Smarketer as a CSS Provider: When an Alternative Is the Better Choice
Smarketer is a well-known Google partner and runs its own CSS. If you're looking for an alternative, it usually comes down to four things: price, contract commitment, markets and what you get beyond basic CSS access.
The auction advantage is the same across all certified Comparison Shopping Services (CSS): around 20 per cent lower cost per click compared to Shopping ads directly through Google. Google treats every certified partner identically in the auction.
The difference doesn't lie in the discount, but in everything around it. And that's where providers differ significantly: monthly costs, contract length, number of markets, switching effort, and whether you get protection against clicks with no intention to buy.
We won't discuss Smarketer pricing or services that aren't publicly available. Instead, you get the questions that let you assess any provider in ten minutes, along with our own answers to them.
What a CSS provider actually does for you
A CSS registers your products with Google on behalf of a price comparison service. Your campaigns, your Merchant Center and your bids stay with you. What changes is the cost per click.
- Access to the CSS programme: this is the core benefit and identical across all certified providers.
- Merchant Center linking: a one-off setup, after which everything runs as before.
- Support: this ranges from pure self-service to full agency management.
- Additional services: feed tools, campaign management, invalid click protection. This is what truly sets providers apart.
Large agency CSS solutions like Smarketer's are usually designed as part of a broader service package. If you manage your campaigns yourself or with your own agency, you end up paying for overhead you don't need.
Pricing: fixed fee instead of revenue share
There are three models among CSS providers: a fixed monthly fee, a price per country, or a share of click costs or revenue. Only the first model remains predictable as you grow.
With us, CSS access costs £17 per month. No setup fee, no revenue share, no minimum budget, cancel anytime monthly, 30 days free trial.
The point most providers miss: invalid clicks
A CSS reduces the cost per click. However, it doesn't ensure that every paid click comes from a human with buying intent. Bots, price scrapers and competitor clicks appear as normal visits in your data and cost the full price.
That's why you can add protection against invalid clicks with us. It runs on your Google Ads account and does two things:
- Automated exclusion lists: suspicious sources are blocked before they waste more budget.
- Invalid click report: you see in black and white what proportion of your clicks could never have led to an order.
Being transparent is essential: in standard Shopping campaigns, suspicious sources can be excluded directly. In Performance Max, exclusions are technically limited, so it focuses primarily on detection and analysis.
- Free Google CSS migration
- Full visibility in Google Shopping
- 20% lower click prices
- 21 EU markets included
- Premium email support
- No minimum term
Markets, contract terms and the switch itself
If you sell in multiple countries, check two numbers: how many markets are covered and whether each additional country costs extra. We include 21 markets with no surcharge per country.
- 1Check whether you can cancel monthly or are locked in for a year.
- 2Ask if there is a setup fee and who handles the onboarding.
- 3Get confirmation that campaign history and Smart Bidding data remain intact during the switch.
- 4Clarify what happens to your ads if you decide to switch again.
The switch itself is straightforward: your Merchant Center account is linked to the new CSS, and your campaigns continue without interruption. History, bidding strategies and conversion data stay intact because they live in Google Ads, not with the CSS.
The takeaway comparison checklist
You can ask any provider these questions directly, including us.
| Question | Why it matters | Our answer |
|---|---|---|
| What does it cost per month? | Fixed costs remain predictable | £17, cancel monthly |
| Setup fee? | One-off costs distort the comparison | None |
| Share of revenue or click costs? | Grows along with your budget | None |
| How many markets are included? | Surcharges per country add up | 21 markets, no extra charge |
| Full 20 per cent auction advantage? | Mandatory for any certified CSS | Yes |
| Trial period? | Shows whether the provider is confident | 30 days free |
| Invalid click protection? | Further reduces wasted budget | Available as an add-on |
| Campaign management? | Only needed if you want it | Optional, agreed separately |
If a provider dodges two of these points, you already have your answer.
Frequently asked questions
Is the discount the same with every CSS?
Yes. The auction advantage of around 20 per cent comes from Google and is identical across all certified CSS partners. Differences only exist in price, services and support.
Will I lose my campaign data when switching?
No. Campaigns, history and bidding strategies reside in Google Ads, not with the CSS. Switching only changes the link to your Merchant Center.
How much does your CSS cost?
£17 per month, with no setup fee and no revenue share. The first 30 days are free, followed by monthly cancellation.
Do I need additional campaign management?
Not necessarily. Many shops continue managing campaigns in-house or with an agency. If you want support, we can arrange that separately.
Is invalid click protection worth it for small budgets?
That depends on the proportion of suspicious clicks in your account. The report shows this share, allowing you to make an informed decision rather than guessing.
- Free Google CSS migration
- Full visibility in Google Shopping
- 20% lower click prices
- 21 EU markets included
- Premium email support
- No minimum term