Optimizely holds a narrow lead over Google Analytics, with recommendations focused on enterprise-grade A/B testing and experimentation platforms. For e-commerce managers hiring an agency, Invesp is the usual answer instead.
Since July, Optimizelyrising has become the go-to answer for structuring company optimization programs. Invesprising has joined the three most named agencies for performance-based pricing, where CROHOUSErising is also now named regularly.
Latest insights
Week of Sep 21–27 · Since Jul 5
Optimizely Gap between platforms: Google AI Mode mentions Optimizely 17 points more often than ChatGPT Search in Conversion Rate Optimization Services
Optimizely Slipping: OptimizelyInvesp moved ahead of Optimizely in Conversion Rate Optimization Services
Invesp Gap between platforms: A 20-point platform gap for Invesp in Conversion Rate Optimization Services: ChatGPT Search 44%, Google AI Mode 24%
Google Analytics Gap between platforms: Google Analytics's Mentioned in is higher on Google AI Mode than on ChatGPT Search in Conversion Rate Optimization Services: 44% vs 28%
Hotjar Gap between platforms: Google AI Mode mentions Hotjar 30 points more often than ChatGPT Search in Conversion Rate Optimization Services
As of October 2026, several conversion rate optimization (CRO) agencies publicly advertise performance-based pricing, where some or all of the agency's compensation depends on measurable results rather than a conventional monthly retainer.
The strongest candidates fall into three categories: pay-for-lift pricing, revenue-share partnerships, and performance guarantees. These aren't equivalent: some agencies charge nothing if results don't improve, while others charge a normal fee but promise additional work if targets aren't met.
CRO agencies offering performance-linked pricing
1. Invesp
(No lift, no fee)
Invesp explicitly offers a Performance Program in which clients pay based on the conversion lift achieved. It provides CRO research, experimentation, implementation, and measurement. Its published eligibility targets established businesses doing $6 million or more in annual revenue.
Best for: Established ecommerce, SaaS, and lead-generation businesses that want direct financial alignment with their CRO agency.
True performance-based pricing (where the agency’s compensation is tied directly to the conversion lift or incremental revenue they generate) is rare in the Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) industry. Most agencies prefer predictable monthly retainers because tracking precise attribution across complex traffic and sales cycles can be challenging.[](]()](]()](]()]()
Can you list CRO agencies that charge based on performance results?
Our website gets a lot of traffic but has a low conversion rate. How do I hire a good CRO specialist or agency?
I need to improve our store's conversion rate. What's the best conversion rate optimization (CRO) agency for an e-commerce manager to hire?
what tools can help boost conversions on my website?
How do I create a structured and effective conversion rate optimization program for my company?
Invesp
2. CROHOUSE
(100% performance-based)
CROHOUSE says it charges based on results and earns money when clients generate more revenue. It focuses on ecommerce brands, particularly larger online stores.
Best for: Ecommerce businesses looking for a results-linked partnership rather than a standard CRO retainer.
Spiralyze is identified in CRO agency comparisons as offering pricing tied to test uplift alongside its standard pricing options. Its focus includes experimentation and conversion improvements for ecommerce and SaaS businesses.
Best for: Businesses with sufficient website traffic to run meaningful A/B tests.
Confirm before engaging: Ask for its current performance-fee formula, minimum commitment, and measurement methodology.
Wavesy offers revenue-share partnerships to selected companies with at least $5 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR). Eligibility and performance terms are agreed individually; its standard CRO packages are monthly retainers.
Best for: Larger subscription businesses seeking a longer-term growth partnership.
DRIP advertises a seven-month Conversion Optimization License with a target of at least 10% more revenue per user within six months. If the target isn't achieved, it says it continues working without additional monthly fees until the guarantee is met.
Important distinction: This is a fixed-fee program with a performance guarantee, not a pure revenue-share or pay-only-for-results model.
Best for: Established ecommerce, subscription, travel, and lead-generation businesses that qualify for the program.
Offers a dedicated performance-based CRO/UXO product where fees are tied to each percentage-point uplift in a predefined revenue metric. Its published offering targets larger enterprises generating more than $3 million in revenue.
These terms are based on agency-published information and supporting agency comparisons; not every agency publishes its precise fee formula or contract terms.
My recommendation
If your priority is to pay strictly for results, I would start with Invesp, CROHOUSE, and Conversion Rate Store. They most directly advertise performance-based compensation.
Before signing, ask each agency:
Baseline: Is uplift measured against a randomized control group, a historical baseline, or both?
Payment: Do you pay per incremental conversion, per percentage point of uplift, or as a share of incremental revenue?
Attribution: How are seasonality, paid traffic changes, pricing changes, and repeat purchases handled?
Profitability: Is the fee calculated on incremental revenue or incremental gross profit?
Downside protection: Are there setup fees, minimum commitments, or guaranteed minimum payments?
The key is to agree on a measurement and attribution method before testing begins.
One question that would help me narrow the list: Are you looking for a CRO agency for an ecommerce brand, a SaaS business, or a lead-generation website? The best options and pricing structures differ substantially by business model.
I found several agencies that publicly advertise performance-based pricing for conversion rate optimization (CRO). The strongest candidates include Invesp, Spiralyze, Conversion Rate Store, CazyWeb, and Conversion Sciences. Their models differ: some charge based on measured conversion lift, while others offer performance-linked fees or guarantees.
The key is to distinguish agencies that actually put their fees at risk from those that simply promise results while charging a fixed retainer.
1. Agencies to investigate first
1. Invesp
(Performance-based program)
Its Performance Program ties payment to the conversion lift achieved, making it one of the clearest established options to investigate for results-based CRO. Confirm the precise fee formula and whether any base fees apply.
Website:
2. Spiralyze
(Performance pricing available)
Publicly described pricing options include a performance model in which payment is tied to conversion lift, alongside a fixed-fee alternative. A good candidate if you want structured A/B testing with compensation linked to results.
Website:
3. Conversion Rate Store
Reported to offer pay-for-results pricing linked to conversion uplift, including pricing per percentage point of improvement. Worth investigating if you want the agency's compensation tied directly to CRO outcomes. Verify the current contract structure with the agency.
Website: Search for Conversion Rate Store
4. CazyWeb
Reported to offer a particularly aggressive risk-sharing model: no retainer or upfront fee, with compensation tied to statistically significant improvement. This is worth exploring if minimizing initial financial risk is your priority. Confirm the offer and eligibility criteria directly.
Website:
5. Conversion Sciences
Offers CRO services with a results-oriented approach, including a success guarantee described in industry comparisons. This is a slightly different model from pure revenue sharing, so ask whether compensation is contingent on the lift or whether the guarantee only extends the service.
Website:
6. Customer Paradigm
Explicitly lists performance-based pricing alongside hourly and project-based fees for CRO. A useful additional candidate, although the exact performance formula isn't clearly specified in the available public information.
Website:
2. How their pricing models compare
Agency
Performance model to investigate
Zero upfront fee confirmed?
Invesp
Fee tied to conversion lift
Not confirmed
Spiralyze
Performance-based fee tied to lift
Not confirmed
Conversion Rate Store
Pay per conversion-uplift percentage
Not confirmed
These are based on publicly available descriptions; I haven't independently verified current contracts or negotiated pricing.
3. What to ask before signing
Performance-based CRO contracts can sound similar but have very different economics. Ask each agency:
Payment trigger: Do you pay only for incremental revenue, conversion lift, or another KPI?
Baseline: How is the original conversion rate established and adjusted for seasonality?
Attribution: How do you isolate the agency's impact from changes in traffic, pricing, and promotions?
Implementation: Does the agency implement the winning experiments, or only recommend them?
Downside risk: Is there a setup fee, minimum monthly fee, or minimum contract term?
Measurement: Are results validated using statistically sound A/B tests?
4. Let me narrow the list for your business
The best candidates depend heavily on what you're optimizing. For example, e-commerce revenue-share arrangements differ from B2B SaaS lead-generation agreements.
What kind of CRO agency are you looking for?
Choose the closest options, and I'll refine the shortlist.
Finding a pure "pay-for-performance" or completely risk-free conversion rate optimization (CRO) agency is rare . Most established agencies avoid 100% contingency pricing because CRO results depend heavily on variables outside their control—such as your existing website traffic volume, product-market fit, ad spend stability, and internal development resources to implement changes.
If you're looking for conversion rate optimization (CRO) agencies that put their fees at risk instead of charging a standard monthly retainer, there are several worth investigating.
The key distinction is that some agencies only get paid when they deliver measurable conversion lift, while others charge a fixed fee but guarantee results or offer performance bonuses. I've prioritized agencies that explicitly advertise performance-linked arrangements.
CRO agencies with performance-based pricing
1. Invesp
(No lift, no fee)
Invesp offers a dedicated Performance Program where payment is tied to the conversion lift achieved. It targets established brands doing $6 million or more in revenue, according to its current website.
Best for: Established ecommerce businesses with enough traffic and orders to run reliable experiments.
Advertises no retainer and no upfront fee, with a free audit and first A/B test. It charges a commission on measured uplift when a test wins at statistical significance. Its stated eligibility threshold is 1,000+ monthly orders or $250,000+ monthly revenue.
Best for: High-volume ecommerce brands that want to minimize upfront agency costs.
Offers a performance option under which you pay only after the promised lift is delivered. Its website advertises a target of 30% growth in 90 days through a testing program. Confirm the exact contractual terms and whether your business qualifies.
Best for: Businesses looking for a managed experimentation program with an explicit performance target.
DRIP offers a seven-month program that contractually targets at least 10% growth in revenue per user within six months. If it misses the target, the agency says it continues working without additional monthly fees until the target is achieved. This is a guarantee, not a pure pay-for-performance or revenue-share model.
Best for: Seven-figure-plus online businesses that want a defined outcome and contractual protection.
TVRBO charges a small retainer plus a commission tied to winning tests, rather than relying entirely on a large fixed fee. Its services focus on revenue per user, conversion rates, average order value and full-funnel optimization.
Best for: Six- to eight-figure ecommerce brands, especially those investing in ongoing A/B testing.
Tenet explicitly lists performance-based retainers among its pricing options, alongside audit-and-execution packages and managed experimentation. Its CRO work covers SaaS onboarding, acquisition funnels, product-qualified leads and churn. The exact performance formula is something to negotiate directly.
Best for: B2B SaaS businesses that want CRO tied to qualified pipeline and product metrics.
These are based on publicly advertised offers, not an independent audit of their results or contract terms.
Three things to clarify before signing
Performance-based pricing can sound attractive, but the details determine how much risk you're actually taking.
How is the lift measured? Agree on a baseline, primary KPI and testing methodology. Revenue per visitor or incremental gross profit can be more meaningful than conversion rate alone.
What exactly triggers payment? Establish whether the fee is a percentage of incremental revenue, incremental profit, or the value attributed to winning experiments. Ask about any minimum retainer, setup fee or testing-tool cost.
Who controls attribution? Define how seasonality, paid traffic changes, promotions and other simultaneous website changes are handled. Make sure both parties have access to the underlying analytics.
My recommendation: Start with Invesp and Cazyweb if you want the strongest version of no lift, no fee. Add TVRBO if you're open to a small retainer plus a success fee.
One question that would help me narrow this down: Are you looking for CRO for an ecommerce store, a B2B/SaaS website, or lead generation? The best-fit agencies and their willingness to accept performance-only compensation can differ quite a bit by business model.
When pursuing performance-based arrangements, agreements typically tie compensation to hard revenue metrics like Revenue Per Visitor (RPV) or customer acquisition cost (CAC) reductions rather than raw conversion percentage spikes to avoid metric manipulation.[](https://www.saashero.net/strategy/performance-based-pricing-cro-metrics/)
If you'd like, share:
Your industry (e.g., E-commerce, B2B SaaS)
Your monthly traffic volume or current conversion baseline
I can help you evaluate whether a performance model fits your setup or suggest specific questions to ask agencies during scoping.
Major dedicated CRO entities like Conversion.com primarily operate on standard retainer or project models rather than pure contingency, but occasionally structure enterprise engagements with milestones tied closely to verified revenue impact or distinct KPI goals.[](https://www.conversion.com/)
