How much does CRO cost? It’s one of the first questions companies ask when they start thinking about improving their website performance, and one I get multiple times every week.
The short answer: in 2025, CRO costs range from $5,000 to $35,000 per month, depending on the agency’s experience, testing velocity, and team size.
Conversion rate optimization can significantly impact your bottom line. Still, it’s also an investment, and understanding how CRO agencies price their work helps you decide what’s realistic for your budget and goals.
In this guide, we’ll break down what you actually get for that price: from staffing and software costs to implementation, testing, and how agency experience shapes ROI.
Quick version: How much does it cost to hire a conversion agency?
Let me give you general numbers, and then I will provide a detailed breakdown of different agency services.
Let me start by mentioning that the numbers below are for dedicated CRO agencies with at least 10+ full-time employees. I will discuss the rates charged by smaller CRO agencies in a separate section of the article.
The top-tier conversion optimization agencies (with a solid track record and at least 7 years of CRO experience) start at $10,000/month. Many of these agencies charge around $16,000 per month, with some charging upwards of $30,000.
Mid-tier CRO agencies (with a good track record but less field experience) will charge between $6,000 and $15,000 per month.
The lowest-tier CRO agencies (starting in CRO with less dedicated staff) will charge anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000 per month.
What Drives CRO Pricing?
Before we talk about what different agencies charge, it helps to understand where the money actually goes in a conversion optimization project.
A CRO engagement isn’t just about “running A/B tests.” It’s a structured program that blends strategy, design, development, analytics, and project management. And each comes with its own cost component.
Whether you hire a specialized CRO agency, a digital marketing firm, or an independent consultant, you’ll typically be paying for four main things:
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The team working on your project
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The software and tools used
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The implementation of A/B tests
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The final integration of winning variations into your website
Let’s look at each of these in more detail.
1. Cost related to the staff who are doing the CRO work
At the heart of every optimization program is a multidisciplinary team.
A typical CRO project includes:
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Conversion Strategist: Leads the research and identifies conversion barriers. Creates wireframes or hypotheses for what to test.
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UX/UI Designer: Turns those wireframes into test-ready designs.
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Front-End Developer: Builds the test variants in your A/B testing tool using JavaScript and CSS.
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QA Specialist: Ensures tests work across browsers, devices, and user journeys.
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Project Manager: Keeps everything on schedule and ensures learnings are documented.
Some smaller agencies combine these roles, but the difference between a junior generalist and a senior, specialized team is significant not only in cost, but in quality of insight and execution speed.
2. Software and tool costs
Most CRO agencies expect clients to cover the costs of third-party software used during the project. This typically includes:
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A/B testing platforms: for example, FigPii, VWO, or emerging tools like Kameleoon or Mutiny
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Heatmaps & session replays: e.g., FigPii, Hotjar, FullStory, Microsoft Clarity
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User feedback & surveys: e.g., Typeform, Usabilla, Maze
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Analytics integrations: e.g., GA4, Amplitude, Mixpanel
Estimated range: $200–$1,500/month, depending on traffic volume and number of tools.
3. A/B test implementation costs
The core of CRO is experimentation, and building tests can be time-intensive.
| Factor | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Average dev time per A/B test | 10–30 hours |
| Complex test (checkout flow, dynamic elements) | 40–80 hours |
| Number of tests/month | 2–12 depending on traffic |
Top-tier agencies handle full implementation internally, ensuring test velocity and QA are maintained.
If you rely on internal developers, expect delays. Traditional web development and A/B testing are very different skill sets.
4. Cost of hardcoding AB test winners on the site
You run an AB experiment, and you have a winner that shows an uplift in conversions. Yet, this winner is not the default design on your site. Someone will need to implement the new design on the site so it becomes the default. This cost will only apply when your experimentation program generates an uplift.
Before I discuss the costs of different CRO agencies, I will cover a few options to consider for running a conversion project.
CRO Provider Options: What Each Costs and Includes
Not every business needs the same type of conversion optimization support. Your best option and how much you’ll end up paying depend on your company’s size, internal resources, and growth goals.
Each model comes with its own cost structure, advantages, and trade-offs. Here are all your CRO provider options:
1. Hiring a digital marketing agency
Typical cost: $3,000 – $9,000 per month
This is a new trend that has taken hold over the last 4 to 5 years. Many firms that offer SEO, paid search, or social marketing are expanding and adding conversion marketing to their offer. Your results will depend on the company and the extent to which it invests in conversion optimization.
Pros of hiring a digital marketing firm:
- One company is responsible for all aspects of digital marketing.
- Full responsibility for the success of the CRO (and online marketing) program.
- Lower cost compared to specialized CRO firms.
Cons of hiring a digital marketing firm:
- One company is responsible for all aspects of digital marketing. Having multiple teams manage different parts of the online programs provides a level of checks and balances that is necessary for many businesses.
- Lack of specialization: Most digital marketing firms have added CRO as an afterthought and have not invested in it.
- Little attention to CRO: CRO is bundled with too many other services, and the digital marketing firm pays little attention to it.
2. Hiring a freelancer
There are some excellent CRO consultants available. At the same time, for every great CRO consultant, there are 1,000 who will NOT generate the results you expect.
Some of the best CROs I know prefer not to commit to a firm and enjoy working independently. At the same time, I have encountered some very shady freelancers who lack a clear understanding of CRO. The cost of hiring a freelancer ranges widely.
Cost of hiring a conversion optimization freelancer: Some of the top consultants will charge anywhere between $250 and $300 per hour. I would be wary of hiring a consultant who charges $10 to $40/hour. It does not mean that they are bad; you need to do more due diligence.
Pluses of hiring a CRO freelancer:
- No long-term contracts: When it comes to the contract, you hold power. It is rare to get stuck in a long-term contract
- You can hire fantastic talent at a reasonable cost.
- Individual attention. The contractor is focused on you and will do whatever it takes to ensure the project succeeds.
Cons of hiring a CRO freelancer:
- You are hiring an individual – no team behind him supports him to ensure deadlines are met
- Overworked freelancers – if you hired freelancers in the past, this should not come as a surprise. The freelancer who commits to too many projects at the same time starts dropping the ball and missing deadlines.
3. Hiring a specialized conversion optimization agency
As CRO became more popular, many agencies specializing in CRO services emerged. These firms will vary based on experience and staffing levels. Choosing the right CRO firm can be a bit tricky. I have written about different questions you should ask a conversion optimization agency before hiring them.
How much do smaller CRO agencies charge?
Some of the best CROs prefer to take on fewer clients. Some like a very specialized service. Our friend, Rishi Rawat, who runs frictionless commerce, specializes in helping Shopify-based companies optimize their product pages. Anil Batra built Optizent, a great agency focused on analytics implementation (Omniture and Google Analytics).
This article is not meant to cover the pros and cons of hiring a smaller or a larger CRO agency. They each have their place.
If you are going with a smaller agency, make sure they specialize in CRO (not hiring a digital agency that does 10 things, with CRO being one of them).
Smaller CRO agencies will charge anywhere from $5,000 to $8,000 per month.
How much do large CRO agencies charge?
These are agencies with at least 10-person staff. Most of them have at least 20 employees.
The top-tier conversion optimization agencies (those with a solid track record, having been doing CRO for at least 10 years) start at $10,000/month with a minimum commitment of 6 months. Most of these agencies charge around $16,000 per month, with some charging upwards of $30,000 per month.
Mid-tier CRO agencies (with a good track record but less field experience) will start charging between $5,000 and $8,000 per month.
The lowest-tier CRO agencies (starting in CRO with less dedicated staff) will begin to charge anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000 per month.
Pros of hiring a specialized CRO firm
- A highly specialized team that focuses on CRO, depending on experience, this can increase the chances of a successful project
- Tested process and methodology.
Cons of hiring a specialized CRO firm
- Some CRO teams do not fully understand the impact of their work on other aspects of digital marketing (they do not understand PPC, SEO, or social).
- Higher cost for the top firms.
Performance-based conversion optimization agencies
I get asked that question many times. Top-tier agencies do not do pay-per-performance. They have enough work coming their way, and they understand the complexity of identifying the revenue impact of their conversion work.
If you are looking for a pay-per-performance conversion optimization agency, you should expect to hire either a smaller agency or one just starting in CRO.
When we started CRO back in 2006, we experimented with a pay-per-performance model.
We were just getting started and thought this would be a win-win for the client and us. It made perfect sense for the client, as well. He got to reduce his upfront costs.
It was all fine until we ran the 2nd experiment, and got a winner with 35% uplift and 99% confidence. The client was not convinced. We ran the experiment twice more to ensure the results were consistent. They were. The client then asked to run the test using different testing software. We obliged. And again, the experiment showed that we have a clear winner. We were looking at a $45k payment.
The client disappeared for a couple of weeks. I then got a lengthy letter from the CEO trying to debunk AB testing altogether and all statistical analysis. After arguing back and forth, I made two decisions:
- We walked away from the contract.
- We will never take on a performance-based project again.
The most challenging part of these projects is agreeing on a straightforward methodology to determine the project’s actual revenue impact. Remember that an AB test shows a 15% uplift. It does NOT mean that you will generate a 15% uplift in revenue.
Fundamentally, I believe that a CRO project requires both the conversion firm and the client to invest. You will only succeed if everyone has skin in the game.
Just CRO recommendations – no development included
There are conversion optimization agencies that build a business by providing general conversion recommendations (best practices). They do not help with implementing these recommendations as AB tests on the client site.
You can find agencies that charge anywhere from $500/month to $3,500/month for CRO recommendations without including development work. I have many concerns about this type of work because I have yet to see it work.
Conversion Rate Optimization Services FAQs
1. What does a conversion rate optimization specialist do?
A Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) specialist analyzes website performance, user behavior, and design to identify and implement improvements that increase the percentage of visitors who take desired actions, such as making a purchase or filling out a form, ultimately maximizing the site’s effectiveness and ROI.
2. What services do Conversion Rate Optimization Freelancers offer?
Freelancers may offer a range of services, including website audits, user experience optimization, A/B testing, and personalized strategies to improve your website’s conversion performance.
3. How do Conversion Rate Optimization Consultants work?
Consultants employ data-driven strategies, conducting thorough analyses, A/B testing, and user behavior studies to identify and implement changes that positively impact conversion rates.
4. What factors influence Conversion Rate Optimization pricing?
Pricing can depend on the scope of services, the website’s complexity, the level of expertise required, and the expected impact on conversion rates.
5. Are there any Conversion Rate Optimization consultancy services that focus on specific industries?
Yes, some consultants specialize in specific industries, bringing industry-specific knowledge and expertise to optimize conversion strategies accordingly.
