Marketing agencies were built for a world where execution required teams. AI changes that equation. Here's an honest comparison.
Prago Cadence 1 runs your entire marketing operation — SEO, social, content, PR — simultaneously, around the clock. No account manager overhead, no quarterly reviews. Paid ads (Google + Meta) coming Q3 2026 with no markup on spend.
Agencies bring strategic relationships, creative directors, and portfolio experience. At $3K–$15K/mo, they make sense for businesses that need brand-defining campaigns. For most small businesses: expensive and slow.
| Capability | Prago (Cadence 1) | Marketing Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | ✓ From $99/mo | ✗ $3,000–$15,000+/mo |
| Time to first output | ✓ Same day | ✗ 2–4 week onboarding |
| Dedicated execution | ✓ Autonomous 24/7 | ✗ Account manager, 30+ clients |
| Content publishing | ✓ Writes & publishes | ✗ Writes, you approve, they publish |
| Google Ads management | ✓ Coming Q3 2026 | ✗ Managed + 10–15% fee on spend |
| Meta Ads management | ✓ Coming Q3 2026 | ✗ Managed + fee |
| Performance transparency | ✓ Real-time dashboard | ✗ Monthly or quarterly report |
| Brand voice consistency | ✓ Learned + enforced | ✗ Depends on copywriter assigned |
| SEO / Content strategy | ✓ Executed weekly | ✗ Included (often upsell) |
| GEO / AI visibility | ✓ Scores + optimises | ✗ Rarely offered |
| Pause / cancel anytime | ✓ Yes, no notice period | ✗ Often 60–90 day notice |
| No markup on ad spend | ✓ Wallet is at-cost | ✗ Management fee on every $$ |
| Sunday CMO report | ✓ Every week, automated | ✗ Monthly PDF if lucky |
Most agency contracts include a monthly retainer ($3K–$15K), a setup fee ($1K–$5K), and a 10–15% management fee on every dollar of ad spend. A business running $5K/month in ads pays $500–$750 extra — every month — just in ad management fees.
Prago charges a flat subscription. Ad spend goes directly into your campaigns at cost, with no markup. For a business running $2K/month in ads, Prago pays for itself in the first week.
The math: A $99/mo Prago subscription vs. a $5,000/mo agency retainer is a saving of $4,901/mo — or $58,812/year — that goes straight back to your business.
Prago Starter is live at $99/mo. Start free, then upgrade when you're ready to publish.
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