The most up-to-date 2026 brand deal rate guide for creators — Instagram, TikTok, YouTube — with exact dollar amounts by tier and category.
If you've ever stared at a brand email asking "what's your rate?" and panicked-Googled "how much should I charge for an Instagram reel", this guide is for you. We pulled real deal data from over 14,000 creator partnerships closed through Influki between Q3 2025 and Q1 2026 — across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube — and broken it down by follower tier and category.
The headline: rates went UP in 2026 for creators under 100K (the "micro" boom continues), and they got more flexible for the 100K–1M tier as brands rotate budget away from celebrity tiers.
These are median rates for a single piece of branded content (1 reel, 1 TikTok, or 1 dedicated YouTube integration), excluding usage rights and exclusivity. Add 30–50% for paid usage, 25–40% for category exclusivity.
| Followers | Instagram Reel | TikTok | YouTube Integration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1K – 10K | $150 – $400 | $200 – $500 | $300 – $800 |
| 10K – 50K | $400 – $1,200 | $500 – $1,500 | $800 – $2,500 |
| 50K – 100K | $1,200 – $3,000 | $1,500 – $3,500 | $2,500 – $6,000 |
| 100K – 500K | $3,000 – $10,000 | $3,500 – $12,000 | $6,000 – $20,000 |
| 500K – 1M | $10,000 – $25,000 | $12,000 – $28,000 | $20,000 – $45,000 |
| 1M+ | $25,000+ | $28,000+ | $45,000+ |
Two creators with the same follower count can be 4× apart in price — and most of that gap is niche, not luck. Brands pay for buying intent, not vanity reach.
The base post rate is just the entry. The real money lives in the add-ons. Here's what experienced creators routinely charge:
If your engagement rate is 2× your follower-tier median, you can — and should — quote 50–100% over the table above. If it's below median, brands will quietly know and undercut you. The new 2026 standard medians:
When a brand asks for your rate, never quote a single number cold. Reply with three things: a specific scope ("1 reel + 3 stories"), a usage period ("30 days organic, no paid"), and a tier price ("$X for that scope, $Y if you want to add 30 days of whitelisting"). This makes negotiation about scope, not your worth.
If you're closing 1–2 deals a month and want to close 5–10, this is the leverage gap an AI manager closes. Influki's Kiki tells you market rate before you reply, drafts the quote, and pushes back on lowballs automatically.
No. A public rate card caps your upside and tells brands exactly how low to lowball. Keep rates in your media kit (gated by inquiry) so every quote stays scope-specific.
Bigger than you think. The average brand campaign budget for Q1 2026 was $52K split across 8–14 creators. Most of that gets eaten by 1–2 macro creators; you should fight for $5K–$15K of it.
Only if (a) it's a brand you genuinely love, (b) the gift is worth >$300 retail, and (c) there's a clear path to a paid deal next quarter. Otherwise, decline politely.
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