Alphaa vs. an SEO agency.
$24,000 a year, or $1,188.
The main difference between Alphaa and a traditional SEO agency is who does the work and for which search engine. An agency sells monthly hours, usually on a contract, mostly aimed at Google rankings. Alphaa is an AI agent that works every week to get you named in ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity answers, from $99 a month.
SEO agency vs. Alphaa, side by side.
| Feature | SEO agency | Alphaa |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | Around $2,000/month ($24,000/year); varies widely | $99/month ($1,188/year). Pro $199, Full Service $299 |
| Contract | Often 6–12 months | Month to month. Cancel in two clicks |
| Main target | Google blue-link rankings and Maps | Being named in ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity answers |
| Who does the work | Account manager + specialists, a few hours a month | An AI agent, every week. You approve anything public |
| Checks AI answers | Rarely, and usually by hand | Every week, across four AI assistants |
| What you get each month | A report and a call | Finished work: posts, FAQs, structured data, llms.txt, review replies |
| Speed | Waits for the next sprint or meeting | Starts in minutes; weekly cycle |
| Link building & PR | Yes — a real strength | No |
| Website redesigns & ads | Often offered | No |
Competitor details from their public websites, checked September 25, 2026. Sources below.
Credit where it’s due.
What a good agency does well
- Human strategy for competitive, high-budget markets.
- Link building, digital PR and outreach — work software can’t do.
- Site rebuilds, paid ads and big technical projects.
- One throat to choke when you want someone accountable.
Where Alphaa is different
- Built for AI answers first, not ten blue links.
- It does the work instead of reporting on it.
- Checks ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity every week.
- About a twentieth of the price, with no contract.
Your SEO agency charges $2,000 a month
for a job AI is taking over.
Even a “good” Google SEO agency leaves you invisible where customers are actually asking questions today.
A monthly PDF full of jargon and vanity metrics. You have no idea if it worked.
One line: what it did today, what changed, what it needs from you.
6-month minimums, 12-month contracts, exit fees. Locked in before they deliver.
Month to month. Cancel in two clicks. It only stays if the AIs keep saying your name.
Google’s ten blue links. Ask about ChatGPT or Claude and watch them stumble.
Getting you recommended by AI assistants is the only thing it does.
Which should you choose?
Choose SEO agency if…
- You need links, PR, a new website or paid ads managed.
- You’re in a very competitive market with a budget to match.
- You want a person on a monthly call.
Choose Alphaa if…
- You want to be the business AI recommends in your area.
- You’d rather see finished work than a report.
- You don’t want a 12-month contract.
What does a $2,000-a-month SEO agency retainer pay for?
Mostly people’s hours: an account manager, some keyword research, a few blog posts, technical fixes and a monthly report. An Ahrefs survey of 439 SEO providers found agencies averaged around $3,209 a month, so ~$2,000 is a normal local-business retainer.
Most of those hours go to Google rankings. Very few agencies check what ChatGPT or Perplexity say about you, because it isn’t in the report yet.
Why does AI search change the agency model?
AI assistants don’t show ten links. They name two or three businesses. What decides that is readable facts on your site, structured data, reviews AI can read, consistent profiles and fresh answers to real questions — repeatable work an agent can do every week.
That’s why Alphaa can cost $99. The repeatable work is done by software; a person only steps in on Full Service, to install things on your site.
Can I use both an agency and Alphaa?
Yes. Plenty of owners keep an agency for links or ads and use Alphaa for AI answers. Alphaa’s weekly note shows which AI assistants name you and why, which also keeps the agency honest.
Want the long version? Read the full guide →
Questions, answered.
Is Alphaa cheaper than an SEO agency?
Yes. A typical local SEO agency retainer is around $2,000 a month ($24,000 a year). Alphaa starts at $99 a month ($1,188 a year), which saves up to $22,800 a year.
Does Alphaa require a contract?
No. Alphaa is month to month and you can cancel in two clicks. Many agencies ask for 6 to 12 months.
Do SEO agencies optimize for ChatGPT?
Some are starting to, but most agency work and reporting is still built around Google rankings. Alphaa checks ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity every week and fixes what stops them naming you.
Can Alphaa replace my SEO agency?
For AI visibility, Google Business Profile posts, FAQs, structured data and review replies, yes. For link building, PR, website redesigns or paid ads, keep a specialist.
Who publishes changes to my website?
You approve everything public. On Starter and Pro you publish with one tap or send it to your web person. On Full Service, a person on our team installs it for you.
Sources
Checked September 25, 2026. Prices and features change — check each vendor’s site for the latest.
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