Make Facebook video ads
with AI in an afternoon
Playcut is an AI Facebook ad creator built around the Playcut Actor Engine: one custom AI actor keeps the same face across every 4:5 feed post, 9:16 Reel and carousel card, and speaks the line you write.
Each placement is its own render. One script and one actor give you a 4:5 cut for feed and a 9:16 cut for Reels, ready to upload in Ads Manager.
From $9/mo on Hobby · 3 custom actors · 4:5 + 9:16 native export · AI-label ready
native feed and Reels ratios, one generation per placement
for voice cloning and voice design
cost per result for spec-native Reels video vs image ads (Meta analysis)
average Facebook CPC, Q1 2026 benchmarks
We measured it: one actor, two Meta formats
Before shipping this page we ran the workflow ourselves. On June 11, 2026 we rendered one saved actor — Andre, from our own library — into the two Meta placements that matter: a 4:5 feed still and a 9:16 Reels frame, via the Playcut Actor Engine. Both were usable on the first take, at 20.6 seconds and 67 credits per asset on average.
first-take usable — zero regenerations
mean render time per asset
metered per usable still
ArcFace face-match cosine, feed ↔ Reels
The 0.7132 cosine sits solidly in ArcFace's same-person range (0.4–0.9+): the same recognizable face held from the feed cut to the Reels cut across a wardrobe, scene and lighting change. Each still metered at 67 credits, so Pro's 2,000 monthly credits cover 29 of them; plan prices are on the pricing page.
Honest caveats: n=2 stills, one actor, both first attempts, self-run on our own platform. Treat it as a transparent point measurement of production cost and speed — not a performance benchmark.
Everything a Facebook ad needs, from one studio
Built around the one thing no template tool or stock-avatar library gives you: a consistent brand actor across every Meta placement.
One custom AI actor, every ad
Your brand's own face from the Playcut Actor Engine — not a stock library every other advertiser also uses. Build the actor once, reuse it across every variant.
Native Meta formats
4:5 feed, 9:16 Reels and 1:1 carousel cards, each rendered as its own generation at its own ratio — no cropped horizontal master. 4:5 video runs on HappyHorse 1.1; 4:5 stills on Nano Banana Pro and Nano Banana 2.
Localize with one face
Localize a winning ad without re-shooting — write the line in the target language and the model speaks the dialogue in your prompt, same actor. Test one short line per language before you batch a market.
Hook + variant batching
Turn one script into dozens of hook and CTA variants in a single queue — exactly the asset volume Advantage+ testing rewards.
On-product compositing
The actor holds, wears or uses your actual SKU on screen — real product, not a generic prop.
AI-label ready
An actor generated from a text description carries no real person's likeness to clear, so meeting Meta's AI-disclosure rules comes down to applying the label where required.
How to make a Facebook video ad with AI
Write the hook and script, pick your custom AI actor, render native 4:5 and 9:16 variants, then label and launch in Meta Ads Manager — four steps from a blank brief to an upload-ready, disclosure-clean ad.
Write the hook and script
Start from your offer, or draft labeled AIDA and PAS copy fast with Playcut's free ad copy tools.
Pick your custom AI actor
Choose the brand actor you built once — the same face and outfit on every render.
Render 4:5 + 9:16 variants
Batch hooks and CTAs, then render the feed cut and the Reels cut as separate generations, each at its own ratio instead of cropped from one master.
Label and launch
Apply any required AI disclosure, then upload to Meta Ads Manager for delivery and targeting.
The three Facebook ad formats that matter
Feed video is 4:5 at 1440×1800, Reels is 9:16 at 1440×2560, and carousel cards are 1:1 or 4:5 at 1080×1080 minimum — verified against Meta's Ads Guide. Playcut renders each ratio natively, but not always at these pixel sizes; the notes below the table say which settings get you there.
Feed video — 4:5
The feed workhorse: 1440×1800, MP4 or MOV up to 4 GB. Duration runs 1 second to 241 minutes, but 15–30 seconds is the working sweet spot. Primary text truncates around 50–150 characters; headlines at 27.
Reels — 9:16
Full-screen vertical: 1440×2560, no maximum duration, stereo AAC audio. Keep roughly the top 14%, bottom 35% and 6% each side clear of text and CTAs — Meta's UI lives there.
Carousel — 1:1 / 4:5
Minimum 1080×1080 per card, 2–10 cards, each with its own headline and link. One actor, ten product cards — a simple way to put a whole catalog behind one face.
| Spec | Feed video (4:5) | Reels (9:16) | Carousel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | 4:5 recommended | 9:16 | 1:1 or 4:5 |
| Resolution | 1440×1800 | 1440×2560 | ≥1080×1080 per card |
| Max file | 4 GB | 4 GB | 4 GB per video card |
| Duration | 1 s – 241 min | No maximum | Image or video per card |
| Visible text | 50–150 chars primary · 27 headline | 40 primary · 55 headline | Headline + link per card |
| Files / audio | MP4, MOV or GIF · H.264, square pixels, fixed frame rate · stereo AAC, 128 kbps+ | ||
What Playcut renders for feed: 4:5 and 1:1 stills come straight from Nano Banana Pro or Nano Banana 2; choose 2K or 4K to clear 1440 pixels wide, because the 1K default renders smaller. For 4:5 video, HappyHorse 1.1 is the only video model we run with a 4:5 setting, and it tops out at 1080p, below the 1440×1800 in Meta's guide. Veo 3.1 renders 16:9 and 9:16 only.
What Playcut renders for Reels: every video model we run offers 9:16. The default actor tier renders at up to 720p and the plus tier at up to 1080p; Veo 3.1 and Seedance 2.0 also render 4K. Each ratio is a separate generation, so the feed cut and the Reels cut are two renders, each billed on its own.
Safe zones (Reels): keep text, logos and CTAs out of the top ~14%, bottom ~35% and each side ~6%, per Meta's Reels ad spec. Meta's own analysis found Reels ads built 9:16 with audio and key elements in the safe zone had a 34.5% lower cost per result than image ads on Reels. The free safe-zone checker confirms your layout before export.
Cost to run: Q1 2026 benchmark medians put Facebook at a $1.72 CPC, $11.54 CPM and 1.49% CTR, per Digital Applied's 2026 benchmarks, with ecommerce CPMs ranging $6.96–$12.46 by industry in Lebesgue's industry dataset. At an $11.54 CPM, even a modest $3k/mo media budget dwarfs a $9–29/mo creative tool. Published figures vary a lot, so check how Meta CPM benchmarks differ by source before planning around one.
File size and bitrate: Meta accepts up to 4 GB, but feed connections don't reward bloated files — the spec sheet for feed video calls for H.264 with fixed frame rate. The free video bitrate calculator solves between bitrate, duration and file size so both cuts stay crisp.
Playcut vs the other ways to make Facebook ads
An honest comparison — Meta's own Advantage+ carries no separate fee; Playcut's edge is a custom brand actor that holds the same face in every variant.
| Playcut | Meta Advantage+ | AdCreative.ai | Creatify | Pencil | Hire a creator | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Same actor in every variant | Yes | No — enhances your upload | No | 3 custom ($99 Pro) | No actor concept | The creator |
| Entry price | $9/mo | Free (in Ads Manager) | $39/mo¹ | $39/mo | $14/mo | $300–1,500/ad |
| Video at entry tier | Yes | Enhancement only | No — from $249/mo¹ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Native 4:5 + 9:16 export | Yes (4:5 video on HappyHorse 1.1) | n/a | Static-first | Yes | ~5 formats/creative | Depends |
| Works beyond Facebook | Reels, TikTok, Shorts, stills | Meta only | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Commercial license | Included | n/a | Included | Included | Included | Contract |
¹ AdCreative.ai's pricing page is unavailable to crawlers; $39–249/mo figures are vendor-listed via third-party pricing trackers. Creatify pricing re-verified August 21, 2026; other competitor prices verified June 11, 2026. Prices may change — check each vendor at checkout.
Who makes Facebook ads with Playcut
DTC & ecommerce
Ship a week of promo variants in an afternoon and let Advantage+ find the winner.
Lead gen & local services
A consistent presenter explains the offer in each market you serve; test one short line per language before you batch.
Agencies
Produce client ad volume across brands, with a brand kit per client on the Agency plan — no shoot per client.
Shopify product ads
Pair the ad with on-product compositing; see AI video for Shopify for the PDP workflow.
App installs
Hook-heavy creative at volume — feed the install auction fresh openers weekly.
Course & info creators
Put a consistent on-camera presenter on every offer without filming.
Flat pricing — from $9/mo
No watermark on any plan. Full commercial license. Annual billing saves 17% (two months free). Full details on the pricing page.
500 credits · 3 custom actors · no watermark
2,000 credits · 10 custom actors
6,000 credits · 4 seats
10,000 credits/seat · ∞ seats
Common questions
How do I make a Facebook ad with AI? +
Write your hook and script, pick your custom AI actor, render native 4:5 feed and 9:16 Reels variants, then upload to Meta Ads Manager. With Playcut, one custom actor carries every variant, so the campaign keeps a single recognizable face. Plans start at $9/mo.
What size should a Facebook video ad be? +
Feed video is 4:5 at 1440×1800; Reels is 9:16 at 1440×2560; carousels take 1:1 or 4:5 at 1080×1080 minimum. Files up to 4 GB in MP4 or MOV, per Meta's Ads Guide. In Playcut each cut is its own generation: render the 4:5 feed version and the 9:16 Reels version separately from the same brief and actor. Playcut's 4:5 video runs on HappyHorse 1.1 at up to 1080p, below Meta's 1440 recommendation, so check each file against the guide.
Do I have to disclose AI-generated Facebook ads? +
Often, yes. Meta auto-labels photorealistic AI content it detects, and requires advertiser disclosure for digitally created or altered media in social-issue, electoral, or political ads. Commercial ads with synthetic presenters are allowed — keep claims truthful and never pass an AI actor off as a real customer.
How much do Facebook ads cost in 2026? +
Benchmark data puts Q1 2026 averages around $1.72 per click and $11.54 CPM, with CPMs ranging roughly $7–12.50 by industry. That's media spend — making the creative with Playcut starts at $9/mo, independent of what you spend running it.
How is this different from Meta Advantage+ Creative? +
Meta publishes no separate fee for Advantage+ beyond ad spend, but it enhances creative you already have — backgrounds, expansions, text variants. It can't generate a consistent brand spokesperson. Playcut builds the base ad with your own custom actor; Advantage+ then multiplies it. They're complements, not substitutes.
Can the AI actor hold my actual product? +
Yes. On-product compositing renders your custom actor holding, wearing, or using your real SKU while delivering the script — skincare, fashion, fitness, food, electronics. The product stays on screen, which matters because much of feed plays muted.
Is the output licensed for paid Meta ads? +
Yes — every Playcut output is commercially licensed to you, with no model release to chase. No watermark on any plan. Meta's prohibited-categories ad rules and AI-disclosure requirements still apply separately.
What does it cost to make Facebook video ads with AI? +
Playcut starts at $9/mo on Hobby with three custom actors and 500 credits a month; video is metered in credits per second, so check the per-model rates before you batch. When we last checked, Creatify's entry tier was $39/mo (custom avatars from $99/mo) and AdCreative.ai put video on its $249/mo Professional plan. Compare what each entry tier includes, not just the sticker price.
The Facebook ad creator workflow, step by step
A Facebook ad creator only earns the name if it covers the whole loop: script, presenter, native formats, and an upload-ready file. In Playcut you write the hook and script, pick a custom AI actor you built once, and render the same brief as a 4:5 feed cut and a 9:16 Reels cut, one generation each. The actor is a reusable asset — the same face and wardrobe carry every variant.
If the script is the sticking point, the free ad copy framework generator turns a product, audience and offer into labeled AIDA or PAS copy you can rewrite into a conversational read.
The render itself is format-aware. A 4:5 feed cut keeps negative space for the headline; the 9:16 Reels cut keeps the top 14% and bottom 35% clear for Meta's UI; carousel cards hold the product centered at 1:1. You brief once and render each placement at its own ratio, instead of cropping a horizontal master and hoping.
Consistency is the part template tools and stock-avatar libraries both miss. When the face changes between your feed ad and your Reels retarget, the campaign reads as strangers and recall resets. A saved actor fixes that — it's the same asset that powers your AI actors library and the UGC ad variants you run on Meta.
We measured the production side ourselves on June 11, 2026: one saved actor, a 4:5 feed still and a 9:16 Reels frame, both usable on the first take, 20.6 seconds average per render, and 67 credits per asset. Two generations is a data point, not a benchmark — but it is the exact loop this page describes, run end to end.
What makes a Facebook ad convert in 2026
Meta's auction now rewards creative volume. Advantage+ campaigns test combinations of your assets automatically, which means the advertiser with twenty honest variants usually beats the advertiser with one polished hero ad. Batching hooks, CTAs and languages against one actor is an efficient way to feed that machine.
Creator-style delivery keeps outperforming studio polish on Meta's own numbers. In Meta split tests reported by eMarketer, partnership ads — creative running from a creator-style handle — drove 53% higher click-through and 19% lower CPA than business-as-usual ads. Meta's Reels analysis likewise found spec-native 9:16 video with audio cut cost per result by 34.5% versus image ads.
Sound design matters more than feed advertisers assume. Reels defaults to sound on while much of feed plays muted, so the same ad needs a voiceover that carries the Reels cut and on-screen product plus text that carry feed. The Playcut Voice Engine handles the first; keeping the SKU and CTA visible handles the second.
The practical reading: spend effort on the first three seconds and the variant count, not on production gloss. The free content calendar generator builds the weekly refresh plan that beats creative fatigue. The category-wide evidence — formats, performance data, disclosure — lives in the AI video ads guide, and the creator-style format specifically in the AI UGC ads playbook.
Meta's AI-content disclosure rules, plainly
Meta handles AI disclosure in two layers. It auto-applies an "AI info" label when it detects industry-standard signals — C2PA or IPTC metadata — on photorealistic AI content, per the Meta Transparency Center. And it requires advertisers to disclose digitally created or altered media in ads about social issues, elections or politics, including any depiction of a real person doing or saying something they didn't.
For ordinary commercial ads, realistic synthetic presenters are allowed. The risks are undisclosed deceptive media — which Meta's Business Help Center says can mean ad rejection or account restrictions — and the FTC's endorsement rules, which apply to every advertiser. An AI actor presents your product; it never poses as an independent customer.
If you run political, election or social-issue ads, treat the disclosure as mandatory and explicit — Meta rejects undisclosed altered media in that category outright. Everyone else mostly needs truthful claims and a label they don't fight. An actor generated from a text description carries no real person's likeness, so there is no likeness release to clear, only the label.
Playcut vs running Advantage+ alone
Meta Advantage+ Creative carries no separate fee beyond ad spend that Meta publishes anywhere, and it's genuinely good at what it does: background generation for catalog ads, video expansion for Reels, image touch-ups, text variants and translations. Meta reports conversion lifts in the 2–13% range from individual enhancements — Meta-reported figures, worth reading as such. If you already have strong creative, turn the toggles on.
What Advantage+ can't do is generate the base ad — and it can't give you a face that's yours. Its enhancements multiply creative you upload; the Playcut Actor Engine is where that creative, and the consistent spokesperson inside it, comes from. They're complements: Playcut builds the ad, Advantage+ stretches it across placements.
Price the alternatives honestly before you choose. Creatify starts at $39/mo, with custom avatars arriving on its $99 Pro tier; Pencil starts at $14/mo with no actor concept at all; AdCreative.ai lists at $39/mo with video locked behind its $249 Professional tier. Playcut starts at $9/mo with three custom actors included — and the price is on this page, not behind a sales call.
The same actor also travels. One saved face covers your Facebook feed and Reels cuts here, the AI TikTok ads maker for AIGC-labeled vertical cuts, and the AI Instagram ads maker for Stories and Carousel — one spokesperson across every placement you buy.
Ready to make something cinematic?
Pick a plan. Every plan bills at checkout — cancel anytime.