | UGC (with HICARI) | Traditional production |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per video | From €60 | €800 – €3,000 |
| Delivery time | 4–7 days | 1–4 weeks |
| Authenticity | Very high | Medium |
| Scalability | High (packs with discounts) | Limited |
| Cross-platform use | Yes (social, paid, web) | Yes, increases the cost |
| Average ROI | 300% – 800% | Variable |
Want UGC videos that work for your brand?
Create your free brand account and receive proposals from creators. You only pay per video.
How to measure ROI according to the type of strategy
| Channel / Strategy | Main metric | How to calculate it |
|---|---|---|
| Organic social | Engagement rate / Leads | Interactions ÷ Reach × 100 |
| Social ads (Meta, TikTok) | CPA / ROAS | Revenue ÷ Advertising spend |
| SEO / Web | CTR + time on page | Sessions from videos + retention |
| Email marketing | CTR + conversions | Video clicks ÷ total sends |
| Landing pages | Conversion rate | Conversions ÷ visits |
At HICARI, you have an account manager who helps you analyze your videos’ performance and optimize briefs based on real results, among other things.
Learn here: how to measure UGC ROI.
How much you should invest depending on your type of business
- Small brand or new ecommerce business. Start with 3–6 videos per month (€399). Prioritize authenticity and message testing.
- Growing company. Create 10–15 videos per month (€600–€1,500). A/B test creatives and hooks.
- Established or corporate company. Combine UGC campaigns with brand videos, valuable content and informative reels. Recommended monthly budget: €2,000–€10,000.
Most common mistakes when producing videos for social media
- Investing too much in production and too little in the message. An expensive video guarantees ABSOLUTELY nothing. The days of large production companies charging thousands of euros for a video are over. What sells is the story and the connection.
- Not adapting the format to the channel. A comedy or vlog-style video will not work the same way on YouTube as it does on Instagram.
- Not including a strong hook. The first 3 seconds determine whether the user stays or swipes. The hook can address a problem, not just be a visual attention-grabber.
- Not measuring results. Without analytics behind it, you are working blind.
- Using AI without human oversight. Just because it is cheaper… What kind of company (other than an AI company) would want its most powerful communication channel (social media) to be entirely artificial?
- Not maintaining consistency. Posting one video a month or a week is pointless. Success lies in continuous repetition and testing.
How much does “not making videos” cost?
The cost of not investing in video can be much higher:
- Loss of visibility compared with active competitors.
- Lower CTR in campaigns when using static images.
- Lower retention and organic engagement.
- Less memorable and less shareable content.
The cost of a social media video depends on what you are looking for: if you want visual impact and storytelling, an agency may be the right option. But if you are looking for measurable results, speed and authenticity, UGC content is the winning choice.
Ready to order bespoke UGC videos for your ads?
Choose the creator, publish your brief on HICARI and receive content ready to use in campaigns or ecommerce. Pay only for each video.
Frequently asked questions
What factors influence the price of a social media video?
The type of content, duration and format, production level, objective, publishing channel and volume all influence the price. Packs can reduce the unit cost per video.
What is the difference between UGC and traditional production?
UGC stands out for its very high authenticity, high scalability and cross-platform use. In the comparison, it starts at €60 per video and has a delivery time of 4–7 days.
How is video ROI measured according to the strategy?
For organic social, engagement rate and leads can be measured; for social ads, CPA and ROAS; and for SEO, CTR and time on page. Conversions in email marketing and landing pages are also considered.
For brands
UGC videos for your brand
Free sign-up. Get proposals from creators and pay only per video.
Create a brand accountor talk to the team
