UGC raw footage cost and when a brand should pay for it
UGC raw footage is the unedited clips and audio a creator filmed for your video, and buying it typically adds 30 to 50% to the base video fee, according to public 2026 rate guides. It pays off when your own editor will cut at least three or four new ads from it. It does not when you only need the finished video, because the creator's edit is already what you paid for. The worked example below shows the break even point.
What you are buying with raw footage
A finished UGC video is one cut: a hook, a demo, a call to action. Raw footage is everything the creator shot, including the alternate takes, the extra hooks they tried, the b-roll of the product and the clean audio. With it, your editor can re-cut the first three seconds, swap the call to action, change the length from 30 to 15 seconds or build a version for a different audience, without paying the creator to film again. Without it, every new variant is a new brief and a new fee. Raw footage is a license and a delivery, and it should be written in the brief, as the UGC contract and usage rights guide explains, because a creator who edited the video is not obliged to hand over the clips unless the deal says so.
What raw footage adds to the price
| Item | Typical add to base fee | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Raw footage, all clips | +30 to 50% | Public 2026 guides, not a quote |
| Raw footage, selected clips only | Often lower | Name the takes you want |
| Edit and re-cut rights | Usually part of the same line | Say who may edit |
| Clean audio track | Sometimes included | Ask, do not assume |
The UGC rates page has the full benchmark table for base fees and rights. The add on is a percentage of the base video fee, so a $175 video carries roughly $52 to $88 for the clips. Ask whether the add on is per video or per campaign, and do not pay for editing rights twice when the package already includes them.
When raw footage beats ordering a new video
Take a brand that orders 4 videos at a $175 base fee, paid ads rights for three months at +40% and raw footage at +40%. The numbers are planning values, and the editor cost is an assumption you replace with your own.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Production, 4 x $175 | $700 |
| Paid use 3 months, +40% | $280 |
| Raw footage, +40% | $280 |
| Total funded into escrow | $1,260 |
| Platform fee inside the budget, 15% | $189 |
| Creator payouts, 85% | $1,071 |
Without raw footage the budget is $980. The clips cost $280 extra. Now compare the two routes for getting 8 more ad variants.
| Route | Cost for 8 more variants |
|---|---|
| Re-cut from raw footage by your editor, assumed $40 per variant | $320 |
| Order 8 new videos at $175 base, no rights add on | $1,400 |
The raw footage route costs $280 for the clips plus $320 for editing, $600 in total, against $1,400. It wins when you need more than about two extra variants. For only one or two extra cuts, the add on does not pay back, since a single edit by the original creator would cost less than $280. The limit is also creative: a re-cut gives you a new hook order or length, but not a new face or setting, so a brand that needs genuinely different creators still orders new videos.
When raw footage is worth it
Buy it when you run paid ads and will test hooks every week, when you have an in house editor or a freelance editor already on retainer, when you want vertical and square versions of the same shoot, or when the product is expensive to ship and you want the most out of one session. Ads wear out, and a pool of clips lets you refresh a winning ad without losing its look.
When to skip it
Skip it for a one off organic post, for a test batch where you do not yet know the product works, or when nobody on your team can edit. In those cases the extra 30 to 50% buys files that sit in a folder. A dropshipping store testing one product, as in UGC for dropshipping, usually skips it on the first batch and buys it for the creator whose hook wins.
What to write in the brief
Four lines cover it. List which clips you want, for example "all takes of the hook and the product demo, plus clean audio". Name the edit rights, meaning your team may cut, crop, caption and re-order. State the term, which is normally the same as the paid ads term. Give a delivery deadline, usually within a few days of approval, as a shared link. The UGC brief guide shows where these lines sit in a brief. Also keep in mind that the footage may contain the creator's face and voice, so use is limited to the channels and term in the license, and the FTC's endorsement guidance for businesses still applies to any re-cut that keeps the creator's testimonial.
Rights in the campaign, not in a thread
On UgcBoard you set the payout per video, add raw footage and the paid term in the brief, and fund the campaign into escrow. The creator sees those terms before accepting, and the license starts when you approve and the payout is released. The platform fee is a flat 15% inside the budget, with no monthly plan. Compare other options in the best UGC platforms roundup.
UGC raw footage questions
How much does UGC raw footage cost?
It typically adds 30 to 50% to the base video fee, according to public 2026 rate guides. On a $175 video that is roughly $52 to $88. Selected clips can cost less. The price depends on the creator and on how many takes exist, so set the figure in the brief.
Do I own UGC raw footage?
Only if the agreement says so. A creator keeps the copyright in what they film and grants you a license for the channels and term in the contract. Raw footage is a separate line, so ask for it in writing, with the edit rights and the term.
Can I edit a UGC video myself?
Yes if the license grants edit rights. Without them, cutting, cropping or re-ordering the creator's video may breach the terms. Ask for edit rights in the brief, and keep the original file as the reference.
Is raw footage worth it for a small brand?
Only when you will cut at least three or four new ads from it and have someone to edit. For a single test video or organic use, skip it and buy the finished file.
Do I need a monthly plan to buy UGC?
Not on UgcBoard. You set the payout, fund the campaign into escrow and pay a flat 15% fee inside the budget.
