Charle vs Targeted SEO
Side-by-side comparison of two UK SEO and AI search agencies on price, contract length, AI platform coverage, sector specialism, and verdict.
Charle (from £3,000/month, 6-month minimum, 4 AI platforms covered) is best for shopify and ecommerce brands wanting ai search + technical seo together. Targeted SEO (from £1,500/month, 3-month minimum, 2 AI platforms covered) is best for uk smes and local service businesses wanting affordable seo + ai. Pick Charle if you prioritise ecommerce or shopify plus; pick Targeted SEO if you prioritise local services or ecommerce.
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Charle | Targeted SEO |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | London, UK | Manchester, UK |
| Founded | 2014 | 2015 |
| Team size | 20-50 | 10-20 |
| Starting price | £3,000/mo | £1,500/mo · cheaper |
| Pricing band | Mid-market | SME |
| Minimum contract | 6 months | 3 months · shorter |
| Services | AI SEO, GEO, Shopify, Ecommerce SEO | SEO, AI SEO, Local SEO |
| Sector focus | Ecommerce, Shopify Plus, DTC | Local services, Ecommerce, B2B |
| AI platforms covered | ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, AI Overviews (4) · wider | ChatGPT, AI Overviews (2) |
| Proprietary tool | — | — |
| Case studies | 10+ | 10+ |
| Best for | Shopify and ecommerce brands wanting AI search + technical SEO together | UK SMEs and local service businesses wanting affordable SEO + AI |
| Watch out for | Ecommerce focus may not fit B2B service businesses | AI platform coverage narrow; team size caps enterprise capacity |
When Charle wins
Pick Charle if your business matches the ecommerce or shopify plus or dtc profile, your monthly budget is comfortable around £3,000, and you want 4 disciplines from one provider. Their 6-month minimum contract suits brands willing to commit but unwilling to lock in for a year.
When Targeted SEO wins
Pick Targeted SEO if your business matches the local services or ecommerce or b2b profile, your monthly budget is comfortable around £1,500, and you want 3 disciplines from one provider. Their 3-month minimum contract suits brands willing to commit but unwilling to lock in for a year.
Verdict
Neither agency is universally better. The right answer depends on your sector, budget, and AI platform priorities. If you want a third independent option to consider alongside this comparison, use the SEOCompare agency matcher to surface a personalised three-to-five-agency shortlist.
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