Influencer marketing in India has matured from a "wild west" market to a ₹2,500 Cr industry. Yet, for most founders and brand managers, pricing remains a black box. Why does one creator charge ₹5,000 while another with the same follower count asks for ₹50,000?
In this guide, we break down the real market rates based on actual campaign data from the ADFLU platform. No guesswork, just transparency.
The 4 Tiers of Influencers in India
First, let's define who you are paying. Pricing power is dictated by tier:
- Nano Influencers (1K - 10K followers): High engagement, local trust, barter or low cost.
- Micro Influencers (10K - 100K followers): Niche experts, best ROI for conversions.
- Macro Influencers (100K - 1M followers): Brand awareness, professional production.
- Mega/Celeb Influencers (1M+ followers): Mass reach, expensive, lower engagement rates.
Instagram Influencer Rates
Instagram remains the volume king. Pricing has stabilized, but "Reel premiums" are real.
Nano Influencers (1K-10K)
Expect to pay ₹500 - ₹2,500 per Reel. Many accept barter (free product) deals if the value exceeds ₹1,000.
Micro Influencers (10K-100K)
The sweet spot for ROI. Rates range from ₹3,000 to ₹15,000 per Reel. Engaging Stories cost ₹1,000 - ₹5,000.
Macro Influencers (100K-1M)
Professional fees kick in here. Expect ₹25,000 - ₹1.5 Lakh per Reel. Agency commissions often add 20-30% on top.