How much does it cost to collaborate with an influencer in 2025? From barter to five-figure invoices!

Do you have a product, campaign or fresh brand and thought about collaborating with an influencer? Great lead – but before you send the first messages, it’s worth knowing how much influencer collaboration costs and why prices vary so widely. This is not a market where everything has a clear price list. Sometimes you’ll pay 300 PLN, and sometimes… 30,000 PLN – and both rates can make sense. This entry breaks down the topic into its components, without any gimmicks, dry definitions, or unnecessary marketing jargon. You’ll see what really affects the cost of influencer marketing, how pricing looks in different industries and on different platforms, and when barter is a good option and when it’s better to tap into your budget. 

How much does a post cost, and how much does a story? Real collaboration rates with influencers in 2025 

Let’s start with specifics. The cost of influencer marketing in 2025 is a highly nuanced topic – and while a few years ago you could talk about market averages, today the ranges can make your head spin. 

For a sponsored post on Instagram, you can pay either 1,000 PLN or 75,000 PLN, depending on who you’re talking to. And that’s just the beginning. Reels, stories, longer video formats, live streams – everything is priced separately. 

On TikTok, you can join a campaign starting at 300 PLN, but top creators price their content at even 6,000 PLN for one video. YouTube, on the other hand, is a completely different league – here you’ll pay from 13,000 PLN upwards for a minute-long product integration, and if you want a comprehensive review, you must prepare for a range of 30-35,000 PLN. 

It’s not just about reach, but also production time and the level of content quality, especially in the technology or gaming segment. Want to know how much collaboration with an influencer costs? You first need to know what exactly you want to order and where it should appear.

Cost of influencer marketing: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube – where does it pay off to act, and where is it better not to burn through your budget?

Each platform has its own vibe, specifics, and… a different level of investment. Instagram is still a premium space, especially if you’re in fashion, beauty, or lifestyle. Here, image, aesthetics, and attention to detail matter. But beware – organic reach on IG is declining, so even if you pay 10,000 PLN for a post by a micro-influencer, you must be aware that a large part of your target group may simply not see this post. TikTok? Definitely more unpredictable, but also potentially the most profitable. A campaign for 1,000 PLN can go viral and generate reach worth tens of thousands. In 2025 studies, as many as 23% of TikTok campaigns exceeded their reach targets by over 500%, which means a really low CPM. YouTube? Expensive, lengthy, but very effective – 68% of consumers admit they watch reviews on YouTube before purchasing, making this platform the most reliable source of information. So if you’re wondering where to allocate your budget, think about whether you’re interested in recognition, sales, or maybe long-term trust building. Because the cost of influencer marketing is not just the amount on the invoice – it’s also the effectiveness of the operation.

Nano, micro, mega – how much do different levels of collaborations cost and does the number of followers really matter?

It would be nice to think that the more followers, the higher the price and better the effect. But it no longer works that simply. In 2025, engagement rate (ER) counts more than the sheer number of followers, which is a good thing. Because sometimes, a nano-influencer with 5,000 fans achieves better results than an account with half a million followers, which only responds to memes. Average rates? Nano (1-10k): from 50 to 2,000 zł. Micro (10-50k): from 500 to 5,000 zł. Mid-tier (50-500k): up to 20,000 zł. Mega-influencers (500k+)? From 20,000 zł upwards, and celebrities can even reach 400,000 zł for a single post. However, the price of influencer marketing does not always equate to value. Sometimes it’s better to do 3 campaigns with smaller creators who have a real impact on their audience, rather than investing everything in one big name.Reach is one thing, but conversion is a completely different story.

Barter or cash? How do settlement models look like and when do influencers really want to collaborate?

Not every influencer is only counting on a bank transfer. Seriously. Barter collaborations are making a comeback, but… in a completely new form. It’s no longer about “send a package and hope for the best,” but about comprehensive benefit packages that are truly profitable for the creator. A standard barter for accounts with 10-50k followers might look like this today: a product valued at three times the market price, at least 3 posts and 7 stories, plus a guaranteed engagement rate. Does it sound like a contract? Because that’s exactly what it is – a legitimate form of collaboration. Of course, not everyone will agree to this. The bigger the creator, the more time and money matter, so cash still reigns. But if you have something unique, well-prepared terms, and you’re not going in blind – barter can work. Just remember, even if you’re not paying in cash, you incur the real cost of working with an influencer – in product, time, logistics. Don’t treat it as “cheap and friendly.” Because that won’t work.

Lifestyle, tech, pets – in which industries does influencer marketing cost the most (and why)?

Not every segment is priced the same. If you’re in technology, you must be prepared for high costs – and not just because tech reviews are longer. Creators in this category require more time for testing, research, and content preparation. On average, that’s 14 days of work and up to 15,000 zł in production costs. 

• That’s why the cost of influencer marketing in this industry is often over 35,000 zł per campaign. 
• In fashion and beauty, it’s different – here emotions and image rule. Mega-influencers can earn 75,000 zł per post, but nano-accounts with high ER and niche communities are increasingly important, delivering great results for significantly lower amounts. 
• What about the travel and pets category? Very diverse. Travel influencers charge from 3,000 to 30,000 zł for publications depending on location, photo quality, and length of stay. 
• Pets? Yes, they have their rates too – top accounts can earn up to 30,000 zł per post if backed by a loyal, specialized community. 

If you’re wondering how much it costs to work with an influencer in your industry, the answer may surprise you – it depends not only on the number of followers but on context, content quality, and the authenticity of the creator.

From Post to Ambassadorship – What Influences the Cost of Collaboration with Influencers and How to Negotiate Terms Wisely?

A single post is one thing, but more and more brands are opting for long-term partnerships. And with good reason. Spread-out campaigns are cheaper—longer collaborations can mean up to 40% off the standard rate, and they also yield better results. Why? Because followers have time to see the product in different contexts and stop treating it as an ad. A typical ambassador package in 2025 includes: 12 posts per year, participation in 2 brand events, category exclusivity, and a fee 50–150% higher than a one-off collaboration. Plus, there are sales bonuses, affiliate programs, and cross-platform content. If you’re on the brand’s side wanting to negotiate, remember: the key is flexibility and understanding how much time and resources the creator invests in the material. It’s not just a click—it’s planning, recording, editing, descriptions, communication with audiences. If you have a limited budget, don’t try to push everything in one publication. Maybe it’s better to talk about a smaller format but with more impact?

RefSpace – Influencer Marketing That Sells Instantly

Instead of paying for reach without guaranteeing results, opt for a model where you pay solely for sales. RefSpace is a platform that allows brand owners, manufacturers, and distributors to create their own supplier accounts and share their products with creators—without the need to invest in e-commerce or engage agencies.

Creators promote your products in their videos, stories, or posts, and if their viewer makes a purchase, you only pay a commission on the actual sale. You can also allocate a higher commission individually to the most effective creators who generate the best results.

RefSpace integrates with YouTube, so your products can appear directly under influencers’ videos, just like with LeszkomotoTV. It’s a way to build a network of real recommendations that not only seem credible but also sell.

 Traditional influencer marketing works well for large image campaigns, but it carries risks and substantial costs.
RefSpace is a simpler and cheaper option for brands that want to pay for specific sales—and have full control over what, when, and who promotes.

Influencer Marketing – Traditional vs. Through RefSpace

🔍 Aspect	💸 Traditional Model	🚀 RefSpace (Modern Commission-Based Model)
Billing Model	Upfront payment for post, video, or campaign	Commission only on sales—you pay when something sells
Budget Burn Risk	High—you pay even if there’s no conversion	Low—you pay solely for results
Result Transparency	Varies—dependent on creator’s report	Full—you see every transaction in the panel
Collaboration Management	Manual—emails, contracts, briefs	Automated—creators choose products and act
Scalability Possibility	Limited—each campaign is a separate collaboration	High—many creators can promote you simultaneously
Reach vs. Conversion	Often focused on views, not outcomes	Focus on real sales
Tiering Rate Possibility	Harder—requires separate negotiations	Simple—you can set higher commissions for the best
Product Visibility	Only in content (post/video)	Also under YouTube videos, in Spaces, video + store
Entry Cost for Brand	High—rates for campaigns, time, and logistics	None—you set up a free supplier account