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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