Short answer: Published GEO agency retainers in 2026 span roughly $1,500 to $50,000+ a month. Small-business programs cluster near $1,500–$5,000, mid-market around $2,000–$10,000, and enterprise higher. Cheap $99 AI-search plans usually skip the citation work that moves recommendations. Acromatico's GEO retainers sit in the transparent mid range for companies.
What generative engine optimization (GEO), answer engine optimization (AEO), and AI-SEO agencies actually charge in 2026 — compiled from public pricing guides and agency surveys, with a source link for every figure.
Every number below is quoted from a public 2026 pricing guide or agency pricing survey and linked inline. We compiled published ranges only and invented nothing. Treat these as market ranges, not quotes — real pricing depends on scope, competition, and content volume.
Monthly retainer ranges agencies publish for generative engine optimization, by engagement size.
| Engagement tier | Published monthly range |
|---|---|
| Small business / basic GEO | $1,500 – $5,000 / mo [4] [5] |
| Mid-market / growth GEO | $3,000 – $12,000 / mo [7] [8] |
| Mid-market retainer (typical) | $2,000 – $10,000 / mo [6] [8] |
| Enterprise / category leadership | $12,000 – $25,000+ / mo [7] [8] |
| Enterprise (full-scale programs) | $25,000 – $50,000+ / mo [4] [5] [6] |
How GEO/AEO work is billed — retainer, project, or hourly.
| Pricing model | Published range |
|---|---|
| Monthly retainer (GEO agency, overall) | $1,500 – $50,000+ / mo [4] [6] |
| Project / setup (audit + implementation) | $5,000 – $50,000 / project [4] [5] [6] |
| Hourly consulting | $50 – $300 / hour [4] [5] [6] |
| AEO-specific retainer | $1,500 – $15,000+ / mo [6] |
| GEO-specific retainer | $1,500 – $10,000+ / mo [6] |
GEO pricing sits on top of a well-surveyed SEO market. These figures come from large agency surveys and are the closest thing to primary data in the field.
| Metric | Published figure |
|---|---|
| Agency average monthly SEO retainer | $3,209 / mo [1] |
| Most common SEO monthly retainer | $501 – $1,000 / mo (20.4% of respondents) [1] |
| Typical average SEO monthly cost | $1,000 – $2,500 / mo [3] |
| Most common SEO hourly rate | $75 – $100 / hour (24% of respondents) [1] |
| Most common SEO per-project fee | $2,501 – $5,000 (21.2% of respondents) [1] |
| Share of agencies charging under $1,000/mo | 64% [2] |
What agencies charge for AI-optimization add-ons, and what DIY tooling costs.
| Item | Published figure |
|---|---|
| Average price of agency 'AI optimization' add-on service | $937 / mo [2] |
| Agencies planning to expand into AI/GEO services | 61% [2] |
| AI-visibility monitoring software | $50 – $1,000+ / mo [5] [4] |
| DIY AI-SEO tools | Free – $250+ / mo [4] [5] |
Read across the tables and a clear picture emerges: published 2026 GEO agency retainers span roughly $1,500 to $50,000+ per month [4] [6] [5], with most mid-market work landing in the $2,000-$10,000 range [6] [8]. That premium over the ~$3,209/month average SEO retainer [1] reflects one thing: earning AI citations is hands-on. The cheapest programs skip it, which is why at least one guide warns that $99/month "AI search" subscriptions are not genuine AEO [8].
Across the public pricing guides compiled here, GEO agency retainers span roughly $1,500 to $50,000+ per month. Small-business and basic programs cluster around $1,500-$5,000/mo, mid-market retainers typically land at $2,000-$10,000/mo, and enterprise programs run $25,000-$50,000+/mo. Every figure on this page links to its source.
Usually, yes, at the top end. Survey data puts the average agency SEO retainer near $3,209/month, while GEO-specific guides quote overlapping-but-higher ranges up to $50,000+/month for enterprise programs. GEO tends to carry a premium because earning AI citations is hands-on work, but entry-level GEO and SEO ranges overlap heavily.
Watch for $99/month 'AI search' subscriptions marketed as real answer-engine optimization — at least one published guide flags these as not genuine AEO programs. Very cheap programs typically skip the expensive part (earning third-party citations), which is the work that actually moves AI recommendations.
Every figure is drawn from a public 2026 pricing guide or agency survey and linked inline and in the Sources list below. This index compiles published ranges only — we invent no numbers. Treat them as market ranges, not fixed quotes; actual pricing depends on scope, competition, and content volume.
Figures reflect each source's stated 2026 pricing at the time of compilation. Ranges are the publishers'; Acromatico added no estimates of its own.
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