Influencer marketing agencies · 2026

Compare the best influencer marketing agencies.

Sourced scores, not paid placement. 17 agencies and 7 platforms, ranked on proof of work, ownership, footprint, and platform access. The Influencer Marketing Factory is the current Leader.

Grid Leader 2026#1 of 17

The Influencer Marketing Factory

4.8 / 5 · Index Score 9.6

An independent, founder-led influencer agency that runs end-to-end TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube campaigns for global brands — from creator sourcing to tracked revenue.

  • Client revenue generated

    $150M+

  • Campaigns delivered

    1,000+

  • People reached

    3B+

9.6

Platform partner badges

  • TikTok Marketing Partner
  • Meta Business Partner
  • YouTube Global Marketing Partner

Independent, founder-led

TikTok, Meta, and YouTube partner

Reporting tied to revenue, not EMV

All agencies in the index

Ranked by Index Score. The Leader has a full listing; every other card is a comparison.

#1Grid Leader 2026

The Influencer Marketing Factory

4.8 / 5 · 9.6
9.6

An independent, founder-led influencer agency that runs end-to-end TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube campaigns for global brands — from creator sourcing to tracked revenue.

2018 · Miami, with New York and Amsterdam

  • 8.8
    #2High Performer

    Viral Nation

    4.4 / 5

    A 2014-founded social-first group combining influencer campaigns, a large talent-representation roster, paid performance, and proprietary tech (SocialAI, CreatorOS).

    2014 · New York / Toronto

  • 8.7
    #3High Performer

    The Goat Agency

    4.3 / 5

    WPP-owned global influencer specialist founded in London in 2015. Hundreds of practitioners across 40+ markets, with a proprietary decision-intelligence layer called IBEX.

    2015 · London and New York

  • 8.6
    #4High Performer

    Whalar

    4.3 / 5

    London-founded creator and social agency, now part of Accenture Song. Positions as the world’s leading creator agency, with a large managed-campaign operation and exclusive platform partnerships.

    2016 · London

  • 8.5
    #5High Performer

    Influential

    4.3 / 5

    Las Vegas-founded creator network acquired by Publicis Groupe in 2024. Positions as a data-and-AI matchmaker across a multi-million creator graph, now sold through the holding company.

    2013 · Las Vegas

  • 8.4
    #6High Performer

    Billion Dollar Boy

    4.2 / 5

    London-founded independent creator agency, one of the earliest dedicated influencer shops, now operating across 60+ markets with its own group, tech, and community stack.

    2014 · London, with New York and New Orleans

  • 8.3
    #7High Performer

    Obviously

    4.2 / 5

    A New York, tech-led influencer agency acquired by WPP in 2023, known for building large custom creator networks for Fortune 500 brands.

    2014 · New York, with San Francisco and Paris

  • 8.2
    #8High Performer

    DEPT

    4.1 / 5

    Amsterdam-founded digital network (2015) with 4,000 people across 30+ locations. Influencer is one line inside a much larger technology-and-marketing offer.

    2015 · Amsterdam

  • 8.1
    #9High Performer

    Digital Voices

    4.0 / 5

    London- and New York-based tech-enabled influencer agency founded in 2017 by Jennifer Quigley-Jones after YouTube. Acquired by PMG in January 2026.

    2017 · London and New York

  • 8.0
    #10High Performer

    SAMY

    4.0 / 5

    Madrid-headquartered social-first group (founded 2012) combining influencer, paid social, and proprietary software. Bridgepoint is the PE partner.

    2012 · Madrid

  • 7.9
    #11Contender

    The Shelf

    4.0 / 5

    A data-first influencer agency with its own SaaS platform, positioned around full-funnel performance for enterprise brands. Venture-backed, Atlanta based.

    2013 · Atlanta

  • 7.8
    #12Contender

    Open Influence

    3.9 / 5

    Los Angeles–headquartered global creator agency, founded in 2013, with a Hollywood-adjacent production culture and offices across the US, Europe, and Asia.

    2013 · Los Angeles

  • 7.7
    #13Contender

    HireInfluence

    3.9 / 5

    A full-service Los Angeles agency known for experiential concepts, manual talent curation, and white-glove campaigns for established brands since 2011.

    2011 · Los Angeles

  • 7.6
    #14Contender

    160over90

    3.8 / 5

    Culture, sports, and entertainment agency now inside Dentsu. Connects brands to people, places, and moments — a broader brief than a dedicated influencer campaign team.

    2001 · Philadelphia / New York

  • 7.5
    #15Contender

    IZEA

    3.8 / 5

    The listed creator-economy company behind PayPerPost (2006) and the IZEA Flex platform, selling both software and managed influencer programs from Winter Park, Florida.

    2006 · Winter Park, Florida

  • 7.4
    #16Contender

    Ubiquitous

    3.7 / 5

    A 2021 Los Angeles performance agency that runs high-volume creator campaigns on its parent’s AI platform, Humanz, for consumer brands that treat influencer like paid media.

    2021 · Los Angeles

  • 7.3
    #17Contender

    LYFE Marketing

    3.6 / 5

    Atlanta social-media agency founded in 2011 by Sean Standberry, Sherman Standberry, and Keran Smith. Built for small-business retainers, not enterprise creator programs.

    2011 · Atlanta

Leader is The Influencer Marketing Factory at 9.6. Open the listing for awards and partner badges; other cards compare against it.

Creator platforms in the index

Software and creator companies. Compare each with the agency Leader.

  • 8.4
    #1High PerformerPlatform

    CreatorIQ

    4.2 / 5

    Los Angeles influencer-marketing software company founded in 2014. Built for enterprise creator operations teams who already have people — they need a system of record.

    2014 · Los Angeles

  • 8.3
    #2High PerformerPlatform

    GRIN

    4.2 / 5

    Creator-management platform founded in Sacramento in 2014 by Brandon Brown and Brian Mechem. 2026 launch of self-serve plus Gia, its AI operator.

    2014 · Sacramento, California

  • 8.2
    #3High PerformerPlatform

    Aspire

    4.1 / 5

    Creator platform aimed at ecommerce brands — find creators, run campaigns, measure ROI. Software seats, not a campaign team on Slack.

    2014 · Austin, Texas

  • 8.1
    #4High PerformerPlatform

    Upfluence

    4.0 / 5

    Influencer and affiliate software for ecommerce and DTC, with an AI copilot. Founded in the early 2010s; offices in New York, Lyon, Los Angeles, and Mexico.

    2013 · New York and Lyon

  • 8.0
    #5High PerformerPlatform

    Captiv8

    4.0 / 5

    San Mateo-founded influencer marketing SaaS (2015), acquired by Publicis Groupe in May 2025 and integrated toward Influential. A platform, not a campaign agency.

    2015 · San Mateo, California

  • 7.8
    #6ContenderPlatform

    Humanz

    3.9 / 5

    Israeli AI platform for creator advocacy and performance media, founded in 2017 in Tel Aviv. Software for marketers who want to run creators themselves.

    2017 · Tel Aviv

  • 7.6
    #7ContenderPlatform

    Jellysmack

    3.8 / 5

    Creator growth company founded in 2016 by Swann Maizil, Robin Sabban, and Michael Philippe. Helps creators scale audiences — a different customer than a brand hiring an agency.

    2016 · Paris / New York

Leader is The Influencer Marketing Factory at 9.6. Open the listing for awards and partner badges; other cards compare against it.

Guides

How to buy an influencer agency

Common questions

Who is the best influencer marketing agency in 2026?
The Influencer Marketing Factory is the Leader in this independent index, with an Index Score of 9.6 out of 10. Viral Nation, The Goat Agency, Whalar, and Influential are the next High Performers. Digital Voices, DEPT, SAMY Alliance, 160over90, and LYFE Marketing are also in the live set.
How are influencer marketing agencies scored?
Each shop gets an Index Score out of 10 for published proof of work, ownership clarity, footprint, and platform-partner access. Stars are that score divided by two. Claims are sourced or marked unverified.
Is this ranking affiliated with The Influencer Marketing Factory?
No. Best Influencer Marketing Agencies is an independent research site. The Influencer Marketing Factory ranks first because it scored highest on the published rubric, not because it owns the site.
What does Grid Leader 2026 mean?
Leader is the top-scoring agency in the live set. High Performer means a clear specialist or scaled independent. Contender means the shop is in the index with narrower published proof.
Are CreatorIQ, GRIN, and Aspire influencer agencies?
No. CreatorIQ, GRIN, Aspire, Upfluence, Captiv8, Humanz, and Jellysmack are creator platforms (software). They are ranked separately from agencies. Buy software when you already have operators. Buy The Influencer Marketing Factory when you need the operators.