The 2026 Agency Index Updated October 14, 2026
SmartSites leads Thrive Internet Marketing Agency by 0.8 points. Both agencies are scored on the same four checks, with the evidence behind every number.
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Each check is scored from 0 to 10. The note under each score names the evidence behind it.
SmartSites7/10
Many named-client case studies with large gains, such as 4,300% more leads for Honey Do Men, but the pages give no dates or periods. A 4.9 Clutch rating from 369 reviews adds outside weight.
Thrive Internet Marketing Agency6/10
140 published case studies, but 94 omit the client name and few give time frames. Clutch shows a 4.6 rating from 112 reviews.
SmartSites5/10
More than 370 staff work under service-line directors, and the company says every client gets named specialists. The pages we checked give no onboarding timeline.
Thrive Internet Marketing Agency4/10
More than 160 staff work behind account managers whose role includes upsells, and its pages give no onboarding timeline.
SmartSites8/10
A defined AI search service with a six-part method and named-client ChatGPT traffic gains. It measures AI referral visits, not how often clients appear in answers.
Thrive Internet Marketing Agency8/10
Sells a defined GEO service with a described method and runs its own ThriveAI tracking suite, but its published AI citation results are for unnamed clients.
SmartSites9/10
Founders who still lead the company, a stated legal entity (Melen, LLC) and Paramus street address, 369 Clutch reviews, and repeated Inc. 5000 listings.
Thrive Internet Marketing Agency8/10
Named founder and executives, an Arlington street address, and 112 Clutch reviews. The privacy policy names the company only as Thrive Agency, with no legal entity type.
| SmartSites | Thrive Internet Marketing Agency | |
|---|---|---|
| Index rank | No. 9 of 19 | No. 16 of 19 |
| Overall score | 7.1 out of 10 | 6.3 out of 10 |
| Type | Full-service | Full-service |
| Location | Paramus, New Jersey, USA | Arlington, Texas, USA |
| Founded | 2011 | 2005 |
| Team | 370+ worldwide, 94 in the US (company-reported) | 160+ (company-reported) |
| Client focus | Small business, Local business, Mid-market, Ecommerce | Small business, Local business, Mid-market, Ecommerce |
| Services | SEO, PPC, Web design, Email, Social media, Paid social, Content, AI search | SEO, PPC, AI search, Web design, Paid social, Social media, Content, Email |
| Best for | Local, franchise, and ecommerce businesses that want published package prices, named specialists, and a live reporting dashboard from a large agency. | Small and mid-sized businesses, including local service firms, that want a full-service agency without a long-term contract and a separate pay-for-performance option for reviews and local leads. |
| Last verified | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 |
SmartSites has the stronger record on our four checks, with an overall score of 7.1 out of 10. It leads on proof, senior attention, and accountability.
Thrive Internet Marketing Agency does not lead on any of the four checks. The two agencies tie on AI search.
Both scores use the same four checks and weights: proof of results (35%), senior attention and speed (25%), AI search readiness (20%), and accountability and identity (20%). A higher score means a stronger public record. It does not rate price or contract terms, so get those in writing from both agencies.
SmartSites is a digital marketing agency in Paramus, New Jersey, founded in 2011 by brothers Alex and Michael Melen. It runs SEO, PPC, web design, email, and social media for local, national, franchise, and ecommerce businesses.
Best for Local, franchise, and ecommerce businesses that want published package prices, named specialists, and a live reporting dashboard from a large agency.
Read the full SmartSites profileThrive Internet Marketing Agency is a full-service digital marketing agency in Arlington, Texas, founded in 2005. It sells SEO, ads, web design, and AI search work to businesses of many sizes and runs a separate pay-for-performance program for local businesses.
Best for Small and mid-sized businesses, including local service firms, that want a full-service agency without a long-term contract and a separate pay-for-performance option for reviews and local leads.
Read the full Thrive Internet Marketing Agency profileSmartSites scores higher in our 2026 index, 7.1 to 6.3 out of 10, and wins three of the four criteria. A higher score means a stronger public record, not a better fit for every business. Compare the best-for notes, then ask both agencies for case studies from businesses like yours.
The widest gap is proof of results. SmartSites scores 7 out of 10 there and Thrive Internet Marketing Agency scores 6. That check carries 35% of the overall score.
Both agencies get the same four checks, each scored from 0 to 10: proof of results (35%), senior attention and speed (25%), AI search readiness (20%), and accountability and identity (20%). The overall score is the weighted total. Each agency profile links the public sources behind its scores.
Ask both agencies who will do the work each week, and ask for case studies with numbers and dates. Then ask for the minimum term and who owns the site, the ad accounts, and the data if you leave. Get each answer in writing.
