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Head-to-head · AI Ad Creative Generators

Pencil vs Smartly

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Pencil #1 in AI Ad Creative Generators 9.2/10 Paid ✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Pencil
Smartly #5 in AI Ad Creative Generators 8.7/10 Pricing on request ✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Smartly

Pencil leads on 0 checks, Smartly on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scorePencil · 9.2/10
  • Most featuresPencil · 4 of 4

Pencil scores higher on our rubric for ai ad creative generators: 9.2 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #5.

Pencil is the better fit for mature teams needing performance-led creative. Smartly is the better fit for enterprise cross-network campaign optimization.

  • Pencil fits best

    Mature teams needing performance-led creative

  • Smartly fits best

    Enterprise cross-network campaign optimization

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Side by side

Feature Pencil 9.2/10 Visit ↗ Smartly 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 8.7
Ranking #1 in AI Ad Creative Generators #5 in AI Ad Creative Generators
Best for Mature teams needing performance-led creative Enterprise cross-network campaign optimization
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price $11/mo Pricing on request
Free plan — Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud
Platforms Web Web
Integrations 11 integrations 10 integrations
Features Pencil 4/4 · Smartly 0/4
Static ad generation ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Ad copy generation ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Brand kit controls ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Bulk generation ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Supported ad channels Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Google Display, DV360, LinkedIn, Google Ads, Amazon, Pinterest, Snapchat Not checked yet
Creative limit 50 creatives/mo Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Generates text, images, videos, and complete advertising creatives
  • Brand library and controls support consistent campaign production
  • Integrates with major ad platforms for launch, tracking, and analysis
  • Manages campaigns across ten named advertising and media networks
  • Combines personalization, testing, rules, optimization, and reporting
  • Supports predictive budget allocation and custom cross-channel dashboards
Cons
  • No permanent free plan; full access requires a paid plan
  • Core limits users to 50 generations per month and one workspace
  • Pro pricing is custom rather than published
  • Pricing is handled through contact sales and an Order Form
  • AI creative generation is assisted rather than a standalone creative focus
  • Web-only access may not suit teams requiring native desktop or mobile apps
Our verdict

Pencil is a web-based generative AI platform for marketers, agencies, and enterprise teams. It creates text, images, videos, and complete advertising creatives using brand assets, guidelines, and performance data. Teams can edit ads,…

Read the review →

Smartly is an AI-powered advertising platform for brands, agencies, performance teams, and creative teams. It brings creative production, paid social campaign management, cross-channel media workflows, optimization, and reporting into one…

Read the review →
  1. PencilAI Ad Creative Generators 9.2Paid
  2. SmartlyAI Ad Creative Generators 8.7Pricing on request

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Pencil — where it wins

    • Generates text, images, videos, and complete advertising creatives
    • Brand library and controls support consistent campaign production
    • Integrates with major ad platforms for launch, tracking, and analysis

    Where it doesn't

    • No permanent free plan; full access requires a paid plan
    • Core limits users to 50 generations per month and one workspace
    • Pro pricing is custom rather than published

  • Smartly — where it wins

    • Manages campaigns across ten named advertising and media networks
    • Combines personalization, testing, rules, optimization, and reporting
    • Supports predictive budget allocation and custom cross-channel dashboards

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing is handled through contact sales and an Order Form
    • AI creative generation is assisted rather than a standalone creative focus
    • Web-only access may not suit teams requiring native desktop or mobile apps

More comparisons

All AI ad creative generators comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update