How Much Does AEO Cost? Your 2026 AI Search Budget Planner (What to Invest & Where)

When you search “how much does AEO cost,” Google serves up stock charts, P/E ratios, and price targets for American Eagle Outfitters. The AI Overview pulls from Yahoo Finance, Robinhood, and CNBC to tell you about dividend yields and 52 week ranges. Zero mentions of Answer Engine Optimization. This clash shows exactly why brands need to invest in AI search visibility in 2026.

So what does Answer Engine Optimization actually cost? Gorilla WebTactics breaks it down clearly: 

• Small websites typically invest $1,500 to $3,000 per month
• Medium-sized businesses run $3,000 to $7,000 monthly
• Enterprise and eCommerce sites often spend $7,000 to $10,000 (or more, depending on competition and scope)

As is the case with many other industries, competition drives pricing, too:

• Low-competition niches stay in the $1,500 to $3,000 range
• Medium-competition sectors move up to $3,000 to $5,000
• High-competition markets where everyone fights for the same AI Overview placements can hit $5,000 to $10,000 monthly

A LinkedIn guide notes that basic AEO with keyword research and content tweaks starts around $500 to $2,000 for small firms while advanced AI optimization reaches $5,000 and up.

Beyond monthly services, you also need to budget for technology. Goodie’s pricing shows that software costs are relatively modest. Their plans run from about $495 annually for basic features up to custom pricing per year for elite capabilities across 100 sites. Compare that to agency retainers and the software line item looks pretty reasonable.

So, where should you allocate budget in 2026?

• Marketri recommends reallocating at least 15% of your content or digital spend into AI search optimization. They suggest putting 10 to 15% of your content budget into question-based, citable content that AI systems can reference.
• Technical infrastructure might require a one-time investment of $15,000 to $50,000 for schema markup and site structure.
• Dedicate 5 to 10% of martech spend to measurement so you can track how AI content performs.

Neil Patel reports that 98% of marketers plan to increase AI SEO spend in 2026. Traditional search volume is expected to drop around 25% by 2026 according to Marketri as users shift to AI chatbots and virtual agents. This makes AI search budget allocation less experimental and more essential for pipeline protection.

The pricing models vary, too:

• Monthly retainers run $1,500 to $3,500 for small businesses, $3,500 to $7,000 for mid-size companies, and $7,000 to $10,000+ for enterprises.
• One-time audits and setup cost $2,500 to $5,000 for basic work or $5,000 to $10,000 for advanced implementation.
• Hourly consulting sits between $150 and $500 depending on expertise level.

AEO costs more than traditional SEO because you need advanced structured data, AI content strategy, and voice search optimization. But as Foureyes notes, the goal is smarter reallocation rather than massive new spending. You maintain visibility where AI research and purchase decisions now begin.

AEO Investment & Budgeting FAQs

What does AEO stand for?

AEO stands for Answer Engine Optimization, the practice of structuring content so AI systems like ChatGPT, Google's AI Overviews, and voice assistants can find, understand, and cite your expertise when users ask questions.

Is AEO worth the investment?

When marketers ask this question they usually mean whether Answer Engine Optimization is worth the investment. The answer is yes if you want to show up in AI Overviews, voice search results, and conversational AI responses where your customers now start their journey.

Where can I get AEO services?

For brands that are looking for a more full-service model, AEO services are provided by expert growth marketing agencies like NoGood. For brands that have AEO strategy in place and need to close the loop with measurement and reporting, Goodie is a great option.