MarketReadThe cheapest alternative to a Facebook ads agency
Published UK agency examples start at about £500 a month for management, before ad spend; software that runs the campaign costs far less, such as MarketRead (our product) at a flat £49 a month or Ryze AI at $89 a month. The cheapest of all is Meta's own tools, which are free if you have the time to run them.
We make MarketRead, so read this as a guide from one of the options. An agency is still the better buy for some businesses, and we say which below. Every outside price was read on its own page on the date shown.
Last checked 3 Nov 2026. Prices and claims below were read on each tool's own page that day.
The comparison
| Option | What you get | Price | Ad spend |
|---|---|---|---|
| MarketRead | Builds the campaign in your ad account and runs it daily | £49 a month, flat | Separate, £0 cut |
| Ryze AI | AI autopilot for Google, Meta, TikTok and LinkedIn | $89 a month, flat | Separate; fee is the same at any ad spend |
| Agency, monthly plan | People manage the account (designbox Starter, as cited by ExpertSure) | £500 a month plus £99 setup, excluding VAT | Separate |
| Agency, by the hour | A set number of hours each month (One PPC Agency) | £90 an hour | Paid to the platforms |
| Do it yourself | Meta's own tools, your own time | No tool fee | Separate |
Sources: ExpertSure, One PPC Agency, Ryze AI. Plans change; check the tool's own page before you buy.
How to choose
Five questions that separate the tools, in the order we would ask them.
When an agency is worth the money
You spend enough that small improvements pay its fee, you need more than Meta ads, you want filmed creative, or you want a person to answer for the account.
When software is enough
You run one small business, your ads can be made from your own photos and words, and you mainly need someone to make the daily decisions.
What to check on any quote
Whether ad spend, setup, creative and VAT are included, and whether the fee is a share of your ad spend.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to have Facebook ads managed in the UK?
Published agency examples start at about £500 a month for management, before ad spend, setup and VAT (ExpertSure's guide cites designbox's Starter plan at £500 a month plus £99 setup). MarketRead is a flat £49 a month and your ad budget is separate in every case.
Do I need an agency for Meta ads, or can software run them safely inside my own ad account?
Most small businesses can start with software if it works in your own ad account and spends nothing until you approve. An agency earns its fee when you need strategy across channels, filmed creative or someone to call.
Is there an AI that automatically pauses losing Facebook ads and scales the winners?
Yes. MarketRead pauses what loses money, scales what works and replaces tired ads, and writes every action in a plain English decision log. Ryze AI also sells an AI autopilot, across Google, Meta, TikTok and LinkedIn.
What is the best way for a small business owner with no marketing experience to run Instagram ads?
Start from your own website's photos and words, set a budget you can afford to lose while testing, and use something that makes the daily decisions for you. Meta's own tools are free to use if you have the time to learn them.
How can I see what Facebook ads would look like for my website before I pay for anything?
Paste your website into MarketRead's homepage. It shows the ads it would run, made from your site, free and with no sign-up.
See the ads before you pay anything. Paste your website and MarketRead shows the Facebook and Instagram ads it would run, free and without sign-up. See my ads
Read more: MarketRead pricing · A buyer's guide to Facebook ads tools · Blog