Pricing, Compared
Subscription vs pay-as-you-go credits: which is right for you?
SearchOptimo is a flat-rate subscription. Tools like IndexCheckr sell pay-as-you-go credits. Neither is “better” in the abstract — the right choice depends on whether you check URLs once, or watch their index status over time. Here is the honest version, so you can pick what actually costs you less.
The 10-second answer
You check a batch of URLs once or occasionally — a migration audit, a one-time index spot-check, an ad-hoc question. You only pay for what you use, so a few isolated checks will usually be cheaper than any subscription.
You want index status monitored continuously — the same URLs re-checked on a schedule, with history you can look back on and alerts when something drops out. Here a flat subscription is cheaper and far less hassle, because every recurring re-check would burn credits all over again.
The two models, side by side
We are comparing the billing models here, not specific competitor prices. Pay-as-you-go genuinely wins some rows — we have marked them honestly.
| Dimension | Pay-as-you-go creditse.g. IndexCheckr | SearchOptimo subscription |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | One-off and occasional checks | Ongoing, scheduled index monitoring |
| Cost predictability | Varies with usage — heavy months cost more | Flat monthly price, no surprises |
| Low spend for a single check | Pay only for what you use | Free Basic tier (100 URLs/mo, no card) |
| Ongoing / scheduled re-checks | Each cycle spends credits again | Runs on a schedule, included in plan |
| History retention | Typically per-check results only | 7 to 365 days of trend history by plan |
| Alerts when index status changes | You have to re-run to notice a drop | Continuous monitoring catches changes |
| When you stop paying | Unused credits may remain (check provider terms) | Monitoring pauses; data is retained per your last plan’s window |
| Hidden re-check cost | Re-checking the same URL costs again, every time | Re-checks are free within your monthly URL allowance |
Pay-as-you-go pricing and features vary by provider and change over time. Always confirm current credit costs and terms on the competitor’s own site before deciding.
Why a subscription is cheaper once you’re monitoring
The crossover point is the moment you start re-checking the same URLs. Here is an illustrative worked example (numbers chosen to show the shape of the math, not real competitor prices).
Illustrative example
Say you want to keep an eye on 1,000 URLs and re-check their index status regularly — for instance once a week, so roughly 4 cycles a month.
Pay-as-you-go credits
Each cycle re-checks all 1,000 URLs, and each check spends a credit. That is 1,000 checks × 4 cycles = 4,000 credit-checks every month, and the bill grows the more often you monitor.
Whatever a provider charges per check, you are paying it 4,000 times a month — and again next month.
SearchOptimo Growth — $14.99/mo
Growth covers 1,000 URLs/month on a flat plan. Those URLs get re-checked on schedule and the recurring re-checks don’t cost extra — the price is the same whether they run once or every day.
One predictable line item: $14.99/mo (or $143.90/yr, ~20% off).
The takeaway: frequency is what flips the economics. For a single one-off look at those 1,000 URLs, credits can be cheaper. The moment you want them watched continuously, a flat subscription wins — and the gap widens every cycle.
SearchOptimo plans at a glance
No credits to count and no per-check meter running. You pick a monthly URL allowance and pay one flat price — re-checks within that allowance are included.
Basic
Free forever
100 URLs/mo
No card required
- 3 campaigns
- Daily monitoring
- 7-day history
Growth
$143.90/yr (~20% off)
1,000 URLs/mo
~$0.015 per URL / month
- 10 campaigns
- 30-day history
- Scheduled re-checks
Scale
$287.90/yr (~20% off)
3,000 URLs/mo
~$0.010 per URL / month
- 30 campaigns
- 90-day history
- API access
Elite
$959.90/yr (~20% off)
20,000 URLs/mo
~$0.005 per URL / month
- Unlimited campaigns
- 365-day history
- Priority support + dedicated account manager
Every paid plan includes a 7-day free trial (no credit card), annual billing saves ~20%, and there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee. See the full breakdown on the pricing page, and current discounts.
When you should not pay us a cent
We will say it plainly: if you only need an occasional, one-off check, a paid subscription is the wrong purchase. Do one of these instead.
- Use our free Basic tier. 100 URLs/month, 3 campaigns, daily monitoring, 7-day history — $0, no credit card. For light or infrequent checking this may be all you ever need.
- Or buy credits elsewhere. For a genuine one-time job above 100 URLs, a pay-as-you-go credit tool may cost less than a month of any paid plan. That’s fine — pick the cheaper tool for the job.
Upgrade to a paid plan only when ongoing, scheduled monitoring with history and alerts starts saving you money and time. Still weighing it up? Read is SearchOptimo worth it?
Frequently asked questions
- Do you offer pay-as-you-go or credits?
- No. SearchOptimo is a flat monthly (or annual) subscription with no credits to buy, count, or top up. That said, you never have to gamble money to find out if it fits: there is a free Basic tier (100 URLs/month, no credit card) and every paid plan includes a 7-day free trial with no card required up front.
- Is a subscription more expensive than buying credits?
- It depends entirely on how you work. If you run a single check now and then, credits or a free tier will almost always be cheaper because you only pay for what you use. If you monitor index status continuously — re-checking the same URLs on a schedule, watching for drops, keeping history — a flat subscription is usually far cheaper, because every re-check on a credit tool spends credits again, while a subscription covers the whole month at one price.
- What if I only need one check?
- Then do not subscribe to a paid plan. Use our free Basic tier (100 URLs/month, no credit card) or a pay-as-you-go credit tool. We would rather you start free and upgrade only when ongoing monitoring genuinely saves you money and time.
- Can I cancel anytime?
- Yes. There are no contracts and you can cancel anytime from your account. Paid plans are also backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try ongoing monitoring with no real risk.
Full terms are on our refund policy and features pages.
Try monitoring with nothing to count and nothing to risk
Start on the free Basic tier or take a 7-day trial of any paid plan — no credit card up front, cancel anytime, and a 30-day money-back guarantee on paid plans. No credits, no metering, just a flat monthly price.
Compare full plans on the pricing page.