Compare your options
Compare your options for getting marketing done, side by side
An agency, a freelancer, a new hire, software or us. Each one suits some businesses. Here is a fair side-by-side view, so you can choose what suits yours.
Side by side
How Nebula compares with your other options
A general guide, so ask any provider these same questions.
Scroll sideways to see every column.
| Topic | Nebula | Typical local agency | Freelancer | Hiring in-house | Do-it-yourself software |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who does the work | Our team, with our software checking your accounts nightly | Agency staff, often shared across many clients | One person | Your employee | You or your staff |
| Skills covered | Ads, search, website, reviews, email, calls and reporting | A few core channels, with others often outsourced | Usually one or two specialties | Depends on the person you hire | Only what the tool does |
| Monitoring frequency | Every night, by our software | Often weekly or monthly checks | When the freelancer has time | During working hours | Alerts if set up, and you act on them |
| Reporting | Live dashboard and a plain-English monthly review | Monthly report, often of platform metrics | Varies, often informal | Whatever your hire builds | Built-in reports you read yourself |
| Tracking to jobs or orders | Leads matched to booked jobs, sales or orders where your systems allow | Sometimes, but often stops at clicks and leads | Rarely | Possible with the right skills and tools | Possible if you connect and maintain it |
| Approval of changes | Every change approved first and recorded | Varies, often made without sign-off | Varies | Your own process | You make every change |
| Ad spend | Paid by you directly to platforms, with our fee shown separately | Sometimes billed through the agency with a markup | Usually paid by you | Paid by you | Paid by you |
| Contract | Month-to-month, no setup fee | Often 6 to 12 month terms | Usually flexible | Employment, with notice periods and benefits | Monthly or annual subscription |
| Account ownership | You own every account and asset | Varies, so check who owns the website and domain | Usually yours, but check the logins | Yours | Yours, inside the software provider |
| Ramp-up time | Days to connect, with first fixes in the first month | Several weeks of onboarding | Fast for a narrow task | Weeks to hire, then months to learn your business | Fast to sign up, slow to learn |
| Management time from you | Approvals and a short monthly review | Regular meetings and approvals | Briefing, checking and chasing work | Day-to-day management | Most of the work is yours |
| Cover when someone is away | Team cover, with shared notes and change history | Usually covered by other staff | Work pauses | Work pauses unless someone is cross-trained | Work stops when you stop |
| Good fit when | You want a full team, clear tracking and no long contract | You want a local office to visit in person | You need one defined task, such as a logo or a site fix | You have enough steady work for a full-time role | You have time, interest and a small, simple setup |
This is a general guide based on common practice, not a review of any named company. Ask every provider who owns the accounts, how billing works and how to cancel.
Fair to say
When another option may suit you better
We would rather you choose well than choose us.
A local agency
A good fit if you value meeting in person, need large brand or media campaigns, or already work with an agency that delivers.
A freelancer
A good fit for a single, well-defined project, such as a logo, a one-off site fix or a short copywriting job.
Hiring in-house
A good fit when you have enough steady work for a full-time role and someone to manage it. Many businesses pair a hire with outside help.
Do-it-yourself software
A good fit if your setup is simple, you enjoy the work and you have regular time for it each week.
Package levels
How the three package levels differ
Every goal package comes in three scope levels, and your audit shows which one fits.
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| Topic | Essentials | Growth | Complete |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suits | One location with a simple setup | Growing businesses adding channels or areas | Multi-location businesses or busy, competitive markets |
| Channels managed | One main channel | Several channels run together | Every channel the goal needs |
| Locations and areas | One location or a small area | One or a few locations, with more service areas | Many locations or a wide area |
| Pages and content | Core pages and fixes | New pages or content each month | Ongoing content at a higher volume |
| Testing | Fixes for clear problems | Monthly tests of pages, ads or messages | Regular tests, plus holdout tests |
| Nightly monitoring | Included | Included | Included |
| Dashboard and monthly review | Included | Included | Included |
| Named US account lead | Included | Included | Included |
| Contract | Month-to-month | Month-to-month | Month-to-month |
| Ownership | You own everything | You own everything | You own everything |
| Changing level | Move up at the start of any billing month | Move up or down at the start of any billing month | Move down at the start of any billing month |
Levels describe scope. They are starting points, not fixed bundles. We adjust what is included to fit your business, and your written quote lists exactly what you get.
How we package
Three ways to work with us
All three use the same team, software and promises.
Scroll sideways to see every column.
| Topic | Services | Managed programs | Goal packages |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Hands-on work by our specialists in one discipline | One ongoing area of marketing, run by our team on our monitoring software | A set of services and programs aimed at one business outcome |
| Examples | Websites, paid advertising, SEO and AI search, call answering | Advertising management, Search and reputation, Pipeline and follow-up | Get found, Get more leads, Keep customers coming back |
| Start here if | You know exactly what work you need | You want one area watched and improved every month | You know the result you want, but not the exact work |
| How it is scoped | By the deliverables for that discipline | By the accounts, platforms and locations covered | By level: Essentials, Growth or Complete |
| Monitoring | Included where the work connects to your accounts | Nightly, across every connected account in that area | Nightly, across every connected account the goal uses |
| Reporting | Deliverables plus your monthly review | Dashboard and monthly review for that area | Dashboard and monthly review tied to the goal |
| Where to look | The services page | The programs page | The goals page |
If you are unsure, start with the free audit. We recommend the simplest option that gets you the result you want.
Why not just hire a marketing person?
If you have enough steady work and someone to manage them, a hire can work well. One person rarely covers ads, search, website, email and reporting equally well. Many owners use outside help alongside a hire, and we can work with your staff.
Is software on its own enough?
For a simple setup and an owner with time, it can be. Software shows problems, but someone still has to fix them. With us, our software finds the problems and our team fixes them after you approve.
How are you different from a typical agency?
Month-to-month terms with no setup fee, nightly monitoring of every connected account and results tracked to your jobs, bookings or orders. You also own every account, and every change is approved by you first.
Can I switch from my current agency to you?
Yes. We help you move access and history into your name first, then take over the work. Before you give notice, ask your current agency who owns your website, domain and ad accounts.
Can you work alongside my team or freelancer?
Yes. We can take one area, such as ads or reviews, and leave the rest with your team. Your account lead agrees who does what, so nothing is done twice.
Do I have to choose a package?
No. You can buy a single service, a managed program or a goal package. The free audit recommends the simplest option that fits, and you can change it later.
Get an honest answer on what fits
Ask for a free audit. We tell you honestly what you need, whether that is us, another option or a few fixes you can make yourself.