SEO vs PPC calculator
Put in what a click costs you in ads and what SEO would cost a month. It shows the point where organic traffic becomes the cheaper click.
- Free
- No sign-up
- Nothing stored
Free tool · SEO vs PPC cost calculator
What would the same traffic cost as ads?
Use your own cost per click if you have one. Any currency works, as long as you use the same one throughout.
Buying that traffic with PPC
The starting cost per click is the 2026 all-industry search average from LocaliQ and WordStream. Your own varies a lot by industry and keyword, so check it in Google Ads' Keyword Planner.
Reading the result
Ads stop when you stop paying
Paid clicks are bought one at a time. The cost per click stays the same however long you run them.
SEO is a fixed cost
The monthly fee stays the same while the clicks grow, so the cost per click falls over time. Early on it’s usually the dearer of the two.
Most businesses use both
Ads for immediate enquiries and testing which searches convert; SEO for the traffic you don’t pay for each time.
02 Questions
What people ask
Where do I find my cost per click?
In Google Ads, under Campaigns. If you’ve never run ads, Keyword Planner gives estimated bid ranges.
How long before SEO beats ads on cost?
It depends on the site and the competition. My guide on how long SEO takes covers what’s realistic.
Does this include conversion rates?
No, it compares the cost of a click only. Organic and paid visitors can convert at different rates.
More free tools
— Next step
Start with a free SEO audit
Send me your site and you’ll get a short, honest read on what’s wrong. If you want the detail after that, the full audit is a paid piece of work, or part of a monthly plan.
- 01The main things holding your site back, in plain English
- 02Which of them are worth fixing first
- 03Whether a full audit or a monthly plan makes sense, or neither