What are you actually paying to ship a faceless video?
Enter your monthly video volume and current freelance rates. See the real number against an AI generation + editable timeline workflow.
Inputs
Your current workflow
Monthly breakdown
- Script$480
- Voice$320
- Visuals$640
- Editor$1,440
How this calculator works
The traditional column sums four line items per video — script, voice, visuals, and editor. Multiply by monthly volume and you get the recurring cost most faceless agencies actually run.
The TheTubeOS column models the metered cost of generating a video through the ai-video-agent editor. Provider fees vary with motion tier mix, resolution, and voice model. The default $1.25/minute assumes a realistic distribution: 70% still scenes with Ken Burns, 15% subtle parallax, 10% image-to-video, 5% hero scenes.
When the numbers get nuanced
If you run a boutique agency with a senior editor, the traditional column understates your cost — factor in QA rounds and revisions. If you're a solo creator using free tools, the traditional column overstates it. Adjust the inputs to your reality.
What's not included
Thumbnail design, channel management, community moderation, and strategy work sit outside both columns. Those costs are the same either way — the calculator only compares the production line.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How is the AI cost per video estimated?
We model a typical 15-minute faceless video at about $1.25/minute in provider fees — script, TTS, image generation, image-to-video for hero scenes, and rendering. Longer videos and heavier motion tiers raise this; still-heavy videos lower it.
Does the calculator include our editor time?
No. The traditional column assumes you're outsourcing to freelancers. If you edit in-house, replace the editor cost with your fully-loaded hourly rate × hours per video.
How does this compare to CapCut Pro or Premiere?
Those tools don't generate script, voice, or visuals — you still need ChatGPT, ElevenLabs, and Midjourney/Runway to feed them. The calculator compares that full traditional stack against the all-in-one workflow.
Can I get a custom quote for agency volumes?
Yes. Anything above 40 videos/month, get in touch — the metered pricing bends further at that volume.