Contengine vs a short-form agency vs an in-house hire
Contengine costs $29/mo per brand billed annually, or $49/mo month to month, plus AI usage billed at cost, and you can start in minutes. A short-form agency typically costs $2–7k+ a month on 6–12 month contracts, and an in-house hire $5–8k+ a month (typical US ranges). Pick an agency or a hire when you want people to own your creative and your wider marketing; pick Contengine when you want organic short-form posted for you, without briefs or hiring.
Comparison table
| Contengine | Agency | In-house | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $29/mo billed annually, + AI at cost | $2–7k+ | $5–8k+ |
| Time to start | Minutes | 2–4 weeks | 2–3 months |
| Your time | Approve a batch. That's it. | Briefs, meetings, revisions | Hiring, managing, 1:1s |
| Commitment | Cancel anytime | 6–12 month contracts | Payroll + notice period |
| Gets better | Every week, from real results | Monthly report | When there's time |
Agency and in-house figures are typical US ranges. Contengine is $29/mo per brand billed annually, or $49/mo month to month, plus AI at the provider's price with no markup.
When an agency is the better fit
An agency fits when you want a team of people to own your creative direction, film original footage with your products or your people, and plan strategy beyond short-form organic posting.
The trade-off is cost and effort: typically $2–7k+ a month on 6–12 month contracts, about 2–4 weeks to start, and your time goes on briefs, meetings, revisions.
When in-house is the better fit
A hire fits when marketing is a full-time job at your company: someone who sits with your team, knows the product in depth and works across every channel, not only short-form.
The trade-off: typically $5–8k+ a month, 2–3 months to start, and your time goes on hiring, managing, 1:1s. The commitment is payroll + notice period.
When Contengine is the better fit
Contengine fits when you want a steady flow of organic short-form posted to Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Facebook without hiring or briefing anyone. You paste a link, approve a batch (or turn on auto), and it improves every week.
It costs $29/mo per brand billed annually, or $49/mo month to month, plus AI usage billed at the provider's price with no markup. You start in minutes and cancel anytime. Contengine is organic only: it does not run paid ads.