Arcads Pricing, Broken Down
Every tier, every credit cost, and the per-video math most brands miss.
Arcads is one of the most popular DIY AI UGC tools on the market, but its pricing page leaves a lot of math to the buyer. This breakdown walks through every published tier, what a 'video' actually costs once you factor in re-renders and revisions, and the exact volume point where hiring a managed agency like UMG becomes cheaper per finished asset.
What's included
- Every Arcads tier explained
- True per-video cost (3–6x render multiplier)
- In-house operator time included in the math
- Crossover point: when an agency is cheaper
- UMG retainer equivalent pricing
Arcads tier overview
Arcads runs a credit-based model with monthly subscription tiers (Starter, Pro, and custom Business). Each generated video consumes credits — typically more once you account for failed renders, lip-sync retries, and variation testing. The headline 'price per video' is rarely what brands actually pay.
The hidden cost most brands miss
Producing one usable Arcads video usually requires 3–6 generations: hook variations, voice retakes, lip-sync corrections. That 3–6x multiplier is the real per-video cost, not the marketing number on the pricing page.
Time cost on top of credits
Even the cheapest tier still requires someone in-house to write scripts, pick actors, prompt-engineer hooks, review renders, edit, caption, and package for paid. That's typically 30–90 minutes of operator time per finished video.
When an agency becomes cheaper
At roughly 15–20 finished videos per month, the blended cost (subscription + credits + 1 hour of in-house operator time at a $40–$75 loaded rate) crosses the per-video price of a managed UMG retainer — and you get strategy, editing, and QC bundled in.
How UMG prices the same output
UMG retainers are flat monthly fees that include scripting, AI actor selection, render management, editing, captions, and revisions. Per-video equivalent typically lands at $150–$350 depending on volume and complexity.
Ready to compare with real output?
See what UMG delivers for your brand
Every comparison on this site is based on real retainer work. Book a free strategy call and we'll show you a custom plan — no pitch deck required.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Arcads cost per video?+
The headline number on the pricing page assumes one successful render per video. In practice most brands burn 3–6 generations per finished asset for hook testing, voice retakes, and lip-sync corrections, so the real cost is 3–6x the marketing number.
Is Arcads cheaper than hiring an agency?+
Below ~15 finished videos per month, yes — DIY tools are cheaper. Above that, once you include operator time and re-render costs, a managed agency like UMG typically lands at a lower per-video cost with strategy and editing included.
Does Arcads include editing and captions?+
No. Arcads outputs raw AI UGC clips. Captions, b-roll, music, hook overlays, and platform-specific edits are all on the buyer to produce or outsource.
What's the cheapest way to test AI UGC?+
Start on Arcads' lowest tier for 30 days to validate creative direction. Once you've confirmed AI UGC works for your brand, switching to a managed agency typically lowers per-video cost and frees up your team's time.
How does UMG price AI UGC versus Arcads?+
UMG runs flat monthly retainers ($1,500–$7,500+) that include scripting, AI actor selection, render management, editing, captions, and revisions. Per-video equivalent is typically $150–$350 — competitive with Arcads' real all-in cost above ~15 videos/month.
Start with real output
Ready to ship?
Book a free 20-minute strategy call. We'll map the exact plan for your brand — no pitch deck, no fluff.