The Top 5 Fractional Marketing Agencies in 2025 (and How to Choose the Right One)

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What you’ll learn in this guide to fractional marketing agencies

• Why fractional marketing is booming: Learn what makes the fractional model so popular in 2025, and how it helps companies access senior-level marketing talent without adding full-time headcount.
• When to hire a fractional agency (and what to expect): Discover how agencies streamline the hiring process, connect you with vetted marketers fast, and support you as your needs evolve.
• How to choose the right partner: Get expert tips on what to look for. We’ll dive into vetting processes, flexibility, range of talent, and client track records.
• The top 5 fractional marketing agencies in 2025: We handpicked and analyzed five standout options, including Right Side Up, MarketerHire, Creative Circle, Upwork, and Chief Outsiders.‍
• How Right Side Up takes fractional further: See how our hybrid model blends fractional talent, full-service agency teams, and full-time recruiting to deliver truly flexible and scalable marketing support.

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What is a fractional marketing agency (and why they are so popular now)

Unless you’ve been living under a rock with no access to LinkedIn or marketing newsletters, you’ve probably witnessed the rise of the fractional marketer. You might have even joined the ranks.

What makes the concept so popular? It’s a win-win model: Not every company needs a full-time hire, and not every marketer wants to be a full-time employee.

But finding the right match isn’t simple. That’s where fractional marketing agencies come in. 

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A fractional marketing agency connects brands with part-time or project-based marketing experts who act as embedded members of your team.

The best agencies do this quickly and strategically: They work only with top talent, tailor every match to your exact needs, and collaborate closely along the way to ensure the fit is right. 

‍Right Side Up is one of the best fractional marketing agencies to consider in 2025, but we’re not the only ones. In this article, we’ve handpicked five top choices for brands looking to hire freelance or fractional marketers.

Why you should partner with a fractional marketing agency

If your marketing needs are rapidly outpacing your head count but you’re not ready to make full time hires yet, it’s likely time to explore fractional talent.

The catch? Finding the right person on your own is its own beast. It takes a robust network and vetting expertise, which you may not have, as well as a lot of bandwidth, which you definitely don’t have.

A quality fractional marketing agency can step in and spin up your dream candidate much quicker than you would on your own—sometimes in a matter of days. 

Brands often turn to fractional talent when they need to:

• Cover parental leave
• Bridge hiring gaps
• Reduce team burnout
• Hit revenue goals without the possibility of hiring a full-time hire
• Have the flexibility to adjust hours up and down as priorities and projects shift
• Get a fresh, unbiased perspective—fractional leaders often spot opportunities internal teams overlook

How to choose the right fractional marketing agency

Once you’ve made the (excellent) decision to enlist the services of an agency, the next step is choosing the right partner. This is, of course, a crucial step as it will affect whether or not your fractional hire checks all the boxes.

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Here’s what to keep in mind when choosing a fractional marketing agency:

• Their vetting and process: Ask—or find out—how the agency vets marketers for functional expertise but also soft skills like communication and collaboration. The best agencies will be transparent about their screening and interview process. For example, Right Side Up’s vetting is led by a team of senior marketers who have worked at top brands—we screen every candidate thoroughly before recommending them to clients.
• Range of talent: Your marketing needs will shift over time: a focus on growth strategy this quarter could turn into heavy lifecycle efforts the next. And while some agencies really excel within specific areas of marketing—we’ll get into some of them in a sec—you ideally want to partner with an agency that can offer top talent across functions.
• Flexibility: Like we just mentioned, needs evolve. Factors like seasonality and growth mean you might need to scale hours up or down or pause engagements on a dime. Flexible terms are a strong indicator of a partner built for long-term collaboration.
• What people say about them: This is standard procedure when evaluating pretty much any vendor, but don’t forget to check the track record of any agency you’re considering. Look for case studies, testimonials, and recognizable client logos: a top fractional marketing agency will always have visible (and authentic) success stories.

How we chose our top fractional marketing agencies

We practice what we preach, so we heavily leaned on criteria outlined above (vetting processes, quality of talent, flexibility, and client experience) to make our picks for this article. But we also layered a few additional considerations. 

First, we aimed for diversity and representation. Each company has different goals and budgets, so we selected agencies that excel in different areas. For example, some are well-rounded candidates, while others specialize in certain niches or growth stages. Together, they cover the entire gamut of what’s available in today’s fractional marketing landscape.

Second, we also applied our unique insider perspective. Between our in-house experience and the collective feedback from thousands of marketers we’ve worked with, we have a unique vantage point and which agencies consistently deliver and which aren’t.

The top 5 fractional marketing agencies in 2025

1. Right Side Up

You knew this was coming, but we had to throw our hat in the ring—and we think we can back it up. With our unique blend of A+ fractional talent, in-house agency teams, and full-time recruiting capabilities, we’ve offered brands the perfect mix of expertise and flexibility since 2016. 

Nine years later, Right Side Up still ranks among the top fractional marketing firms for companies seeking flexible, senior-level marketing talent. We can support virtually any industry, growth stage, or marketing need while seamlessly scaling hours up or down as your business evolves.

Why they (we) stand out

• Ultimate flexibility: Our combination of engagement models creates unmatched flexibility and scalability. Whether you need 10 hours a week of paid social support, a full-time CMO to build your growth strategy, or an agency team to run your affiliate program, we’ve got you covered.
• We’re almost all marketers: From our client engagement managers to project strategists, nearly everyone at Right Side Up has been a senior marketer. That shared experience means we understand your challenges firsthand, and can match you with the exact talent and strategy you need to hit your goals.
• A+ talent only: We put our talent through an extensive vetting process before they can join our collective, ensuring you only get the cream of the crop.
• Strategic partners: Our goal isn’t just to match you with someone: we want to create lasting growth. We take time to understand every client’s business, vision, and objectives before recommending a tailored solution designed to meet their needs.
• Fast but not furious: Our goal is to make a thoughtful recommendation—whether it’s an individual or team—as quickly as two days from our intro, with the goal of putting butts in seats in less than two weeks. 
• Satisfied clients (and employees): Some of our 1,400 satisfied clients include Rocket Money, DoorDash, and Uber. But we’re especially proud of our pristine Glassdoor reviews from internal employees. When our team’s happy, it shows—and it leads to better results for clients.

Best for

Companies of all sizes—from early-stage startups to global brands—looking for flexible, senior-level marketing talent or teams that can plug in quickly in whatever form they need: fractional, full-time, or full-service agency. 

2. Marketer Hire

MarketerHire is one of the most recognizable names in the fractional marketing space, and it’s not just because it’s so on the nose—they’re a top option for companies looking for freelance and fractional talent across disciplines.

Why they stand out

• Speed and simplicity: MarketerHire’s platform makes it easy to post what you need, get matched, and quickly onboard a marketer. The company states they “aim to match you with a qualified candidate in as little as 48 hours.”
• Wide network: With one of the largest pools of freelance and fractional marketers on the market, MarketerHire can fill roles across almost every function and budget.
• No commitment: MarketerHire stands by its product, offering a two-week trial period to ensure you get an optimal match. In the same vein, they also offer a free rematch if your first one falls through.

Best for

Companies that want to hire quickly from a large network of vetted freelance marketers, especially smaller orgs who value speed and simplicity over white-glove curation or broader engagement flexibility.

3. Creative Circle

As its name suggests, Creative Circle’s roots are in creative services. However, the company also places marketing and digital talent, making it a reliable option for companies that need hands-on executional support fast.

Why they stand out

• Deep creative bench: Creative Circle’s extensive network spans thousands of designers, writers, and content producers of all levels.
• Full-service staffing model: Like Right Side Up, Creative Circle offers multiple partnership options, including freelance placements, permanent placements, and fully managed staffing. 
• Speed and reliability: Creative Circle excels at placing qualified talent quickly, as the company handles a bulk of the administrative burden like sourcing and screening. But while they offer flexible contracts, the company’s structure is closer to traditional staffing than fractional marketing partnerships with ongoing strategic insights.

Best for

Brands that need fast, reliable access to creative or marketing executional talent, especially for short-term projects, production-heavy workloads, or contract-to-hire roles to support in-house teams.

4. Upwork

While it’s not a traditional fractional marketing agency, we had to include Upwork, the largest global freelance marketplace in the world. The platform spans nearly every creative and marketing discipline imaginable, and its massive scale makes it a strong contender for quick, transactional projects that don’t require extensive vetting or dedicated strategic support.

Why they stand out

• Huge network: With hundreds of thousands of marketing freelancers from all over the world on the platform, Upwork offers unmatched variety in skillsets and price points. 
• Transparent profiles and reviews: In lieu of vetting freelancers, Upwork allows clients to browse ratings, portfolios, and verified work history before hiring. This simple self-service model has played a large role in popularizing the platform, but can also result in inconsistent quality. 
• All-in-one platform: Upwork’s built-in project management, payments, and communication tools make it a breeze to handle projects entirely within the platform, from onboarding to payment.

Best for

Companies that want direct access to a global pool of freelance marketing talent for project-based and or budget-conscious work—and are comfortable managing all the vetting and oversight themselves.

5. Chief Outsiders

Chief Outsiders specializes in providing fractional executive leadership—mostly CMOs and CSOs—to mid-market companies and PE firms. Their model focuses on embedding marketing executives into orgs to build strategy, teams, and scalable systems for long-term growth.

Why they stand out

• Reputable and transparent network: Chief Outsiders has one of the most highly regarded rosters of fractional CMOs in the U.S., spanning most industries and business needs—and this network is publicly listed.
• Structured engagements: Engagements follow a defined process (from diagnostics to implementation planning) to ensure consistency and results across projects, though the firm’s focus on executive talent limits flexibility.
• A true collective: Chief Outsiders’ executives have access to peer CMOs within the network, creating a built-in support system and knowledge sharing that trickles down to clients.

Best for

Mid-market and enterprise companies seeking fractional executive-level marketing leadership that can quickly step in to lead teams and drive measurable growth at the organizational level.

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How the Right Side Up model takes fractional to the next level

As you’ve learned by now, there is a wealth of companies out there that can connect you with fractional talent. But not many can systematically connect you with top talent, scale up and down with your needs, and provide strategic support along the way.

That’s where Right Side Up stands apart, and why we’re recognized as one of the top fractional marketing agencies in 2025. We offer the flexibility of the fractional model, combined with the strategic depth and scalability of a full-service agency—and full-time recruitment when you’re ready.

Learn how:

• We helped Workrise fill marketing gaps with fractional talent during a period of intense change.
• We connected Ethena with a proven B2B marketing leader to build a demand gen program from scratch.
• Dipsea partnered with our in-house offline marketing team to scale podcast advertising spend by 635% in two years.

‍Ready to be the next growth story we tell? Let’s find the marketer or team that gets you there. Talk to us. →

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