How much does an AI video ad cost in 2026?

There are broadly three ways to produce a video ad today. They do not deliver the same thing, and they put the work on different people. Comparing their prices without comparing their scope is the quickest route to a poor decision.

Self-serve software looks cheapest, and on the invoice it is. But it does not hand you a film. It hands you shots. Someone still has to write the idea, pick the takes, fix objects that drift from one shot to the next, edit, find music licensed for advertising and export the right files. If your team has the time and the skills, it is a serious option. If not, the real cost is counted in weeks and in projects that never quite get finished.

At the other end, a traditional agency remains the benchmark for a shoot with actors, a crew and proper production management. Its price reflects that work. In between, French AI studios publish entry prices starting at €2,490 excl. VAT. Our lowest package is €890 excl. VAT. We leave those figures side by side: you are best placed to judge what each one means for your project.

AI lowers the cost of making images. It does not remove the writing, the edit, the sound or the rights. Those are the items that explain most of the gap between two quotes.

Length. A 15-second film and a 60-second film need a very different number of shots. Every shot has to stay faithful to the product or the venue, which means checking and reworking.

Number of cut-downs. A 15-second version alongside a 30-second film is not just a trim. Each cut-down needs its own pace, its own ending and sometimes its own line of copy.

Voice and languages. A voiceover means approved copy, a performance and a mix. Each extra language is an adaptation, not a word-for-word translation.

Sound design. Music laid under pictures is not always enough. Sound design gives weight to gestures, textures and transitions.

Revision rounds. The number of rounds included should be written down. An extra round on a film that is already finished has a real cost.

Quality of the source photos. Sharp, well-lit photos taken from several angles allow faithful shots. Blurred or too few images mean more work, or limit what is possible.

Rights and usage. Website, social media, paid ads, trade shows, in-store screens: the intended use belongs in the quote.

Paid media, separately. Paid distribution on social, the web or television is a separate budget from production. No film price, ours or anyone else’s, includes your media spend.

We publish our prices. Each package exists for four kinds of film: the product film, the venue film, the service film and the website and app film. All amounts are excluding VAT and the same for every industry.

What each package includes:

• Essential: a 15-second film, music, 2 rounds of revisions.
• Signature: a 30-second film and a 15-second cut-down, music, sound design, synthetic voiceover in 1 language, 2 rounds of revisions.
• Prestige: a 60-second film with 30- and 15-second cut-downs, music, sound design, synthetic voiceover in 2 languages, 3 rounds of revisions, social launch kit included.

A human voice is quoted on request. Every package is delivered in 16:9 landscape, built from your real photos, edited and colour-graded by hand. The social launch kit can be added to the other packages for €290 excl. VAT as standard or €590 excl. VAT tailored. For a series of films, a campaign or a subscription, our Maison offer is quoted on request. Prices for the UAE and Qatar are published in local currency on our pricing page, via the country selector.

Not sure which kind of film you need? Our offers explain each one in turn.

Two quotes for the same amount can cover very different work. Before you sign, ask these questions in writing.

Rights. Can you run the film in paid ads, on your website, at trade shows, with no time limit? If the quote is silent, ask.

Revisions. How many rounds are included, and at which stages? Feedback on the concept and feedback on the final edit do not cost the same.

Versions. Is a “30-second film” delivered on its own, or with a shorter version? Cut-downs ordered afterwards are often billed separately.

Voice. Human or synthetic voice, how many languages, and who writes the script? A second language is rarely free by default.

Music licence. Music cleared for personal use does not necessarily cover advertising. The licence has to match the intended use.

Formats. We deliver in 16:9 landscape. If you need other framings, raise it in the brief and check what each supplier includes. A film cropped without thought often loses its subject.

Fidelity. Who checks that the product, the logo and the colours stay accurate from one shot to the next? It is the weakest point of a poorly supervised AI film, and the most expensive one to put right.

We would rather be plain about it: a film built from photos does not replace everything. In several cases a shoot or an agency is the better option, and the extra cost is justified.

• You need to show real people. A customer testimonial, an interview with your founder, a team at work: these must be filmed. Generating them would mislead your audience.
• You are covering a live event. A launch, a trade show, a concert: what happened has to be captured on the day.
• Your campaign rests on a well-known face. A celebrity or ambassador is filmed, under an image rights contract. We do not fabricate fake celebrities.
• You are planning a national TV campaign. The technical, legal and production demands of a large broadcast spot often call for a full production.

In those situations, an agency budget pays for work we do not do. For a product, a venue, a service or an interface you can photograph, on the other hand, a hybrid film is often the most sensible answer.

The brief is the first lever on price. A clear one avoids wasted revision rounds and versions discovered too late.

Send real photos. Ideally 10 or more, sharp, from several angles, with close-ups of materials and some context. With fewer, describe the project: we will tell you what is possible and send a quote. Our guide to AI video from photos explains which images work best.

Set one objective. Introduce a product, fill a venue, get people to try an app. A film that tries to say everything says nothing.

State the use from the start. Website, social media, paid ads, in-store screen. The use shapes the length, the package and the rights.

Plan languages and versions. If a second language or a short version will be useful, mention it now, even if you order it later.

Consolidate feedback. One person gathering everyone’s comments avoids contradictory changes.

A PDF brief is welcome: brand guidelines, approved copy, visual references, mandatory mentions. To see how this applies to your sector, browse our films by industry.

In 2026, an AI video ad can cost the price of a subscription or several thousand euros at a studio. For comparison, a traditional agency spot costs €7,000 to €25,000 excl. VAT (La Fabrique du Net, 30 projects). The right figure depends on who does the work and what is delivered. With us, a finished film starts at €890 excl. VAT, and every amount is published on our pricing page. Compare the scope, not just the totals, and pick the route that fits what you need to show.