SEO Pricing Survey 2026: 12 anonymous questions, raw data published

1. Which describes you best?

Agency owner or executive
Agency staff (SEO, account, sales)
Freelancer or independent consultant
In-house SEO
Other

2. Where are most of your clients?

United States
UK / Europe
Saudi Arabia
UAE / other Gulf
Other MENA
India / Asia-Pacific
Other

3. How many people do SEO work on your team?

Just me
2 to 5
6 to 15
16 to 50
50+

4. Which pricing model do you use most?

Monthly retainer
Fixed-price project
Hourly
Performance / results-based
Hybrid (e.g. retainer + performance)

5. Your typical monthly SEO retainer USD, per client. Pick the band most clients fall in.

Under $500
$500 to $999
$1,000 to $2,499
$2,500 to $4,999
$5,000 to $9,999
$10,000+
We do not sell retainers

6. Your hourly rate when you bill hourly USD

Under $50
$50 to $99
$100 to $149
$150 to $199
$200+
We do not bill hourly

7. Fixed price for a full technical SEO audit USD, a typical mid-size site

Under $500
$500 to $1,499
$1,500 to $2,999
$3,000 to $4,999
$5,000+
We do not sell standalone audits

8. Minimum engagement you accept

No minimum
3 months
6 months
12 months

9. How did your prices move in the last 12 months?

Down more than 10%
Down up to 10%
Flat
Up to 10% higher
10 to 25% higher
More than 25% higher

10. What is included in your standard retainer? Tick all that apply

Technical fixes
Content writing
Link building / digital PR
Local SEO / Google Business Profile
Reporting and calls
Conversion optimisation
AI-search / GEO work
Paid search management

11. Biggest pricing pressure right now

Clients expecting AI to make SEO cheaper
Competitors undercutting
Scope creep inside fixed fees
Proving ROI
Currency / inflation
None really

12. One thing about SEO pricing you wish clients understood Optional. We may quote it anonymously.

Want the full dataset first? Optional. Your email is used once, to send the CSV. Never published.

Send me the full CSV a week before publication
Credit my agency by name in the published piece