SEO vs Google Ads Comparator | Free

Campaign Settings

Monthly budget

Campaign Duration

6 mois 12 mois 24 mois 36 mois

Industry / Topic

Average Google Ads CPC

Conversion rate

Valeur moyenne d'un client

Organic SEO

Total investment —

Revenue at M36 —

ROI at M36 —

Break-even —

Cumulative traffic — continues after stop

Google Ads

Total investment —

Revenue at M36 —

ROI at M36 —

Post-Budget Revenue 0 €

Traffic = 0 when budget stops

Calculate to see which channel is most profitable

Month	SEO Rev./Month	Cumulative SEO	SEO ROI	Ads Rev./mois	Cumulative Ads	Ads ROI
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SEO vs Google Ads: The Long-Term Match

Le comparateur SEO vs Google Ads simule l'évolution de vos revenus et de votre ROI sur 36 mois pour deux stratégies radicalement différentes. L'objectif : vous aider à choisir le canal le plus rentable selon votre budget, votre secteur et votre horizon de temps.

How does the SEO model work

SEO follows a sigmoid curve: slow at first (months 1–3), progressive acceleration (months 3–12), then capitalization (months 12+). Acquired traffic continues to generate revenue even after the campaign ends, with a natural decline of 3.5%/month without new investment.

Our model calculates maximum potential traffic based on your budget and industry, then applies the sigmoid curve to project revenue month by month.

How does the Google Ads model work

Ads deliver immediate results: from the first month, your budget generates clicks (budget / CPC), leads (clicks × conversion rate), and revenue (leads × customer value). However, as soon as the budget stops, traffic drops to zero. No capitalization, no long-term effect.

When does SEO outperform Ads?

On a monthly budget of €1,500 with a CPC of €1.50, a conversion rate of 1.5%, and a customer value of €350, SEO generally surpasses Ads around month 14–18. Beyond that, the gap widens rapidly in favor of SEO thanks to the compounding effect.

For high budgets in competitive sectors (finance, healthcare), this breakeven point may arrive later — but the final ROI at 36 months often remains several hundred percent higher.

FAQ

Should You Choose SEO or Google Ads?

The ideal approach is to combine both: Ads for immediate results while SEO builds momentum, then gradually reduce Ads in favor of organic traffic. This comparator helps you plan this transition.

Does the model account for Ads Quality Score?

No, the model uses a fixed average CPC. In reality, CPC can vary based on your ad quality, quality score, and bidding competition.

Are the projections guaranteed?

No. This comparator produces indicative estimates. Actual results depend on execution quality, domain authority, keyword relevance, and advertising market fluctuations.