Researched agency ranking
Best AEO Agencies in Australia (2026)
12 Australian AEO agencies compared on AI search services, client proof and pricing, picked from the 19 AEO agencies in our directory that serve Australia.
- Agencies reviewed
- 19
- Median minimum
- $2,500/mo
- Based locally
- 18 of 19
- Average rating
- 4.92
On this page
- Quick answer
- Key takeaways
- Comparison table
- The 12 best AEO agencies in Australia
- Best Australia AEO agency by need
- How much AEO agencies in Australia cost
- How we ranked them
- How to choose an Australia AEO agency
- Agency vs freelancer vs in-house
- What an Australia AEO agency does
- FAQ
- More AEO agencies in Australia
- Related rankings
Which Australia AEO agency is best?
The best AEO agencies in Australia are StudioHawk in Melbourne for scale, Prosperity Media in Sydney for LLM research, Impressive Digital for performance-linked fees, Earned Media for AI visibility reporting and Optimising for SEO-only focus. UltraGrowthMedia is the pick for teams that want AEO and outbound run by one team. The median minimum across the 19 agencies we track is $2,500 a month.
Key takeaways
- Among the best AEO agencies in Australia, price is lower than in the US or UK: the median minimum is $2,500 a month and none of the 19 agencies we track sit in the premium tier.
- 47% of agencies start below $1,000 a month and 53% sit in the $1,000 to $5,000 band, which makes an AEO pilot realistic for a small business.
- 18 of 19 agencies are Australian, with strong clusters in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane. Perth sits two to three hours behind the east coast, so check which team you need.
- Hourly rates cluster at a flat $150 (30% of agencies that publish rates) and $150 to $199 (30%), so most local firms charge similar rates and proof is what separates them.
- Several picks list Australian award wins, mostly agency-reported, from the APAC Search Awards. Ask for the year and category before treating a badge as evidence.
Best AEO agencies in Australia compared
| # | Agency | Best for | Min. budget | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UltraGrowthMedia | Remote-first option for AEO and outbound | $3,000 | ★4.9 |
| 2 | StudioHawk | Overall for a large SEO-only team | $1,000 | ★4.8 (119) |
| 3 | Prosperity Media | Original AI search research | $5,000 | ★4.9 (15) |
| 4 | Impressive | Performance-linked fees | Not published | ★4.8 (138) |
| 5 | Earned Media | LLM visibility reporting | $1,000 | ★4.9 (4) |
| 6 | Optimising | A pure SEO specialist with GEO | Not published | ★5.0 (61) |
| 7 | Digital Hitmen | Local and multi-location search in WA | $2,500 | ★5.0 (100) |
| 8 | Online Path | Not-for-profits and local businesses | $1,000 | ★5.0 (123) |
| 9 | Content Chemistry | B2B and HubSpot teams | $2,500 | ★4.9 (28) |
| 10 | Searcht | Published retainer tiers | $1,000 | ★4.9 (9) |
| 11 | Shout Digital | Retail and finance brands | $1,000 | ★4.9 (7) |
| 12 | Bloom Digital | Small SEO agency in Western Australia | $2,500 | ★4.9 (53) |
Ratings are public Clutch, G2 or Google averages with review counts in brackets. Minimums are monthly unless stated.
The 12 best AEO agencies in Australia in 2026
Each agency below leads a specific category. Start with the one that matches your situation rather than reading top to bottom.
#1Best remote-first option for AEO and outbound
UltraGrowthMedia
Full-stack marketing for ambitious growth-stage brands.
UltraGrowthMedia builds answer engine optimisation for brands that want to be named when buyers ask ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity or Google AI Overviews for a recommendation. The work covers entity clean-up, schema markup, third-party citation building and answer-style content, and because the same team runs SEO, cold email and LinkedIn outbound, AI visibility is tied to pipeline rather than reported on its own. Founded in 2022 by Tushar Dey, the 27-person remote team works in weekly sprints, clients talk directly to the practitioners doing the work, and progress shows up on live reporting dashboards. Retainers start at $3,500 a month.
Watch out
It is a small team with limited monthly capacity, and no in-person meetings in Australia.
Run by our team.
#2Best overall for a large SEO-only team
StudioHawk
Prahran-born SEO specialist with 120+ staff across Melbourne, Sydney, London and Atlanta
StudioHawk is a Melbourne agency founded in 2015 with a 4.8 rating from 119 reviews and a $1,000 minimum. Its team does only search, from technical and enterprise SEO to AI search optimisation covering ChatGPT and Gemini. Clients include Officeworks, City Beach, Clarks and Kogan, and it reports four APAC Search Awards wins for Best Large SEO Agency. The free Hawk Academy training platform signals in-house expertise.
Notable clients
- Officeworks
- City Beach
- Clarks
- PetStock
- Kogan
- New Balance
Watch out
It does no paid media or social, and smaller clients may not get senior attention at its scale.
#3Best for original AI search research
Prosperity Media
Surry Hills SEO and GEO specialist built around content, links and LLM citations
Prosperity Media, based in Sydney, lists generative engine optimisation next to enterprise and ecommerce SEO, migrations and digital PR. It has published research on which sources language models cite in Australia, which is directly useful for local AEO. Clients include IAG, St George, Danone, Oneflare and HealthEngine, and it reports winning Best Large SEO Agency at the APAC Search Awards 2025.
Notable clients
- IAG
- St George
- Danone
- Pepsi
- Oneflare
- RateCity
Watch out
The $200 to $300 hourly band is high locally, and its most recent Clutch review dates from 2023.
#4Best for performance-linked fees
Impressive
Cremorne performance agency pairing SEO and paid media with performance-linked fees
Impressive Digital is a Melbourne agency, founded in 2016, with 4.8 across 138 reviews. It lists AI SEO and generative engine optimisation alongside paid, Amazon and conversion work. Fees can be linked to agreed targets such as revenue or CPA, on rolling terms. It is a Google Premier Partner, HubSpot Gold partner and Certified B Corp, and names Mattel Australia, Hertz, iSelect and MAAP as clients.
Notable clients
- Mattel Australia
- Nine West
- Telstra Super
- ASX
- Hertz
- iSelect
Watch out
Its published $3,000 to $15,000 monthly range sits beyond many small businesses, and its results figures are self-reported.
#5Best for LLM visibility reporting
Earned Media
Founder-led Sydney SEO and GEO pod with link earning and its own LLM-tracking tool
Earned Media is a Sydney agency, founded in 2019, whose Clutch profile lists 100% of its work as SEO. It built the EMintel platform for live language-model probing and AI visibility reporting, and counts Salesforce, Rippling, Macquarie Data Centres and Charles Sturt University as clients. It was an APAC Search Awards finalist in 2025 and 2026, and starts at $1,000.
Notable clients
- Salesforce
- Rippling
- Macquarie Data Centres
- Charles Sturt University
- Camplify
- Fresha
Watch out
It has only four Clutch reviews, the latest from 2023, and it offers no paid media.
#6Best for a pure SEO specialist with GEO
Optimising
Richmond SEO-only shop since 2008, B Corp certified, strong on migrations and eCommerce
Optimising is a Melbourne agency doing only SEO for more than 17 years, now with AI visibility audits and GEO campaigns. It is a Certified B Corp and 1% for the Planet member, and shows 5.0 across roughly 60 Google reviews, as displayed by the agency. Chemist Warehouse, adidas and Nando's are named clients (agency-reported). Its migration and enterprise ecommerce skills suit large retail sites.
Notable clients
- adidas
- Chemist Warehouse
- Nando's
- Jim's Group
- St Agni
- FY Smile
Watch out
The team is about 16 people, and no pricing or case-study figures are published.
#7Best for local and multi-location search in WA
Digital Hitmen
Award-heavy Perth SEO agency known for local and low-budget search wins
Digital Hitmen is a Perth agency that won the Search Engine Land Award for Best Local Search Marketing Initiative in 2024 and 2025. It lists AI search optimisation and GEO beside local, Shopify and technical SEO, and has about 100 Google reviews at 5.0. It reports 179% more organic bookings for Aries Car Rental, starts at $2,500 and has a Margaret River office for South West clients.
Notable clients
- Aries Car Rental
- Kitchen Warehouse
- The Unusual Pet Vets
- Online Flooring Store
- Elite Tune
- Jaram Australia
Watch out
Results figures come from its own releases, and the small team is less suited to large multi-market programmes.
#8Best for not-for-profits and local businesses
Online Path
Family-owned Adelaide Google Partner for SEO, PPC and Ad Grants
Online Path, based in Adelaide, lists GEO and AEO with local SEO, and runs a dedicated Google Ad Grants service for not-for-profits. It has 123 Google reviews averaging 5.0, no lock-in contracts and a $1,000 minimum. A case study reports 367% more conversions for Heaps Good Solar. Its clients lean to SMBs in healthcare, retail, education and energy.
Notable clients
- Heaps Good Solar
- XL Concrete
- Nuago
- Foil Me
- Curaprox
- Viterra
Watch out
Award claims on its site lack specific years, and evidence of large enterprise programmes is limited.
#9Best for B2B and HubSpot teams
Content Chemistry
Sydney B2B agency running SEO, AEO and demand gen on HubSpot
Content Chemistry is a Sydney B2B agency with SEO and AI search optimisation (AEO) alongside HubSpot RevOps and demand generation. It holds 4.9 from 28 reviews in HubSpot's directory, a $2,500 minimum and a HubSpot Impact Award. It reports a 24x rise in organic traffic for CFO Dynamics and names nib, Investa and Uber for Business as clients, with fintech and property experience.
Notable clients
- nib
- Investa
- Uber for Business
- First Sentier Investors
- Nanosonics
- RateMyAgent
Watch out
It is closely tied to HubSpot, and pricing and headcount are not fully published.
#10Best for published retainer tiers
Searcht
Small Brisbane search shop with published SEO retainers and AI-search monitoring
Searcht is a Brisbane agency with a founder who has over 15 years in SEO. It publishes retainers from AUD $2,500 to $10,000 a month and includes AI search visibility monitoring and entity optimisation in higher tiers. It reports an 800% ROAS gain and 161% more bookings from blog content for SkinKandy, and was a finalist at the APAC Search Awards 2024.
Notable clients
- SkinKandy
- Zero Co
- Leading Teams
Watch out
The team is very small, and its nine Clutch reviews include several that are years old.
#11Best for retail and finance brands
Shout Digital
Hawthorn East growth agency since 2010, SEO and paid search for retail and finance brands
Shout Digital, a Melbourne agency trading since 2010, lists AI search optimisation across ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity, plus ChatGPT ads. It names Repco, Bondi Sands, Bed Bath N' Table, Moula and Decjuba, has offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, and starts at $1,000. Senior hires come from Kmart Australia, Country Road Group and REA Group, which suits retail marketers.
Notable clients
- Repco
- Bondi Sands
- Bed Bath N' Table
- Cocobella
- Decjuba
- Moula
Watch out
Few public Clutch-style reviews exist, and its results figures are self-published.
#12Best small SEO agency in Western Australia
Bloom Digital
Subiaco boutique agency blending SEO, web design and branding for Perth SMBs
Bloom Digital, a Perth agency from 2017, lists GEO within SEO, web design and paid ads, and won Best Small SEO Agency at the APAC Search Awards 2025. Its 4.9 rating across 53 reviews and $2,500 minimum suit local firms. Case studies include several Perth clients such as Shire of Laverton and Optilase, and an optional coaching service helps owners build skills.
Notable clients
- Shire of Laverton
- Bowen Buchbinder Vilensky
- Optilase Laser Eye Surgery
- WISE Collective
- Hermona Health
- Perth Health Collective
Watch out
Case studies list projects but few quantified outcomes, and web and brand work dilute its SEO focus.
Best Australia AEO agency by need
AEO plus outbound, remoteUltraGrowthMedia
Large SEO-only teamStudioHawk
AI search research for AustraliaProsperity Media
Fees linked to targetsImpressive
LLM visibility reportingEarned Media
SEO-only specialistOptimising
Perth and local searchDigital Hitmen
Not-for-profitsOnline Path
B2B and HubSpotContent Chemistry
Published retainer tiersSearcht
How much does an Australia AEO agency cost in 2026?
Australian AEO pricing is the lowest of the large markets, with no premium tier in our data. These figures use the minimums of the 19 agencies in our directory, which Clutch lists in US dollars, so confirm Australian dollar quotes and GST.
| Tier | Monthly minimum | Share of agencies | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Under $1,000/mo | 47% | Local businesses starting an AI search pilot with a small team. |
| Mid-market | $1,000 to $5,000/mo | 53% | SMBs and mid-market brands wanting ongoing AEO and SEO. |
| Premium | Over $5,000/mo | 0% | Not seen among Australian agencies in this pool. |
Source: published minimum budgets of AEO agencies in Australia in the MakeSuccessOnline directory, October 2026.
Median minimum budget by region
The most common hourly bands are a flat $150 (30% of agencies that publish rates) and $150 to $199 (30%), followed by $50 to $99 (10%).
How we chose the best AEO agencies in Australia
We started with the 19 AEO agencies in the MakeSuccessOnline directory that serve Australia, 18 headquartered there, and scored each on six criteria. Profiles were researched from agency sites plus independent sources such as Clutch, Google reviews, HubSpot and award listings.
- AI search and AEO capabilityA named AEO or GEO service backed by a described method, tool or published research.25%
- Australian client proofNamed Australian clients and dated, attributable results.20%
- Reviews and awardsReview volume and rating, plus APAC and Search Engine Land award evidence, flagged where agency-reported.20%
- Price and termsPublished minimums, retainer tiers and contract flexibility.15%
- SpecialisationDepth in a channel or sector such as SEO-only, ecommerce or B2B.10%
- Team and tenureYears trading, headcount and signs of senior involvement.10%
Rankings are editorial. Agencies cannot pay to appear on this page or to change their position. Read how we review agencies →
How to choose an Australia AEO agency
- Pick the right city teamMelbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide agencies each know local search markets. Choose one near your customers if you sell locally.
- Check the award evidenceMany local badges are agency-reported. Ask for the year, category and entry details before giving weight to them.
- Test AEO in Australian promptsAsk the agency to show how your brand appears in ChatGPT and Gemini for Australian queries, and what it would change.
- Compare retainers and termsLook at what each tier includes, and note which agencies run rolling terms or link fees to targets.
- Confirm currency and GSTAsk for Australian dollar quotes, state whether GST is included and check how invoices are issued.
- Plan around time zonesPerth sits two to three hours behind the east coast, so agree meeting windows if your team spans both.
Questions to ask
- Which Australian clients have you grown AI visibility for, and over what period?
- Which Australian publishers and directories will you target for citations?
- Do you quote in Australian dollars, and does the price include GST?
- Who will run our account, and in which city are they based?
- How do you report ChatGPT and Gemini mentions next to organic traffic?
- What are the notice period and exit terms?
Red flags
- Award claims with no year or category.
- Case studies that name no Australian client.
- A flat price for 'AI SEO' with no reporting on AI mentions.
- Lock-in contracts where peers offer rolling terms.
- Results presented only as percentage gains with no baseline.
Australia AEO agency vs freelancer vs in-house
| Australian AEO agency | Freelancer | In-house team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | $1,000 to $10,000+/mo | Hourly or per project | Salary plus tools |
| Skills covered | Technical, content, PR, AI reporting | One or two areas | Depends on hire |
| Speed to start | 2 to 4 weeks | Days | 2 to 3 months to hire |
| Best for | Local retail, services and B2B programmes | Audits and small projects | Large sites with ongoing content |
| Main risk | Overstated award claims | Capacity and holidays | Hard to recruit AI search skills |
What does an Australia AEO agency do?
An Australian AEO agency helps businesses in Australia get cited in answers from ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews. The work covers auditing how AI tools describe your brand, fixing technical SEO and structured data, writing content that answers local questions, earning mentions from Australian publishers and directories, and tracking citations. Most also run SEO and paid search because the same site quality supports each.
Australia AEO agency FAQ
Which are the best AEO agencies in Australia?
StudioHawk leads on scale, Prosperity Media on AI search research, Impressive Digital on performance-linked fees and Earned Media on LLM reporting. Optimising suits SEO-only buyers and Digital Hitmen suits local search. UltraGrowthMedia, based in the US, adds outbound. Choose by sector and city.
How much does an AEO agency cost in Australia?
The median minimum across the 19 agencies we track is $2,500 a month, with 47% starting below $1,000 and 53% between $1,000 and $5,000. None sit in the premium tier. Hourly rates cluster at $150 and $150 to $199. Clutch figures are in US dollars.
How long does AEO take in Australia?
Expect about a month for audit and fixes, then three to six months for steady citation gains. Local queries can move faster than national ones. Ask for early signs to track in the first 90 days, such as mention share across ChatGPT and Gemini.
Should I hire a local or remote AEO agency in Australia?
A local agency is easy to find, as 18 of 19 agencies we track are Australian. Local teams share your hours and know Australian sources. A remote agency such as UltraGrowthMedia can work for B2B firms that prioritise cross-channel work, with calls arranged around a large time gap.
Do Australian AEO agencies charge GST?
Most Australian businesses add GST to invoices, but it varies by agency and client. Clutch lists prices in US dollars, so ask for an Australian dollar quote that states whether GST is included. Confirm this before you compare retainers across agencies.
Is AEO different from SEO in Australia?
Yes in aim. SEO ranks pages in results, while AEO gets your brand named in AI answers. All 19 agencies in our data offer AI search work, usually next to SEO. Ask for separate reports so you can see citations and organic traffic on their own.
How do I choose an AEO agency in Australia?
Check named Australian clients, review volume and the agency's AEO method. Compare retainer scope, not only price, and confirm city, currency and GST. Treat award badges as agency-reported unless you can verify them, and meet the person who will run your account.
Is there an affordable AEO agency in Australia?
Several list $1,000 minimums: StudioHawk, Online Path, Earned Media, Searcht and Shout Digital. Soup Agency also lists a $50 to $99 hourly band. Small teams mean limited capacity, and some have few recent reviews, so check references and the scope included at that price.
More AEO agencies in Australia
Well-reviewed AEO agencies in Australia that did not make the top list but may suit your market.
Browse all 19 AEO agencies in Australia →
About the reviewer
Editor & Reviewer, MakeSuccessOnline
William Harrison is an editor and reviewer at MakeSuccessOnline. Before a ranking goes live, he checks every claim on the page against each agency's own site, its published case studies and independent reviews on Clutch and G2, and cuts anything he can't verify. He also keeps rankings current, rechecking pricing, team details and client lists as agencies change.