How Much Should AI Search SEO Cost in 2026?

AI search optimization is the hottest service in digital marketing right now. Predictably, agencies are charging insane prices for very little work. Here's what it actually should cost.

The Real Work Involved

Proper AI search SEO requires daily content publishing (3-7 new pages per week), Schema.org markup on every page, Google and Bing Search Console management, Google Business Profile updates, AI citation tracking, technical site audits, and competitor monitoring.

What Agencies Charge

Established SEO agencies are quoting $5,000-$15,000/month for "AI SEO services." Most of them are just rebranded versions of their existing keyword reports.

What It Should Cost

If you're paying more than $2,000/month for legitimate AI search SEO, you're being overcharged. Period. The work is more time-consuming than traditional SEO, but it's not 5x more expensive. We do all of it for under $2K/month.

How to Evaluate AI SEO Quotes

Ask the agency: how many pages will you publish per week? Which AI engines do you track citations on? Do you manage my Google Business Profile? If they're vague, walk away. (210) 729-4008.