How to Create AI UGC Videos That Actually Convert (From Someone Who Built a Tool for It)

I'm Clément, founder of Reloop. I built a tool that lets e-com brands and marketing teams create AI UGC ads from scratch, no prompting or skills needed.

But before I go into Reloop, I want to give you something actually useful: a full breakdown of how AI UGC works under the hood, and how you can build your own pipeline from scratch if you're willing to put in the work.

Because here's the thing: most "AI UGC" apps on the market are just wrappers around models like Veo 3, Sora 2, or Kling. You're paying 5-10x the actual generation cost for a mediocre UI. Once you understand the stack, you can do it yourself for way cheaper.

Or, if you'd rather not deal with any of that, just use Reloop and skip straight to the results.

Either way, let's get into it.

What Is AI UGC, Really?

"AI UGC" is a bit of a loaded term. Let's break it down.

UGC (User-Generated Content) originally meant content made by real people, a creator filming themselves talking about your product, holding it, using it. It converts well because it feels authentic, not like a polished brand ad.

AI UGC takes that same format (the talking head, the casual vibe, the personal endorsement) and generates it synthetically. A realistic AI avatar talks to the camera, uses your product, delivers your script. No creator, no studio, no scheduling.

When AI UGC works great:

• Testing multiple hooks and angles fast (without paying 5 creators)
• Brands that can't easily access traditional UGC (niche products, B2B, regulated industries)
• Scaling winning concepts across markets and languages
• Supplementing a real UGC library with higher-volume output

When it doesn't (yet):

• Ultra-premium products where the "human touch" is part of the brand story
• Highly physical demonstrations (complex recipes, workouts)
• Situations where your audience is especially sensitive to AI detection

The misconception I see everywhere: people think AI UGC = lower quality, lower conversion. That's not what the data says. The best AI UGC ads are indistinguishable from real ones, and they perform. The limiting factor isn't the tech: it's how you use it.

What Actually Makes a Good AI UGC Ad

Before jumping into the tutorial, here's what I've learned from building Reloop and seeing hundreds of videos go through the platform.

The script is 80% of the result

Most people obsess over the avatar or the visual quality. Wrong priority. A mediocre script delivered by a stunning avatar will flop. A tight, punchy script delivered by an average avatar will convert.

Your script needs:

• A hook in the first 2-3 seconds that stops the scroll (question, bold claim, pattern interrupt)
• A problem/desire the viewer actually has
• A clear benefit, not just a feature
• A CTA that feels natural, not forced

Script template that works:

[Hook: make them feel seen]
"Okay I literally need to talk about this..."

[Problem or desire]
"I've been struggling with X for years and nothing worked until..."

[Solution / product intro]
"I found [product] and honestly I wasn't expecting much but..."

[Specific benefit]
"[Concrete outcome they got]. Like, actual results."

[CTA]
"Link in bio / Try it for free / Check it out"

The hook is everything

You have 3 seconds. Literally 3. If the first frame is boring, people swipe. The hook isn't just the first line of script: it's the visual, the energy, the expression. A surprised face, a product reveal, a bold text overlay. Make it feel like something is happening immediately.

Avatar choice matters (but less than you think)

Pick an avatar that matches your target audience. If you're selling skincare to women 25-35, don't use a 50-year-old male avatar. But within that, don't overthink it. You're not choosing a celebrity: you're choosing a believable person. Relatability > beauty. Browse the full avatar library if you want to see what's possible.

Voice consistency

This one trips people up constantly. More on this below, but your avatar's voice needs to sound consistent across scenes. If it changes mid-video, it kills the illusion instantly.

B-roll and pacing

Static talking head for 30+ seconds = death. Break it up. Product close-ups, hands, environment shots. Cut often. The average attention span on social is brutal, so edit for that.

Step-by-Step: How to Create AI UGC From Scratch

For this tutorial, we're creating an AI UGC ad for The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5. Follow along.

Step 0: Build Your Inspiration Library First

This is a step most people skip, and they shouldn't.

Before you open a single tool, you need a mental reference for what good looks like. The best creative directors on the planet aren't making things up from scratch: they're remixing patterns that already work.

My advice: When you're scrolling Instagram or TikTok in your daily life, save the ads that catch your attention. Not because you like them, but because they stopped your scroll. Build that swipe file consistently.

No existing library? Head to Meta Ad Library and look at what your competitors are running. Filter by "active ads": if a brand is still running something after 30+ days, it's probably working.

Once you have 5-10 reference videos in mind, you're ready.

Step 1: Create Your Avatar

The first building block is a realistic avatar image. This is the "person" who will be in your ad.

We'll use Fal.ai, a platform that aggregates the best AI model APIs in one place (Replicate is the other big one). The advantage of using these platforms vs. individual model APIs is that you get a unified interface, billing in one place, and can swap models easily as new ones drop.

For image generation, we'll use Nano Banana Pro (NBP), one of the best photorealistic human generation models right now. Other solid options: Flux 2 (open-source), Midjourney.

How to generate your avatar:

1. Go to fal.ai/models/fal-ai/nano-banana-pro
2. Switch to Text to Image mode
3. Use a JSON prompt for maximum precision (NBP supports this, giving you more control than plain text)

Here's an example JSON prompt for a beauty UGC avatar:

{
  "scene_type": "testimonial",
  "person": {
    "type": "presenter",
    "gender": "female",
    "age_range": "20s",
    "facial_expression": "playful",
    "eye_contact": "direct_to_camera",
    "expression_details": "pouty 'duck face' or kissing expression",
    "skin_texture": "highly_detailed_skin, natural_texture, realistic_features",
    "hair": {
      "style": "long, voluminous, wavy with curtain bangs",
      "color": "dirty-blonde"
    },
    "attire": {
      "top": "bright orange, soft knit crewneck sweater with subtle ribbed texture, slightly fitted, casual everyday style",
      "hand_interaction": "left hand resting naturally on the bottom hem of the sweater"
    }
  },
  "environment": {
    "setting": "indoor modern interior, minimalist aesthetic",
    "background": {
      "colors": ["white", "neutral beige"],
      "elements": [
        "textured white wall",
        "white ceiling with recessed linear air vents or lighting tracks"
      ]
    },
    "ambiance": "bright, clean, daytime indoor"
  },
  "camera": {
    "shot_type": "close-up, intimate portrait framing",
    "angle": "slightly low to eye-level",
    "focal_length_mm": "35-50",
    "focus": "sharp on face and eyes",
    "framing": "subject fills majority of frame, cut off mid-torso",
    "orientation": "portrait"
  },
  "lighting": {
    "primary_source": "natural diffused daylight from front",
    "quality": "soft and even",
    "shadows": "gentle shadows under jawline and fabric folds",
    "highlights": "specular highlights on forehead, nose tip, shoulders",
    "temperature": "neutral to slightly warm daylight"
  },
  "mood_and_expression": {
    "mood": "casual, flirty, confident",
    "emotional_tone": "relaxed, self-assured"
  },
  "style_and_realism": {
    "style": "photorealistic, high-fidelity social media snapshot style",
    "rendering": "unfiltered, raw capture aesthetic with high texture detail",
    "fidelity": "absolute fidelity to reference proportions and volume"
  },
  "colors_and_tone": {
    "palette": [
      "warm skin tones",
      "bright saturated orange",
      "neutral white",
      "beige"
    ],
    "contrast": "medium with well-defined blacks in eyelashes and hair shadows"
  },
  "quality_and_technical_details": {
    "resolution": "4K highly detailed",
    "texture_quality": "high frequency details in hair strands and fabric weave",
    "artifacts": "none"
  },
  "notes": "Person is speaking with a playful, confident, pouty expression, wearing a bright orange knit sweater. No product visible. Natural skin texture with visible pores and dewy highlights."
}

Screenshot of FAL for making avatars

Generate a few variations. You're looking for something that feels like a real person's selfie, not a stock photo.

Format tip: For UGC content, generating in 9:16 (portrait) yields noticeably better results than 1:1. The model is trained on mobile-native content, and the portrait framing feels more natural and organic — especially for talking-head UGC.

Need inspiration or ready-made prompts? Check out our avatar library: it's free, and it has 200+ avatars with both text and JSON prompts you can grab and use directly.

Your avatar will be useful across multiple shots: holding the product, different angles, different expressions.

Step 2: Create Your Scene Frames (First Frames)

Here's where most tutorials skip a step and then wonder why their video looks chaotic.

AI video models perform significantly better when you give them a starting frame (and sometimes an ending frame). This grounds the generation: it knows where to begin and is less likely to hallucinate inconsistencies.

Go back to Nano Banana Pro on Fal, but this time use Image Editing mode.

For a typical 20-30s UGC, you'll want 5 distinct first frames — one per scene:

1. Hook: Wide eyes, a hint of urgency — she's about to say something worth stopping for
2. Problem: Empathetic, open expression, hands slightly raised — she gets it, she's been there
3. Solution: Holding the product confidently, bottle clearly visible — the reveal moment
4. Benefits: Fingertips touching her cheeks, glowing skin — making the result feel real and tangible
5. CTA: Pointing straight at the camera, full energy — the moment she drives the click

Here are the 5 prompts to generate each frame from your base avatar using Image Editing mode:

Scene 1 — Hook: wide expressive eyes, mild shock, about to speak

Person leaning slightly forward toward the camera, wide expressive eyes, slightly raised eyebrows conveying a look of mild shock and urgency, mouth just beginning to open as if about to speak, highly detailed skin texture, realistic facial features, natural skin details, authentic expression, face centered in frame, close-up framing with face occupying roughly 60% of the frame, soft neutral blurred background, no objects in hands, hands not visible or resting naturally out of frame.

Scene 2 — Problem: concerned and empathetic expression, hands open at chest level

Woman facing camera with a concerned, empathetic facial expression, head in neutral upright position before any movement begins, mouth closed or slightly parted as if about to speak, both hands held open and slightly raised at chest level in a natural gesture, highly detailed skin texture, realistic features, natural skin details, authentic and warm demeanor, soft blurred background.

Scene 3 — Solution: confident smile, holding The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid bottle

Person facing camera with a confident, proud smile, holding up a small The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 serum bottle in one hand raised at chest-to-shoulder level, the bottle clearly visible and occupying roughly 15% of the frame, arm slightly extended upward in a proud display gesture, eyes looking directly at the camera with an engaged and warm expression, mouth slightly open as if about to speak, highly detailed skin texture, realistic features, natural skin details, authentic expression, the small dark-capped minimalist white-labeled serum bottle held firmly between thumb and fingers of the raised hand, other hand relaxed at side or naturally positioned, soft blurred neutral background.

Scene 4 — Benefits: glowing skin, fingertips touching cheeks, miming product application

Woman facing camera with a glowing, satisfied expression, both hands raised near her face in the initial gesture of miming applying drops — fingertips lightly touching her cheekbones, eyes bright and warm, natural radiant skin with highly detailed skin texture and realistic features, soft natural skin details visible, mouth relaxed and about to speak, authentic and serene expression, no exaggerated features, soft diffused light illuminating her face evenly, blurred neutral background.

Scene 5 — CTA: big smile, index finger pointing directly at the camera

Person facing camera with a big enthusiastic smile, one arm extended forward pointing directly at the camera with index finger aimed at the lens, other arm naturally at side or slightly raised for energy, eyes wide and engaging with direct eye contact toward camera, highly detailed skin texture, realistic facial features, natural skin details, energetic and confident demeanor, mouth slightly open in a broad natural smile, mid-speech expression, no objects in hands, body slightly leaning forward conveying dynamic energy.

For each frame, start from your base avatar image and apply the prompt in Image Editing mode — the model adjusts pose, expression, and props while keeping the person consistent. Generate 2-3 variants per scene and pick the sharpest one.

Download all 5 frames. These become the inputs for the next step.

Step 3: Generate the Video Scenes

Now the fun part.

Head to Fal.ai and go to Veo 3.1 Fast. The top video generation models right now are Veo 3.1, Kling 3, and Sora 2, and this space moves fast. Veo 3.1 Fast hits the sweet spot of quality, speed, and cost. The standard (non-Fast) version of Veo 3.1 also works and produces slightly higher quality output, but it's significantly more expensive — Fast is the right call for most production workflows.

For each of your 5 scenes:

• Set aspect ratio to 9:16 (for TikTok/Reels/Stories)
• Upload the corresponding first frame from Step 2
• Write your video prompt in JSON format (yes, JSON works for Veo too, and it gives you more precise results)
• Choose duration: Veo 3.1 gives you 4s, 6s, or 8s options — match it roughly to how long your script line for that scene is
• Enable audio generation (the lip sync is actually pretty solid)

Here are the prompts for each scene:

A real-time, locked-off close-up shot framed frontally with the face centered and filling roughly sixty percent of the frame, the camera holding steady with only the faintest organic micro-movement suggesting a natural, grounded presence. The person begins already in the reference pose — leaning slightly forward, wide expressive eyes open and alert, eyebrows gently raised — and within the first half-second eases incrementally closer toward the lens, a subtle and deliberate lean of perhaps two to three centimeters, shoulders rolling forward naturally as the mouth opens to speak. The delivery is measured but urgent, warm and direct, with clear enunciation and a conversational pace, lips and jaw moving in precise, naturally synced articulation as she says, "Wait — if your skin still feels tight and dry after moisturizing, you need to hear this." The brows lift slightly on "Wait," the eyes widen with genuine emphasis on "tight and dry," and a brief, focused narrowing of the gaze lands on "hear this" — all micro-expressions grounded and authentic. Hands remain relaxed and out of frame throughout. Soft, diffused overhead lighting consistent with the reference frame holds steady with no shifts, preserving warm neutral tones across realistic skin texture, pore detail, and natural facial structure. After the final word, she holds a composed, confident expression with soft, direct eye contact until the clip ends. Motion is fully real-time with no slow motion or stylization, maintaining authentic body mechanics and clean UGC-meets-documentary realism throughout. Ambient sound: quiet room tone with a faint, soft background hum.

A real-time, locked-off frontal shot framed at medium-close distance captures a person holding a small The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 serum bottle — the frosted translucent dropper bottle with its white ribbed cap and clean minimalist label — presented openly at chest-to-shoulder level, the bottle resting firmly and visibly between the fingers of one raised hand with the label facing the camera. The camera remains completely steady throughout with only the subtlest natural micro-vibration suggesting a handheld quality. The person begins already positioned in the reference frame posture, takes one small natural breath, and then begins speaking directly to camera at a measured, confident pace with warm sincerity, saying "Most skincare products just sit on the surface. They don't actually hydrate your skin from within. That's the real problem." Her lip sync is precise and natural, with small micro-expressions accompanying the delivery: a gentle brow lift on the opening phrase, eyes remaining engaged and warm throughout, a soft eye crinkle reinforcing genuine enthusiasm as the key ingredients are named. Both hands remain open throughout, making small, unhurried expressive gestures at chest level — palms gently rotating outward on "surface" and drawing slightly inward toward her sternum on "from within," all movements fluid and unambiguous. Soft, diffused lighting consistent with the reference frame preserves accurate skin texture, realistic facial detail, and the clean matte surface and label clarity of the serum bottle without any flicker or lighting shift. After the final word, the person holds a composed, natural expression with soft, direct eye contact until the clip ends. Motion is fully real-time with no slow motion or stylization. Ambient audio: light neutral room tone, faint soft background hum.

A real-time, locked-off frontal shot framed at medium-close distance captures a person holding a small The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 serum bottle — the frosted translucent dropper bottle with its white ribbed cap and clean minimalist label — presented openly at chest-to-shoulder level, the bottle resting firmly and visibly between the fingers of one raised hand with the label facing the camera. The camera remains completely steady throughout with only the subtlest natural micro-vibration suggesting a handheld quality. The person begins already positioned in the reference frame posture, takes one small natural breath, and then begins speaking directly to camera at a measured, confident pace with warm sincerity, saying "This is The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% plus B5. It draws moisture deep into your skin and locks it in — with Pro-Vitamin B5 and Ceramides." Lip sync is precise and natural, with small micro-expressions accompanying the delivery: a gentle brow lift on the opening phrase, eyes remaining engaged and warm throughout, a soft eye crinkle reinforcing genuine enthusiasm as the key ingredients are named. The raised hand holding the serum bottle remains steady and naturally positioned at chest-to-shoulder height, with the other hand resting relaxed at the side, making no additional gestures. Soft diffused lighting consistent with the reference frame preserves accurate skin texture, realistic facial detail, and the clean matte surface and label clarity of the serum bottle without any flicker or lighting shift. After the final word, the person holds a composed, natural expression with soft, direct eye contact until the clip ends. Motion is fully real-time with no slow motion or stylization, maintaining grounded pacing and authentic body mechanics throughout in clean UGC-meets-documentary realism. Ambient audio: light neutral room tone, faint soft background hum consistent with the existing environment.

A real-time, locked-off shot framed close and frontally, with a subtle handheld micro-drift that keeps the image feeling alive and natural. The woman begins exactly as the reference frame shows — both hands raised near her face, fingertips lightly resting against her cheekbones — and smoothly transitions into the mime of applying drops: her right hand lifts slightly, index finger and middle finger pressing gently outward from her cheekbone in soft, patting motions while her left hand mirrors the gesture on the opposite side, both hands moving in slow, deliberate upward strokes as though pressing a serum into her skin. Her eyes remain warm and bright throughout, catching the soft diffused light that illuminates her face evenly from the reference frame — no shift in lighting quality, no sudden shadow changes, just the same clean, neutral-background glow preserved throughout. After two to three seconds of the miming gesture, her hands lower naturally to just below chin level, fingers relaxed and open, and she meets the camera with a composed, glowing expression before speaking at a measured, warm pace with natural confidence, saying "Just a few drops every morning and night. Skin that's plumper, bouncier, and visibly more hydrated — in days, not weeks." Her lip sync is precise and clean, with a gentle brow lift on "plumper," a soft eye crinkle on "bouncier," and a calm, settled jaw on the final phrase. Highly detailed skin texture, natural hair detail, and realistic facial features are preserved at full fidelity throughout. After speech ends, she holds a composed, serene expression with soft, direct eye contact until the clip finishes. Motion is entirely real-time with no slow motion or stylization. Audio: warm, clear voice with neutral accent, ambient soft room tone, faint low background hum.

A real-time, locked-off shot with the faintest handheld micro-drift, framed at medium-close distance directly frontal, capturing the person from roughly mid-chest upward with the extended pointing arm fully visible and aimed toward the lens. The clip opens exactly on the reference frame — the broad enthusiastic smile already present, the index finger extended forward toward the camera, the body leaning slightly in with wide, direct eye contact. Within the first beat, the person animates naturally: a subtle weight shift forward through the shoulders reinforces the existing energy, the pointing arm holds its confident extended position for a half-second before pulling back slightly toward the chest as speech begins. Speaking at a brisk, punchy pace with warm confident delivery, the person says "Ready to actually fix your skin? Link in bio — grab yours today!" — the words delivered cleanly with precise lip sync, natural jaw movement, an enthusiastic brow lift on "actually fix your skin," eyes crinkling slightly at the corners, and a crisp energetic finish on "grab yours today" where the hand extends forward again briefly for emphasis before settling back naturally. Soft, consistent ambient lighting from the reference frame is fully preserved throughout — no shifts, no flicker — maintaining realistic skin texture, hair detail, and fabric throughout. After speech ends, the person holds a composed, warm, natural expression with soft direct eye contact toward the lens. Motion is fully real-time, no slow motion, grounded in authentic body mechanics and UGC-meets-documentary realism throughout. Ambient sound: clean room tone with a soft natural background hum.

Real talk: Not every generation will be good. AI video is still probabilistic: you'll get weird hands, off-sync mouths, strange movements. Budget for 2-3 regenerations per scene. It's annoying, but it's part of the process.

Download all the videos that work.

Step 4: Fix the Voices

Here's a problem that gets glossed over with generative AI video: the voice will often change between scenes. Different pitch, different cadence, sometimes a completely different accent. Put those clips together and it sounds like two different people.

We fix this with ElevenLabs, the current best-in-class for voice.

The approach: Voice Changer, not Lipsync

Go to ElevenLabs and use their Voice Changer tool. Upload each video clip, select a voice, and it replaces the voice track without touching the video. Way faster and cheaper than running a full lipsync model.

"But why not use lipsync?" I get this question a lot. Three reasons:

1. It adds processing time on every single clip
2. It costs noticeably more per video
3. Lipsync still struggles with edge cases: hands in front of the mouth, head turns, certain gestures. The output can look worse than the original

If you want to try it anyway, the best lipsync model I've found is fal-ai/sync-lipsync/v2/pro on Fal (also available at sync.so). Run your own tests.

For voice selection: ElevenLabs has a huge catalogue. But if you want to take it a step further (and this genuinely moves the needle on authenticity): record your own voices. Ask a friend, a colleague, your partner. A real human voice cloned is going to outperform a synthetic one most of the time.

Once you have the new audio, merge it with the video. CapCut works fine for this. Or if you're comfortable in the terminal, ask Claude to write you an ffmpeg command, it takes 10 seconds.

Step 4b: Add B-Roll (If Your Video Is Longer Than 15s)

Talking head for 25+ seconds straight is a retention killer. If your video has any breathing room (a longer script, voiceover-style narration, a transition between points), fill it with B-roll.

B-roll does three things:

• Cuts cost: Generating a 6s product close-up uses way fewer credits than another full avatar scene
• Adds realism: Product shots, hands, lifestyle context, these break the "AI video" feeling fast
• Illustrates your script: If your avatar says "the texture is so lightweight," cut to a close-up of the product being applied. Show, don't just tell.

For B-roll, you don't need to generate anything. Free stock libraries like Pixabay and Pexels cover most use cases — lifestyle shots, textures, product environments. If you need something more specific or higher quality, paid options like Adobe Stock give you a much broader catalog.

If you genuinely can't find what you need in stock libraries (very specific product shots, custom textures), you can fall back to Veo 3.1 with a product-only prompt — no avatar, just describe the scene.

Keep B-roll clips short (2-4s) and cut on action when you can. The rhythm of quick cuts between avatar and product is a proven format in DTC ads for a reason.

Step 4c: Add Background Sound and Music

When you replace the voice track, you lose the ambient sound too. Dead silence or a single voice with no room tone sounds fake immediately.

Ambient sound: Match it to your scene.

• Indoor bathroom → soft echo, maybe running water
• Outdoor shot → light street noise, breeze
• Living room → soft indoor ambience

ElevenLabs Sound Effects generator handles this perfectly. Quick, free to test, and the results are solid.

Music: This is often the last thing people think about, but it matters a lot for feel and emotion. ElevenLabs also does music generation: you can describe the vibe you want and it'll produce a short royalty-free track. Alternatively, Suno or Udio give you more control over genre and energy.

That said, it's often more relevant to add music directly on the platform when you publish — TikTok and Instagram both have massive native music libraries, it's free, and using trending sounds actively helps with reach. Worth considering depending on your workflow.

For ads, keep music:

• Upbeat and light for lifestyle/beauty
• Low and steady for trust-based or testimonial style
• Volume low enough that it doesn't compete with the voice (a common mistake)

The goal is mood reinforcement, not background noise.

Step 5: Edit Your Video

You finally have all your scenes. Time to put it together.

CapCut is the go-to free option. It handles the basics well. If you need more control over audio levels or more advanced transitions, look into DaVinci Resolve (free) or whatever NLE you're comfortable with.

Assembly order:

1. Drop scenes in order
2. Add transitions between scenes (keep them snappy (cuts > dissolves for ads))
3. Balance audio levels: voice should be prominent, ambient and music underneath
4. Trim any dead air at the beginning or end of clips

If you're using Reloop: editing is handled automatically — scenes are assembled, transitions applied, and audio balanced without any manual work.

Step 6: Captions

Non-negotiable. A huge chunk of people watch social video on mute, and captions also help with retention for those who do have sound on.

CapCut has auto-captioning. Submagic is better if you want more dynamic, styled captions (it's paid but worth it for the quality).

Style tips:

• Bold, high-contrast text (white with black outline, or white on dark blur)
• Keep it to 1-3 words per frame max
• Position at the bottom third, not the very bottom edge (it gets cut on some platforms)

If you're using Reloop: captions are generated and styled automatically, publish-ready out of the platform.

Your AI UGC Is Done

That's the full pipeline:

1. Avatar generation (Fal + NBP)
2. Scene frames (NBP image editing)
3. Video generation (Veo 3.1)
4. Voice normalization (ElevenLabs Voice Changer)
5. B-roll for longer videos (Veo 3.1, product prompts)
6. Ambient sound + music (ElevenLabs SFX + music gen)
7. Assembly (CapCut or similar)
8. Captions (CapCut or Submagic)

Realistic time investment: 3-5 hours for your first video, including regenerations. Once you have your workflow down and your avatar library built, you can cut that to 1-2 hours.

If you'd rather skip all of this, Reloop handles every step above in a single flow. You pick your product, write your script, and your video is ready in under 15 minutes, no tool-switching required.

What Actually Makes AI UGC Perform

I've seen a lot of videos go through Reloop, and here's what separates the ones that convert from the ones that don't.

Hook variety. Don't just test one hook per concept. Create 3-5 hook variations and let the data tell you which one works. "I've been using this for 30 days" will perform differently than "Dermatologists hate this" on the same product. If you want a breakdown of the formats that actually drive revenue, I wrote a dedicated piece on 10 ad formats that generate results.

Duration sweet spot. For cold traffic, 15-25s performs best in most categories. Long enough to build desire, short enough to keep attention.

Specificity beats vague claims. "My skin looks better" < "My texture evened out in 2 weeks and my moisturizer actually absorbs now." Be specific. Generic claims get tuned out.

First frame = thumbnail. The video auto-plays, but what they SEE in that first frame determines if they let it. A close-up face with an expressive, interesting look outperforms any lifestyle shot.

Tool Comparison: AI UGC Platforms in 2026

If you don't want to manage this pipeline yourself (totally fair), here's how the main options stack up. I did a full head-to-head review in this article if you want the detailed breakdown, but here's the TL;DR:

A few things I want to flag from personal experience building in this space:

Creatify's voiceovers are genuinely bad. Not "needs improvement" bad, like actually unusable bad in 2026. The video quality is fine but the voice kills the whole thing.

Arcads has the biggest avatar catalog (1,000+) but no free trial and starts at €70/month. Hard to evaluate blind. If you have the budget and want maximum avatar choice, it's worth a look.

HeyGen is the best value if your needs go beyond UGC: they have a free plan with 3 videos/month, video translation, and a solid agent. Not pure-UGC focused, but mature and versatile.

The DIY pipeline from this tutorial is cheapest per video (~$4-15 depending on regenerations) but costs you hours. Once you've done it twice it gets faster, but it's never going to be fast.

The main differentiator with Reloop over everything else: no prompting, no pipeline to manage. The AI agent handles angles, script, production. The built-in video editor takes care of transitions, captions, and music. You just review and approve. First video in under 10 minutes, publish-ready out of the platform. And if you want to go further, you can clone yourself with a custom avatar and your own voice.

Check the pricing page: free plan with 200 credits, no credit card required: app.reloop.so

Wrapping Up

AI UGC isn't magic: it's a craft. The technology is a tool, and like any tool, the output depends on how well you use it.

If you want to go deep on the technical side, the pipeline above will get you there. If you'd rather focus on strategy, creative direction, and results instead of generation logistics: that's exactly what Reloop is built for.

I'm genuinely curious to see what you build. If you create a video using this guide, send it to me on X or drop me a line at clement@reloop.so. Always happy to give feedback.