No. 14 / Choosing your path
Product Comparison / Decision Guide
Two products. One goal. Which is right for your business?
Brain Buddy AI offers two ways to grow: a fully managed search and lead capture service, or a self-serve AI chatbot platform. Here is how to choose.
The overview
Two products. One goal.
Brain Buddy AI is built around two products that solve different problems for different budgets. The managed service is a done-for-you offering that covers the full funnel: getting your business found in traditional and AI search, then capturing those visitors as leads with a managed chatbot. Studio is a self-serve AI chatbot platform you configure and run yourself. Both products share the same underlying technology. The difference is who does the work and how much of the funnel is covered.
Managed Services
From $790/mo
Done for you. Full funnel. From search to leads.
- SEO + AI search optimisation + content + chatbot
- Named account manager and monthly strategy calls
- Our team handles everything, you stay hands-off
- From $790 per month
Studio
From $49/mo
Self-serve chatbot. You configure it. You run it.
- Self-serve AI chatbot platform
- You configure, train, and maintain it yourself
- Ideal for agencies managing multiple sites
- From $49 per month
The decision
Which path is right for you?
Choose managed if...
- You want someone else to handle your search strategy from start to finish
- You need SEO, AI search optimisation (AEO and GEO), and content working together
- You want a named account manager and regular strategy calls
- Your budget is $790 per month or more
- You want the full funnel: get found in search, then capture leads with a managed chatbot
- You do not have the time or team to manage search optimisation yourself
Choose Studio if...
- You want to deploy your own AI chatbot on your website
- You are comfortable configuring and maintaining it yourself
- You need lead capture, not search optimisation
- Your budget is $49 to $499 per month
- You want to manage multiple chatbots across different sites or clients (ideal for agencies)
- You already have traffic and just need a better way to convert it
The comparison
Side by side.
Here is how the two products compare across the areas that matter most when making a decision.
| Feature | Managed | Studio |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | SEO + AI search optimisation + content + chatbot | Chatbot only |
| Who does the work | Our team handles everything | You configure and maintain it |
| Price range | $790 to $5,990 per month | $49 to $499 per month |
| Time required from you | One onboarding call, then hands-off | You set it up and keep it running |
| Best for | Businesses that want more leads from search | Businesses that already have traffic and want to capture it |
| AI chatbot included | Yes, one fully managed chatbot | Yes, you set it up yourself |
The overlap
Can I use both?
Yes. Every managed service plan includes a fully managed chatbot as standard. If you also want additional self-serve chatbots (for example, across different websites or for agency clients), you can hold a Studio account at the same time.
The two products work independently, so there is no conflict. Some agencies use managed services for their own business while running Studio chatbots for their clients.
The next step
How to decide.
If you are not sure which product is the right starting point, run the free AI visibility audit. It takes about sixty seconds and shows you exactly where your business stands across every major AI search engine.
If the audit reveals gaps in how AI models find and cite your business, managed services are likely the right fit. Our team will handle the optimisation work and you will see progress each month without lifting a finger.
If your search visibility is already strong and you simply need a smarter way to capture leads on your site, Studio is the faster and more affordable path. You can be live within minutes.
Honest answers
The questions we actually get asked.
If yours is not here, send it across. We will answer it honestly.
Yes. Many businesses start with a Studio chatbot and later move to managed services once they are ready to invest in search visibility. Your chatbot data and configuration carry over, so nothing is lost in the transition.
Chapter 07 / The closing word
Not sure which is right for you?
Run a free 60-second audit. We will show you where your business stands and recommend the best path.