Performance-based UGC

The Best Cohley Alternative for UGC

Pay for results, not enterprise fees

Cohley offers enterprise-grade managed services with SOC2 compliance and professional photography. But their pricing model means you pay premium rates upfront regardless of results. Burst flips this: you pay based on actual views or sales.

Liv - Burst content marketing specialist and author of Cohley vs Burst comparison
Liv|Jan 30, 2026|7 min read

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Brand Logo
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Suzuki Logo
Pepsi Logo
GoWish Logo
PanzerGlass Logo
Brand Logo
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MessyWeekend Logo
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Eleven Australia Logo
Warner Music Group Logo
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How the Two Platforms Compare

A side-by-side look at pricing structure, creator networks, and content rights

Pricing

Payment structure

Creator network

Content distribution

Usage rights

Credits

Burst UGC platform
14 day free trial, then £97/mo
Pay-per-view or affiliate
32,000+ pre-vetted
TikTok & Instagram + Creator Ads
Full ad rights included
Up to £1000
Cohley
Custom enterprise pricing
~£160+/video, £32+/photo
Curated per campaign
Delivered assets only
Included in pricing
Start free trial

14-day free trial with up to £1000 in credits

The key differences

Why Some Brands Prefer Burst

It comes down to how you want to pay for content and whether you need enterprise managed services or prefer self-serve control.

Cost Structure

With Cohley, you are paying enterprise rates of £160+ per video upfront, whether that video drives sales or sits unused. With Burst, you pay £97/mo and only pay for content that actually performs. Underperforming videos cost less by design.

Organic Validation

Cohley delivers assets for your paid campaigns. Burst content goes live on creator channels first, so you see what resonates organically before scaling with paid ads. You are not guessing which content will work.

Creator Incentives

Cohley creators get paid the same regardless of results. Burst creators earn more when their content performs, so they are motivated to actually drive engagement and sales, not just deliver assets.

"

What's great about Burst is that it drives sales twice. First from the creator's post, then again when I run it as an ad

Katrine Dahl Johansen - Marketing Specialist at Eleven Australia using Burst UGC platform

Katrine Dahl Johansen

Marketing Specialist, Eleven Australia

The Scaling Advantage

Creator Ads: Where UGC Becomes Performance Marketing

Burst includes Creator Ads (Spark Ads on TikTok, Partnership Ads on Meta) so you can scale winning content as paid ads from the creator's authentic profile.

+35%

higher ROAS than standard UGC ads

Creator Ads run from the creator's actual profile, not your brand account. That authenticity converts better than any polished brand content.

Cohley lets you whitelist videos you think will work. Burst lets performance decide which videos are worth whitelisting.

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Understanding Cohley

What is Cohley? How Does It Work?

Cohley is an enterprise-focused content generation platform. They offer managed services with SOC2 compliance, AI-powered brief creation, and the option for professional photography alongside creator content.

The platform works well for brands needing enterprise-grade security and dedicated account management. The main consideration is cost: custom pricing typically runs £160+ per video and £32+ per photo, paid upfront regardless of how the content performs.

How Cohley typically works

1
Contact sales: Cohley uses custom enterprise pricing. You work with their team to scope a project and get a quote based on your content needs.
2
Create briefs: Use their AI-powered brief tools to define content requirements. Cohley matches you with creators from their curated network.
3
Receive content: Pay per asset upfront (typically £160+ per video, £32+ per photo). Professional photography available as an add-on.
4
Use content: Commercial usage rights included in pricing. Content delivered as assets for your paid campaigns.
How Burst works

What is Burst? A Different Pricing Model

Burst takes a different approach to UGC pricing. Instead of paying per asset upfront, brands pay based on actual results, either cost-per-view or commission on sales. The subscription is £97/mo, which includes access to 32,000+ creators.

The other key difference: creators post content to their own TikTok and Instagram channels, so you get organic distribution included. You also get full commercial rights to use the content in your paid campaigns.

How Burst works

1
Create a campaign: Post a brief describing your product, target audience, and content guidelines. Set your budget and CPM or commission rate.
2
Approve creators: Vetted creators apply to your campaign. Review their profiles and past content, then approve the ones that fit.
3
Review content: Creators submit content for approval before posting. You control what goes live on their channels.
4
Pay for results: Content goes live. You pay based on views or sales generated, and get full rights to use the content in your paid ads.
C

When Cohley Makes Sense

Cohley is a good fit when you:

  • Need enterprise-grade security (SOC2 compliance)
  • Want managed service with dedicated support
  • Need professional photography alongside video
  • Have enterprise budgets and want white-glove service
  • Prefer AI-powered briefs and content optimization
Burst UGC platform logo

When Burst Makes Sense

Burst is the smarter choice when you:

  • Want to eliminate the risk of paying for content that flops
  • Need organic validation before scaling with paid ads
  • Want Creator Ads that convert 35% better than standard UGC
  • Run a Shopify store and need real revenue attribution
  • Want creators as a performance channel, not just content vendors
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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions: Cohley vs Burst for UGC

How does pricing compare between the two platforms?

+

Cohley uses custom enterprise pricing with managed services, typically around £160+ per video and £32+ per photo. Burst uses subscription + performance pricing: £97/mo, then you pay based on views or sales generated. The main difference is enterprise vs self-service, and upfront vs results-based payment.

Which platform has more creators?

+

Burst has 32,000+ vetted creators with self-serve access. Cohley curates smaller creator pools per campaign with managed service support. The approach differs: Burst gives you direct access, Cohley matches you through their team.

Do both platforms include ad rights?

+

Yes, both include commercial usage rights. Cohley typically includes rights in their managed pricing. With Burst, you get full ad rights included and only pay based on how the content performs.

Can I run Creator Ads (Spark Ads) with Burst?

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Yes, Burst supports Creator Ads for TikTok and Meta. Content gets posted to creator channels and you can boost it as a paid ad with their handle attached. This organic-first approach validates content before you scale with paid.

Which is better for Shopify stores?

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Burst is built for e-commerce performance. Creators earn commission on actual sales, so they are motivated to drive revenue, not just deliver content. Full Shopify integration means you see exactly which creators and content drive sales. Cohley focuses on content delivery without native sales tracking.

Can I try before committing?

+

Burst offers a 14-day free trial with up to £1000 in credits. Cohley typically requires a sales conversation to get started with custom pricing. Burst lets you test the platform immediately.

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