Omakaase vs Brainlabs: Honest Comparison
Brainlabs runs at enterprise scale. Omakaase runs lean and senior. Which one fits depends on what you actually need.
Brainlabs: Large global digital agency known for paid media at enterprise scale
Honest comparison — we acknowledge where Brainlabs wins.
Brainlabs is a large, enterprise-grade digital marketing agency with offices in the US, UK, and several other markets — formed in part by the merger with Distilled (a well-respected UK SEO agency) in 2019. Omakaase is a smaller, senior-led AI-accelerated agency without enterprise minimums. Each is a fundamentally different proposition.
Side-by-side breakdown
Omakaase
Lean 14-person senior team, no junior layer
Brainlabs
Hundreds of staff across global offices
Omakaase
From £1,800/$2,200/month
Brainlabs
Enterprise-level minimums — typically substantially higher
Omakaase
Month-to-month rolling — leave any time
Brainlabs
Typically annual contracts with enterprise terms
Omakaase
Generalist senior strategists with AI-accelerated tooling
Brainlabs
Deep specialism in PPC, SEO, and creative at enterprise scale
Omakaase
Weekly Loom + live dashboard
Brainlabs
Enterprise BI dashboards, monthly executive reports
Omakaase
US, UK, Europe, APAC — distributed senior team
Brainlabs
Strong UK + US presence, growing global footprint
Omakaase
Flat fee, no markup on ad spend
Brainlabs
Combination of retainer + % of managed media at scale
Omakaase
Growing SMB through mid-market businesses
Brainlabs
Enterprises with seven-figure-plus media budgets
The verdict
Brainlabs is the right choice if you're an enterprise with significant media budgets ($100k+/month), need deep specialism, and can absorb enterprise minimums and contract terms. Omakaase fits growing businesses that want senior strategic talent without the enterprise overhead — month-to-month, flat-fee, no media markup, senior strategist directly on the account.
Frequently asked questions
Is Brainlabs cost-effective for SMBs?
Brainlabs is structured around enterprise-scale clients with substantial media budgets. The fixed cost base — large offices, specialised teams, enterprise tooling — makes them less cost-effective for SMBs. Omakaase is built around AI-accelerated lean operations, making senior talent accessible to growing businesses.
Does Brainlabs charge a percentage of ad spend?
Brainlabs' enterprise pricing typically includes elements of percentage-of-media-spend on top of retainer fees — common at agencies operating at scale. Omakaase charges a flat retainer that's independent of how much you spend on ads, keeping costs predictable as you grow.
Which agency is better for multi-country operations?
Both operate across multiple countries. Brainlabs has physical offices in major markets and deep enterprise infrastructure. Omakaase is built as a distributed senior team that operates across 14 countries with consistent quality but without the cost overhead of a multi-office structure.
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