AI-generated advertisements are exploding right now, with many tools promising studio-quality ads at a fraction of the usual cost.
After testing several of the most popular AI ad generators on the market, I decided to take a closer look at Zeely AI, a platform that has gained noticeable hype over the past few months.
I subscribed to the $79 Growth Plan to see whether it lives up to expectations.
Unfortunately, the experience was mixed at best — and disappointing in some key areas.
The Major Issue: Wasted Credits and Failed Videos
Before even getting into results, it’s important to highlight a serious problem: credit waste. Zeely AI operates on a credit-based system, and video generation is expensive. I attempted to create several UGC-style video ads, but many of them never finished generating. Out of six video attempts, only two completed, while four remained stuck indefinitely. These failed generations cost roughly $40–$50 in credits, with no usable output.
For a paid plan, this is a significant downside and immediately raises concerns about reliability.
Image Ads: Some Wins, Some Misses
Zeely AI performs noticeably better with static image ads. Using a skincare brand as a test case, I combined product images with Zeely AI’s templates. One of the resulting ads looked genuinely usable, clearly displaying the discount and product collection name. While some of the smaller text lacked clarity when zoomed in, the key messaging was intact.
However, not all image outputs impressed. One ad felt extremely basic — something easily replicable using a free Canva plan. While Zeely AI handled background changes and auto-generated text, the result didn’t justify paid credits.
Another image format, created using Zeely AI’s “prompt to ad” feature, delivered better results. By analyzing the product image and generating copy automatically, the tool produced a tall, mobile-friendly ad focused on neck firmness benefits. This version looked nearly ready for deployment and didn’t cost many credits, making it one of the better outcomes.
Video Ads: Impressive at First Glance, Unusable in Practice
Video ads are where Zeely AI struggles most. One video costing approximately 400 credits (around $30) initially looked polished and professional — something that would normally require hours of work and a full production team.
But closer inspection revealed serious flaws: random visual elements, unreadable or corrupted text, poor contrast, and messaging that failed to clearly communicate product benefits. These issues made the ad completely unusable despite its cinematic appearance.
Another video looked incredibly realistic, featuring a lifelike person holding the actual product. However, it was generated without audio, rendering it useless for advertising.
Better Alternatives Worth Considering
Given these issues, Zeely AI currently offers limited real-world use cases, especially for video ads. After canceling the plan, two alternatives stood out:
Holo AI – Ideal for polished, studio-quality ads. Simply enter your website URL, and the platform generates professional image and video ads with minimal effort. While impressive, it struggles with authentic UGC-style content.
Arc Ads – Excellent for UGC-style videos. With just a product image and a simple prompt, it creates natural, unscripted, vlog-style ads that feel authentic and engaging — exactly what performs best on modern platforms.
Final Verdict
Zeely AI shows potential, particularly for static image ads, but its unreliable video generation, high credit costs, and unfinished outputs make it difficult to recommend at its current stage. If you’re serious about AI-generated advertising today, Holo AI and Arc Ads offer far more practical and dependable solutions depending on your ad style needs.
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