Seatext library / BotRefund evidence
Why BotRefund Costs 15%: What the Fee Actually Covers
BotRefund charges a 15% success fee on recovered ad spend because the service covers expert negotiation, legal research, and a high claim approval rate. You pay nothing upfront, and the fee only applies when...
✓ Built for advertisers who need clear, refund-ready traffic evidence.
BotRefund charges 15% of the refunded amount, and that fee is not just a percentage pulled out of thin air. It pays for a team that does the heavy lifting: proving bot clicks with video evidence, negotiating with Google and Meta, and handling the legal and technical paperwork that most advertisers don't know how to start. You don't pay for a subscription or a dashboard—you pay for a result. If BotRefund doesn't recover money, you owe nothing.
That success-based model is the core reason the fee exists. BotRefund takes on the risk, so the 15% reflects both the effort and the high success rate they claim to achieve.
What the 15% Fee Actually Pays For
The fee is not a single service fee—it bundles several costly activities that would take your team days or weeks to handle:
- Expert negotiation with Google and Meta: BotRefund doesn't just file a claim. It reviews your ad spend, identifies invalid clicks, and builds a case that convinces the platforms to approve a refund.
- Legal research and documentation: The service must stay current on each ad platform's invalid-traffic policies, refund windows, and evidence requirements. This expertise is part of the cost.
- Detection technology: BotRefund runs 106 independent checks on visitor behavior—ghost clicks, unnatural mouse paths, superhuman speed, and more—to separate bots from humans. This infrastructure has to be built, maintained, and improved.
- Video proof and evidence reports: For each bot click, BotRefund captures proof that the click didn't come from a real person. That evidence is what makes refund claims hard to deny.
Without this bundle, you'd have to hire an in-house analyst, subscribe to click-fraud tools, and still risk doing it wrong.
Why the Fee Is Success-Based
Most agencies charge a monthly retainer or an upfront fee, win or lose. BotRefund flips that model. You pay 15% only after a refund is recovered. This changes the incentive: BotRefund only makes money if you do. That's why they run a free bot audit first—it's a low-risk way to see if you have a case.
The success-based structure also means the fee is proportional to the value you receive. If they recover $10,000, you keep $8,500 and pay $1,500. If they recover $100,000, you pay $15,000—but you still keep $85,000. You never pay more than a slice of what you got back.
What You Get With the Fee
When you sign up, the fee covers a full recovery process:
- Free bot audit: Adds a lightweight script to your site in about a minute, with no credit card required. The audit shows the volume of bot traffic on your Google and Meta ads.
- Detection and evidence: BotRefund's script captures behavioral signals, device data, and attribution paths. It flags suspicious sessions and records proof for each one.
- Claim filing and negotiation: BotRefund sends the evidence to Google and Meta, negotiates the refund, and follows up until you get paid.
- Reporting: You get a clear report showing what was recovered and why.
This end-to-end service is what the 15% fee covers. You're not buying a tool—you're buying an outcome.
How BotRefund Detects Bots (and Why That Matters for Cost)
BotRefund uses 106 independent checks, from ghost click detection to impossible tab speed. According to their site, the combined model is 99% accurate. That accuracy is critical because a false claim can damage your relationship with Google or Meta. The fee pays for a detection system that minimizes false positives.
The cost also reflects the complexity of modern ad fraud. Fraudsters use residential proxies, AI-generated mouse movements, and pixel poisoning to mimic humans. Catching them requires more than a simple IP filter—it requires behavioral analysis at scale.
Should You Pay This Fee? A Decision Framework
The 15% fee is worth it if you meet these conditions:
- You spend more than a few thousand dollars per month on Google or Meta ads.
- You see suspicious traffic or high click volumes with low conversions.
- You don't have the time or expertise to write an effective refund claim.
- You'd rather pay a percentage of recovered money than a fixed fee upfront.
If your ad spend is tiny or you already have an in-house fraud team, the fee might not be worth it. But for most small and mid-sized advertisers, the fee is a fair trade-off.
How the Cost Compares to Doing It Yourself
DIY refund claims are possible, but they're rarely successful. Google and Meta require specific evidence—like click timestamps, IP logs, and behavioral proof. Without the right tools, you'll spend hours collecting data and still get rejected.
Here's a quick comparison:
| Option | Upfront cost | Time required | Likelihood of refund |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY (manual claim) | $0 | Many hours per claim | Low—most claims lack proper evidence |
| Basic click-fraud tool | $50–$200/mo | Moderate—you still file the claim | Medium—tool provides data but no negotiation |
| BotRefund | $0 upfront, 15% on success | Minimal—you fill out a form | High—they have proven negotiation expertise |
If you're on the fence, start with the free audit. You'll see the potential refund amount before paying anything.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Typical ad budget lost to bots | Up to 20% | BotRefund homepage |
| Setup time | About 1 minute | BotRefund homepage |
| Detection accuracy | 99% | BotRefund detection signals page |
| Independent checks per visitor | 106 | BotRefund detection signals page |
| Refund eligibility | Google Ads spend back to 2017 | BotRefund homepage |
| Fee structure | 15% success fee, no upfront cost | BotRefund pricing model |
Limitations: When the Fee Doesn't Make Sense
The 15% fee is not always the right choice. If your ad spend is under $1,000 per month, the potential refund might not cover the percentage. Also, if your site blocks the BotRefund script or you use unusual tracking methods, the detection may be incomplete.
BotRefund works best for advertisers using standard Google and Meta pixels. If you run only offline campaigns or no digital ads at all, this service isn't for you.
Finally, remember that no service can guarantee a refund. The fee is charged only on success, but approval rates vary by platform and campaign history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the fee 15% instead of a flat rate?
The 15% is a percentage because it scales with the refund amount. For big spenders, a flat fee would be too cheap for the effort. For small spenders, a flat fee would be too expensive. A percentage keeps the service accessible.
Are there any hidden fees?
No. BotRefund only charges the 15% success fee on recovered funds. The audit is free, and there are no monthly charges or setup fees.
What if BotRefund doesn't recover a refund?
Then you owe nothing. The service is strictly pay-per-success. You get the audit and the detection report even if no refund is approved.
Can I get a refund of the 15% if the claim is denied?
BotRefund's policy is that you don't pay anything if the claim is denied. The 15% only applies when money is actually recovered.
How long does the process take?
Timelines vary. Detection runs from the moment you add the script, and claim filing typically happens after a period of data collection. The automated audit is instant, but the refund negotiation can take weeks.
Does BotRefund work with affiliates?
Yes. BotRefund also offers affiliate fraud detection that identifies fake commissions before you pay them out. That service uses the same success-based model.
Further reading and comparison sources
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