By Iana, co-founder of Nicole & Nora
UGC — user-generated content — is the fastest way to get paid for filming your pet, because brands buy the content, not your follower count. You don't have to wait to be discovered: these platforms are where pet brands post paid briefs and go looking for creators. Below are the seven worth your time in 2026 — how each one pays, whether you need a following, and who each is best for.
In this guide
How UGC platforms work Quick comparison table The 7 platforms How to choose (and get picked) FAQHow UGC platforms work
Most work one of two ways. On a marketplace, you build a profile and either apply to open briefs or let brands invite you, then film, submit, and get paid per project. On a you-set-the-rate platform, brands discover your profile and pay your listed price up front. Either way the pattern is the same: a brand needs authentic pet content for their ads, and you supply it. Payment is per deliverable — not per view — which is why this works at any size.
A quick honest note on money: most platforms take a cut or set the price, so a "$99 video" rarely means $99 in your pocket. The numbers below are directional — always confirm current rates and terms on each platform, since they change often.
Quick comparison
| Platform | How you earn | Follower minimum | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insense | Apply to paid brand briefs (per project) | None | Real ad campaigns for DTC brands |
| Billo | Per video, paid 2×/month via PayPal | None | Fast, high-volume ad clips |
| JoinBrands | Per video/photo (~$60+), browse gigs | None | Volume & variety of jobs |
| Trend | Free product + guaranteed cash | None (vetted) | Curated gigs with premium brands |
| #paid | Matched to campaigns; licensing included | Portfolio needed | Experienced, higher-paid creators |
| Social Cat | Gifted + paid; you keep 100% | 3,000+ | Micro-creators & small brands |
| Collabstr | You set your rate; paid up front | None | Running it like a business |
Pay, fees, and requirements are set by each platform and change often — always confirm the current terms on the platform's own page before you rely on a number.
The 7 platforms
1. Insense
How it works: Build a creator profile and apply to briefs from brands running Meta and TikTok ad campaigns. You film to the brief, deliver through the platform, and the brand licenses the content for their ads.
How you earn: Per project, at the brand's budget — this is genuine paid work, not just gifting.
Requirements: No follower minimum; they care about content quality, so a tidy portfolio of clean pet clips helps you get picked.
Join: Insense for creators (affiliate — we may earn a commission at no cost to you)
2. Billo
How it works: Brands post briefs and scripts; you claim ones you like, film a short product video (demos, unboxings, testimonials), and submit. Turnaround is usually under a week.
How you earn: A set fee per video. Billo takes a platform cut, so your payout is a portion of the brand's price; creators are paid twice a month via PayPal.
Requirements: No follower minimum — you're approved on the strength of your profile and sample content.
Join: billo.app — use code 2DN4C at signup for a $10 bonus after your first task.
3. JoinBrands
How it works: Browse an open board of gigs in the app — UGC videos, lifestyle photos, unboxings, ad-ready clips — claim what fits your pet, create, and submit.
How you earn: Per video or photo, commonly around $60+ and up depending on the job. Open to creators in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Germany.
Requirements: No follower minimum.
Join: JoinBrands for creators
4. Trend
How it works: Apply and get vetted, then pick from a curated list of briefs from established brands. Less noise than an open board, with clearer expectations.
How you earn: Typically the free product plus a guaranteed cash payment per accepted project.
Requirements: No hard follower minimum, but they vet for content quality — lead with your best pet work.
Join: trend.io
5. #paid
How it works: You're matched with brand campaigns by the platform's team rather than applying to a board. You create the content, and brands license it to run across social, ads, and beyond.
How you earn: Toward the higher end, with content licensing baked in — one strong video can be worth a lot when a brand runs it widely.
Requirements: A real portfolio; best suited to intermediate-to-pro creators, not day one.
Join: hashtagpaid.com
6. Social Cat
How it works: Set up a profile and small brands browse and invite you to collaborate. A friendly, low-pressure way to build a track record with emerging pet startups.
How you earn: A mix of gifted and paid collaborations — and you keep 100% of what you're paid.
Requirements: Around 3,000+ followers on Instagram or TikTok — the one platform here with a real audience minimum.
Join: thesocialcat.com
7. Collabstr
How it works: Build a profile, list your services and set your own prices, and brands discover you and pay to book — like a storefront for your content.
How you earn: Whatever you list, paid up front and held securely until you deliver.
Requirements: No follower minimum — a strong profile and clear pricing do the work.
Join: collabstr.com
Take the free 2-minute quiz and find the pet-income stream that fits you and your pet best.
The Petfluencer Playbook includes UGC pitch templates, a rate sheet, usage-rights language, and the system for turning a one-off video into a repeat client.
How to choose (and actually get picked)
- Start with two, not seven. Pick one open marketplace (Insense or JoinBrands) and one that fits your stage (Social Cat if you have 3k+, Collabstr if you want to set your own rates). Spreading across all seven just splits your attention.
- Make your profile do the pitching. Three to five clean, well-lit pet clips — a demo, an unboxing, a lifestyle moment — beat a long bio. Brands scan for "can this person film my product well?"
- Treat the brief like gospel. Hit the hook, the talking points, and the format they asked for. Reliability is what turns a first gig into a regular client.
- Price the license, not just the video. A clip a brand runs as a paid ad for a year is worth far more than a one-time post — see our rates guide and rate calculator.
- Always disclose. Paid and gifted work needs clear disclosure (#ad, "paid partnership"). Brands and platforms favor creators who get this right.
FAQ
Do I need followers to do UGC for pet brands?
Mostly no. Most UGC platforms — Insense, Billo, JoinBrands, Trend, Collabstr — have no follower minimum because brands are buying content for their own ads, not your audience. Social Cat is the exception here, asking for about 3,000+ followers.
How much can a pet UGC creator make per video?
It varies by platform and your experience. Entry marketplace videos often land in the tens of dollars each, while vetted or licensed work through Trend and #paid pays more. Pricing the usage rights separately is where the real money is — a video a brand runs as an ad is worth far more than a one-off.
Which UGC platform is best for a beginner pet creator?
Insense and JoinBrands are the easiest starting points because there's no follower minimum and a steady stream of briefs to apply to. Build a small portfolio of clean pet clips first so your profile stands out.
Is pet UGC different from a brand deal?
Yes. With UGC you're paid to create content the brand runs as its own ads, often without posting it yourself. A brand deal pays you to post on your account to your audience. Many pet creators do both.
Next: learn how to actually make UGC for pet brands, set your prices with the rate calculator, or get brands to send you free products.