# Getting started What UGCStars is, what it costs and what you can do without paying. General · 6 questions · Updated 14 October 2026 ## What is UGCStars? UGCStars is a searchable database of reviewed UGC creators. Brands and agencies use it to find creators who match a brief, check their work and rates, and contact them directly. UGC (user-generated content) creators make videos and photos that brands use in ads, on product pages and on social media. A person on our team reviews every creator before their profile is listed. Each profile shows the creator’s niches, languages, location, platforms and starting rate, and with annual access, their business email, social links and sample videos. Searching is free. Annual access costs $245 a year and unlocks contact details. Creators join for free and keep everything brands pay them. [See who’s in the database](https://ugcstars.com/stats). ## Who is UGCStars for? Three groups use UGCStars: - **Brands and agencies** that need creators for ads, product pages or social content, from a single video to an ongoing program. - **UGC creators** who want brands to find them. Listing is free, there’s no follower minimum, and you set your own rates. - **Affiliates** who recommend UGCStars to brands and earn $100 for each brand that buys annual access, and $50 each time it renews. Everyone who creates an account, applies as a creator, posts a brief or joins the affiliate program must be 18 or older. ## Is UGCStars a marketplace or an agency? Neither. UGCStars is a database. We help you find creators, then step out of the way. There’s no booking system, escrow or in-platform messaging. You email creators from your own inbox, agree the brief, price, deadlines and usage rights with them, and pay them directly on the terms you agree. We don’t manage campaigns, approve content or take a cut of any deal. This keeps costs down on both sides: brands pay a yearly fee for access, and creators keep 100% of their fees. It also means you check a creator’s work and agree terms in writing yourself. [How to find UGC creators](https://ugcstars.com/resources/how-to-find-ugc-creators) explains how to vet a shortlist. ## What can I do without paying? Most of UGCStars is free, and much of it needs no account: - Search the database, use every filter and open creator profiles. - Post a brief, which we send to matching creators. - Browse and share casting calls. - Read the UGC Rate Index, UGC Trends, Database Stats, the Showcase and every Resources article. - Join as a creator and use the free guides and checklists in the Creator Hub. - Join the affiliate program. Annual access, $245 a year, adds creators’ business emails, social links and sample videos, plus saved creators, shortlists, saved searches with weekly alerts, the brand template library and one place to manage your briefs and applicants. The [pricing page](https://ugcstars.com/pricing) sets out what’s free and what’s paid side by side. ## How is UGCStars different from other UGC platforms? The main differences are how you pay and who you deal with. Some UGC platforms charge a monthly subscription, add a fee to each order, or deliver a finished video from a creator they assign. UGCStars charges $245 a year, adds nothing to what you pay creators, and lets you choose and contact creators yourself. The trade-off is that you do the outreach and agree terms yourself, and we don’t manage delivery. If you’d rather a platform handled briefs, payment and delivery for you, a managed service may suit you better. Our [comparison pages](https://ugcstars.com/compare) set out the differences with Collabstr, Billo, JoinBrands and Afluencer, with links to each platform’s own published prices. ## How do I contact UGCStars? Use the [contact form](https://ugcstars.com/contact). Choose the topic that fits (Brand access, Creator profile, Brief or casting call, Billing or Something else) so your message reaches the right person. Include the email address on your account. For billing questions, add the date and amount of the charge. For a problem with a profile or a casting call, add its link. We reply to the email address you give in the form. For a charge you don’t recognize, contact us before your bank. It’s usually faster, and [Why should I contact you before my bank?](https://ugcstars.com/help/refunds-and-billing-problems#why-should-i-contact-you-before-my-bank) explains what happens otherwise. Next topic: [Logging in and your account](https://ugcstars.com/help/logging-in-and-your-account) All topics: [Help](https://ugcstars.com/help). Still need help? Send us a message and pick a topic, so it reaches the right person. [Contact us](https://ugcstars.com/contact)