Conversion Rate Optimization Pricing: How Much Does CRO Cost?

Availing CRO service can cost you anywhere from $1500/month to $31,000/month. The pricing is subject to the type of platform and various platform-specific factors. 

The price range for CRO service, for different platform types has been mentioned below:

 

For E-commerce websites the CRO price range varies from $2000/month to $5000/month, depending on the factors like number of products/pages, traffic volume, platform complexity, required A/B tests etc.

For SaaS, the CRO price starts from $3000/month going up to $30000/month, depending on the subscription models, feature complexity, funnel analysis needs, traffic volume and the depth of analysis required.

For lead generation websites, the price range starts from $1500/month, going all the way to $9000/month, depending on the industry (B2B or B2C), landing pages required, forms' complexity and CRM integration requirements.

For Content/Media platforms, agencies can charge anywhere between $1800/month to $7000/month. It depends on the volume of traffic, content engagement tracking requirements, ad revenue model, UX redesign scope etc.

For enterprise platforms, the price usually starts from $ 8000/month and goes up to $31000/month, depending upon the scale of operations, cross-department collaboration requirement, tools and software licensing, custom reporting needs etc.

As described above, multiple factors play a role when determining CRO pricing. To understand how each factor contributes to the pricing in detail, read the section below.

The more pages your platform has, the higher the cost of CRO service will be.

This is because, with each page, the effort that goes into CRO audits (to find gaps) followed by the optimizations, increases.

In our Google Analytics based CRO audits, we analyze every element of every page on your website.

The copy, the design, the interactions, the images, the videos, everything.

Here are some screenshots from our audits, to depict our audit’s extensiveness:

Here’s another screenshot showing CRO audit details:

Post the audit, once all the gaps have been identified, we implement the optimization strategies.

In that, again, more pages means more rewriting or tweaking of the existing copy, design, images and interactions.

It would also mean a higher number of A/B tests to test all the optimizations implemented. 

Due to this increased effort for each additional page, the CRO price increases with an increase in the number of pages on your platform.

 

It is to be however noted that platforms such as Shopify, Squarespace, or Wix offer user-friendly interfaces and pre-built no-code templates, making it easier to set up and implement the fixes (e.g., adding CTAs or modifying forms), since minimal software development is required.

But custom-built CMSs, legacy systems, or platforms like Magento and Drupal often require extensive developer involvement for even minor changes.

💡 Learn more about CRO audit services and its pricing.

As the number of features goes up, the price of the CRO also shoots up.

We audit each feature on your platform in our CRO audits.

We analyze a feature for its design, user experience and its functional use cases.

And then post analyses, once all the gaps have been identified, developers and designers work on the fixes and A/B testing for each ‘faulty’ feature. 

So the math is simple, with an increase in the number of features, the required effort in the CRO process increases, which justifies a higher price.

Optimizing complex features requires deeper expertise and a higher level of effort.

Complex features are usually intertwined with other features. They are non-linear. They have a higher number of test cases than basic features.

Identifying and understanding all the test cases of a complex feature and then analyzing every test case takes deeper expertise and much more effort than for a basic feature.

Post-analysis, optimization strategies need to be developed and implemented for each ‘faulty’ element of each test case. This would require a higher number of A/B tests and greater development effort, than for a normal feature.

Hence with the increase in feature complexity, CRO price increases. 

Below are some examples of what features are basic and what can be considered as advanced:

Ecommerce:

Basic E-commerce features: product listings, shopping cart, keyword-based search

 

Advanced E-commerce features: dynamic search and filters, personalized recommendations, dynamic pricing, loyalty programs

SaaS:

 

Basic SaaS Features: Static Dashboards, Simple Sign Up and Login, simple subscription models

 

Advanced SaaS Features: Customizable Dashboards, Non-linear onboarding flows, role-based access control, multi-tenant support, complex subscription models

Content/Media platform:

Basic Content Website Features: Static Ads, Social Media Sharing, Keyword-based search

 

Advanced Content Website Features: Interactive Content, Dynamic Ad Optimization, Personalized Content Recommendation

CRO for a high-traffic volume website is usually more expensive than for a low-traffic website due to the following reasons:

In low-traffic websites, the focus is more on gathering qualitative insights by doing user recordings or surveys, due to the lack of substantial data.

So you can work with free or basic tools such as Google Analytics, Hotjar, or Crazy Egg.

Whereas, for high-traffic websites, you need enterprise-level premium platforms such as Optimizely, VWO, or Adobe Target for collecting and analyzing user data.

Licensing costs for these analytics tools increase with the increase in traffic volume.

Collecting and analyzing high volumes of data require advanced data management and analytics skills (eg). So this requires us to put more expensive resources into high-volume website projects than into low-volume website projects.

A small increase in conversion rate can lead to significant revenue gains for high-traffic volume websites. So agencies usually charge higher for such websites, based on the impact on revenue that they are going to have.

If your platform is supported for multiple channels such as mobiles, desktops and tablets, the complexity and the effort that goes in the CRO process increases.

Every feature and page needs to be analyzed and optimized for all the channels.

Consistency in design, messaging, and functionality needs to be maintained across all the channels.

For example: For your ecommerce platform, the cart experience on the mobile app should match that of the desktop website.

In the case of multi-channel presence, tracking and analyzing user journeys also becomes difficult due to their non-linear nature.

 

For Example: An ecommerce platform where users browse products on a mobile app, receive email promotions, and complete purchases on the desktop website.

To handle such cases, you would need advanced tools to consolidate and analyze the user data across all channels,  Google Analytics (website), Firebase (mobile app), and email marketing platforms. Some examples of such tools: Amplitude, Segment, and Adobe Experience Cloud

Hence, with an increase in the number of supported channels, CRO price goes up.

Non-compliance with data regulations can lead to restrictions on data collection practices, such as bans on the use of cookies, tracking scripts, or third-party analytics tools.

Without user engagement data, forget analyzing anything about your website. In addition, A/B testing also relies heavily on user data to track behaviour and conversions. 

So it’s important that the website is data regulations-compliant.

If your website does not comply with the regulations, then building custom systems to handle sensitive user data may require additional development effort.

 

If your platform handles data privacy and compliance (e.g., GDPR, CCPA), it saves that extra effort.

Hence, non-compliance of data regulations would lead to higher CRO pricing.

Hotjar is used for heatmaps, session recordings, and user feedback. It helps you understand where users are clicking on, scrolling, and what they’re ignoring.

GA4 provides in-depth insights into website traffic, user behavior, and conversion funnels. It tracks key metrics like bounce rate and user journey to spot drop-off points.

Crazy Egg offers heatmaps, scroll maps, and A/B testing to analyze how visitors interact with your site and which areas need optimization.

A powerful A/B testing tool to experiment with different versions of your website and measure which performs better in conversion rate.

PageSense helps you optimize the user experience with features like heatmaps, A/B testing, and user session recordings. It also provides detailed insights into user behavior and engagement.



 

Mixpanel is a product analytics tool that tracks user interactions, offering insights into user to optimize engagement and improve digital product performance.

Pricing for these tools depends on what subscription plan you go with. The more premium the subscription plan, the more advanced the features, the higher the pricing. 

Other factors that affect the pricing are the number of users you want to give access to the tool and the traffic volume on your website. The higher the number of users, the higher the price.
The higher the traffic, the higher the price.

In addition, you need to integrate some of these tools with your platform.

Popular platforms often have native integrations with CRO tools such as Hotjar, Optimizely or Google Analytics, so it’s easier to set up those tools for your platform, with minimal development effort required

However, custom or less popular platforms lack direct support for CRO tools. So a substantial development effort is required to integrate these tools into your platform.

How it works?

Project Scope Definition
 
The agency or consultant works with the client to outline the scope of work in detail. The work Includes tasks such as website audits, A/B test design, data analysis, and implementation. 

Clear deliverables, timelines, and expectations are set upfront. 

Example Project: "Optimize the checkout process to reduce cart abandonment by 10%.

Pricing Estimation

The agency estimates the total cost of the project based on the factors discussed above.

Contract Agreement

A contract is signed detailing the fixed price, scope of work, and timeline. Scope creep (additional work outside the initial agreement) is typically excluded unless renegotiated.

Execution

The agency executes the project, including audits, testing, analysis, and implementation, as agreed. Regular updates or reports are provided during the project.

Final Delivery

Once all deliverables are met, the project concludes. Additional post-project support (e.g., monitoring or maintenance) may be offered as a separate service.

Payment

Payment may be given before or after completion of the project, or at every milestone, as agreed by both the parties

Best for

Businesses with specific, short-term CRO needs, defined goals, or budget constraints should hire a CRO agency on a project basis.

Pros of the model

Cost Predictability: Clients know the total project cost upfront, facilitating effective budgeting and financial planning.

Clear Expectations: A defined scope of work ensures both parties understand deliverables and timelines, minimizing misunderstandings.

Incentive for Efficiency: Agencies are motivated to complete projects promptly without compromising quality, as their payment isn't tied to hours worked.

Simplified Administration: Reduces the need for detailed time tracking and invoicing, allowing both clients and agencies to focus on outcomes rather than processes.

Cons of the model

Risk of Underestimation: If the project's complexity is underestimated, clients might face delays or requests for additional funds to cover unforeseen work.

Potential for Scope Creep: Without strict scope management, projects can expand beyond initial agreements, leading to disputes or additional costs.

Limited Flexibility for Innovation: Fixed pricing may discourage working on unexpected, new ideas during the project, potentially stifling innovation.

Future Uncertainty: Clients may face challenges in planning subsequent projects without established ongoing relationships, leading to potential gaps in optimization efforts.

Clients should carefully assess their project's scope, potential for change, and need for flexibility when considering a fixed-price engagement with a CRO agency.

Typical Cost

Enhancing a specific landing page to increase its conversion rate. The cost for this service usually ranges from $51,000 to $21,500 per page per month.

A thorough analysis of your website to identify conversion barriers and opportunities for improvement. This service typically costs between $2,8500 and $85,000 per month.

How it works?

Hourly pricing for CRO services means clients pay a fixed hourly rate for the time a freelancer or agency spends working on their project. This model is often adopted by freelancers due to its flexibility and simplicity. This is how hourly pricing works:

Setting the Hourly Rate

Freelancers establish an hourly rate based on their expertise, experience, and the complexity of the CRO tasks.

Rates can vary widely, from $50/hour for beginners to $200–$300/hour for seasoned experts.

Contract Agreement

A contract is signed with the hourly price and the work details mentioned in it.

Execution and Tracking Time

Freelancers log hours worked using time-tracking tools (e.g., Toggl, Harvest) or manually report the time spent on specific tasks. 

Tasks may include website audits, A/B testing setup, data analysis, or UX recommendations.

Invoicing

Clients are billed based on the total hours logged.
Example: If a freelancer works 10 hours at $100/hour, the client pays $1,000.

Flexible Scope

Projects can be adjusted as needed, with clients paying for additional hours if the scope expands.

Best For

Companies with undefined or evolving project scopes, that are tight on budget, and with short-term ad-hoc CRO support requirements can opt for this pricing model.

Pros of the model

Flexibility: Ideal for projects with undefined or evolving scopes, allowing adjustments without renegotiating contracts.

Pay-As-You-Go: Clients only pay for actual work completed, making it suitable for smaller tasks or short-term projects.

Access to Expertise: Provides access to skilled freelancers without committing to a long-term or large-scale contract.

Cons of the model

Unpredictable Costs: Without a clear cap, costs can escalate if projects take longer than expected.

Risk of Inefficiency: Some freelancers may take more time to complete tasks, increasing costs.

Difficult to Budget: Estimating the total cost can be challenging for complex or ongoing projects.

Typical Cost

A freelancer can charge anywhere from $50 to $300/hr for CRO services. Below is a screenshot of a freelancer charging $250/hr for CRO, on Upwork.

Value-based pricing: What rates do Conversion Rate Optimization agencies charge?

How it works?

In value-based pricing, we charge fees based on the perceived or actual value they deliver to the client, rather than the hours worked or specific tasks completed. The cost is tied to the business outcomes achieved, such as increased revenue, improved conversion rates, or cost savings. Here’s how it works:

Understanding the Client’s Goals and Potential Impact

The CRO agency assesses the client's current performance metrics (e.g., conversion rates, revenue, average order value) and identifies areas of improvement.
They estimate the potential revenue or performance gains from their CRO efforts.

Example: If a website generates $1 million annually and CRO could increase conversions by 20%, the agency quantifies the additional $200,000 in potential revenue.

Pricing Based on Value Delivered

The agency sets its fee as a percentage of the projected value delivered or as a fixed price reflecting the anticipated impact.

The percentage typically ranges between 10-30% of the additional revenue generated or cost savings achieved.

Example: For the $200,000 revenue increase, the agency may charge 20%, resulting in a $40,000 fee.

Aligning Incentives

Both the agency and client are motivated to achieve the best results, as the fee is tied to the success of the CRO project.

The agency may use tracking tools to monitor performance.

Custom Contracts and Adjustments

Contracts often include clauses specifying the tracking period, metrics used for value assessment, and contingencies for external factors (e.g., traffic changes).

Best For

Businesses seeking high impact and an assured ROI should opt in for value based pricing model.

Pros of the model

Focus on Results: Clients only pay for measurable improvements, ensuring ROI on CRO investments.

Aligned Incentives: Agencies are motivated to prioritize impactful strategies, as their revenue depends on performance.

Scalable Costs: Pricing scales with the benefits achieved, making it suitable for businesses with growth potential.

Cons of the model

High Costs for Significant Gains: For businesses experiencing substantial performance improvements, fees can be significant. Example: A $1 million revenue increase with a 20% fee would cost $200,000.

Difficulty in Attribution: Measuring the exact contribution of CRO efforts to revenue increases can be challenging, especially with external factors like marketing campaigns or seasonal trends.

Complex Negotiation: Determining fair pricing requires detailed analysis and agreement on metrics, which can take time.

Typical Cost

Within value-based pricing, there are 3 models:

Percentage-Based Rates: Agencies charge 10-30% of the additional revenue generated or cost savings achieved.

Fixed Value-Based Fees: Some agencies set a flat fee based on the estimated value, ranging from $2,000/month to $10,000/month, depending on the scope and expected ROI.

Hybrid Models: A base fee (e.g., $5,000–$10,000) plus a smaller percentage of the value delivered to balance risk.

In the value-based model, we charge a share of the revenue growth. This is justified since we are confident we can grow your business and we are also taking a risk by charging you for the delivered growth.

Global brands choose and stay with Tenet, once they have tasted the ‘blood’.

We have served 44+ brands across 7+ countries with CRO services, increasing their revenue with the same marketing spend. We have client satisfaction rate of 98% and repeat client rate of over 45%.

In our circles, we are notorious for one thing - we do not compromise with quality, doesn’t matter how many iterations it takes. :)

Check out what DoorDash, a listed multi-billion dollar company, has to say about our services:



Get started with an end-to-end website audit by us. It will reveal all the ‘gaps’ in your website!

CRO is a website (or platform) optimization exercise to increase the percentage of visitors who do what you want them to do. In this exercise, we analyze your users’ interactions with your website. We identify the elements that are preventing visitors from doing the desired action. 

Post identification, we fix them by making UI/UX enhancements, copy enhancements or adding/removing new features. We test these enhancements with extensive A/B testing and stick to those changes that give better results.

If you are getting a lot of website visitors but very few of them are converting, then there might be some issues with your website. Through CRO, you get to know about those issues. In our CRO exercise, we analyze every element of your website in terms of its impact on user ‘conversion’. We identify the gaps and ‘fill’ them so that you are able to milk the maximum number of visitors on your website.

We recommend doing a full audit every six months.

A 6-month timeline is effective because:
 

1. Many eCommerce businesses operate on seasonal patterns, such as holiday sales, making mid-year and year-end audits ideal for preparation.
2. 6-monthly audits also ensure your site keeps pace with technological updates ( substantial technological advancements happen in 6 months).
3. A 6-month interval provides ample time to analyze data, fine-tune strategies, and assess ROI from the previous audit.

Yes, it is worth it if you have website visitors who are not converting. Consider this:

If your website receives 50,000 visitors monthly and makes 500 sales, your conversion rate is 1%. Let’s say we increase your conversion rate to 2% with CRO. This would mean you will be making 1000 sales per month, with the same traffic. A shift from 1% to 2% doubles your sales, and this much increase is not rare, post our CRO exercise. 

If you are thinking about doing a CRO for your website or you just want to know more about it, you can reach out to us on our website here. At Tenet, we provide free consultation. If you opt for our CRO service, we will start with a website audit, identifying all the issues. Then, we will work on fixing those gaps.