What a freelance social media manager costs

How much does a freelance social media manager cost in the UK? Published UK guides put basic freelance help at roughly £200 to £500 a month, and a fuller small business plan at about £400 to £1,200. Agencies usually cost more, with small agencies at roughly £500 to £1,500 a month.

If you have collected a few quotes, you have probably noticed they are all over the place. One is £250 and another is £900, and you cannot tell which one is fair. This guide helps you compare them. For the full price table, read my social media management cost guide, which I keep up to date and which this post builds on.

Three quotes and three very different prices

Quotes differ because the jobs differ. One freelancer might schedule a few posts you supply. Another plans your month, writes every caption, makes short videos and replies to comments. Both can call it social media management, but they are not the same job.

That is why a single “typical” figure is hard to give. I have used the same ranges as my main cost guide, so the two posts never disagree.

The short answer

For basic freelance help, roughly £200 to £500 a month. For a fuller small business plan, about £400 to £1,200. A small agency is roughly £500 to £1,500, and a full service with video and adverts can pass £1,500.

These come from published UK cost guides. Most of those guides are written by agencies and tool companies, so treat them as a guide and not a promise. Prices also change, and I checked these in November 2026.

In short:

• Basic freelance help is roughly £200 to £500 a month.
• A fuller plan is about £400 to £1,200.
• Always compare what is included, not only the price.

What getting it wrong costs

Paying too much means money spent on extras you don’t need. Paying too little can mean scheduled posts with no plan behind them, so the page looks busy but brings no enquiries.

Neither is a disaster if you spot it early. The trick is to know what you are buying, so you can tell which one you are looking at.

How freelancers charge

Freelancers usually price in one of three ways. Knowing which one you are being offered tells you a lot about the job.

A monthly retainer for ongoing work

You pay a set price each month for a set amount of work. This is the most common way for a small business, because you know what to budget and the work carries on.

An hourly or day rate for one-off help

This suits an audit, some training or help with one thing. Rates vary a lot between freelancers, and I haven’t found a trustworthy published UK range, so I won’t guess. Ask for a written quote for the exact job.

A price per project or batch of videos

If you only need a profile makeover or a set of short videos, a freelancer may quote a single price. You know the cost up front, and the work has a clear finish.

Freelancer rates compared with agency rates

Who does it	Typical monthly cost	What you usually get
Freelancer, basic help	£200 to £500	A few posts and light planning
Freelancer, small business plan	£400 to £1,200	About 10 to 15 posts a month across two or three platforms, light replies and a monthly report
Small agency	£500 to £1,500	A small team and a fuller service
Full service	£1,500 to £3,000 or more	A full plan, often with video and adverts

A freelancer is usually cheaper than an agency, but compare what each price includes. A cheaper quote isn’t automatically worse, any more than a dearer one is automatically better.

Why agencies cost more and freelancer prices vary

An agency pays for a team, an office, account managers and minimum fees, and those costs sit in the price. That can be worth it for a big or complicated job, and I explain when in my page on a freelance social media manager or agency.

Freelancer prices vary for different reasons. Experience matters, and so does how many platforms are covered. Video costs more, and so does having someone reply to comments for you. Neither side is trying to catch you out. They are pricing different jobs.

What you can expect at different budgets

A lower budget usually buys a few scheduled posts and light planning. You supply a lot of the photos and words yourself.

A middle budget usually buys a proper monthly plan, captions written for you, posts on two or three platforms, light replies and a short report. A higher budget usually adds regular video, more platforms and more replies, and sometimes help with adverts.

I haven’t put exact figures on these steps, because they would be guesses. The table above gives the published ranges.

Hidden costs to check before you agree

Ask about these before you say yes. They catch a lot of people out.

• Ad spend. Money you pay the platform for adverts is almost always extra.
• Video. Filming and editing are often charged per video.
• Revisions. Some packages limit how many changes you can ask for.
• Tools. Scheduling and design tools can add to the bill if you pay for them.

My cost guide covers the full list in what is usually not included.

How to compare two freelancer quotes

Put the two quotes side by side and ask each of these. How many posts a week, and on which platforms? Who writes them, and who makes the graphics or video? Is someone replying to comments? What do I see each month? How long is the contract?

If one freelancer answers clearly and the other is vague, that tells you something. A good freelancer is glad to be asked.

Where my prices sit and when paying more is worth it

My packages are Starter from £250 a month, Growth from £750 a month and Video from £1,500 a month. Ad spend is never included, and I always say so up front. You can see what each one covers on my pricing page.

Paying more is worth it when you want regular video, more platforms or more replies handled for you. If you run a trade, a cafe or a clinic, I have written pages for trades, cafes and restaurants and clinics. If you aren’t sure, my guide to how often to post helps you decide what rhythm you can keep up. And if you have several locations or a big campaign, an agency may be the better choice, as I explain on my freelancer or agency page.

Questions about freelancer costs

How much does a freelance social media manager charge per month in the UK?

Published UK guides put basic freelance help at roughly £200 to £500 a month, and a fuller small business plan at about £400 to £1,200. My cost guide has the full table.

Do freelancers charge per hour or per month?

Both exist. A monthly retainer is the most common for ongoing work, and hourly or day rates tend to be used for one-off help.

Is a freelancer cheaper than an agency?

Usually, but compare what is included. Two quotes can be for very different jobs.

Is ad spend included?

No, almost always. Ad spend is the money you pay the platform to show your adverts, and running the adverts is often a separate fee.

How long does a freelancer contract last?

It varies, so ask before you agree. Mine runs month to month, with 30 days notice to stop.

What results should I expect for the money?

Nobody honest can promise results. A good freelancer shows you each month what went out and what it did, in plain English.

What is a fair price for a small local business?

Look at the ranges above, then compare what each quote includes. My own packages are on my pricing page.

How much of my own time will a freelancer need?

Less than doing it yourself. A short call to start, then a quick yes or no on what is sent to you.

Will I still approve every post if I hire a freelancer?

It should be your choice. With me, you approve everything before it goes live.

Want a straight price for your business

Tell me about your business and I will give you a clear price before we start. There is no pressure and no sales pitch.

Book a free call See the packages

The UK ranges are the same ones as in my social media management cost guide, from published guides by Whito and Birdeye. Checked in November 2026.