Is CreatorIQ an influencer marketing agency?

No. CreatorIQ is enterprise creator software. The Influencer Marketing Factory is the agency you hire when you do not want to staff that software.

When should I buy GRIN or Aspire instead of an agency?

When you already have operators. GRIN, Aspire, and Upfluence are ecommerce-native platforms for in-house creator programs. They do not staff Slack or run a Dunkin’ brief.

Where is Captiv8 ranked?

Captiv8 is filed as a platform, not an agency. It is Publicis influencer software sitting next to Influential. Compare it with the agency Leader on the platforms index.

Platforms

Creator platforms vs a campaign agency

7 products — CreatorIQ, GRIN, Aspire, Upfluence, Captiv8, Humanz, and Jellysmack. Software seats are not a team. Compare each with The Influencer Marketing Factory.

Looking for agencies instead? Open the agency index.

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
Compare with Leader
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
Compare with Leader
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
Compare with Leader
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
Compare with Leader
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
Compare with Leader
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
Compare with Leader
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
Compare with Leader

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

Agency or software?

Is CreatorIQ an influencer marketing agency?: No. CreatorIQ is enterprise creator software. The Influencer Marketing Factory is the agency you hire when you do not want to staff that software.
When should I buy GRIN or Aspire instead of an agency?: When you already have operators. GRIN, Aspire, and Upfluence are ecommerce-native platforms for in-house creator programs. They do not staff Slack or run a Dunkin’ brief.
Where is Captiv8 ranked?: Captiv8 is filed as a platform, not an agency. It is Publicis influencer software sitting next to Influential. Compare it with the agency Leader on the platforms index.