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Key Takeaways
- Whether in-house, freelance, or agency, choosing the right video editor depends on your budget, project complexity, and long-term needs.
- Businesses should consider factors like project frequency, team collaboration, and brand consistency when deciding between in-house, freelance, or agency models.
- It’s a common misconception that hiring locally is the only way to get in-house quality. Hiring nearshore talent from Latin America offers the same benefits at a fraction of the cost.
Many businesses assume hiring a freelance video editor is the most budget-friendly option. Others lean toward agencies to avoid having to manage the process themselves. But when it comes to scaling video production, there’s more to consider than just cost or convenience. The reality is that there are a lot of variables to consider when deciding between hiring in-house versus freelance versus agency video editors.
Whether you're producing a few videos each month or you need a steady stream of branded content, the hiring model you choose can make or break your results.
In this article, you’ll find a clear comparison of the three most common hiring models. We'll break down how each works and discuss their pros and cons. By the end, you’ll know which route fits your business and how to move forward without wasting time or money.
What’s the Difference Between In-House, Freelance, and Agency Video Editors?
Selecting the right hiring model requires an understanding of how each option operates within the context of your business. Below, we’ve outlined the key distinctions between hiring in-house video editors, engaging freelancers, and partnering with an agency.
Definitions:
- In-house: A full-time, dedicated video editor embedded within your team. They work exclusively on your brand’s content and are on your payroll.
- Freelancer: An independent contractor who works on a per-project or hourly basis. They may or may not work exclusively for you, and you often don’t have any control over whether or not they take on other clients.
- Agency: A third-party team that provides managed video editing services, usually with a range of specialists on hand. A staffing agency might provide an experienced editor to work with your team. A design agency will take on the entire project itself.
To make this clearer, here’s a quick comparison of how each setup operates:
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Each hiring model offers unique advantages for different situations. One of the common mistakes made when hiring a video editor is assuming that one model is inherently superior without considering your specific needs.
While agencies provide structure and diverse expertise, freelancers often deliver more personalized service and flexibility for smaller projects. In-house teams offer dedicated brand focus. Choosing the wrong model for your particular requirements—whether budget constraints, project complexity, or timeline—can lead to unnecessary costs and disappointing results.
The Pros and Cons of Hiring a Video Editor Through Each Route
Each video editor hiring option offers unique benefits. To make an informed decision, it’s important to assess how each choice meets the needs and goals of your business.
Below, we’ve outlined the pros and cons of each hiring model to help your business find the right video editor.
In-house video editors
Hiring an in-house video editor is a big commitment, best suited for companies with ongoing, high-volume production needs or a strong focus on long-term brand consistency. The trade-offs, though, are higher costs and less flexibility.
Pros
- Alignment with brand: An in-house editor understands your brand’s visual identity deeply, making sure that every video aligns perfectly with your vision.
- Full team integration: They work closely with your internal teams, making it easier to collaborate on larger projects that require quick feedback and adjustments.
- Availability: As a full-time team member, an in-house editor is always available to handle urgent tasks or changes on the fly.
Cons
- High costs: In-house hires come with substantial expenses, including salaries, benefits, payroll taxes, and video equipment costs. The additional costs of maintaining video production equipment also add up over time.
- Hiring time: It can take longer to find the right person for your team, which could delay your video production plans.
- Limited flexibility: An in-house editor may not have the versatility or broad skill set needed for various styles or types of videos or for complex video projects. As video production is often best handled by a team of specialists, a single in-house person might struggle to handle every aspect of production.
Freelancers
Freelancers offer a flexible, cost-effective solution for businesses with short-term video production needs or smaller budgets. However, they come with the challenge of potential gaps in skills, availability, and brand alignment.
Pros
- Budget-friendly: Freelancers generally cost less than in-house employees or agencies since you avoid the added overhead of benefits, taxes, and equipment.
- Flexibility: They can work on a per-project basis, which is perfect for short-term or low-volume video production needs.
- Fast to hire: With millions of freelancers to choose from, you can quickly find someone with the specific skills you need. In the US alone, there are 64 million freelancers, with a large share working in creative and multimedia sectors.
Cons
- Inconsistent quality: Freelancers often handle multiple roles themselves, which can result in uneven quality, and they may have gaps in skills across different areas of video production.
- Competing priorities: Many freelancers juggle multiple clients, which can lead to slower turnaround times and potential delays.
- Less brand alignment: Without deep integration into your team, a freelancer may struggle to consistently match your brand's tone and style across videos.
Agencies
Agencies offer a highly scalable solution. They make hiring a video editor easier and are ideal for large projects or businesses that need professional quality, quick turnarounds. However, they come with higher costs and a potential lack of close collaboration.
Pros
- Scalability: Agencies can quickly scale their teams to meet the requirements for large, complex projects or ongoing video content demands.
- Proven processes: With ample experience, agencies have established workflows that make sure projects run smoothly, from ideation to final edits.
- Plug-and-play execution: Agencies provide a full team of specialists, so you don’t need to manage individual roles. This can be especially beneficial if your video production requires expertise in areas like scriptwriting, casting, or special effects.
Cons
- Expensive: While agencies provide a full-service team, they often come at a premium. The cost can be higher than working with freelancers or even hiring in-house, especially for smaller projects.
- Less collaboration: Communication may not be as seamless as with an in-house team, since agency teams are often remote or working with multiple clients.
- Limited revision scope: Some agencies may have strict boundaries when it comes to revisions, which could be frustrating if you need frequent changes or custom edits.
When Should You Hire a Freelance, In-House, or Agency Video Editor?
There’s no universal answer to which hiring model works best. Every business has different goals, budgets, and production needs.
Recent data from Wyzowl shows that over half of marketers create their videos in-house, while 14% rely entirely on external vendors and 31% use a combination of both. This reflects a wide range of production strategies depending on how much content needs to be made, how quickly it needs to be made, and how closely it needs to follow brand standards.
If you're trying to decide what fits your situation, here are a few real-world scenarios to help clarify your next step.
1. You’re a startup producing 1–2 videos per week
You’re moving fast, testing content, and watching every dollar. Hiring a full-time editor might feel out of reach at this stage, but you still need someone who can deliver consistently.
In this case, a freelancer can be a good starting point, or you may also consider outsourcing to a video editor. This could be someone full-time but based in another country who offers the consistency of an in-house hire at considerable cost savings.
2. You’re a growing e-commerce brand putting out daily TikToks and ad creatives
Here, speed and brand consistency are essential. You need someone who can turn around assets quickly and understand your visual style without much direction. A full-time in-house editor is ideal. But if you’re a startup or small business, hiring from within the US can be expensive. In this case, working with a recruitment agency that specializes in helping startups find remote talent might be your best course of action.
3. You’re a mid-size agency producing seasonal video campaigns for clients
Your volume changes throughout the year, and you don’t want to overhire during slow periods. In this case, a freelancer pool or an agency partner can help you scale production without a long-term commitment.
Freelancers are flexible for quick turnarounds, while agencies are better when you need project management support and a full team.
4. You’re a marketing team without internal creative leadership
If you lack someone to direct, script, or manage the content creation process, working with a video agency might be your best bet. They offer end-to-end services and can fill the creative gaps that your team doesn’t have time or specialized skills for.
No matter which hiring route you choose, it’s worth reviewing the must-have skills to look for when hiring a video editor. Taking this step can help you avoid gaps in experience that might affect quality, especially if your content needs are complex or fast moving.
Want In-House Quality Without the Cost? Consider Hiring Nearshore
Many businesses assume their only realistic options are freelance contractors or agency support. This is especially true when you discover that hiring skilled video editors in the US feels out of budget. However, that’s not the only path.
For companies that need consistent, high-quality output but can’t justify the cost of a local full-time hire, hiring a full-time remote editor in Latin America (LatAm)—a type of offshoring referred to as nearshoring—offers a smart alternative.
Because nearshore editors work in US time zones, you get real-time collaboration and fast feedback loops, just like you would with someone sitting in your office. At the same time, you avoid the overhead costs that come with local hires. Most companies see cost savings of 30 to 70% compared to hiring a US-based video editor.
For growing brands, this model scales easily. As content needs increase, you can build out a full video function without turning to expensive agency retainers or trying to manage multiple freelancers. You gain more control over quality, deadlines, and creative direction. And because these editors work as part of your team, they learn your brand voice and style. That’s something that’s hard to achieve with rotating freelancers or hands-off agency teams.
If you’re looking to scale your video production without sacrificing quality or speed and without overextending your budget, the nearshore model is worth considering. Working with a recruitment partner makes finding and hiring nearshore video editors easy.
If you're unsure where to start or haven't hired internationally before, it's easier than you think to hire a great video editor without wasting time or money.
Final Thoughts
For video production, the right choice between in-house, freelance, or agency hiring models depends on your budget, project requirements, and long-term scalability needs. While there’s no universal solution, knowing your specific goals and team constraints helps you make the best decision.
Avoid the misconception that only large companies can afford full-time video editing talent. By hiring skilled professionals in LatAm, businesses can have the full benefits of an in-house team member for the cost of a part-time or freelance hire.
This is where Near can help. We connect businesses with quality talent in LatAm that can support your business in creating consistent, on-brand content without the US price tag.
Ready to scale your video production? Book a free consultation with Near to learn how we can help your business realize its creative vision.
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