How much does a video ad cost in Africa in 2026?

“How much for a video?” is often the first question a business owner asks, and one of the hardest to answer, because many studios do not publish their prices. We looked at the prices that are public, on the sites of studios, agencies and tools across the continent, and read them all on the same day. Here is the video ad cost in Africa in 2026, as published, with what each price includes.

What are the ways to get a video ad, and what do they cost?

All prices below were read on the companies’ own websites on 25 October 2026. Amounts in local currency are converted to US dollars at the rate of that day and rounded.

Prices change, and each company may quote differently for your project. Use this table to understand the market, not as a quote.

Why are video prices so different?

Because “a video” can mean very different deliveries. Two offers at the same price can give you one file with no script, or a tested ad in every format. Before comparing numbers, compare what is inside:

• The script and the idea. Who decides what the video says in the first 3 seconds? A good hook is most of the result.
• The formats. 9:16 for Reels, TikTok and WhatsApp status, 4:5 for the feed, 16:9 for YouTube. One file in one format means paying again for the others.
• The versions. Two different openings let you test which one stops the scroll. Few ads become winners, so versions matter (we explain why in our article on the video ads that sell).
• The languages and the voice. English, French, Kinyarwanda, Swahili: each language is a new voice and new captions.
• The changes. How many rounds of changes are included, and what each extra round costs.
• The rights. Can you use the video in paid ads, on every platform, for as long as you want?
• The delay. Three days or six weeks changes what you can do for a launch or a sale.

Is an AI tool enough?

Sometimes. If you have time, a clear message and an eye for editing, a tool at $0 to $29 a month can make a decent video. What the tool does not give you is the strategy, the script, a look that belongs to your brand, and the hours of work. For many founders, those hours cost more than the subscription. AI is a powerful way to make video faster and cheaper; it does not decide what your customers need to hear.

What should a small business plan to spend?

Start from what you want the video to do, not from a number. Three common cases:

1. You launch one product or offer. One short ad, in the three formats, with two hooks to test, is enough to learn what works.
2. You want to post every week. A monthly pack costs less per video than ordering videos one by one, as the Nairobi packs above show.
3. You need to explain a product (an app, a fintech, a service). A 60 second explainer is the right tool, and it costs more than a short ad.

Keep the budget for showing the ad (paid reach on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or YouTube) separate from the budget for making it.

How much does AfrikCru charge?

Our prices are public, in US dollars, on the pricing page. Starting prices:

• Mini, a 15 second template video with your logo and offer: from $39, 2 files.
• Spark, a 15 second ad with music and captions: from $99, 6 files (2 hooks in 3 formats), 2 rounds of changes.
• Pulse, a 30 second ad with script and voice in English and French: from $199, 14 files.
• Story, a 60 second explainer in English and French: from $499.
• Founder Cut, you on camera with three phone takes, we edit: from $79.
• Monthly plans from $290 a month (8 short videos in 3 formats each, 3-month commitment).

You pay 50% when you order and 50% when you approve the final video, by Mobile Money through Fosia Pay, by card or by bank transfer. To get a price for your exact project, send us your product.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a video ad cost in Africa?

Published prices in 2026 range from about $29 a month for an AI tool you use yourself, to about $135 for a studio package in Kigali, about $43 to $58 per video in monthly packs in Nairobi, and more than $1,000 for a one-minute animated explainer.

Why do many studios not publish their prices?

Because each video is different: length, shoot, animation, languages, rights. A published “from” price and a clear list of what is included still help you compare.

Is it cheaper to order videos every month?

Usually yes, per video. Monthly packs spread the work over the month and lower the price of each video.

What should a quote for a video ad include?

The script, the formats, the number of versions, the languages, the rounds of changes, the delay and the usage rights. If one is missing, ask.

Can I pay for a video by Mobile Money?

At AfrikCru, yes: Mobile Money through Fosia Pay, card or bank transfer, 50% at order and 50% at delivery.