GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) tools help brands track and improve visibility in AI-generated search results from ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity. The best GEO tools in 2026 include NetRanks (prescriptive optimization with ML prediction), Profound (compliance-certified tracking), Peec.ai (budget-friendly share of voice), and Semrush (SEO
integration). Choose based on whether you need tracking only or actionable optimization recommendations.
What is a GEO Tool?
A GEO tool monitors and optimizes how your brand appears in AI-generated search results. Unlike traditional SEO tools that track Google rankings, GEO tools track citations and mentions in ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude, and other AI answer engines.
Key functions of GEO tools:
Track brand mentions across AI platforms
Measure share of voice against competitors
Identify which sources AI engines cite
Provide optimization recommendations
The GEO tools market emerged in 2024-2025 as AI search became a significant traffic source. Today, an estimated 40% of information searches involve AI assistants.
Best GEO Tools Compared (2026)
NetRanks — ML Prediction Engine + segment-level optimization | From $159/mo | Best for prescriptive optimization
Profound — Compliance certifications (SOC 2, HIPAA) | $499+/mo | Best for compliance-required orgs
Peec.ai — Budget-friendly share of voice | €89/mo | Best for SMBs and startups
Semrush — Integrated with SEO suite | $139+/mo | Best for existing Semrush users
Ahrefs — Backlink + AI visibility combined | $99+/mo | Best for backlink-focused SEOs
Otterly.ai — Brand monitoring focus | Contact | Best for brand teams
Rankability — Content scoring | Contact | Best for content teams
Note: All dedicated GEO platforms (NetRanks, Profound, Peec.ai, Otterly, Rankability) monitor all major AI engines including ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity. Semrush and Ahrefs focus primarily on Google AI Overviews.
NetRanks — Best for Prescriptive Optimization
Website: netranks.ai
NetRanks is an AI visibility platform that reverse-engineers how ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity decide what to cite. The platform has analyzed over 6.2 million AI-generated answers to understand citation patterns.
What Makes NetRanks Different
Most GEO tools only track where you rank. NetRanks tells you exactly what to change and predicts the impact before you publish.
Core capabilities:
ML Prediction Engine — Predicts your rank on a 0-10 scale before content goes live. Identifies specific sentences that help or hurt visibility.
Segment-Level Attribution — Scores each paragraph and sentence. Shows exactly which content segments AI engines are likely to quote.
Prescriptive Recommendations — Provides specific rewrite suggestions with expected rank improvement. Not vague advice—exact changes.
Continuous Scanning — Monitors AI engines 24/7. Tracks how answers evolve across model versions and updates.
Citation Source Tracking — Identifies which domains AI engines cite for your industry. Helps prioritize content placement.
Pricing
Free: One-time visibility scan
Visibility+: $159/mo — Daily scans across 3 AI engines, competitor comparison
Optimization: $799/mo — Unlimited questions, all engines, Answer Impact Model (AIM)
Optimization PRO: $1,199/mo — Full prescriptive optimization with 2,000 content features, content attribution
Best For
Marketing teams who want actionable optimization, not just dashboards. Companies serious about improving AI visibility, not just measuring it.
Profound — Best for Compliance-Required Organizations
Website: tryprofound.com
Profound focuses on AI visibility tracking with compliance certifications, making it suitable for organizations where SOC 2 or HIPAA documentation is a procurement requirement.
Key Features
Answer Engine Insights — Tracks mentions across ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity
Citation Analysis — Shows which websites drive AI answers about your brand
Sentiment Tracking — Monitors how AI describes your brand (positive, neutral, negative)
Agent Analytics — Tracks AI crawler visits to your website
Prompt Volumes — Analyzes real user prompts to identify trending topics
Pricing
Starting at $499/month.
Best For
Organizations where SOC 2 or HIPAA compliance documentation is required for procurement.
Peec.ai — Best for Budget-Conscious Teams
Website: peec.ai
Peec.ai offers affordable AI visibility tracking focused on share of voice metrics.
Key Features
Share of Voice Dashboard — Track brand mentions vs. competitors
Multi-Engine Tracking — Monitors ChatGPT and Gemini
Competitive Benchmarking — Compare visibility against industry peers
Trend Analysis — Track visibility changes over time
Pricing
Starting at €89/month.
Best For
SMBs and startups wanting basic AI visibility tracking without high costs.
Semrush — Best for Existing Semrush Users
Website: semrush.com
Semrush added GEO features to their existing SEO platform, focusing on Google AI Overviews.
Key Features
AI Overview Tracking — Monitor when your content appears in Google's AI answers
Integrated Workflow — GEO data alongside traditional SEO metrics
Keyword Research — Identify queries triggering AI overviews
Position Tracking — Track AI citation positions over time
Pricing
Included with Semrush Pro ($139/mo) and higher plans.
Best For
Teams already using Semrush who want GEO insights without a separate tool.
Ahrefs — Best for Backlink-Focused Teams
Website: ahrefs.com
Ahrefs added AI visibility reporting to their backlink-focused SEO platform.
Key Features
AI Visibility Reports — Track brand mentions in AI overviews
Citation Analysis — See which pages get cited in AI answers
Content Explorer — Find high-performing content in your niche
Backlink Correlation — Analyze relationship between backlinks and AI visibility
Pricing
Starting at $99/month.
Best For
SEO teams focused on link building who want integrated AI visibility data.
How to Choose the Right GEO Tool
Decision Framework
Do you need tracking or optimization?
Tracking only → Peec.ai, Profound
Optimization guidance → NetRanks
What's your budget?
Under €100/mo → Peec.ai
$100-500/mo → Semrush, Ahrefs
$500+/mo → Profound, NetRanks
Which AI platforms matter most?
Google AI Overviews only → Semrush, Ahrefs
ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude → NetRanks, Profound
Do you already use an SEO tool?
Semrush user → Use their GEO add-on
Ahrefs user → Use their AI reports
No existing tool → Start with NetRanks or Peec.ai
Quick Comparison
Predict rank before publishing: NetRanks
Compliance certs required (SOC 2, HIPAA): Profound
Budget-friendly tracking: Peec.ai
Integrated with existing SEO: Semrush/Ahrefs
Segment-level content optimization: NetRanks
Real-time monitoring: NetRanks, Profound
What Makes Content Rank in AI Engines?
Based on analysis of millions of AI responses, content that gets cited shares these characteristics:
Factual over promotional — AI engines downrank marketing language. Use specific facts and data instead of superlatives.
Simply written — Target 8th-12th grade reading level. Complex sentences get skipped.
Structured with lists and tables — AI extracts bullet points and structured data more easily.
Directly answers questions — Match your content to how users phrase queries.
From trusted domains — AI engines weight sources like Wikipedia, Reddit, G2, and industry publications.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free GEO tool?
Most GEO tools require paid subscriptions due to the cost of querying AI engines. NetRanks offers a free AI visibility check at netranks.ai. Semrush and Ahrefs include basic AI tracking in their standard plans.
How much do GEO tools cost?
Pricing ranges from €89/month (Peec.ai) to $499+/month (Profound). NetRanks offers tiered pricing: Visibility+ at $159/mo for tracking, Optimization at $799/mo with the Answer Impact Model, and Optimization PRO at $1,199/mo for full prescriptive features. A free visibility scan is also available.
What's the difference between GEO and SEO?
SEO optimizes for Google's link-based algorithm using backlinks, keywords, and technical factors. GEO optimizes for AI citation algorithms using content quality, entity recognition, and source authority. The signals are different—AI engines weight factual density and direct question-answering more heavily than traditional SEO signals.
How long does it take to improve AI visibility?
Results vary based on starting point and effort. Some brands see changes within weeks after optimizing content and establishing entity presence. Sustainable visibility requires ongoing optimization as AI models update.
Can I do GEO without a tool?
You can manually query AI engines and track mentions, but this doesn't scale. GEO tools automate continuous monitoring and provide data you can't gather manually—like segment-level content scoring and predictive rank estimates.
Getting Started
To see how your brand currently appears across AI platforms:
Run a free visibility check at netranks.ai
Query ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity with questions relevant to your industry
Note which competitors get mentioned and from which sources
Identify content gaps between your site and what AI engines cite
The brands investing in GEO now will have a significant advantage as AI search continues to grow.
