SEO & AI Search

12 Best AI Search Checking Tools in 2026 (Free and Paid, Compared)

12 best AI search checking tools compared on price, engine coverage and update speed. Prices checked on vendor pricing pages, October 31, 2026.

Shamim Mia, Founder, SerpAstraLast verified October 31, 202616 min read

We compare pricing pages, documentation and public reviews. We never accept payment for rankings.

Key takeaways

  • Peec AI is the best value for most teams: daily AI search checking across ChatGPT, AI Overviews and AI Mode from $95/month. Otterly.AI is the cheapest way in at $29/month, and SE Ranking bundles AI visibility into a full suite from $103.20/month billed annually.
  • The single most important buying factor is engine coverage and prompt volume on the plan you actually buy: a cheap plan that only covers 15 prompts or 4 engines will not answer the questions your clients ask.
  • Free options exist — AthenaHQ has a free Essential plan and Ahrefs Free includes Brand Radar — but meaningful daily checking starts around $29–$95/month.
  • Profound is the best-known name in the category, but it has no published price — every paid plan is a custom quote.
  • Every price below was checked on the vendor's own pricing page on October 31, 2026. Ratings are G2, with review counts shown.
On this page

Quick comparison

Starting prices checked October 31, 2026 on each vendor's pricing page. Nightwatch is priced in euros.
ToolBest forStarting priceFree plan
Peec AISmall teams and agencies that want daily AI search tracking across ChatGPT, AI Overviews and AI Mode from $95/month$95/moNo (7-day trial)
SE RankingSmall agencies and in-house teams that want AI search checking bundled with full rank tracking for about $103/month$103.20/mo (annual)No (14-day trial)
Otterly.AISmall businesses and solo marketers checking a handful of prompts on a tight budget$29/moNo (free trial)
PromptWatchAgencies and developers who want API and MCP access to AI search data from the entry plan$95/moNo (7-day trial)
Semrush AI Visibility ToolkitTeams already paying for Semrush who want AI visibility inside the suite they already use$99/mo per domainNo (7-day trial)
Ahrefs Brand RadarTeams already paying for Ahrefs who want AI visibility alongside backlink and keyword data$50/mo + planYes (no Brand Radar)
ProRankTrackerAgencies and rank-tracking users who want AI Overviews and AI Mode folded into the tool they already use$99/moNo (7-day trial)
NightwatchSmall agencies that want rank tracking plus AI citation tracking across 6 surfaces for one euro price€79/mo (annual)No (14-day trial)
AthenaHQTeams that want a free plan to start and are willing to pay $295/month for 11 models and deep analysis$295/moYes (Essential)
Scrunch AIContent teams that want AI visibility plus content-optimization guidance in one tool$250/moNo (7-day trial)
Goodie AIBrands that want AI visibility tracking plus done-for-you optimization actions in one subscription$354/moNo (7-day trial)
ProfoundLarge brands and enterprises that need deep AI search coverage and can buy through a sales processCustom quoteNo (7-day trial)

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The best ai search checking tools

#1

Peec AI

Best for: Small teams and agencies that want daily AI search tracking across ChatGPT, AI Overviews and AI Mode from $95/month

4.7/5 on G2 (21 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit peec.ai
Starting price$95/month (Starter, billed monthly; $80/month billed annually)
Free planNo — 7-day free trial (no credit card required)

Peec AI is the best-balanced dedicated checker in this list. The $95 Starter plan covers 50 prompts a day across your choice of three of six models — ChatGPT, AI Mode, AI Overviews, Copilot, Gemini and Naver AI — with daily updates and unlimited users. That is more engine coverage than any other tool at this price, and the annual price drops to $80/month.

The limits are honest ones. Fifty prompts and three models will not cover a large client roster, and full coverage needs Pro at $245/month. But for a small team that wants to know whether its brand shows up in ChatGPT and AI Overviews — and whether that answer changes day to day — Peec AI gives the most checking for the money. Start with the 7-day trial and your real prompt list.

What we like

  • Entry plan covers 6 models including AI Mode and AI Overviews, with daily tracking and unlimited users
  • Starts at $95/month — cheaper than Scrunch, Goodie and AthenaHQ while covering more models than Otterly's Lite
  • Pro plan ($245/month) adds 150 prompts and competitor tracking; annual billing saves about 15%

Watch out for

  • Only 50 prompts on Starter, and you choose just 3 of 6 models — full coverage needs Pro or higher
  • No free plan, and the pricing page does not state the trial length
  • European visitors see euro pricing (€85/month for Starter), so the dollar price varies by region
#2

SE Ranking

Best for: Small agencies and in-house teams that want AI search checking bundled with full rank tracking for about $103/month

4.7/5 on G2 (1,619 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit seranking.com
Starting price$129/month (Core, billed monthly; $103.20/month billed annually)
Free planNo — 14-day free trial

SE Ranking is the only full SEO suite here that includes AI visibility tracking in its entry plan at no extra cost. Core costs $103.20/month billed annually and pairs 2,000 keywords tracked daily with 25 AI prompts a day across five engines, plus site audit, keyword and backlink research. If you already need a suite, the AI checking is effectively free.

The catch is prompt volume: 25 prompts a day is enough for one brand, not five. Heavy AI tracking needs the SE Visible add-on from $71/month. SE Ranking is the right pick when you want one subscription for rankings and AI visibility; if AI checking is the whole job, a dedicated checker like Peec AI gives you more prompts for less.

What we like

  • AI visibility (25 prompts a day, 5 engines) is included in every plan, so there is no add-on fee for AI tracking
  • 2,000 keywords tracked daily plus site audit, keyword and backlink research in the same $103.20/month plan
  • White-label reporting available with the Agency Pack add-on from $69/month

Watch out for

  • Only 25 AI prompts a day on Core — heavy AI tracking needs the SE Visible add-on from $71/month
  • Entry price is higher than Otterly, Peec AI or PromptWatch if you only need AI search checking
  • Some G2 reviewers report minor discrepancies in rank data and search-volume estimates
#3

Otterly.AI

Best for: Small businesses and solo marketers checking a handful of prompts on a tight budget

4.7/5 on G2 (54 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit otterly.ai
Starting price$29/month (Lite, billed monthly; $25/month billed annually)
Free planNo — free trial (length not stated on the pricing page)

Otterly.AI is the cheapest way to start checking AI search: $29/month billed monthly, $25/month billed annually, for 15 prompts a day across ChatGPT, AI Overviews, Perplexity and Copilot. Tracking is daily, and every plan includes unlimited team members — rare at this price.

Fifteen prompts is a small list, and AI Mode and Gemini cost extra as add-ons ($9/month each on Lite). The jump to Standard at $189/month for 100 prompts is steep. But for a solo marketer or a small business checking its brand and a few competitors, Otterly.AI is the lowest-risk first step: run the free trial, and upgrade only when the prompt list outgrows Lite.

What we like

  • Cheapest entry price in this list — $29/month monthly, $25/month billed annually
  • Daily tracking and unlimited team members on every plan, including Lite
  • AI Mode, Gemini and Claude can be added as paid add-ons instead of forcing a plan upgrade

Watch out for

  • Only 15 prompts and 4 engines on Lite — AI Mode and Gemini cost extra ($9/month each)
  • No free plan, and the trial length is not stated on the pricing page
  • Prompt count jumps from 15 on Lite to 100 on Standard ($189/month), so scaling is a steep step
#4

PromptWatch

Best for: Agencies and developers who want API and MCP access to AI search data from the entry plan

4.6/5 on G2 (22 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit promptwatch.com
Starting price$95/month (Essential)
Free planNo — 7-day free trial (Essential and Professional plans)

PromptWatch is the most developer-friendly checker here. The $95 Essential plan includes 50 prompts, 6,000 AI responses a month, daily tracking across all models — and API and MCP access, which most rivals reserve for higher tiers. If you want to pipe AI visibility data into your own dashboards, this is the cheapest route.

Essential covers one project, so a second client needs Professional at $245/month. The review base is small — 22 G2 reviews — and there is no free plan, only a 7-day trial. But for agencies that build on AI search data rather than just reading it, the API access alone justifies the price. Business at $579/month adds up to hourly refresh.

What we like

  • API and MCP access included on the $95 Essential plan — most rivals reserve API access for higher tiers
  • 50 prompts with 6,000 responses a month, daily tracking across all models
  • Up to hourly refresh on Business ($579/month) for time-sensitive monitoring

Watch out for

  • Only 1 project on Essential — a second project needs Professional at $245/month
  • Smaller review base (22 G2 reviews) than the established suites
  • No free plan; the 7-day trial covers Essential and Professional only
#5

Semrush AI Visibility Toolkit

Best for: Teams already paying for Semrush who want AI visibility inside the suite they already use

4.4/5 on G2 (4,304 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit semrush.com
Starting price$99/month per domain (Base, billed annually; requires a Semrush plan)
Free planNo — 7-day free trial (card required)

The Semrush AI Visibility Toolkit is an add-on, not a standalone product, and that decides who should buy it. Base costs $99/month per domain billed annually and tracks 25 custom prompts a day across ChatGPT, Google AI, Gemini and Perplexity. If you already pay for Semrush, it slots into the suite you know — and the data joins 27 billion keywords of research behind it.

If you do not already pay for Semrush, the math changes: the cheapest working setup is about $239/month (the SEO plan at $139.95 plus Base at $99). Base also includes only one Brand Performance domain. Buy it when Semrush is already your suite; buy a dedicated checker when it is not.

What we like

  • Covers ChatGPT, Google AI, Gemini and Perplexity with 25 custom prompts a day on Base
  • Sits inside Semrush's 27-billion-keyword database and full SEO toolkit, so AI data joins rank, backlink and PPC data
  • Pro Report add-on ($20/month) adds white-label reporting

Watch out for

  • $99/month per domain is on top of a Semrush plan — the cheapest working setup is about $239/month (SEO plan $139.95 + Base $99)
  • Base includes only 1 Brand Performance domain; extra domains cost more
  • Extra users start at $45/month
#6

Ahrefs Brand Radar

Best for: Teams already paying for Ahrefs who want AI visibility alongside backlink and keyword data

4.5/5 on G2 (723 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit ahrefs.com
Starting price$50/month (Basic custom prompt package, +2,500 checks/month; requires an Ahrefs plan — Lite at $129/month includes 5 tracked prompts and 150 checks)
Free planYes — Ahrefs Free for verified site owners (Brand Radar tracking needs a paid plan or prompt package)

Ahrefs Brand Radar draws on more than 519 million organic prompts — the largest prompt dataset in this list — and it comes with the Ahrefs suite. Lite at $129/month includes 5 tracked prompts and 150 Brand Radar checks a month, and custom prompt packages start at $50/month for 2,500 more checks. For teams already paying for Ahrefs, that is a cheap way to add AI visibility to backlink and keyword data.

Two honest caveats. The $50 package sits on top of a plan, so the real starting cost is about $179/month. And the AI chatbot index refreshes monthly, not daily, so visibility data moves more slowly than the dedicated checkers here. Brand Radar is the right pick for Ahrefs users who want breadth; it is the wrong pick if you need daily movement.

What we like

  • Brand Radar draws on 519M+ organic prompts, the largest prompt dataset in this list
  • Lite includes 5 tracked prompts and 150 checks a month, so small teams can start without a package
  • Brand Radar comes with an Ahrefs Free account, and the prompt packages are the paid part

Watch out for

  • The $50 package sits on top of an Ahrefs plan, so the real starting cost is about $179/month (Lite $129 + Basic $50)
  • The AI chatbot index refreshes monthly, not daily, so visibility data moves more slowly than dedicated checkers
  • The full AI Visibility Index is a separate in-app add-on, priced per platform
#7

ProRankTracker

Best for: Agencies and rank-tracking users who want AI Overviews and AI Mode folded into the tool they already use

4.6/5 on G2 (60 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit proranktracker.com
Starting price$99/month (Starter)
Free planNo — 7-day free trial (100 terms, no credit card required)

ProRankTracker is a rank tracker first, and its AI tracking is a bonus that costs nothing extra. The $99 Starter plan includes 1,000 terms tracked daily plus AI Overviews, AI Mode and four AI platforms — ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot and Perplexity. If you already track rankings here, AI checking arrives without a second subscription.

The pricing model needs attention: every AI prompt costs 2 terms, so a 1,000-term plan covers 500 AI prompts at most — and fewer once ordinary keywords take their share. The AI analysis is also lighter than a dedicated checker. Pick ProRankTracker when rankings are the job and AI is the extra; pick Peec AI or PromptWatch when AI is the job.

What we like

  • AI Overviews, AI Mode and four AI platforms are included from the $99 Starter plan — no add-on fee
  • 1,000 terms tracked daily with Top-100 updates, plus white-label reporting from Pro ($149/month)
  • 7-day free trial with 100 terms and no credit card required

Watch out for

  • Every AI prompt costs 2 terms, so heavy AI tracking eats your 1,000-term allowance fast
  • AI tracking is a feature of a rank tracker, not a dedicated AI platform — prompt analysis is lighter than Peec AI or PromptWatch
  • No free plan
#8

Nightwatch

Best for: Small agencies that want rank tracking plus AI citation tracking across 6 surfaces for one euro price

4.7/5 on G2 (64 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit nightwatch.io
Starting price€99/month (Starter, billed monthly; €79/month billed annually)
Free planNo — 14-day free trial (no credit card required)

Nightwatch is the only entry plan here with six AI surfaces in one price: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, AI Mode and AI Overviews. Starter costs €79/month billed annually and pairs 50 AI prompts and 1,500 AI answers a month with 500 keywords tracked daily — and unlimited seats, so the whole team can use it.

The price is in euros, which US buyers should note, and 50 prompts is a small allowance for the money. White-label reporting starts on Professional at €159/month billed annually. Nightwatch is the pick when Claude and AI Mode coverage matter and you want one tool for rankings and AI citations; Otterly.AI is cheaper if you only need four engines.

What we like

  • 6 AI surfaces on the entry plan — including Claude, which Otterly charges extra for
  • Unlimited seats on every plan, so the whole team can use it at no extra cost
  • 14-day free trial with no credit card required

Watch out for

  • Bills in euros (€99/month monthly), so the dollar cost moves with the exchange rate
  • Only 50 AI prompts and 1,500 AI answers a month on Starter
  • White-label reporting starts on Professional (€159/month billed annually)
#9

AthenaHQ

Best for: Teams that want a free plan to start and are willing to pay $295/month for 11 models and deep analysis

4.9/5 on G2 (39 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit athenahq.ai
Starting price$295/month (Starter; $245/month billed annually)
Free planYes — free Essential plan (300 credits, 5 engines)

AthenaHQ is the only tool in this list with a genuinely free plan. Essential gives 300 credits across five engines — ChatGPT, Perplexity, AI Overviews, Gemini and Copilot — at no cost, and it holds the highest G2 rating here at 4.9 out of 5 from 39 reviews. The paid Starter plan costs $295/month for 3,600 credits a month across 11 models.

That $295 is the joint-highest starting price here, and API access is a paid add-on on Starter. AthenaHQ also publishes no refresh cadence, so we cannot say how often it re-checks prompts. Start with the free plan — it is the only free AI search checker here — and pay only when the credit allowance runs out.

What we like

  • The only free plan in this list — Essential gives 300 credits across 5 engines at no cost
  • Highest G2 rating here (4.9/5 from 39 reviews)
  • Starter covers 11 models with 3,600 credits a month

Watch out for

  • $295/month is the joint-highest starting price here, and API access is a paid add-on on Starter
  • No published refresh cadence — AthenaHQ does not say how often it re-checks prompts
  • Each prompt checked across all 11 models costs 11 credits per run, so 3,600 credits cover fewer prompts than the headline suggests
#10

Scrunch AI

Best for: Content teams that want AI visibility plus content-optimization guidance in one tool

4.6/5 on G2 (74 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit scrunch.com
Starting price$250/month (Core)
Free planNo — 7-day free trial (no credit card required)

Scrunch AI pairs AI visibility tracking with content optimization: it does not just tell you where your brand appears, it tells you what to change. Core costs $250/month for 125 unique prompts, 5,000 AI responses a month and four LLMs — ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews and Copilot — plus five site audits a month.

The tracking cadence is the caveat: new prompts run daily for 14 days, then every 72 hours by default, which is slower than the daily checkers in this list. The pricing page also shows different plan names by region. Choose Scrunch when you want tracking plus optimization guidance in one tool; choose Peec AI when daily movement matters more.

What we like

  • Combines AI visibility tracking with content optimization — it tells you what to change, not just where you rank
  • 5,000 AI responses a month on Core, the most generous response allowance here
  • 7-day free trial with no credit card required

Watch out for

  • New prompts run daily for 14 days, then every 72 hours by default — slower than the daily checkers here
  • The pricing page shows different plan names by region (some visitors see Starter at $300/month)
  • No free plan, and $250/month is a steep entry for small teams
#11

Goodie AI

Best for: Brands that want AI visibility tracking plus done-for-you optimization actions in one subscription

4.9/5 on G2 (10 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit higoodie.com
Starting price$354/month (Core, billed monthly; $295/month billed annually)
Free planNo — 7-day free trial (Core)

Goodie AI is a tracking-plus-action tool: Core costs $354/month billed monthly ($295 billed annually) for 110 prompts across five engines — ChatGPT, AI Overviews, Perplexity, AI Mode and Copilot — with daily tracking, unlimited seats and 50 optimization actions a month. It shares the highest G2 rating here at 4.9 out of 5, though from only 10 reviews.

That is the joint-highest starting price here for 110 prompts — fewer than Scrunch's 125 at $250 — and Enterprise pricing is custom, so scaling costs are unclear. Goodie AI fits brands that want the tool to act on what it finds, not just report it. If you only need the checking, Peec AI covers the same five engines for $200 less a month.

What we like

  • Highest G2 rating here (4.9/5), shared with AthenaHQ — albeit from only 10 reviews
  • Daily tracking on 5 engines with unlimited seats, plus 50 optimization actions a month on Core
  • Core includes AI Mode and Copilot alongside ChatGPT, AI Overviews and Perplexity — 5 engines from the entry plan

Watch out for

  • $295/month is the joint-highest starting price here, for 110 prompts — fewer than Scrunch's 125
  • Only 10 G2 reviews, so the 4.9 rating rests on a small base
  • Enterprise (500+ prompts, up to 14 engines) is custom-priced, so scaling costs are unclear
#12

Profound

Best for: Large brands and enterprises that need deep AI search coverage and can buy through a sales process

4.5/5 on G2 (1,133 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit tryprofound.com
Starting priceCustom quote (Enterprise; free 7-day trial)
Free planNo — free 7-day trial (50 prompts daily, 3 engines)

Profound is the best-known name in AI search tracking, with 1,133 G2 reviews — more than any other tool here — and up to nine answer engines on Enterprise. The free 7-day trial is generous: 50 prompts a day across ChatGPT, Gemini and AI Overviews. For a large brand that needs deep coverage and enterprise reporting, it is the reference product.

But there is no published price. The $99 Starter and $399 Growth plans were removed in September 2026, so every paid plan is now a custom quote — you cannot budget without a sales call. For a small team checking a handful of prompts, Profound is overkill. Use the trial to see the depth, then buy a dedicated checker unless your scale demands Enterprise.

What we like

  • The largest G2 review base here (1,133 reviews) and the most-recognized name in AI search tracking
  • Up to 9 answer engines on Enterprise, with daily tracking and enterprise-grade reporting
  • Free 7-day trial runs 50 prompts a day across 3 engines — the most generous trial here

Watch out for

  • No published price — every paid plan is a custom quote, so you cannot budget without a sales call
  • The $99 Starter and $399 Growth plans were removed in September 2026, so there is no self-serve tier
  • Overkill for a small team that only needs to check a handful of prompts

What an AI search checking tool actually does

The best AI search checking tool is the one that answers a simple question every day: does your brand show up when people ask an AI? Google's AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini and AI Mode now answer questions directly, and the brands they cite get the click. The tools in this list check that visibility — they run your prompts through the AI engines, record whether your brand is mentioned, and track how the answers change over time.

People search for this category as the best AI search tracking software, the best AI search monitoring tools and the best LLM tracking tools, and they all mean the same thing. The products differ in how many engines they cover, how many prompts the entry plan includes, and whether they refresh daily or monthly — and the price follows those three numbers, not the brand name.

We checked all 12 tools on their own pricing pages on October 31, 2026. Prices run from $29 a month to custom enterprise quotes, and one tool has a genuinely free plan. The short list: Peec AI for most teams, Otterly.AI for the tightest budgets, and SE Ranking when you want AI checking bundled with a full SEO suite.

An AI search checking tool runs a list of prompts — the questions your customers ask — through AI search engines and records what comes back. For each prompt it notes whether your brand is mentioned, whether a competitor is mentioned instead, and which sources the answer cites. Run the same prompts daily and you get a trend: visibility rising, falling, or flat.

That is different from rank tracking. A rank tracker checks where your page sits in ten blue links; an AI checker reads the answer itself. The two overlap — several rank trackers here now include AI checks — but the data is different, and so is the buying question: how many prompts, on how many engines, refreshed how often. If you want to improve the answers, not just check them, our guide to ranking in AI Overviews explains what the engines reward.

One study shows why the checking matters: researchers at Washington University in St. Louis found AI Overviews appeared in 13.7% of all searches in a study of 55,393 Google searches on trending topics between March 13 and April 21, 2026 — and in 64.7% of question-form queries. The findings were presented at the ACM Internet Measurement Conference in October 2026. Note the caveat: the study covered trending queries, not a representative sample of all searches, so the share is higher than it would be for everyday queries. But for question-form searches — the kind that drive research and buying — AI answers are now the default, not the exception.

Free options first

If you check a handful of prompts for one brand, you may not need to pay at all. AthenaHQ's free Essential plan gives 300 credits across five engines — ChatGPT, Perplexity, AI Overviews, Gemini and Copilot — and it is the only free plan in this list. Ahrefs Free includes Brand Radar for verified site owners, though tracking prompts needs a paid plan or a custom prompt package.

Every other tool here offers a free trial instead: 7 days for Peec AI, PromptWatch, Semrush, Scrunch, Goodie AI and Profound, and 14 days for SE Ranking and Nightwatch. Trials are the right way to buy: run your real prompt list for the trial week and compare the answers against what you see when you ask the engines yourself. A tool that cannot reproduce the answers you see by hand is not worth paying for.

Dedicated checkers vs the SEO suites

The 12 tools in this list split into three camps. The dedicated checkers — Peec AI, Otterly.AI, PromptWatch, AthenaHQ, Scrunch AI, Goodie AI and Profound — do one job: they check AI search and report it. They are the cheapest way to cover many engines, and the entry prices run from $29 to $354 a month. Peec AI is the balanced pick at $95; Otterly.AI is the budget pick at $29; PromptWatch is the pick for teams that want API access.

The suites — SE Ranking, Semrush and Ahrefs — bundle AI checking with the rest of SEO. SE Ranking includes it in every plan, so the $103.20-a-month Core plan is the cheapest suite route. Semrush charges $99 a month per domain on top of a plan, and Ahrefs sells custom prompt packages from $50 a month on top of a plan. If you already pay for one of these suites, use its AI checking before buying a second tool.

The third camp is the rank trackers: ProRankTracker and Nightwatch include AI tracking from their entry plans, at $99 a month and €79 a month billed annually respectively. They suit teams that already track rankings and want AI checks in the same dashboard.

The price chart below shows the monthly-billed starting price for every tool with a dollar price. Nightwatch bills in euros and Profound is custom-priced, so neither appears as a bar.

Bar chart of starting prices billed monthly: Otterly.AI $29, Ahrefs $50, Peec AI $95, PromptWatch $95, Semrush $99, ProRankTracker $99, SE Ranking $129, Scrunch $250, Goodie AI $354, AthenaHQ $295. Nightwatch bills in euros and Profound is custom-priced, so neither is shown.
Starting prices, billed monthly. Annual billing is lower for most tools — the comparison table at the top shows the annual figure. Nightwatch bills in euros (€79/month billed annually) and Profound is custom-priced.

AI visibility, engine coverage and update speed

Price is the wrong first question. The right first question is coverage: which engines does the entry plan check, and how many prompts does it include? Peec AI covers six models from $95 a month; Nightwatch covers six surfaces from €79 a month billed annually; Otterly.AI covers four from $29, with AI Mode and Gemini as paid add-ons. A cheap plan that misses the engine your customers use is not cheap.

If you search for the best AI Mode analysis software, the best AI Mode checking tools, the best AI Mode tracking software or the best AI Overviews analysis software, you will find the same products under different names — the category has not settled on one label yet.

The second question is refresh speed. Most tools here update daily, but three do not. Ahrefs Brand Radar's AI chatbot index refreshes monthly, so visibility data moves slowly. Scrunch checks new prompts daily for 14 days, then every 72 hours by default. AthenaHQ publishes no refresh cadence at all. If you report to clients weekly, monthly data may be fine; if you react to AI answers the day they change, buy a daily checker.

The third question is what happens after the check. Scrunch and Goodie AI include optimization actions — they tell you what to change, not just where you appear. PromptWatch and AthenaHQ sell API access for teams that build on the data. The matrix below shows what each entry plan includes.

If you want AI search checking handled for you rather than bought as software, our AI search optimization service covers tracking, analysis and fixes in one engagement. And if you run a site that AI crawlers need to read, the free AI crawler robots generator writes the robots.txt rules for ChatGPT, Perplexity and the other AI crawlers.

Matrix showing what each entry plan includes: daily updates, free plan, AI visibility and white-label reporting
What the entry plan includes, checked October 31, 2026. A dash means the feature is not included on the entry plan. Ahrefs Brand Radar's AI chatbot index refreshes monthly; Scrunch checks new prompts daily for 14 days, then every 72 hours.

Quick comparison: tool type by need

BuyerBest pickWhy
Solo marketer on a budgetOtterly.AI$29/month, daily updates, 4 engines
Small team, best valuePeec AI6 models, daily tracking, unlimited seats from $95/month
Already paying for a suiteSE Ranking, Semrush or AhrefsAI visibility bundled with the suite you own
Rank tracking plus AI checksProRankTracker or NightwatchAI Overviews and AI Mode included from the entry plan
Free plan to startAthenaHQFree Essential plan, 300 credits, 5 engines
Enterprise scaleProfoundUp to 9 engines, deepest coverage, custom quote

How to choose the best AI search checking tool

  1. List your prompts first. Write down the 20–50 questions your customers actually ask, then check which plans cover that many prompts. A $29 plan with 15 prompts is the wrong buy if you have 40 questions.
  2. Check the engines your customers use. ChatGPT, AI Overviews and Perplexity are the minimum; add AI Mode and Claude if your audience uses them. Peec AI and Nightwatch cover six surfaces from their entry plans.
  3. Pick your refresh speed. Daily if AI answers move your business — local, competitive or fast-changing niches. Monthly is fine for stable brands, which is what Ahrefs Brand Radar gives you.
  4. Decide dedicated tool or suite. If you already pay for SE Ranking, Semrush or Ahrefs, use its AI checking first. If AI is the whole job, a dedicated checker gives you more prompts per dollar.
  5. Try before you pay. Every tool here has a free plan or a free trial. Run your real prompt list for a week and compare the answers against what you see when you ask the engines yourself.

For the full background on what AI engines quote, our guide to getting cited in ChatGPT explains the citation patterns these tools track.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Comparing monthly prices without checking billing. The annual price is usually 15–20% lower, and Ahrefs prompt packages have no annual option.
  • Counting prompts wrong. Some tools count each engine separately: one question checked on six models can cost six prompts or six credits. Check before you buy.
  • Buying coverage you will not use. A $295 plan with 11 models is wasted if your customers only ask ChatGPT and Google.
  • Ignoring the refresh speed. A monthly index will not show the answer change that cost you a client last Tuesday.
  • Trusting a directory price. Profound still shows $99 Starter plans on several directories; the live pricing page is custom-quote only. Always check the vendor's own page.

How we chose

We checked each vendor's own pricing page on October 31, 2026 and recorded the starting price exactly as shown, including the annual-billing figure where the page lists one. Ratings come from G2, with review counts shown. We ranked the tools by fit for the most common buyer — a small team or agency that wants to check whether its brand shows up in AI answers — not by brand size. Two prices needed care: Nightwatch bills in euros, and its pricing page is JavaScript-rendered, so we corroborated the €99 figure against the same-day verification in our rank tracking guide and several independent October 2026 sources; AthenaHQ's $295 figure likewise did not render in the pricing-page text, so we corroborated it against five independent October 2026 sources. Profound's pricing page now shows a custom quote only. No vendor paid for a place in this list, and none of the links here are affiliate links.

What to do next

Start with the decision path above: list your prompts, pick your engines, and decide dedicated tool or suite. Then take the free plan or trial of your top pick — AthenaHQ's free Essential plan if you want to start at zero cost — and run your real prompt list for a week. If the answers match what you see when you ask the engines yourself, you have your tool. If you need more than checking — keyword research, audits and content tools — see our list of the best AI SEO tools for 2026. If you'd rather have this set up and read for you, request a free SEO + AI visibility audit and get a ranked fix list in 2 business days.

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Sources we checked (25)
Shamim

Shamim

Founder of SerpAstra

A full-stack SEO and digital marketer who spends most days on Local SEO for dental practices, AI search visibility and lead generation.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best AI search checking tool in 2026?

Peec AI is the best value for most teams: daily checking across six models, including ChatGPT, AI Overviews and AI Mode, from $95/month. Otterly.AI is the cheapest way in at $29/month for 15 prompts. If you already pay for SE Ranking, its bundled AI visibility is the better buy; large brands should look at Profound.

How much does an AI search checking tool cost?

Between $29 and $295 a month at the entry level. Otterly.AI starts at $29, Peec AI and PromptWatch at $95, and AthenaHQ, Goodie AI and Scrunch at $250–$354. Profound is custom-priced. Annual billing usually saves 15–20%, and Nightwatch bills in euros, so check the exchange rate.

Is there a free AI search checking tool?

Yes — AthenaHQ has a free Essential plan with 300 credits across five engines, and Ahrefs Free includes Brand Radar for verified site owners. Every other tool in this list offers a free trial instead: 7 days for most, 14 days for SE Ranking and Nightwatch. Free plans work for one brand; paid plans start when the prompt list grows.

Which tools track Google AI Mode?

Peec AI, Nightwatch, ProRankTracker and Goodie AI include AI Mode on their entry plans. Otterly.AI offers AI Mode as a $9/month add-on on Lite, and Scrunch includes it on Enterprise. If AI Mode checking is your priority, Peec AI covers it from $95/month and Nightwatch from €79/month billed annually.

What are the best tools for monitoring AI Overviews?

Peec AI, ProRankTracker, Nightwatch and SE Ranking all include AI Overviews tracking on their entry plans, with daily updates. Otterly.AI covers AI Overviews from $29/month. The best AI overview tracking tools are the ones that refresh daily — Ahrefs Brand Radar's chatbot index refreshes monthly, so it moves more slowly.

What is the difference between AI search checking and AI search monitoring?

Checking is a spot test: you run a prompt and see whether your brand appears in the answer. Monitoring is the same check on a schedule — daily, weekly or monthly — so you see the trend. The best AI search monitoring tools do both: they check on a schedule and alert you when an answer changes.

What is an LLM tracking tool, and do I need one?

An LLM tracking tool — sometimes sold as AI Mode analysis software or AI Overviews analysis software — checks whether your brand appears in answers from large language models such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity. You need one if customers find you through AI answers rather than ten blue links. If they still come from Google results, a rank tracker may be enough.

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