Break the quote into clear tasks
An SEO or GEO price means little without a description. One package may provide only a report; another includes research, page creation, technical integration and recurring improvements. Ask which tasks the provider handles and which remain with your team.
Distinguish a baseline assessment from ongoing work. A baseline describes the starting position within selected questions and platforms. Improving information, publishing changes and measuring again then takes time and expertise.
Check dependencies too. Who supplies product knowledge, who can edit the website and who manages the accounts? Clear ownership for each task prevents a finished report from sitting unused for months.
| Feature | Ask the provider |
|---|---|
| Research | Which questions, platforms and competitors will you investigate? |
| Delivery | Which pages and improvements will you create yourselves? |
| Technical setup | What access and integration are required? |
| Measurement | Which raw data and definitions will I receive? |
| Collaboration | What does my team supply and who reviews the content? |
| Term | When do I pay and what cancellation terms apply? |
What do cognito subscriptions cost?
cognito costs €299 per month, excluding VAT. The package includes a full baseline assessment in month one, 100+ customer questions, four AI models with Google measured separately, comparison with three competitors, the answer layer and monthly reporting.
cognito Plus costs €499 per month, excluding VAT. Plus offers deeper research, business information management and a quarterly analysis. cognito Agent costs €899 per month and adds a managed data source, one agreed system integration and one enquiry flow.
All three monthly subscriptions can be cancelled monthly. There are no setup fees or usage surcharges within the agreed activities. You start with an enquiry; payment and delivery are confirmed before you agree.
Compare everything includedAnnual payment means exactly 10% off
With annual billing, you pay twelve monthly fees with exactly 10% off, upfront for twelve months. For cognito, that is 12 × €299 × 0.90 = €3,229.20. For Plus, it is 12 × €499 × 0.90 = €5,389.20. For Agent, it is 12 × €899 × 0.90 = €9,709.20. All prices exclude VAT.
Compare an annual price with the same period in another quote. You can divide it by twelve for internal budgeting, but do not confuse that equivalent amount with a monthly payment agreement. Monthly cancellation applies to monthly payment.
An annual agreement suits a business that can plan its commitment and work in advance. Choose the payment period based on your plans and agreed work, not just the displayed discount.
The custom website is a separate one-off cost
A standalone custom website costs a one-off €1,999. With an annual cognito subscription it costs €499. It is included with annual Plus or Agent billing. With monthly billing, the website costs €1,999. Design, pages, features, hosting and delivery are agreed in advance.
Example: one year of cognito plus the website costs €3,728.20 excluding VAT: €3,229.20 for the subscription and €499 for the website. One year of Plus with a website costs €5,389.20 excluding VAT. The website discount does not change the subscription discount percentage.
A calculator, configurator or integration may require additional work. Define inputs, calculation rules, data sources and maintenance before commissioning it. The website price is not an unlimited budget for bespoke software.
Explore custom website optionsCompare the costs with a realistic scenario
Use your own conversion rate and margin to assess the contribution needed to cover the investment. Include your own time, additional software and one-off costs where they belong to the project. Always compare the same period for annual and monthly payment.
Build conservative, middle and higher scenarios. Identify which assumption makes the difference. If conversion is particularly uncertain, improve measurement before using a projected return to support a decision.
When comparing providers, also define the outcome you need: better product selection, suitable enquiries or more insight into visibility. A lower price for a dashboard alone is not the same service as research with delivery.
Model the costs in a scenarioFrequently asked questions
Can I compare the free scan with a paid package?
The free scan is a limited first impression using around 20 questions in ChatGPT. The paid package includes broader research, delivery and recurring measurements.
Are these average market prices?
No. These are current cognito prices. Use the checklist to compare other quotes by scope, term and total cost.
