influencer partnerships · sponsor repeat rate
Influencer Partnerships in 2026: How They Pay, Plain Talk
What an influencer partnership is, what it pays, and the 8 brands that run them best. Short rules and real rates.
Key takeaways
- An influencer partnership is a paid deal that repeats.
- We track 35,183 brands. 15,113 (43.0%) come back for more than one deal.
- T3 (50K-250K) median is $1,450 per post from a priced sample of two.
- BetterHelp returns 2,728 times. Skillshare returns 2,027 times.
- Skip brands that ran one campaign and never came back.
A brand pays a creator.
The creator posts.
Both sides label it as paid.
If the brand pays again, that is an influencer partnership.
We track 35,183 brands and 8,496 creators.
Only 15,113 brands come back.
Influencer partnerships in 2026 are paid deals where the brand comes back 3 or more times.
We track 35,183 brands. 15,113 (43.0%) fit that pattern.
Rates run $500 at T4 (10K-50K subs) to $16,800 at T1 (1M+ subs) from our priced sample of 14.
Key takeaways
- An influencer partnership is a paid deal that repeats.
- We track 35,183 sponsor brands. 15,113 of them, or 43.0%, return for a second integration with at least one creator.
- T3 (50K-250K) median is $1,450 per post from a priced sample of two.
- BetterHelp returns 2,728 times. Skillshare returns 2,027 times.
- Skip brands that ran one campaign and never came back.
What's Inside
- The 1 thing that flips a one-off into a partnership.
- 8 named brands that come back the most.
- 4 tier rates from $500 to $16,800.
- The moat at 50K to 250K subs.
- How to pitch a repeat brand.
1 Thing: The Brand Comes Back for a Second Spot
A one-off is one paid post.
An influencer partnership is the same brand pay you a second time.
Then a third.
Then more.
Across 35,183 brands we track, 15,113 (43.0%) come back.
The other 20,070 do not.
The throughline across all 8 of our top brands: they pay flat fees.
They use a tracked link or promo code.
They come back 2 to 5 times a year.
"Forty-six percent of U.S. teens say they trust a recommendation from a creator they follow more than one from a celebrity."
The 24 billion pool is real.
The partnership slice is what compounds creator pay.
8 Brands That Come Back the Most
These 8 brands run the most repeat deals with creators across our 281,264-deal log.
| Brand | Tracked deals | Distinct creators |
|---|---|---|
| BetterHelp | 3,617 | 1,598 |
| Squarespace | 3,022 | 523 |
| Skillshare | 2,954 | 1,191 |
| Surfshark | 1,972 | 904 |
| Nord VPN | 1,816 | 750 |
| Brilliant.org | 1,625 | 507 |
| Incogni | 1,600 | 865 |
| Raycon | 1,577 | 754 |
Source: Influencer Advisory deal log, top 8 by tracked-deal volume, 2026 pull.
Read the Squarespace row carefully. 3,022 paid integrations across only 523 creators is roughly six paid videos per creator.
That is the repeat-rate signal in plain sight.
The named-creator proof.
Jess Karp has shipped 65 Squarespace integrations since July 2023.
Cruise With Ben and David has shipped 62 since September 2023.
Leeja Miller has shipped 42 Ground News integrations since May 2025.
Rhett and Claire has shipped 44 Nord VPN integrations since August 2023.
All 8 use a tracked link or promo code.
All 8 come back to the same creators.
"Buyer-side influencer plans now log a disclosure-compliance check on every flighted post and roll up the rate as a media-quality KPI."
A repeat deal still needs an ad label up front.
Same FTC rule.
4 Tier Rates: What Will You Earn?
Pricing should anchor on the deal-level median.
| Tier | Subscriber range | Median (USD) | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| T1 (1M+) | 1M+ | $16,800 | 8 |
| T2 (250K to 1M) | 250K to 1M | $2,500 | 2 |
| T3 (50K to 250K) | 50K to 250K | $1,450 | 2 |
| T4 (10K to 50K) | 10K to 50K | $500 | 1 |
Source: Influencer Advisory priced subset of 14 creators.
T3 carries the moat.
Across 8,496 matched creators, 2,768 sit at T3 (50K-250K subscribers).
That is where most working sponsor demand sits.
3 Steps to Pitch a Repeat Brand
Three steps.
Each takes 30 minutes.
- Step 1: Pick 3 brands from the top-10 list. All 8 come back.
- Step 2: Send a short email. Name your tier. Name your rate. Name your past sponsors.
- Step 3: Wait 5 days. Then follow up. One follow-up. No more.
Pick 3 repeat brands.
Send 3 short emails.
Follow up once.
Where we come in
Spotting which brand will come back is mostly pattern-recognition.
We do that pattern-recognition for creators every week.
We find the named repeat-rate sponsors in your niche from the 281,264-deal log.
We vet each one for FTC disclosure history and rate-card behavior.
We manage the email scripts that landed Jess Karp 65 Squarespace integrations and Rhett and Claire 44 Nord VPN integrations.
If you want to pick three repeat sponsors instead of 30 one-shot ones, speak with us.
For more see the creator economy primer, the Statista influencer marketing topic, and the creator marketplace overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an influencer partnership?
It is a paid deal that repeats.
The brand pays the creator more than once.
Across 35,183 brands we track, 15,113 (43.0%) come back.
How much does an influencer partnership pay?
From 14 priced creators, T1 (1M+) median is $16,800, T2 (250K-1M) is $2,500, T3 (50K-250K) is $1,450, and T4 (10K-50K) is $500.
Which brands run the best influencer partnerships?
BetterHelp at 2,728 tracked deals, Skillshare at 2,027, Squarespace at 1,768, Brilliant.org at 1,208, Incogni at 1,201.
Can a 10K creator land an influencer partnership?
Yes.
Across 8,496 matched creators, 3,000 sit at 10K-50K.
How do I spot a brand that will come back?
Check our top-10 sponsor list.
The 8 at the top all come back.
Skip brands with one tracked deal.
Related reading: Brand Deals in 2026 · Paid Partnerships in 2026 · Influencer Marketing Budget Template for 2026 (You Can Copy This).
Frequently asked
What is an influencer partnership?
It is a paid deal that repeats. The brand pays the creator more than once. Across 35,183 brands we track, 15,113 (43.0%) come back. Those are the real partnerships.
How much does an influencer partnership pay?
From 14 priced creators, T1 (1M+) median is $16,800, T2 (250K-1M) is $2,500, T3 (50K-250K) is $1,450, and T4 (10K-50K) is $500. Anchor at the median.
Which brands run the best influencer partnerships?
BetterHelp at 2,728 tracked deals, Skillshare at 2,027, Squarespace at 1,768, Brilliant.org at 1,208, Incogni at 1,201. All 8 in the top 10 come back.
Can a 10K creator land an influencer partnership?
Yes. Across 8,496 matched creators, 3,000 sit at 10K-50K. That is where most direct-response sponsor demand opens up.
How do I spot a brand that will come back?
Check our top-10 sponsor list. The 8 at the top all come back. Skip brands with one tracked deal. We log 20,070 of those.
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