You're optimizing your content for AI, but how do you know if it's working? SEO had Google Search Console. AEO and GEO require their own measurement tools. Without monitoring, you're navigating blind.
The problem: AI responses change constantly. A brand cited in first position on Monday can disappear by Friday. Model updates, new indexed sources, algorithm adjustments - everything influences your visibility. Manually tracking these fluctuations across 4-5 different AIs is impractical.
This guide presents the tools available in 2026, their strengths and limitations, and how to set up an effective monitoring system without spending hours each week.
Why AI visibility monitoring has become essential
58% of searches are now "zero-click". Users get their answer directly in the AI interface, without clicking on any link. If you're not in that response, you don't exist for these users.
The stakes of AEO monitoring in numbers
AEO monitoring answers critical questions: Is your brand mentioned when a prospect asks "what's the best [your category]?" Are you cited as a reliable source? How are you evolving compared to your competitors? Without data, intelligent optimization is impossible.
Key metrics to track
Before choosing a tool, let's identify what needs to be measured. Four metrics structure effective AEO monitoring.
AI Share of Voice (SoV). This is the percentage of AI responses in your industry that mention your brand. If out of 100 strategic queries, you appear in 23 responses and your main competitor in 41, your SoV is 23% versus 41%. This metric lets you benchmark your competitive position.
Citation rate. When you're mentioned, are you cited as a source (with a link) or simply mentioned? Citations with links generate referral traffic and reinforce your authority. Perplexity systematically cites its sources; ChatGPT only does so in search mode.
Sentiment and accuracy. Being mentioned isn't enough. Does AI speak positively about you? Is the information correct? A mention with outdated data or negative tone can hurt more than help.
Position in response. Being cited first in a recommendation list doesn't have the same impact as appearing in fifth position. Some tools track this granularity.
AEO/GEO monitoring tools comparison
The AEO tools market is young but structuring quickly. Here are the main solutions available in 2026.
| Tool | AI covered | Pricing | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Otterly.AI | ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AIO, Gemini, Copilot | From $29/month | Broadest coverage |
| HubSpot AEO Grader | GPT-4o, Perplexity, Gemini | Free | Ideal for one-time audit |
| Profound | ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini | From $99/month | Detailed audits + recommendations |
| Conductor | ChatGPT, Perplexity, AI Overviews | Quote-based (enterprise) | Complete SEO integration |
| AI Labs Audit | ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity | From 29 EUR/month | French interface + agencies |
Otterly.AI: the market reference
Otterly.AI
Multi-AI monitoring with automated tracking
- Automatic tracking across 5 AI answer engines
- Position history and evolution over time
- Alerts for significant changes
- Integrated competitive analysis
- API available for custom integration
Starter: $29/month (50 queries) | Pro: $99/month (250 queries) | Enterprise: quote-based
Otterly.AI is currently the most comprehensive tool for AEO monitoring. Its strength: coverage of 5 AIs including Google AI Overviews, often neglected by competitors. The interface allows configuring recurring queries and receiving alerts when your visibility changes significantly.
HubSpot AEO Grader: the free choice
HubSpot AEO Grader
Free AI visibility audit
- Queries GPT-4o, Perplexity, and Gemini simultaneously
- Analysis of 5-10 queries per audit
- Overall AEO visibility score
- Basic optimization recommendations
- PDF export of results
Free (unlimited use)
For an initial diagnosis, HubSpot AEO Grader is ideal. The tool is free and provides an instant snapshot of your presence across 3 major AIs. Limitation: no time tracking or history. It's a one-time audit tool, not continuous monitoring.
Profound: the deep audit approach
Profound
AI visibility audits with actionable recommendations
- Detailed audits across 4 major AIs
- Semantic response analysis
- Impact-prioritized recommendations
- Built-in industry benchmarks
- White-label client reports
Growth: $99/month | Scale: $299/month | Enterprise: quote-based
Profound stands out for the depth of its analyses. Beyond simple presence/absence tracking, the tool evaluates the context of mentions, tone, and provides specific recommendations. Particularly suited for agencies that need to justify their recommendations to clients.
Conductor: enterprise integration
Conductor
SEO platform with integrated AEO/GEO module
- AEO monitoring integrated into complete SEO suite
- GEO industry benchmarks
- Google AI Overviews tracking
- Customizable dashboards
- CRM and analytics integrations
Quote-based (typically $1000+/month)
Conductor targets large organizations wanting to integrate AEO monitoring into their existing SEO stack. The advantage: unified SEO + AEO view. The disadvantage: price and implementation complexity.
AI Labs Audit: the French-language solution
AI Labs Audit
AI visibility audit platform for agencies and consultants
- Audits on ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity
- 100% French interface
- Customizable client reports
- Visibility scoring by AI
- Evolution tracking over time
Starter: 29 EUR/month | Pro: 79 EUR/month | Agency: 149 EUR/month
AI Labs Audit specifically targets the French-speaking market and digital agencies. The tool generates professional AI visibility reports to present to clients, with an intuitive interface requiring no advanced technical expertise.
Test your visibility on AI
Discover how your brand appears on ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity with a free audit.
Start a free auditFree vs paid: what to choose?
The choice between free and paid tools depends on your context and objectives.
Free tools (HubSpot AEO Grader, trial versions). Sufficient for initial diagnosis or occasional use. Limitations: no history, no alerts, limited queries. Suited for freelancers, small businesses, or to convince management to invest in AEO.
Entry-level paid tools ($29-99/month). The sweet spot for most companies. Enable regular monitoring across multiple AIs with history. Sufficient for tracking 20-50 strategic queries and detecting changes.
Enterprise solutions ($500+/month). Justified only if you manage many brands, need advanced integrations, or operate in a very competitive sector where every visibility point counts.
How to set up effective AEO monitoring
Having a tool isn't enough. Here's the methodology for monitoring that produces actionable insights.
Step 1: Define your strategic queries
Select 20 to 30 queries that truly matter for your business. Three categories to cover:
- Brand awareness queries - "What is [your brand]?", "[your brand] reviews", "who is [your founder]?"
- Industry queries - "best [your category]", "how to [problem you solve]", "[your sector] comparison"
- Competitive queries - "[competitor] vs [you]", "alternative to [competitor]", "[competitor] or [you]"
Step 2: Establish your baseline
Before any optimization, document your current situation. For each query, note:
- Presence or absence in the response (by AI)
- Position in response if mentioned
- Information accuracy
- Tone (positive, neutral, negative)
- Presence of citation with link
Step 3: Set up weekly tracking
AI responses evolve. Weekly tracking detects significant changes without spending hours. Most paid tools allow automating this tracking.
Set up alerts for:
- Disappearance of a previously present mention
- Competitor appearance on your key queries
- Tone change (positive to negative)
- Factual error in a response about you
Step 4: Analyze and act
Monitoring only has value if it leads to actions. Each month, identify:
- Queries where you're progressing (why?)
- Queries where you're declining (what to do?)
- Unexploited opportunities (queries where no one is well positioned)
- Content to create or optimize as priority
Building your AI visibility dashboard
An effective dashboard synthesizes key data without drowning in detail. Here are elements to include.
Overview. Overall AEO visibility score (percentage of queries where you're mentioned), evolution vs. previous month, comparison with main competitor.
Performance by AI. Some brands perform better on Perplexity than ChatGPT. Identify your strengths and weaknesses by platform to prioritize optimizations.
Top queries. The 5 queries where you're best positioned, the 5 where you have the most improvement potential.
Active alerts. Recent changes requiring attention (disappearances, factual errors, negative mentions).
Interpreting your results: beyond the numbers
AEO metrics require contextual interpretation. Some reading keys.
Normal variability. AI responses aren't deterministic. The same query can give slightly different results depending on timing. Don't overreact to a one-time fluctuation - look at trends over 4-8 weeks.
Differences between AIs. Each answer engine has its preferences. Perplexity cites its sources more systematically. Claude tends to be more cautious in its recommendations. ChatGPT varies depending on whether it uses web search or not. Adjust your expectations by platform.
Correlation with your actions. When you publish new content or get press coverage, observe the impact on your AI visibility in the following 2-4 weeks. This correlation helps identify what works.
Industry context. In some sectors (finance, health), AIs are naturally more cautious and mainly cite institutional sources. Your benchmarks must account for this reality.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about AEO monitoring
What is the best free tool for monitoring AEO visibility?
HubSpot AEO Grader is currently the best free tool for a one-time AEO visibility audit. It queries GPT-4o, Perplexity, and Gemini on a few key queries. For free continuous monitoring, you can use trial versions of Otterly.AI or Profound.
How many queries should be tracked for effective AEO monitoring?
Effective AEO monitoring requires tracking 20 to 30 strategic queries. Include brand awareness questions (your brand), generic industry queries, and comparisons with your competitors. Test each query weekly across 4 to 5 different AIs.
What's the difference between AI Share of Voice and citation rate?
AI Share of Voice measures the percentage of AI responses in your industry that mention your brand compared to competitors. Citation rate simply indicates how frequently you're cited as a source. Share of Voice is more strategic as it integrates competitive context.
How often should you test your visibility on AI?
Weekly frequency is recommended for AEO monitoring. AI responses can evolve rapidly following model updates or changes to your content. Monthly testing minimum is necessary to detect significant trends.
Can AEO tools measure visibility on Google AI Overviews?
Yes, some tools like Otterly.AI and Conductor include Google AI Overviews tracking in their coverage. This feature is particularly important as AI Overviews impact up to 61% of organic CTR on queries where they appear.