CRO Agency Pricing Models: Retainer vs Project vs Performance-Based (2026)
CRO agencies charge in four main ways: a monthly retainer, a fixed-price project, a hybrid of the two, or performance-based pricing tied to the results of tests. None is right for everyone. Each model rewards something different, and the contract details matter more than the label.
This guide explains what each model rewards, the risks to watch for, what to put in a performance-based contract, and the questions to ask before you sign. We don't quote prices here; where an agency publishes its pricing, we link to it so you can see the current terms at the source.
Quick answer
The short answer: which model fits
- You want a predictable monthly cost and an ongoing programRetainer · Flat monthly fee
- You want a defined deliverable, such as an auditProject · Fixed scope, fixed price
- You want a base fee plus an upside tied to resultsHybrid · Retainer plus performance component
- You want the agency's pay tied to test resultsPerformance-based · Fees linked to measured lift
The four CRO pricing models
1. Monthly retainer
You pay a flat fee each month for an ongoing program: research, a set number of tests, reporting. It's a common model.
What it rewards: steady output and a long relationship. Watch for: paying for activity rather than outcomes. Ask how many tests run each month and who builds them.
2. Fixed-price project
You pay once for a defined deliverable, most often a CRO audit or a landing page build.
What it rewards: a clear scope and finish line. Watch for: a report with no one to implement it. Ask what happens after the deliverable.
3. Hybrid
A smaller base fee covers the team's time, plus a variable part tied to results.
What it rewards: shared risk while the agency still covers its costs. Watch for: a variable part so small it doesn't change behavior, or so complex nobody can calculate it.
4. Performance-based
The agency's fees are tied, wholly or partly, to the measured results of its tests. Structures vary: some agencies charge only for wins, others pair a base fee with a performance fee.
What it rewards: wins that hold up against a control. Watch for: vague definitions. The model is only as fair as the contract's definition of a win.
Retainer vs project vs performance-based, side by side
| Model | You pay for | Best when | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retainer | The team's ongoing time | You want a steady program and a predictable budget | Paying for activity, not outcomes |
| Project | A defined deliverable | You need an audit or a single build | No one owns implementation |
| Hybrid | Base time plus results | You want shared risk with a stable team | Complex terms |
| Performance-based | Measured results | You have enough traffic for reliable test reads | Disputes over what counts as a win |
Agencies that publish their pricing models
Some agencies publish how they charge. We link to their pricing pages rather than repeat their numbers, which change:
- Invesp describes three programs on the same platform and team: a performance program ("No lift, no fee"), a flat monthly fee program, and a foundation program by application (Invesp pricing).
- Spiralyze describes three models: a flat monthly fee, performance pricing with fees tied to test uplift, and a pilot on a small set of pages (Spiralyze pricing).
- ConversionTeam publishes a fixed-price audit project and month-to-month programs at a flat monthly fee, with a lift guarantee on some programs (ConversionTeam pricing).
- KlientBoost says it gives three pricing options based on your goals and marketing channels after you fill in a marketing plan form (KlientBoost pricing).
- ClickMint (that's us) uses performance-based pricing. We explain the details for your store on a call.
What to put in a performance-based CRO contract
Performance-based pricing only works if both sides agree on the rules before the first test. Get these in writing:
- The baseline. What the variant is compared against. A live control in an A/B test is the cleanest baseline; a before-and-after comparison is easy to argue about.
- The metric. Revenue per user, conversion rate, or both. Revenue-based metrics stop a test from "winning" on cheaper orders.
- What counts as a win. The confidence level and minimum run time before a result is called.
- The attribution window. How long a winner's results count toward fees after it ships.
- What happens to losing tests. If a test doesn't beat the control, it shouldn't ship, and you should know what it costs you.
- Who owns the work. Code, designs and test data when the engagement ends.
- What's billed separately. Testing tools, development, design or setup.
Questions to ask any CRO agency about pricing
- Which pricing models do you offer, and which do most clients choose?
- What exactly is included each month: research, design, development, QA, tools?
- How many tests should we expect, and who decides what gets tested?
- How do you define a winning test?
- What's the minimum contract length, and how do we exit?
- Who owns the code and data afterward?
For help comparing agencies themselves, see our best ecommerce CRO agencies list, and our explainers on CRO and ROAS and how long CRO takes.
How ClickMint charges
ClickMint is an agent-led CRO agency, run by operators, and uses performance-based pricing. Tests are prioritized from a channel-by-channel diagnosis, and if a test doesn't beat the control, it doesn't ship. Winners are scaled only after lift is proven. Setup is one snippet, no store access.
We work with DTC brands on Shopify and other eCommerce platforms. If you'd like to see whether it fits your store, request a free audit.
FAQ
How do CRO agencies charge?
Most use one of four models: a monthly retainer, a fixed-price project such as an audit, a hybrid of base fee and performance component, or performance-based pricing tied to test results.
What is performance-based CRO pricing?
It's a model where the agency's fees are tied to the measured results of its tests, usually compared against a control. The contract should define the baseline, metric, win criteria and attribution window.
Is performance-based pricing better than a retainer?
It depends on your traffic and priorities. Performance-based pricing lines up the agency's pay with results, but it needs enough traffic for reliable test reads and clear contract terms. A retainer gives budget predictability.
Which CRO agencies offer performance-based pricing?
ClickMint (that's us) uses performance-based pricing. Invesp and Spiralyze also describe performance options on their pricing pages.
What should I ask before signing a CRO contract?
Ask what's included, how a winning test is defined, how many tests to expect, who owns the code and data, and what's billed separately.
How does ClickMint's pricing work?
ClickMint uses performance-based pricing. We'll explain the details for your store on a short call.
Written by the ClickMint team. Details about other agencies' pricing models come from their published pricing pages, checked October 27, 2026. Pricing changes, so please confirm current terms on each site. Spot something out of date? Let us know and we'll update it.
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