Top 7 Arcads Alternatives in 2026 (Tested & Ranked)

Arcads is good. Let's get that out of the way. The avatar quality is solid, the interface is clean, and the output looks professional.

But $110+ per month with no free trial? For a tool that locks you into one AI model while competitors offer Sora 2, Veo 3.1, and Kling 2.5? That's a hard sell in 2026.

I've spent the last three months testing every serious AI UGC tool on the market. Same script, same product (a $45 skincare serum), same goal: create ads I'd actually run on TikTok and Meta.

Here are the 7 alternatives worth considering - ranked by value, not hype.

Why People Look for Arcads Alternatives

Before we dive in, let's be clear about what Arcads does well and where it falls short. Understanding this helps you pick the right alternative for your specific needs.

Arcads strengths:

• 300+ customizable AI avatars with good diversity
• Clean, professional output quality
• Fast generation times (usually under 5 minutes)
• No features locked behind higher tiers

Why people leave:

• Price - $110+/month is steep for startups and small brands
• No free trial - you have to commit blind
• Single AI model - competitors offer Sora 2, Veo 3.1, Kling 2.5
• No product-in-hand generation - a dealbreaker for e-commerce
• Limited analytics - you need external tools for performance tracking

Now let's look at who does it better - and for less.

Quick Comparison

Here's the snapshot. Details below.

1. EzUGC - Best Overall Alternative

Price: $49/month (Startup), $99/month (Growth), $199/month (Pro)

EzUGC is what Arcads would be if it was built in 2026 instead of 2024.

The killer feature: multiple AI models. While Arcads locks you into their proprietary system, EzUGC gives you Sora 2, Veo 3.1, Kling 2.5, Seedance, and Wan 2.5 - all in one platform. Different models excel at different things. Veo 3.1 crushes product demos. Kling 2.5 nails talking head content. Having options matters.

The other standout: product-in-hand generation. Upload your product image, and the AI generates realistic shots of people holding it. No photoshoot required. Arcads can't do this. Neither can most competitors.

What EzUGC does better than Arcads:

• Multi-model access (Sora 2, Veo 3.1, Kling 2.5, more)
• Product-in-hand AI generation
• Virtual try-on for apparel/accessories
• GPT-4o script generation built in
• 55% cheaper ($49 vs $110+)
• Actually has a free trial

Where Arcads still wins:

• Slightly larger avatar library (300+ vs 300+)
• More established brand (been around longer)

Bottom line: If you're paying for Arcads today, you're overpaying for yesterday's tech. EzUGC gives you more models, more features, and costs half as much. The 3-day trial lets you verify before committing.

2. Creatify - Best for E-commerce Automation

Price: $39/month (Starter), $99/month (Pro), $249/month (Pro Plus)

Free trial: Yes (watermarked exports)

Creatify's superpower is automation. Paste your product URL, and it scrapes the images, writes the script, and generates the video. For Shopify store owners pumping out 50+ SKU videos, this is gold.

The avatar library is massive - 900+ on Pro plans. And their AdMax feature gives you basic performance analytics, which Arcads lacks entirely.

What Creatify does better than Arcads:

• URL-to-video automation (paste link, get video)
• Larger avatar library (900+ vs 300+)
• Batch variant generation (up to 50 at once)
• Performance analytics via AdMax
• Free tier available

The catch:

• Basic AI model - no Sora 2 or Veo 3.1
• No product-in-hand generation
• Pro Plus gets expensive ($249/mo)

Bottom line: Great for high-volume e-commerce stores that need quantity over cutting-edge quality. The automation saves serious time if you're managing 100+ products.

3. MakeUGC - Best Budget Option

Price: $29/month (Basic), $49/month (Pro), $99/month (Enterprise)

Free trial: Yes

MakeUGC is the Honda Civic of AI UGC tools. Not flashy, not cutting-edge, but reliable and affordable. At $29/month, it's the cheapest serious option on this list.

The avatar quality is good-not-great. Lip sync occasionally drifts. But for brands testing AI UGC for the first time, it's a low-risk entry point.

What MakeUGC does better than Arcads:

• 74% cheaper ($29 vs $110)
• Free trial available
• Simple, no-frills interface
• Good for beginners
• The catch:
• Lower video quality than Arcads
• Limited avatar selection
• Basic AI model only
• No advanced features (product-in-hand, etc.)

Bottom line: Perfect for testing the waters. Start here if you've never used AI UGC, then upgrade to EzUGC or Creatify when you're ready to scale.

4. Zeely - Best for Campaign Management

Price: $29.95/month (Starter), $49.95/month (Plus), $79.95/month (Growth)

Free trial: No

Zeely takes a different approach. Instead of just generating videos, it's trying to be an all-in-one campaign management tool. Generate the video, set up the Meta campaign, launch the ad - all in one place.

Interesting concept. Shaky execution. The app has stability issues, and the billing system has confused more than a few users. But if they fix the bugs, this could be compelling for solo founders who want everything in one dashboard.

What Zeely does better than Arcads:

• Built-in campaign management
• Direct Meta ad launch integration
• 73% cheaper ($29 vs $110)
• All-in-one workflow

The catch:

• Stability issues (app crashes reported)
• Confusing billing
• No free trial
• Lower video count per tier (8 videos on Starter)

Bottom line: Wait for them to mature. The vision is right, but the product needs polish. Check back in 6 months.

5. Captions - Best Premium Quality

Price: $99/month (Pro), $299/month (Business)

Free trial: Yes (limited features)

Captions built their own foundation model. It shows. The lip sync is the best in the industry. The avatar expressions feel natural. If video quality is your only metric, Captions wins.

But here's the thing: for UGC ads, "best quality" isn't always the goal. Sometimes slightly-imperfect feels more authentic. And Captions' pricing reflects their premium positioning - it's not cheap.

What Captions does better than Arcads:

• Superior lip sync (best in class)
• More natural avatar expressions
• Unlimited video exports on Pro
• Built-in caption/subtitle editing
• Free trial available

The catch:

• Expensive ($99-299/mo)
• No multi-model flexibility
• No product-in-hand generation
• Limited avatar customization

Bottom line: If video quality is everything and budget doesn't matter, Captions delivers. For most DTC brands, EzUGC or Creatify offer better value.

6. HeyGen - Best for Enterprise/Training

Price: $29/month (Creator), $89/month (Business), Custom (Enterprise)

Free trial: Yes (1 free video)

HeyGen has been around since the early days of AI video. Their tech is solid, their avatar library is extensive, and they've nailed the enterprise market.

The problem: they're built for training videos and corporate content, not UGC ads. The avatars look professional - too professional. That corporate polish kills the authenticity that makes UGC work.

What HeyGen does better than Arcads:

• Lower entry price ($29 vs $110)
• Excellent video translation (175+ languages)
• Avatar cloning (create your own)
• Free trial available
• Enterprise-grade security

The catch:

• Too polished for authentic UGC
• Only 3 videos on Creator plan
• Built for corporate, not DTC
• No marketing-specific features

Bottom line: Great for onboarding videos and internal training. Not great for TikTok ads. If you need UGC, look elsewhere.

7. Synthesia - Best for Corporate Video

Price: $29/month (Starter), $99/month (Creator), Custom (Enterprise)

Free trial: Yes (with watermark)

Synthesia is the OG of AI video. They've been doing this longer than anyone, and it shows in their polish and reliability. Big brands like Amazon, Reuters, and Accenture use them.

Same problem as HeyGen: wrong use case. Synthesia avatars wear suits and stand in front of corporate backgrounds. That's perfect for training videos. It's death for UGC ads.

What Synthesia does better than Arcads:

• Lower entry price ($29 vs $110)
• 230+ avatars (diverse professionally)
• 140+ languages supported
• Excellent template library
• Enterprise security and compliance

The catch:

• Corporate aesthetic kills UGC authenticity
• Only 3 videos on Starter plan
• No product-in-hand or e-commerce features
• Not designed for ad creative

Bottom line: If you need corporate training videos, Synthesia is excellent. If you need UGC ads, it's the wrong tool.

Which Alternative Should You Choose?

Let me save you time with the decision tree:

Want the best value with cutting-edge AI models? EzUGC. Multi-model access, product-in-hand, and 55% cheaper than Arcads.

Managing 100+ SKUs and need automation? Creatify. URL-to-video automation saves hours.

Testing AI UGC for the first time on a budget? MakeUGC. $29/month is low-risk.

Video quality is the only thing that matters? Captions. Best lip sync in the industry.

Need corporate training videos? HeyGen or Synthesia. Just don't use them for ads.

Want to stay with Arcads? That's fine too. It's a solid product. Just know you're paying a premium for 2024 tech.

FAQs

Does Arcads have a free trial?

No. Arcads requires payment upfront with no free trial. This is one of the main reasons people look for alternatives. EzUGC offers a 3-day free trial, Creatify has a free watermarked tier, and MakeUGC offers a free trial as well.

Is EzUGC better than Arcads?

For most DTC brands, yes. EzUGC offers multiple AI models (Sora 2, Veo 3.1, Kling 2.5), product-in-hand generation, and costs 55% less. Arcads has been around longer and has a slightly larger avatar library, but hasn't kept pace with AI model advancements.

What is the cheapest Arcads alternative?

MakeUGC at $29/month and Zeely at $29.95/month are the cheapest options. However, they have limited features compared to EzUGC ($49/month), which offers significantly more value per dollar.

Which AI UGC tool has the best avatars?

Creatify has the largest quantity (900+ avatars). Captions has the best quality (proprietary foundation model). EzUGC and Arcads both offer 300+ diverse avatars that work well for UGC-style content.

Can AI UGC actually replace human creators?

Not entirely, but for rapid testing and scaling, yes. The smart approach: use AI UGC to test 50 hooks and angles quickly ($50-100), identify winners, then invest in human creators for proven concepts. This reduces risk and accelerates learning.

Final Thoughts

Arcads was a pioneer. Give credit where it's due. They proved AI UGC could work when everyone thought it was a gimmick.

But the market has moved. Newer tools offer more models, more features, and better pricing. Paying $110+/month for single-model access with no trial isn't a value proposition anymore - it's a legacy tax.

If you're starting fresh, start with EzUGC. Multi-model flexibility, product-in-hand generation, and an actual free trial. If you're already on Arcads and it's working, maybe stick with it. Switching costs are real.

But if you're paying $110/month and wondering if there's something better - there is.