Pencil
trypencil.com
What it is
Pencil is a web-based creative marketing platform that uses AI to generate advertising copy, images, and video ads. Its workflow runs from briefing and generation through editing, approvals, publishing, and evaluation. The browser editor handles text, image, video, and HTML, with exports in GIF, MP4, HTML5, and static formats. Pencil says a single template can produce thousands of variations and be adapted across markets through localization or translation. Listed generally available ad integrations include Meta, TikTok Ads, LinkedIn Ads, Google Ads, YouTube, Display & Video 360, and Campaign Manager 360. Users can create six ads for free through a guided experience, but full platform access requires a paid plan. Core costs $11 a month billed annually and includes 50 generations per month and one workspace. Growth costs $44 a month billed annually, with 250 monthly generations and unlimited workspaces. Pro has custom pricing and unlimited generations. Pencil says its security controls are SOC 2 Type II audited and that customer data is not used to train its models.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- Pencil is a browser-based AI marketing platform that generates and publishes advertising creatives.Read 21 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
- Security
- Pencil says it has SOC 2 Type II audited security controls and that customer data is not used to train its models.Read 3 Oct 2026 · trypencil.com
- Support
- Core includes chat support, Growth includes direct access to the product team and roadmap, and Pro includes dedicated customer success.Read 3 Oct 2026 · trypencil.com
- Headquarters
- London, England, United KingdomRead 23 Sep 2026 · trypencil.com
- Founded
- 2018Read 23 Sep 2026 · trypencil.com
- Ad generation
- Pencil generates copy, images, videos and complete ad creatives from brand inputs.Read 21 Oct 2026 · trypencill.webflow.io
- Ad integrations
- The integrations page lists Meta, TikTok Ads, LinkedIn Ads, Google Ads, YouTube, Display & Video 360, and Campaign Manager 360 as generally available.Read 3 Oct 2026 · trypencil.com
- Ad-format limitation
- Pencil does not support Meta Dynamic Product Ads, Collection Ads, Advantage+ Catalog Ads or Instant Experience formats.Read 21 Oct 2026 · help.trypencil.com
- Agent integrations
- Pencil connects agents to third-party tools through Composio and Pipedream, including Salesforce, Slack, HubSpot, Google Drive and Shopify.Read 21 Oct 2026 · help.trypencil.com
- AI model aggregation
- The platform combines models from OpenAI, Google, Adobe, Runway and Stability AI in one orchestration layer.Read 21 Oct 2026 · trypencil.com
- API extensibility
- Agent actions are translated into API calls through Composio or Pipedream; Pencil does not publish a general developer SDK on the cited pages.Read 21 Oct 2026 · help.trypencil.com
- Browser support
- Pencil Pro's help page says Google Chrome is the only web browser that fully supports it.Read 3 Oct 2026 · help.trypencil.com
- Company headquarters
- The registered office is 151 Rosebery Avenue, London, England, EC1R 4AB.Read 21 Oct 2026 · find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk
- Company legal identity
- Pencil AI Limited is an active UK private company, number 14789571, incorporated on 10 April 2023.Read 21 Oct 2026 · find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk
- Creative editing
- Pencil provides a browser editor for text, image, video, and HTML, with exports including GIF, MP4, HTML5, and static formats.Read 3 Oct 2026 · trypencil.com
- Custom agents
- Users can create agents from scratch or duplicate built-in agents and combine tools, models and integrations.Read 21 Oct 2026 · help.trypencil.com
- Data-training policy
- Pencil says customer briefs, assets and outputs are not used to train general Pencil or third-party models, while dedicated workspace models may use workspace data.Read 21 Oct 2026 · help.trypencil.com
- Documentation
- The public Help Center contains dated articles covering agents, integrations, supported ad types, data handling and model support.Read 21 Oct 2026 · help.trypencil.com
- Export
- Users can export creatives directly to connected ad accounts or download PNG and MP4 files.Read 21 Oct 2026 · trypencill.webflow.io
- Feature limitation
- The pricing comparison marks AI video generation and AI video editing as coming soon in the Basic and Pro comparison.Read 21 Oct 2026 · trypencill.webflow.io
- Founding and acquisition
- Dealroom lists Pencil's launch in March 2018, while The Brandtech Group announced its acquisition on 15 June 2023.Read 21 Oct 2026 · app.dealroom.co
- Free access
- The pricing page says users can sign up and create six ads through a guided experience for free; full platform access requires a paid plan.Read 3 Oct 2026 · trypencil.com
- Funding and owner
- Dealroom records a $1.1 million 2019 seed round, a $2.8 million 2020 seed round and a 2023 acquisition; Brandtech announced it acquired 100% of Pencil.Read 21 Oct 2026 · app.dealroom.co
- Governance
- Pencil says Pro includes data ring-fencing, AI governance controls, entity and role-based access controls, and custom third-party tooling integrations.Read 3 Oct 2026 · trypencil.com
- Human approval
- Pencil requires human review and approval as part of its generation process.Read 21 Oct 2026 · help.trypencil.com
- Input limitation
- The FAQ warns that low-quality brand kits or assets produce low-quality outputs and says source images and videos must not contain text overlays.Read 21 Oct 2026 · trypencill.webflow.io
- Integration safeguards
- Meta connections can be configured as read-only and can block spend-data or write access.Read 21 Oct 2026 · help.trypencil.com
- Licence
- Pencil is proprietary cloud SaaS owned or licensed by Pencil AI Limited; its terms prohibit copying, modification, reverse engineering and resale.Read 21 Oct 2026 · trypencil.com
- Limit: account support
- A Trustpilot reviewer reported being locked out of an agency account and receiving ineffective support.Read 21 Oct 2026 · uk.trustpilot.com
- Limit: instability
- A current G2 review is titled “Powerful Features Marred by Instability,” indicating reliability problems despite strong features.Read 21 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Media data scope
- Media connections import creatives, campaign context and performance metrics over a 90-day historical window plus ongoing data.Read 21 Oct 2026 · help.trypencil.com
- Media integrations
- Official pricing lists Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Google Display, DV360 and LinkedIn integrations.Read 21 Oct 2026 · trypencill.webflow.io
- Notable news: Brandtech launch
- On 15 June 2023, Brandtech announced Pencil Pro for enterprise brands, with Unilever and Bayer as launch partners.Read 21 Oct 2026 · thebrandtechgroup.com
- Notable news: Scribble
- Pencil's Help Center documented Scribble, its AI creative assistant, as an open-beta feature available on Pencil Pro.Read 21 Oct 2026 · help.trypencil.com
- Other integrations
- The integrations page lists Monotype, Orange Logic, Bynder, and GWI Consumer Research as generally available.Read 3 Oct 2026 · trypencil.com
- Output formats
- Generated video assets can be 6, 10 or 15 seconds, and creatives are produced in five standard aspect ratios.Read 21 Oct 2026 · trypencill.webflow.io
- Praise: model access
- A G2 reviewer praised access to the latest generation models and the ability to create assets at scale.Read 21 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Praise: workflow and UX
- A G2 reviewer described the interface as clear and simple and valued Meta and TikTok integrations for scaling.Read 21 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Prediction
- Connected ad-account data is used for creative insights and performance predictions before media spend.Read 21 Oct 2026 · help.trypencil.com
- Rating on G2
- 4.7 out of 5 from 16 reviewsRead 21 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Rating on GetApp
- 4.0 out of 5 from 1 reviewRead 21 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
- Rating on Trustpilot
- 3.8 out of 5 from 7 reviewsRead 21 Oct 2026 · uk.trustpilot.com
- Scaling
- Pencil says users can generate thousands of variations from a single template and localise or translate them across markets.Read 3 Oct 2026 · trypencil.com
- Security controls
- The homepage states SOC 2 Type II controls, no training on customer data, IP ownership, role-based access and brand-safety controls.Read 21 Oct 2026 · trypencil.com
- Usage limits
- Core and Growth users cannot exceed their monthly generation allocation, and unused generations do not roll over.Read 3 Oct 2026 · trypencil.com
- Who it is for
- Pencil describes its plans as serving solo entrepreneurs, fast-growing teams, and enterprises.Read 3 Oct 2026 · trypencil.com
- Workflow
- The platform describes a workflow spanning briefing, generation, editing, approvals, publishing, and evaluation.Read 3 Oct 2026 · trypencil.com
Plans and prices
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Generates ad copy, images, and video ads.
- Editor exports GIF, MP4, HTML5, and static formats.
- Supports localization or translation across markets.
- Core includes 50 generations per month.
- Customer data is not used to train its models.
Limits
- Free access is limited to six ads.
- Full platform access requires a paid plan.
- Core and Growth generations do not roll over.
- Pro pricing is custom.
Who it suits
Pencil describes its plans as serving solo entrepreneurs, fast-growing teams, and enterprises. It may suit marketers who need AI-generated ad creative, editing, and publishing workflows across multiple markets.
Verdict
Pencil brings ad generation, editing, approvals, publishing, and evaluation into a browser platform, with integrations for several advertising channels. Consider the annual billing and monthly generation limits on Core and Growth when comparing plans.
Where Specifiction places it
- Video Advertising Software#1 of 138.5
- Creative Testing#3 of 188.3
- Creative Management#5 of 248.3
- Ad Creative Testing Tools#6 of 248.4
- AI Video Ad Makers#8 of 288.4
- AI Marketing Tools#8 of 268.4
- AI Ad Creative Generators#11 of 318.3
- Ad Design Software#10 of 268.3
- Video Ad Maker Software#12 of 318.5
- AI Graphic Design Software#14 of 318.4