AI UGC at a fraction of traditional content costs – 5 AI tools we love

What AI UGC is and why it matters

User-generated content has long been the gold standard for authentic brand storytelling. But here’s the problem: traditional UGC campaigns are expensive, slow, and unpredictable. Between sourcing creators, managing contracts, multiple revision rounds, and final delivery, brands often spend £500–£2,000 per piece of content.

AI UGC changes that equation.

AI-powered user-generated content uses artificial intelligence to produce authentic-looking, UGC-style videos that replicate real customer testimonials at a fraction of the cost. Research shows AI-generated UGC can reduce content creation expenses by up to 90 per cent while maintaining the authenticity that drives conversions.

We’ve integrated AI UGC into our performance marketing strategies for clients across sectors, from fast-growth start-ups to established scale-ups. The result: more content, faster testing, and measurable gains in ROI.

How traditional UGC is breaking your budget

Before exploring the tools, it’s worth addressing the core issue: traditional UGC is increasingly becoming unsustainable for most brands.

The true cost of traditional UGC

• Creator fees: £300–£1,500 per video
• Platform fees: 15–30% commission to UGC marketplaces
• Revision cycles incur additional costs and delays 
• Usage rights are often limited to three–six months
  
• Hit or miss quality, with no guarantee that the content will perform

For a typical campaign requiring 10–20 pieces of content for ad testing, costs can easily reach £5,000–£30,000 before knowing what actually works.

The AI UGC alternative

• Per video cost £10–£50
• Production time minutes or hours, not weeks
• Unlimited variations to test multiple angles instantly
• Full usage rights with no expiry
• Consistent quality as AI models improve with every iteration

Our performance data confirms AI-generated content consistently achieves comparable, and at times better, CTRs than traditional UGC when executed correctly.

5 AI tools we use for AI UGC creation

After testing dozens of AI platforms, these five have earned a permanent place in our production workflow, each serving a unique role within our AI UGC pipeline.

Arcads.ai for AI avatar video creation

Best for UGC-style video testimonials using AI avatars

Arcads is our go-to for rapid AI UGC video production. It generates scripted testimonials delivered by lifelike avatars with convincing gestures and expressions.

How we use it

• Create multiple video variations for A/B testing
• Generate testimonials in varied accents and demographics
• Produce unboxing-style videos for e-commerce clients
• Scale video output across markets without reshoots
  

Key features

• More than 100 diverse AI avatars across age, ethnicity, and style
• Script to video in under five minutes
• Natural gestures, expressions, and lip sync
• Customisable backgrounds and environments
  

Results: For one D2C client, we produced 15 AI UGC videos in a day, replacing a £12,000 creator campaign. Three outperformed the originals, cutting cost per acquisition by 34%.

Pricing: From $99 per month for 20 video credits

Pro tip: Write scripts conversationally, not like ad copy. Natural phrasing boosts believability.

Synthesia.io for professional AI spokesperson videos

Best for explainer videos, product demos, and branded messages

Synthesia is ideal for polished, professional content that still feels personal.

How we use it

• Produce founder-style videos without on-set filming
• Create multi-language product demos for global audiences
• Generate personalised customer videos at scale
• Build training and educational content for email sequences

Key features

• More than 160 ultra-realistic avatars
• More than 120 languages and accents
• Custom avatar creation from photos
• Screen record integration for demos
• Brand templates for visual consistency

Results: A SaaS client required explainer videos in eight languages. Traditional production quoted £45,000 and 12 weeks. Using Synthesia, we delivered all versions in three days for under £500, achieving a 6.5x ROAS.

Pricing: From $29 per month (Starter)

Pro tip: Use the custom avatar option to create digital twins of your team for authentic brand representation.

Opus Clip for AI video repurposing

Best for turning long-form video into viral short-form content

Opus Clip isn’t strictly an AI UGC platform but has revolutionised how we extend the lifespan of existing video assets.

How we use it

• Convert webinars into bite-sized social clips
• Extract key moments from customer testimonials
• Repurpose podcasts into vertical video ads
• Create UGC-style reactions from interviews

Key features

• Automatically identifies the most engaging segments
• Auto captions with high accuracy
• Auto resizes for TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts
• Adds B-roll, transitions, and predicted virality scores

Results: From a single 45-minute customer interview, we generated 27 clips. Four reached over 100k organic views and two became top-performing paid ads that quarter.

Pricing: free tier available, pro plans from $29 per month

Pro tip: Upload genuine customer videos. Opus will extract emotionally resonant soundbites that double as social proof.

Midjourney for AI image generation and visual UGC

Best for lifestyle imagery, product mock-ups, and creative concepts

Midjourney has matured into a commercial-grade tool for creating photorealistic UGC style imagery that rivals professional photography.

How we use it

• Generate lifestyle imagery for ad testing
• Produce seasonal visuals without photoshoots
• Create user in the environment scenes for social ads
• Build campaign mood boards pre-production

Key features

• Photorealistic rendering and style control
• Consistent character recreation
• Brand-consistent style referencing
• High-resolution output suitable for print
  

Results: For a fashion client, Midjourney generated 40 lifestyle images comparable to a £15,000 photoshoot, at a total cost of £120.

Pricing: $10–$120 per month, depending on usage

Pro tip: Upload a real customer image as a style reference to preserve authenticity while expanding creative flexibility.

ElevenLabs for AI voice and audio generation

Best for voiceovers, audio testimonials, and podcasts

High-performing UGC isn’t limited to visuals. ElevenLabs enables authentic audio storytelling at scale.

How we use it

• Generate voiceovers in multiple languages
• Transform text reviews into spoken testimonials
• Produce podcast-style content without studio time
• Add narration to silent video UGC

Key features

• Voice cloning from one-minute audio samples
• 29 languages with realistic accents
• Emotional tone control
• Long-form audio generation for podcasts
  

Results: For a wellness client, we converted more than 50 text reviews into audio testimonials for a radio campaign. The project cost £45 and was completed in a single afternoon.

Pricing: free tier, paid plans from $5 per month

Pro tip: Clone your founder’s or spokesperson’s voice once, then reuse it indefinitely to maintain brand consistency.

How to integrate AI UGC into your content strategy

• Start with testing, not replacement
  Run AI-generated and human UGC side by side to establish benchmarks.
• Optimise for authenticity
  Include natural imperfections such as pauses, casual phrasing, and real-world backdrops.
• Leverage speed for iteration
  AI UGC’s edge is velocity. Test more variations to uncover winners faster.
• Combine AI and human creativity
  Use AI for scale, but keep strategy human-led. The best results blend technology and intuition.
• Disclose when appropriate
  Transparency matters, especially in regulated industries.

Estimating the cost impact of AI UGC

Across campaigns, AI UGC typically delivers cost savings of between 85 and 95% compared with traditional creator production, with turnaround times reduced by as much as 70 to 90%. Exact savings vary by campaign scope, usage rights, and production volume, but the difference in both cost and speed is significant enough to transform creative testing velocity.

The future of AI UGC in 2026 and beyond

• Real-time personalisation at the viewer level
• Interactive AI avatars for dynamic engagement
• Emotion-optimised creative driven by performance data
• Synthetic brand communities that scale advocacy

Brands that adopt AI UGC now will gain a lasting competitive advantage as these innovations mature in 2026.