Honest comparison

AI Tool vs Google Ads Agency

When does hiring an agency actually make sense — and when doesn't it?

Agencies and AI tools like AdPredictor aren't always in direct competition — sometimes they're complementary. But if you're spending €500–5,000/month and wondering whether an agency is worth it, this comparison will help you decide.

When each option makes sense

Consider an agency when

•You're spending €10,000+/month and need hands-on campaign management
•You need full creative production — video, display, landing pages
•You're running complex multi-channel campaigns (Search + Display + YouTube)
•You have zero time to engage with campaign data at all

Consider AdPredictor when

You want to understand what's happening in your campaigns — not just outsource it
Your budget is €300–5,000/month and agency fees eat too much of your margin
You have a marketing manager or team who can act on AI recommendations
You've had an agency and felt like a black box — you want transparency

What you get with each

Capability	AdPredictor	Agency
Daily AI insights on your campaignsMost agencies send monthly reports, not daily insights		~
Explains WHY metrics changedAgencies report what changed — AdPredictor explains the root cause
You retain full controlWith an agency, they make changes — you review results
Transparent actions log		~
Hands-on campaign setup
Creative production (ad copy, visuals)AdPredictor generates ad copy suggestions; agencies handle full production	~
Multi-channel management
Bilingual support (EN/ES)		~
Predictive performance forecasts
AI assistant — ask any question
Negative keyword automation		~
Cost scales with your budgetMost agencies charge % of spend — the more you spend, the more you pay

Cost comparison

Agency fees are typically 10–20% of ad spend, plus a fixed management fee. On a €2,000/month ad budget, expect to pay €400–600 extra per month in management fees.

	AdPredictor	Agency
Typical monthly cost	From €29/month	€400–1,500+/month
Setup cost	€0 (30-second OAuth)	€0–500 onboarding fee
Pricing model	Flat subscription	% of ad spend + fixed fee
Scales with budget?	No — flat rate	Yes — costs rise with spend
Contract	Cancel anytime	Usually 3–12 month commitment

The honest take

A good agency brings expertise, time, and accountability that a tool can't fully replace — especially at higher spend levels or complex campaign structures. If you're running €15,000/month across 5 markets with video and shopping, you probably need an agency.

But if you're spending €500–5,000/month, you likely don't need someone to run your campaigns for you — you need to understand them. That's exactly what AdPredictor is built for: giving you the AI intelligence to make smart decisions yourself, without paying agency margins on every euro you spend.

Many of our users have actually found AdPredictor is a better complement than replacement for their agency — they use it to understand what their agency is doing and hold them accountable.

Common questions

Can I use AdPredictor alongside my agency?+

Yes. In fact, many users do exactly this — they connect their account to AdPredictor to get a second perspective on what's happening, verify the changes their agency is making, and understand the data independently. You maintain read-only monitoring while the agency manages day-to-day.

Will AdPredictor replace my agency?+

It depends on your situation. For accounts spending under €5,000/month, AdPredictor often provides enough intelligence for a capable marketing manager to run campaigns effectively. For higher budgets or complex structures, it's more likely to complement than replace.

What if I don't have time to review recommendations?+

AdPredictor sends a daily briefing summarising the most important insight for the day. You don't need to check the full dashboard every day — just act on the one or two recommendations that matter most each week.

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