SEO vs Ads Profitability
Compare what a keyword is worth to rank for organically vs paying for it.
Whether to invest in SEO content or paid ads for a given keyword is rarely obvious. SEO has higher upfront cost and longer payoff but compounds; ads pay results immediately but stop the moment you stop paying. This tool combines four inputs - target keywords, your conversion rate, customer LTV, and the SEO rank you can realistically reach - and outputs a per-keyword ROI comparison. For each keyword you'll see expected monthly clicks at your target rank, expected SEO conversions and monthly value, what one paid conversion would cost via Google Ads, and a recommendation: SEO, ads, both, or skip. Use it before committing to a content sprint, when sizing a paid campaign, or to settle the eternal SEO-vs-paid debate for a specific niche. Powered by live Google Ads data, free to use.
Frequently asked questions
What conversion rate should I use?
Use your actual measured conversion rate if you have one. Industry averages: 2% for SaaS, 1-3% for ecommerce, 5-10% for lead-gen / B2B services, 8-15% for email signup pages. If you don't know, start with 2% and adjust as you collect data.
What does 'expected SEO rank' mean?
The position you can realistically achieve given your domain authority. New sites should expect rank 5-10 for medium-difficulty keywords, rank 3-5 for low-difficulty. Use the Keyword Difficulty Checker to size each keyword first.
Why is the verdict 'skip' sometimes?
When search volume is too low to matter (under 50/mo) or when both paid and organic ROI are negative for your LTV. Skip means the keyword isn't worth chasing in either channel.
Does this account for organic CTR by position?
Yes - uses an industry-standard CTR curve (~28% at rank 1, 15% at rank 2, 10% at rank 3, dropping rapidly). Real CTR varies by SERP features (featured snippets, ads, etc.).
Long-form guides on the strategy behind the tool.
SaaS Marketing: A Founder's Guide (2026)
How to market a SaaS without a marketing team - SEO, content, distribution, and AI search for indie founders.
Read guide →App Marketing: A Founder's Playbook
How to market an app from zero - SEO, ASO, paid, distribution, and the channels that compound.
Read guide →SaaS SEO Strategy: The Complete Playbook
Build a SaaS SEO strategy from zero: keyword research, content clusters, on-page tactics, and pSEO that compounds.
Read guide →More free SEO tools
Free tools to plan, audit, and ship better SEO pages.
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