ButterSmartSites and Butter both serve small businesses, both publish clear pricing, and both help brands show up in AI search. That makes this a closer comparison than most. The main differences are price point, how the work is structured, and how many channels you want covered.
This page walks through each option fairly. Details about SmartSites come from its own website as of October 2026, so confirm current pricing on its pages.
Who SmartSites is
SmartSites was founded in 2011 in New Jersey and is a family-run business led by the Melen brothers, according to SmartSites' about page. It works mainly with small and midsize businesses and mid-market companies.
SmartSites' site says it has made the Inc. 5000 list 10 times and highlights a large number of client reviews. Those recognitions and review counts are self-reported.
Pricing and contracts compared
SmartSites is upfront about cost. As of October 2026, SmartSites' SEO page says "SEO starts at $2,600 a month." That reflects a 40-hour monthly minimum at $65 per hour, and setup is free.
SmartSites' site does not state a contract term as of October 2026. It does say clients can change plans and that clients own their work, which is a client-friendly policy. Ask about terms before you sign.
Butter's pricing is published and fixed. The GEO plan is $399 per month, and the GEO+SEO plan is $799 per month. There are no contracts, and you can cancel anytime. Add-ons include PR from $299 per month, AI Ads inside ChatGPT at $399 per month for management, and Social Media at $499 per month.
Both companies are transparent, which makes comparison easy. SmartSites prices by hours of work, while Butter prices by a defined list of monthly deliverables. Butter's GEO+SEO plan costs less than a third of SmartSites' SEO starting price.
Services and AI search
SmartSites offers SEO, PPC (including ChatGPT Ads), email and SMS marketing, social media, and web design. Clients get access to its Client Hub dashboard, which includes AI Search Insights.
SmartSites also has a dedicated AI search optimization page, so it is a real option for AI search work. Notably, both SmartSites and Butter offer advertising inside ChatGPT, so that is not a point of difference between them.
Butter focuses on generative engine optimization and SEO. The GEO plan includes monthly AI prompt testing and indexing strategy, one AI-crawlable content citation and backlink each month, knowledge graph submissions, schema markup guidance, monthly reporting, on-page and off-page recommendations, and unlimited support. The GEO+SEO plan adds 8 AI-generated articles published monthly, unlimited on-page optimization, one quality backlink each month, technical SEO fixes, and the Butter Analytics dashboard with 85+ integrations, including Google Analytics and Search Console.
When SmartSites is the better choice
SmartSites is a good choice if you want a dedicated block of hours each month and a team that can also handle PPC, email and SMS, and web design. Its free setup and clear hourly pricing make budgeting simple, and owning your work is a meaningful protection. If you are a growing small or mid-market business with a budget of $2,600 or more per month for SEO, SmartSites is worth a close look.
When Butter is the better choice
Butter is the better choice if you want to get started with AI search and SEO at a lower monthly cost. Plans start at $399 per month, each plan lists exactly what you get, and there are no contracts. You can begin with GEO, step up to GEO+SEO, and add PR, ChatGPT ads, or social media later. For a small business that wants predictable deliverables more than a bank of hours, Butter is a natural fit.
Frequently asked questions
How much does SmartSites cost compared to Butter?
As of October 2026, SmartSites' SEO page says SEO starts at $2,600 per month, based on a 40-hour minimum at $65 per hour, with free setup. Butter's GEO plan is $399 per month and its GEO+SEO plan is $799 per month.
Does SmartSites require a contract?
SmartSites' site does not state a contract term, but it says clients can change plans and own their work. Butter has no contracts, and you can cancel anytime.
Do both SmartSites and Butter offer AI search services?
Yes. SmartSites has an AI search optimization page and AI Search Insights in its Client Hub dashboard. Butter's GEO plan covers monthly prompt testing, AI-crawlable citations, knowledge graph submissions, and schema markup guidance.