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In-house vs freelancers vs agency: creative cost calculator
Enter what an in-house creative, freelance creators and editors, and an agency quote would cost you to compare the cost per ad of each option.
Cost per ad
Enter your numbers to see the result.
Free tool by Telehealth Media · telehealthmedia.com
Not in the cost: check these too
- Who writes angles and scripts, and how many hours that takes you
- Who reviews every ad against health ad rules before it runs
- Turnaround from brief to finished ads
- Your management time: briefing, feedback, reshoots
- Releases and usage rights for every person on camera
How it works
Each option has a different cost shape. In-house costs are mostly fixed: you pay for people whether or not you need their full output. Freelancers are paid per video. Agencies usually charge per unit of output.
- In-house people needed = ads per month / ads one person makes, rounded up
- In-house cost per ad = (people x monthly cost + tools) / ads per month
- Freelancers cost per ad = creator fee + editor fee
- Agency cost per ad = (units needed, rounded up x fee per unit) / ads per month
Every field starts empty. Use your own salaries and the quotes you have; we do not prefill any rates, including our own.
The checklist under the result covers costs that do not show up in the numbers: script writing, compliance review, turnaround and your own management time.
Worked example
A brand needs 100 ads a month. One in-house creative costs 7,500 USD a month with 600 USD of tools and makes 25 ads a month. Freelance creators charge 300 USD and editors 150 USD per video.
| Option | Calculation | Cost per ad |
|---|---|---|
| In-house | (4 x 7,500 + 600) / 100 | 306 USD |
| Freelancers | 300 + 150 | 450 USD |
Add the agency quotes you have to compare the third option. These numbers illustrate the formula; enter your own.
Telehealth notes
- Count the cost of compliance review. Ads for prescription treatments need checking against platform and FTC rules before they run, whoever makes them.
- Compare cost per useful ad, not cost per ad. If one option produces more winners, its effective cost per winner is lower.
Questions
Is in-house cheaper than an agency?
It depends on volume. In-house is usually cheaper per ad when you can keep the team busy; freelancers and agencies scale up and down more easily.
Why are there no default rates?
Rates vary widely and any default would mislead. Use your own salaries and quotes.
Are my numbers stored?
No. The calculation runs in your browser and nothing is sent to us.