An SEO audit is the first step of any effective search engine optimization strategy.
The price of an SEO audit ranges from $500 to $10,000 depending on the site size and depth of analysis.
This guide details the rates charged by agencies and SEO consultants, plus the factors that influence cost.
What Is an SEO Audit and Why Do You Need One?
An SEO audit is a complete diagnosis of your website.
It analyzes the technical aspects, content, and popularity of your site with Google.
The goal is to identify problems that are hurting your organic rankings.
Without a prior audit, any SEO strategy is based on guesswork.
It’s the essential starting point to know where to focus your efforts.
Average SEO Audit Prices in 2025
The cost of an SEO audit depends on several factors.
Here are the price ranges observed in the market in 2025.
Basic SEO Audit (Small Business Website)
Price: $500 to $2,000
Ideal for small sites with fewer than 50 pages.
Includes basic technical analysis and priority recommendations.
Complete SEO Audit (SMB)
Price: $2,000 to $5,000
For sites with 50 to 500 pages with growth objectives.
Includes technical audit, content analysis, and backlink study.
Advanced SEO Audit (E-commerce)
Price: $5,000 to $10,000+
For e-commerce sites with thousands of product pages.
In-depth analysis of architecture, internal linking, and keyword cannibalization.
Factors That Influence SEO Audit Cost
The final price depends on several key elements.
Website Size
The more pages you have, the longer the analysis takes.
A 50-page site doesn’t cost the same as a 5,000-page site to audit.
Technical Complexity
An e-commerce site with filters and product variants requires more expertise.
Multilingual or international sites require deeper analysis.
Provider Experience
A senior consultant charges more than a beginner.
But their expertise often uncovers issues invisible to a novice.
What Does a Complete SEO Audit Include?
A professional SEO audit analyzes three fundamental pillars of search optimization.
Technical Audit
Examines site structure, loading speed, and Core Web Vitals.
Checks indexation, robots.txt file, and XML sitemap.
Identifies 404 errors, redirects, and crawl issues.
Content Audit
Evaluates text quality and relevance of targeted keywords.
Analyzes meta tags, heading structure, and duplicate content.
Checks if content matches user search intent.
Backlink Audit
Analyzes backlink profile and domain authority.
Identifies toxic links that could harm your rankings.
Compares your link profile with competitors.
Hourly Rates for SEO Experts
SEO agencies typically charge between $100 and $200 per hour.
Freelance consultants offer rates between $60 and $150 per hour.
A complete SEO audit takes between 10 and 30 hours depending on site size.
Simple math: 20 hours × $125/h = $2,500 for an SEO audit.
SEO Agency vs Freelancer: What’s the Cost Difference?
Hiring an SEO Agency
Higher cost but you get a full team.
Experts in technical SEO, content, and link building work on your project.
Ideal for complex projects requiring multiple specialties.
Hiring a Freelance Consultant
More affordable rates and direct relationship with the expert.
Flexibility and customization of the service.
Great option for SMBs with a limited budget.
Beware of Free SEO Audits
Automatically generated free SEO audits have very limited value.
These tools only provide raw data without strategic analysis.
A real SEO audit requires a human expert to interpret results.
Personalized recommendations make all the difference for your rankings.
Monthly SEO Packages: Alternative to One-Time Audit
Monthly SEO packages typically start at $950 per month.
The average price for monthly SEO support is around $1,300.
These packages often include an initial audit in the setup fees.
The advantage is ongoing monitoring of your Google rankings.
How to Reduce Your SEO Audit Cost
Choose a Targeted Audit
Focus the analysis on a specific problem: technical, content, or backlinks.
A targeted audit costs less than a comprehensive one.
Implement Recommendations In-House
Request only the diagnosis and action plan.
Your team can then implement the fixes.
Compare Multiple Quotes
Request proposals from several agencies and freelancers.
Compare what’s included, not just the prices.
What ROI Can You Expect?
A well-executed SEO audit can multiply your organic traffic by 2 or 3.
Technical fixes immediately improve your page indexation.
Content optimization increases your visibility on strategic keywords.
SEO is a long-term investment. Results typically appear after 3 to 6 months.
Conclusion: What Budget Should You Plan for Your SEO Audit?
The price of an SEO audit ranges from $500 to $10,000 depending on your needs.
For an SMB with a small website, plan a budget between $1,500 and $3,000.
An SEO audit is a profitable investment to improve your Google rankings.
It helps prioritize your efforts and avoid wasting time on useless actions.
Contact seomontreal.io for a personalized quote.
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