At a glance
Hiring a Meta ads agency and using an AI media buyer solve the same problem, getting profitable results from Facebook and Instagram ads, in different ways. An agency sells people and their judgement. Fly ROAS sells software that does the repetitive, high-volume work: reading your brand, making creatives from your real product photos, launching campaigns and running tests by written rules.
Neither is automatically better. A strong agency can see that your offer is the problem, not your ads. A tool can produce and test far more creative than a small team for a fixed price. Many brands end up with a mix.
How do agencies usually charge?
Agency pricing varies widely, so treat this as a list of questions rather than a price guide. The common structures are:
| Structure | How it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly retainer | A fixed fee for an agreed scope | What happens when you need more creatives than the scope covers |
| Percentage of ad spend | The fee rises as your budget grows | The incentive to raise spend even when returns fall |
| Hybrid | A base retainer plus a percentage above a spend level | Where the thresholds sit |
| Performance-based | Part of the fee tied to results | How results are measured and attributed |
Set-up fees, creative production, minimum terms and notice periods are common extras. Get the full structure in writing, and check how the fee changes if you double your spend.
Fly ROAS starts with a 14-day test flight at $19.99 (₹1,939) with 100 credits, then Creator at $79/mo (₹7,663) with 400 credits, Pro at $149/mo (₹14,453) with 1,000 credits, Agency at $499/mo (₹48,403) with 4,000 credits or a custom Enterprise plan. Annual billing saves 20%. Credits pay only for AI generation: 2 per image ad and 20 per video ad. Autopilot is included in every plan, and Meta bills your ad spend directly.
Worked example: take your expected monthly ad spend and work out what a percentage-of-spend fee would be at today's budget and at twice that budget. Then compare both with a flat plan such as Pro at $149 a month for 3 brands. The difference shows how much of your growth a percentage model would take, which is worth knowing whichever way you go. The Meta ads budget calculator helps you set the budget first.
Where an agency is strong
- Judgement. Experienced buyers have seen many accounts. They can spot when the real issue is pricing, the landing page or tracking rather than the ads.
- Strategy and positioning. Good agencies challenge your offer, angles and positioning, and plan launches and sales around your calendar.
- Production. Many run photo and video shoots, manage UGC creators or edit video, which software cannot do for you.
- Someone accountable. A named person answers for your account and turns up to calls.
- Several channels. If you also run Google, TikTok or email, an agency can coordinate them. Fly ROAS is Meta only.
Where Fly ROAS is different
- Creative volume at a fixed price. Creator includes 400 credits a month, about 200 image ads. Every ad is built on your real packshot, and a pre-flight check flags any ad where the label, text or colours drift.
- Speed. Brand DNA reads your site in about 90 seconds, and you can launch a campaign the same day, paused by default.
- A written testing method. Autopilot gives each test a 48-hour verdict, by default stops a test that spends 2× your target CPA without a sale (adjustable from 1.5× to 3×), and scales winners in +25%, +50% or +100% steps. Our creative testing framework explains the method.
- Control stays with you. A monthly cap and daily limit only you can raise, and a default "Ask me first" mode where nothing launches or scales without your approval. The Flight Log explains every decision.
- No percentage of spend. The plan price stays the same when your budget grows. Meta bills your ad spend directly.
How do you stay in control with an agency?
Whichever route you choose, keep ownership of your assets:
- Own the ad account, Page and pixel in your own business portfolio, not the agency's.
- Give partner access through your business portfolio settings, choosing only the assets and tasks they need. Meta's help centre explains how.
- Agree spend limits and approvals in writing, and set an account spending limit as a backstop.
- Ask for the testing rules. How long before a test is judged, what counts as failure, and how fast winners scale.
- Get access to raw data, not just reports, so you can check results in Ads Manager yourself.
Who should choose which
Choose an agency if you want experienced people to own strategy and creative direction, you need production such as shoots or UGC, and the fees fit your margins.
Choose Fly ROAS if you want to keep control in-house, need a steady flow of on-brand creatives and disciplined tests, and want costs that don't grow with spend. Agencies can use Fly ROAS too: the Agency plan covers 10 brands and 10 ad accounts.
Trying Fly ROAS
The 14-day test flight costs $19.99 (₹1,939) and includes 100 credits (about 50 image ads), one brand and every feature: Brand DNA, competitor radar, AI creatives, one-click launch and Autopilot. Campaigns are created paused by default. There is no free tier or money-back guarantee, and the test flight renews to Creator unless you cancel. Compare every plan on the pricing page.
Frequently asked questions
Is an AI media buyer better than an agency?
Neither is better in every case. An agency brings human judgement on strategy, offers and production, and someone accountable. An AI media buyer such as Fly ROAS brings high creative volume, fast launches and a written testing method at a flat price, with you in control. Many brands use both, or start with a tool and add people later.
How much does a Meta ads agency cost?
It varies widely by agency, country and scope. Common structures are a monthly retainer, a percentage of ad spend, a hybrid of the two or a performance-based fee, often with set-up or creative fees and a minimum term. Ask for the full structure in writing and check how it changes when your spend grows.
Can an agency use Fly ROAS for its clients?
Yes. Fly ROAS is built for D2C brands and agencies. The Agency plan at $499 (₹48,403) a month covers 10 brands and 10 ad accounts with 4,000 credits.
Should my agency own my Meta ad account?
It's safer if you own it. Keep the ad account, Facebook Page and pixel in your own business portfolio and give the agency partner access to the assets it needs. That way your data and history stay with you if you change agency.
Can an agency guarantee results on Meta ads?
No one can honestly guarantee a ROAS figure, because results depend on your product, offer, margins, website and Meta's auction. Be wary of promises. Ask instead how they test, what they report and what happens if results fall short.