Agency vs Freelancer vs VideosByRaf: which option for your video editing?
You publish content consistently, your business is running, and you know you need to outsource your video editing. The question now: to whom?
You have three options. The “classic” Quebec agency. The freelancer you found on Upwork or through word of mouth. Or a model like VideosByRaf — a Quebec agency with operations in Peru.
Each option has its strengths and weaknesses. We're going to compare them honestly, with the real numbers and the real drawbacks — including our own.
The traditional Quebec agency
The advantages
An established Quebec agency is a mark of professionalism. You get a structured team with proven processes, an art director overseeing quality, and often a full range of services (filming, animation, content strategy). If you need a high-end turnkey service, it's the most complete option.
The drawbacks
The price. That's the big elephant in the room. A Quebec agency typically charges between $150 and $300 per video for social media content editing. For 20 videos a month, you're looking at $3,000 to $6,000/month. That's a serious budget for a coach or a solo entrepreneur.
Then there's the rigidity. Many agencies work with monthly retainers, 3 to 12 month contracts, and processes that can feel heavy. Want to change your volume from one month to the next? Complicated. Want to cancel? Good luck with the contract.
And communication is often more formal. You go through a project manager, your requests get treated like “tickets”, and the exchanges sometimes lack the closeness you'd want. To dig deeper into costs, check out our article on the cost of video editing in Quebec.
The freelancer
The advantages
A freelancer means a direct relationship. You talk to the person editing your video, no middleman. Prices are often lower than an agency — between $50 and $150 per video depending on experience. No long-term contract; you pay per project. And when you find the right one, it's magic. They know your style, they anticipate your requests.
The drawbacks
The problem is precisely the “when you find the right one”. The reality of the freelance market is that quality varies enormously. You can burn through 3-4 freelancers before finding someone reliable. And once you find them, nothing guarantees they'll stay available.
Ghosting is a real problem. A freelancer who disappears overnight, stops responding, or delivers late — it's common. And when it happens, you're left without an editor, with footage piling up and a publishing calendar going off the rails.
No backup. If your freelancer is sick, on vacation, or overloaded, nobody picks up the slack. It's a single point of failure. And processes are often nonexistent — no review platform, no structured tracking, everything happens through scattered texts and emails.
Scalability is also an issue. A freelancer has limited capacity. If you want to go from 4 to 20 videos a month, they probably won't be able to keep up — and you'll have to find a second freelancer, then a third. At that point, you're managing several people without the benefits of a team.
VideosByRaf: the hybrid model
We created VideosByRaf precisely because neither of the two classic options made sense for Quebec entrepreneurs who publish consistently. Too expensive for a local agency, too risky for a freelancer.
Our model: a Quebec agency (founded by a Quebecer, service in French) with operations in Peru. Operating costs are significantly lower, and we pass those savings directly into our client rates.
What that means in practice
No contract. You order per video, whenever you want, at whatever volume you want. Slow month? Order less. Big launch? Order more.
A team, not one person. Your freelancer gets sick? Here, another editor takes over. Continuity is guaranteed. We assign you dedicated editors who learn your brand — you get the familiarity of a freelancer with the reliability of an agency.
Competitive prices. Check out our pricing — it's a fraction of what a Quebec agency charges, for the same editing quality.
A real process. Ordering platform, footage upload, order status tracking, built-in review with a timeline — no scattered messages. Everything is centralized.
Delivery in 3–7 business days, 1 revision included, 72h express option available. As we explain in our article on why you should outsource your video editing, the time you get back translates directly into revenue.
The full comparison
Here's a summary table to help you see clearly.
Who is each option for?
The Quebec agency is for you if…
You have a significant marketing budget ($5,000+/month), you want a turnkey service that includes strategy, filming and editing, and you prefer working with a 100% local team.
The freelancer is for you if…
Your needs are occasional (1–2 videos per month), you already have a trusted freelancer you know personally, and you don't need scalability or a structured process.
VideosByRaf is for you if…
You're a coach, an entrepreneur or a creator publishing 4–20+ videos per week. You want the quality of an agency, the flexibility of a freelancer, and a price that lets you scale without blowing up your budget. You want a reliable process, no contract, and a team that knows your brand. Meet our team and see what our clients say about us.
The verdict
There's no wrong option — there's the option that fits your context. But for most Quebec entrepreneurs who create content consistently, the agency-with-international-operations model is the sweet spot.
You get the quality and reliability of an agency. The flexibility and closeness of a freelancer. And a price that lets you publish at volume without going broke.
The real question isn't “can I afford to work with an agency?” but rather “can I afford to keep editing my videos myself?”