How Much Does SEO Freelancer Charge In India? [Hourly Rates & Prices]

If you’ve ever tried to look into hiring SEO talent to increase your business revenue, you might’ve encountered plenty of Indians offering the service all over the internet. India has always been the place to go (other than China) to get talented workers or SEO freelancers at pocket-friendly prices, which remains true even in 2024.

But is it safe to hire SEO freelancers from India? At what cost?

In this blog, we’ll explain everything you need to know about SEO freelancer rates in India. From hourly rates to pricing structures, we’ll provide practical insights to help you budget effectively and find the right SEO professional for your needs.

What Does SEO Work Involve?

Since ‘SEO work’ covers a broad range of tasks that also bleed into other specialized skills, it requires multiple people, specializing in different skills. However, it doesn’t mean that one freelancer can’t possess all the skills needed to get an SEO project off the ground.

But even if they can, are they equally good at all the required tasks?

The answer is obviously a big no. That is why freelancers in the search industry often combine their specialized skills to form groups that offer multiple solutions that an SEO project may require. Industry-speak refers to these groups as agencies, though all of them might not be registered as such.

The cost of hiring SEO freelancers depends on a few factors, including what they specialize in. Compiled from data from Payscale, the table below will give you an idea of the hourly rates for different specialized roles in SEO:

Going by this data, Payscale determines the average base hourly rate for SEO work at INR 303.50 ($3.64).

Types of Payment Options For Freelance SEO Work

Another factor that influences the pricing of SEO freelancers is their payment cycle. The most common among these is hourly, where you’re charged based on the number of hours required to work on your project. Of course, since SEO projects require so many things, the timeline may extend (they usually do).

Hence, SEO freelancers from India usually mention their hourly rates and give you an estimate for the number of hours they’ll need to put in, depending on the scope of your project.

To understand the price advantage in India, consider this: Upwork – the go-to freelancer onboarding platform for companies like Microsoft, Airbnb, and other giants, lists the hourly rates for SEO freelancing at $20 – $35 per hour.

When you compare that with the listed Indian SEO freelancers on competitor platforms like freelancer.com and Truelancer, the average asking price is around $7 per hour – with the lowest being around $3 per hour, and as high as $25 per hour.

Since SEO projects almost always require more time than expected, and highly experienced freelancers can even charge as high as $300 per hour, this model of charging becomes unsustainable quickly for large projects. Which leads us to the other payment options offered by SEO freelancers and agencies in India:

• Monthly: The most common payment cycle option preferred by both freelancers and SEO agencies in India. Monthly rates can vary from INR 16,000 ($200) per month to over $10,000 per month.

• Project-Based: If the freelancer asks for project-based pricing that means they’ll come up with a fixed fee depending on the scope of your SEO project. Flat rates can range anywhere between INR 20,000 – INR 50,000.

• Performance-Based: This is a rare model that is only used by those people who guarantee certain results – you pay only if they reach the results they said they would at the beginning of the campaign. However, as you can imagine, with that kind of claim, the prices would be exorbitant too.

Other Factors Affecting SEO Freelancer Rates in India

There are a few other factors that affect the asking rates of SEO freelancers in India. These include:

Expertise or Track Record

SEO freelancers charge based on their main skills and previous work record. For example, a freelancer with a proven track record on their portfolio with diverse clients will charge more than one without a portfolio. This also applies to skills – for example, a professional may charge more if their specialization or expertise lies in local SEO.

Niche

Certain industries or niches may require specialized knowledge, and as such, SEO freelancers charge more if they have proven expertise and experience in those niches.

Experience

Finally, the most important factor in determining if the asking price of an SEO freelancer is justified or not is experience:

• How much experience do they have?
• In what roles?
• Doing what kind of SEO work?
• Getting what kind of results?

Here’s a chart you can refer to get an idea of what we’re talking about.

Conclusion

India is a great destination if you want to hire an SEO freelancer at reasonable rates for your business needs. Its ample talent pool along with the low cost of labor is the reason there are so many SEO agencies and freelancers in India. Of course, that doesn’t mean all low-cost options will deliver similar results – hence this conundrum of how to choose a freelancer and at what cost arises.

SEO freelancing involves a lot of work that may differ based on the business and particular project, so pricing rates and systems vary. Other factors that determine the pricing of SEO freelancer rates in India are their specialized skills, experience, expertise and track record, and the particular industry or niche they work in. There are two main systems of pricing – hourly and monthly (though project-based pricing is pretty popular too), and both options cover a wide range ($2 – $25/ hour and $60 – $10,000).

Hence, most freelancers either offer a bunch of services solo or group up with other freelancers with specialized SEO skills as an agency. Whatever option you go with for your business, it’s important to select a freelance SEO professional based on their past work record and experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What factors affect the rates of SEO freelancers in India?

Rates depend on experience, project complexity, goals, and market competition. Experienced freelancers charge more.

2. What are the common payment options for hiring SEO freelancers in India?

The common payment options for hiring SEO freelancers in India include:

1. Hourly rates, based on the number of hours required to work on the project
2. Monthly rates, which can vary from INR 5,000 ($89.59) per month to over $10,000 per month
3. Project-based pricing, with flat rates ranging anywhere between INR 5,000 – INR 50,000
4. Performance-based pricing, where payment is based on achieving specific results.

3. What is the typical range for hourly rates of SEO freelancers in India compared to international platforms?

On global platforms like Upwork, the average hourly rates for SEO freelancing are listed at $15 – $35 per hour. In comparison, Indian SEO freelancers on competitor platforms like freelancer.com and Truelancer typically ask for an average of $5 per hour, with the range spanning from $2 to $25 per hour.

4. How to evaluate an SEO freelancer’s skills before hiring in India?

Check their portfolio, client feedback, past work examples, and conduct interviews or trial projects.

5. How long until SEO freelancers in India produce results?

Time varies based on project complexity and competitiveness, often taking months to see significant improvements. Patience is crucial for long-term growth.

6. How should businesses evaluate and choose freelance SEO professionals in India?

When selecting a freelance SEO professional in India, evaluating their past work record, experience, and expertise in the specific SEO tasks required for the business is important. Additionally, considering the freelancer’s specialized skills and track record in their particular industry or niche is important to making an informed decision.