AI Search Optimisation Pricing UK 2026: What You Should Actually Pay

So you've been told you need AI search optimisation. Maybe you've heard AEO, GEO, LLMO - all the acronyms are flying around. But when you ask an agency how much it costs, you get "it depends" or "let's have a call to discuss your needs."

Which is code for: we're making it up based on how much we think you'll pay.

I'm going to do something unusual for this industry. I'm going to tell you what AI search optimisation actually costs in the UK, what you should be paying, and how to spot agencies that are taking the piss.

Three reasons most agencies don't publish their AEO/GEO pricing:

1. They're still figuring it out. AI search optimisation is genuinely new. Most agencies have only been offering it for a few months. They don't have established pricing because they don't have established processes.

2. They're repackaging existing services. Some agencies have slapped "AI optimisation" on their existing SEO packages without actually changing anything. They price it vaguely because the deliverables are vague.

3. They want to price based on your budget. If they can get you on a call first, they can adjust their quote based on how much you seem willing to spend. A startup with £500/month gets one number. An enterprise prospect gets a very different one.

None of these are great reasons from your perspective. So let's cut through it.

Most agencies price AI search optimisation as a monthly retainer. You pay a fixed amount each month for ongoing optimisation, monitoring and reporting.

This makes sense for AI search because it's not a one-time implementation. AI systems update constantly. Your competitors are optimising. What works today might need adjusting next month.

Some agencies offer one-time implementation projects. They'll set up your schema, restructure your content, and hand it back to you. You're then responsible for ongoing maintenance.

This can work if you have internal capability to maintain things. But most businesses don't, which is why the retainer model is more common.

A few agencies are experimenting with performance pricing - you pay based on results, whether that's AI citations, visibility scores, or traffic from AI sources.

In theory this aligns incentives. In practice, measurement is still tricky enough that most agencies shy away from it. If someone's offering pure performance pricing, ask very specifically how they'll measure and attribute results.

Based on our research of what's being offered in the UK market right now:

These are ranges, not fixed numbers. You'll find agencies charging more and less than these. But if someone quotes you significantly outside these ranges, that should prompt questions. Remember if you have a 300 page site, potentially every page needs fixing.

The "it depends" isn't entirely bullshit. Several factors genuinely affect what AI search optimisation should cost for your specific situation:

Site size and complexity. A 20-page brochure site is different from a 5,000-page e-commerce platform. More pages means more schema implementation, more content to optimise, more things to monitor.

Current technical state. If your site already has solid technical SEO foundations, adding AI optimisation is easier. If we need to fix basic technical issues first, that adds work.

Competitive landscape. Some industries are further along with AI search optimisation than others. If your competitors are already doing this well, catching up takes more effort.

Content requirements. Do you need content created, or just existing content restructured? Content creation adds significant cost.

Reporting depth. Basic monthly reports cost less than detailed weekly analysis with competitor benchmarking and strategy sessions.

Some agencies quote a low headline number then add extras that significantly increase the real cost:

Tool costs. AI visibility tracking tools like RankZero, Perplexity analytics access, and monitoring platforms all cost money. Some agencies include these in their fee. Others bill them separately.

Content production. If the strategy calls for new content, who's creating it? Some agencies include content in their retainer. Others quote content separately, which can add £1,000+ monthly.

Schema implementation. The strategy might recommend comprehensive schema, but actually implementing it might be quoted as a separate project. Ask what's included and what's additional.

Developer work. Some technical changes need developer access. If the agency doesn't do implementation directly, you might face separate developer costs.

Before signing anything, get a complete picture of what the total monthly investment will actually be, including all tools and deliverables.

How does AI search optimisation compare to traditional SEO?

Generally, AEO/GEO services are priced similarly to mid-range SEO packages. The work overlaps significantly - schema markup, content optimisation, authority building. The difference is in focus and measurement.

If an agency quotes AEO at double their SEO pricing for the "same" work, that's a yellow flag. The skills are related. The tools are somewhat different. But the effort level isn't dramatically higher.

Some agencies offer combined SEO + AEO packages, which makes sense since the foundations support both. If you need both, bundling is usually more cost-effective than separate engagements.

Watch out for these warning signs:

"We guarantee first-page citations." No one can guarantee AI system behaviour. These systems update constantly. Anyone promising guaranteed results is either lying or doesn't understand how this works.

No measurement framework. If the agency can't explain exactly how they'll track progress and measure results, how will you know if it's working? Vague promises without specific KPIs are useless.

Unclear deliverables. What exactly are you paying for each month? If the answer is "optimisation" without specifics, you'll have no way to hold them accountable.

Lock-in contracts with no performance clauses. Twelve-month contracts are fine if there are break clauses tied to performance. Twelve-month contracts where you pay regardless of results? That's the agency protecting themselves, not you.

No case studies or results. AI search optimisation is new, so extensive track records are rare. But any agency selling this should be able to show you their own results. If they can't demonstrate they've succeeded with their own AI visibility, why would they succeed with yours?

Since I've criticised other agencies for hiding pricing, I should put ours out there:

Tool costs are included. Content at Pro level is included. No hidden extras.

We also offer a free AI Visibility Audit so you can see where you stand before committing to anything.

The ROI question is fair. AI search optimisation costs money. What do you get back?

Here's a simple framework:

Step 1: Estimate AI search traffic value. AI search is growing but still represents a minority of total search traffic. Currently, maybe 10-15% of search queries involve AI systems. That percentage is growing rapidly.

Step 2: Apply your current conversion rates. What percentage of website visitors convert? What's each conversion worth?

Step 3: Project AI traffic capture. If you're getting recommended by AI systems, what traffic increase could you see?

Example: A business currently gets 10,000 monthly visitors, converting at 2% with an average customer value of £500.

• Current monthly revenue from organic: £100,000
• AI search currently represents ~10% of search behaviour
• With strong AI visibility, capture 5% more traffic = 500 additional visitors
• At 2% conversion = 10 additional customers
• At £500 value = £5,000 additional monthly revenue

Against a £599/month investment, that's a clear positive return. And the percentages are only going up as AI search becomes more dominant.

This is simplified, obviously. But it gives you a framework for thinking about value rather than just cost.

AI search optimisation is real, it's measurable, and it's worth investing in if you're serious about staying visible as search evolves.

Reasonable UK pricing ranges from £300-£1,500/month for most businesses. Below £300 and you're probably getting monitoring only. Above £1,500 and you should be getting comprehensive implementation with dedicated support.

Watch out for agencies that can't show their own results, won't specify deliverables, or try to lock you in without performance accountability.

And if you want to start with a clear picture of where you stand, our free AI Visibility Audit shows you exactly what AI systems currently know (or don't know) about your business. No commitment, just data.

Ready to talk properly? Book a call and we'll give you honest advice on what you actually need - even if that's not us.