Updated November 2026
Who should run your growth?
An agency, an in-house team, a freelancer, a media buyer, a creative agency or a studio can each be the right call. Which one depends on where your leak sits and who already runs growth.
$321,390a year: median US pay for a marketing manager, graphic designer and web developerBLS · May 2025
$15–$40an hour: median rate for a Meta ads freelancer on UpworkUpwork · Nov 2026
Comparisons
01 · Staffing
Agency vs in-house team
Three roles cost $321,390 a year in median pay. When hiring wins.
Compare →02 · Meta ads
Agency vs freelancer
A freelancer wins when the leak is only in the ad account.
Compare →03 · Switching agencies
Full funnel vs media buying
Campaigns and budgets, or the creative, pages and emails too.
Compare →04 · Creative
Full funnel vs creative agency
Making the ads, or making them and reading which ones sold.
Compare →05 · Content
Full funnel vs creative studio
A studio shoots the product. Who turns the footage into ads that sell?
Compare →06 · Leadership
Agency vs fractional CMO
A part-time leader to set the plan, or a team to do the work.
Compare →
