AI SEO pricing: what to expect and what drives the cost
By Sophia Samuels. Published 2026-11-07.
We use AI tools to help research and draft articles. A person edits each piece before it is published.
How AI SEO services are priced, what is included, what affects the cost and how to compare proposals without being misled.
SEO pricing is one of the least transparent areas of marketing. This guide explains how it usually works and what to look for in a proposal.
How SEO is usually priced
- Monthly retainer for ongoing work: the most common model.
- One-off audit or project: a defined deliverable such as a technical audit.
- Hourly consulting: for advice rather than execution.
What drives the cost
- Site size and technical state.
- Competition in your market.
- Content volume: how many pages and articles are planned.
- Link and PR activity.
- Whether AI search visibility is included.
- Site size: More pages and more fixes.
- Competition: Harder markets need more effort.
- Content volume: Articles planned each month.
- Links and PR: Outreach and authority building.
- AI search: Whether GEO is included.
Our approach
SEO and content sit inside our retainers rather than being sold alone. Launch at $2,500 per month includes an SEO audit and setup and four content pieces monthly. Growth at $5,000 per month adds advertising, automation and design so everything works together.
What to look for in a proposal
- A clear list of monthly deliverables.
- A plan for technical fixes in the first month.
- How content will be created and reviewed.
- How progress is measured beyond rankings.
- No guarantee of position one.
Does AI reduce SEO cost?
It reduces time spent on research and drafting. That should mean more done for the same fee, not a drop in quality.
Further reading
- Google Search Central: SEO starter guide
- Google Search Central: do you need an SEO?
- Google Search Console
Quick answers
How much does SEO cost per month?
It varies widely. Our Launch plan at $2,500 per month includes SEO setup, content and reporting.