Best AI Visibility Analytics for Search Optimization 2026
The best AI visibility analytics platforms for search optimization in 2026 are Profound (best for enterprise), Otterly.ai (best for agencies), Peec AI (best for real-time monitoring), and GEO-Lens (best free option). Each platform tracks your content's presence in AI-generated answers differently: Profound offers the deepest historical data and competitor analysis, Otterly excels at white-label reporting, Peec AI provides the fastest updates, and GEO-Lens offers free page-level auditing. According to Gartner's 2025 Marketing Technology Survey, 67% of marketing teams now track AI visibility as a core metric, up from just 12% in 2023.
Key Takeaways
- • Profound leads in historical data depth (12+ months) and enterprise features
- • Otterly.ai offers the best white-label reporting for agencies at $149/month
- • Peec AI provides real-time monitoring with 15-minute update cycles
- • GEO-Lens is the only truly free option with page-level CORE scoring
- • All platforms track Perplexity; ChatGPT and Gemini coverage varies significantly
What Makes a Good AI Visibility Analytics Platform #
Before comparing specific platforms, understand what capabilities matter most for AI visibility tracking:
Essential Features #
- Multi-engine coverage: Tracking across Perplexity, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Google AI Overviews
- Citation detection: Identifying when and where your content gets cited in AI answers
- Query tracking: Monitoring which queries trigger citations to your content
- Historical data: Trend analysis over weeks or months, not just current snapshots
- Competitor monitoring: Tracking competitor visibility for the same queries
Advanced Features #
- Share of Voice calculation: Automatic SOV metrics vs competitors
- Content scoring: Quality analysis of pages that get cited vs. those that don't
- Alert systems: Notifications when visibility changes significantly
- API access: Programmatic data access for custom dashboards
- White-label reporting: Branded reports for agency clients
Platform-by-Platform Comparison #
| Feature | Profound | Otterly.ai | Peec AI | GEO-Lens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $499/mo | $149/mo | $99/mo | Free |
| AI Engines Tracked | 5 engines | 4 engines | 3 engines | 4 engines |
| Historical Data | 12+ months | 6 months | 3 months | None (live) |
| Query Limit | Unlimited | 500/mo | 200/mo | Unlimited |
| Competitor Tracking | ✓ Advanced | ✓ Basic | ✓ Basic | ✗ |
| White-label Reports | ✓ | ✓ (best) | ✗ | ✗ |
| API Access | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Best For | Enterprise | Agencies | SMBs | Individual |
Profound: Best for Enterprise #
Profound offers the most comprehensive AI visibility analytics for large organizations. Key strengths:
- Deepest historical data: 12+ months of citation history for trend analysis
- Five-engine coverage: Perplexity, ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Copilot
- Advanced competitor analysis: Side-by-side SOV comparison with up to 20 competitors
- Custom integrations: Connects to existing BI tools and data warehouses
Otterly.ai: Best for Agencies #
Otterly.ai is purpose-built for marketing agencies managing multiple client accounts:
- White-label excellence: Fully brandable reports with custom logos and domains
- Multi-client dashboard: Manage unlimited clients from one interface
- Automated reporting: Scheduled PDF and interactive reports
- Client-facing portals: Give clients read-only access to their data
Agency Use Case
A mid-size SEO agency switched from manual tracking to Otterly.ai and reduced client reporting time by 73% (from 8 hours to 2 hours per month per client) while providing more comprehensive AI visibility insights.
Peec AI: Best for Real-Time Monitoring #
Peec AI focuses on speed and freshness of data:
- 15-minute update cycles: Fastest refresh rate in the market
- Real-time alerts: Instant notifications when citation status changes
- Simple UI: No learning curve—get started in minutes
- Affordable entry point: Best value for small teams at $99/month
GEO-Lens: Best Free Option #
GEO-Lens is a free Chrome extension that takes a different approach—analyzing content quality rather than tracking citations:
- CORE scoring: Evaluates Context, Organization, Reliability, and Exclusivity
- EEAT analysis: Checks Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust signals
- Page-level audits: Detailed recommendations for improving AI citation potential
- Unlimited use: No query limits or subscription required
AI Engine Coverage Comparison #
Not all platforms track all AI engines equally. Here's the detailed breakdown:
| AI Engine | Market Share | Profound | Otterly | Peec AI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perplexity | ~8% | ✓ Full | ✓ Full | ✓ Full |
| ChatGPT | ~35% | ✓ Full | ✓ Partial | ✓ Partial |
| Google AI Overview | ~40% | ✓ Full | ✓ Full | ✓ Full |
| Gemini | ~10% | ✓ Full | ✓ Full | ✗ |
| Copilot | ~7% | ✓ Full | ✗ | ✗ |
Market share estimates based on SparkToro and SimilarWeb Q4 2025 data.
How to Choose the Right Platform #
Choose Profound If...
- You need 12+ months historical data
- You track 20+ competitors
- You need API/BI integration
- Budget is $500+/month
Choose Otterly.ai If...
- You manage multiple clients
- White-label reports are essential
- You need client-facing portals
- Budget is $150-400/month
Choose Peec AI If...
- Real-time updates are critical
- You're a small team (1-5 people)
- You want the simplest UI
- Budget is under $100/month
Choose GEO-Lens If...
- You need content quality analysis
- You're just starting with GEO
- Budget is $0
- You want page-level audits
Limitations and Considerations #
All AI visibility analytics platforms have inherent limitations:
Common Limitations #
- Response variability: AI answers change based on user context, location, and time—no platform captures every variation
- ChatGPT coverage gaps: ChatGPT doesn't always cite sources, making tracking incomplete
- Cost scaling: Prices increase rapidly with query volume—budget carefully
- No conversion tracking: These tools track visibility, not actual traffic or conversions from AI citations
Platform-Specific Issues #
- Profound: High cost may be prohibitive for small teams; steep learning curve
- Otterly.ai: Limited Copilot coverage; 500 query limit on base plan
- Peec AI: No Gemini or Copilot tracking; limited historical data
- GEO-Lens: No citation tracking—only content quality analysis
Frequently Asked Questions #
Which platform has the most accurate data? #
Profound typically has the most accurate data due to its larger query sampling and longer refresh cycles. However, “accuracy” is relative in AI visibility tracking—AI responses vary by user, so no platform captures the full picture.
Can I use multiple platforms together? #
Yes, and it's often recommended. A common setup: GEO-Lens for content auditing (free), plus Otterly.ai for citation tracking ($149/month). This gives you both quality analysis and visibility monitoring.
How long before I see ROI from these tools? #
Expect 60-90 days to see meaningful data patterns. ROI depends on your optimization actions—the tools provide data, but you need to act on insights. Most teams see positive ROI within 6 months when actively optimizing.
Do any platforms offer free trials? #
Yes: Profound offers 14 days free, Otterly.ai offers 7 days free, and Peec AI has a limited free tier (50 queries/month). GEO-Lens is entirely free with no trial period needed.
Conclusion #
The best AI visibility analytics platform depends on your specific needs. For enterprise teams with large budgets, Profound offers unmatched depth and coverage. Agencies should consider Otterly.ai for its white-label capabilities. Small teams can start with Peec AI's affordable real-time tracking. And everyone should use GEO-Lens (free) to understand what makes content citation-worthy in the first place.
The AI visibility analytics market is still maturing rapidly. Expect significant feature improvements and new entrants throughout 2026. Review your platform choice quarterly as the landscape evolves.
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Product Manager at Seenos.ai. Pioneer in AEO research since 2024, exploring the convergence of SEO and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization). Led multiple AI-powered content optimization projects that achieved 300%+ citation increases in ChatGPT and Perplexity.