Why LLM Search Visibility Matters in 2025
- Generative AI replaces search: 1 in 3 users now start queries with LLMs instead of Google Search [UN Global Digital Study, 2025-04].
- AI Overviews dominate: Google AI Overviews now appear on ~60% of commercial-intent queries [BrightEdge Study, 2025-06].
- Citation = traffic: Brands cited in LLM answers see ~30% higher discoverability vs those absent.
Tracking brand mentions inside LLM answers (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews) is now a core part of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). Early adopters are reporting +27% more inbound traffic from AI citations vs peers.
Understanding LLM Search Visibility
LLM search visibility = how often and how clearly your brand appears in AI-driven answers across ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity, Mistral, and others.
SEO vs GEO
| Factor | SEO (2010–2024) | GEO (2025 → ) |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Keywords, backlinks, CTR | Factual density, entity clarity, structured data |
| Platform | Google, Bing | ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity, AI Overviews |
| Measurement | SERP ranking, impressions, CTR | AI citations, LLM mentions, contextual relevance |
| Success Metric | Page rank & traffic | Citation share & AI-driven discovery |
📊 Unlike SEO, GEO is not just about “ranking higher” — it’s about being trusted enough to be cited inside AI answers.
10 Best Tools for LLM Visibility Tracking (2025)
After months of testing, here’s the top GEO tools of 2025:
1. Surfgeo ⭐ (Best GEO-First Platform)
Positioning: The only platform built from the ground up for GEO visibility tracking, not an SEO retrofit.
Key Features:
- Tracks brand mentions, citations & hallucinations across ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity, AI Overviews.
- Citation Heatmaps → visualizes dominance vs competitors at the prompt level.
- Prompt Discovery Engine → identifies high-value prompts where you’re absent.
- Longitudinal Reports → time-series tracking of share-of-voice (SOV) across LLMs.
- Falsehood Defense & Surf Agent Copilot → monitors AI misinformation, generates optimization actions.
Why It Matters:
Surfgeo is the closest thing to a “Google Analytics for LLMs”. It provides prompt-level intelligence that SEO dashboards can’t capture.
| Feature | Surfgeo Value |
|---|---|
| Coverage | 5+ major LLMs + AI Overviews |
| Data Freshness | Daily/real-time checks |
| Team Fit | GEO-first orgs, growth teams |
| Pricing | Premium, enterprise-level |
Surfgeo plans:
- Starter: $129/month → 35 prompts, 3 models, daily tracking
- Pro: $249/month → 100 prompts, 4 models, daily tracking
- Premium: $699/month → 300 prompts, 5 models, daily tracking
✅ Best choice if you want to build a GEO-first growth strategy.
2. Semrush AIO (SEO → GEO Pivot)
Positioning: A heavyweight SEO suite pivoting into AI-driven visibility tracking.
Key Features:
- Expanded dashboards for AI mentions across ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity.
- Seamless integration into existing SEO campaigns.
- Bulk keyword → prompt conversion, helping SEO managers adapt quickly.
- Great reporting for exec teams already used to Semrush’s ecosystem.
Why It Matters:
If you’re already paying for Semrush, this is a low-friction pivot into GEO. It’s less innovative than Surfgeo but offers organizational comfort.
| Feature | Semrush AIO Value |
|---|---|
| Coverage | 4+ engines + Overviews |
| Data Freshness | Weekly snapshots |
| Team Fit | SEO-heavy orgs with GEO add-ons |
| Pricing | Mid-to-high, add-on billing |
Main Semrush Plans (not strictly AIO but relevant for context):
- Pro: $139.95/month (annually $117.33)
- Guru: $249.95/month (annually $187.47)
- Business: $499.95/month (annually $416.66)
✅ Best for SEO-first orgs who need GEO insights without retraining the team.
3. Profound (Real-Time SOV Tracking)
Positioning: Startup laser-focused on real-time AI share-of-voice tracking.
Key Features:
- Tracks prompt-level market share in AI answers.
- Live dashboards that update with each prompt run.
- Competitor benchmarking → see how often rivals appear in the same contexts.
- Lightweight, API-driven integrations for growth teams.
Why It Matters:
Profound is perfect for marketing teams that move fast. If you’re iterating campaigns weekly, real-time SOV is invaluable.
| Feature | Profound Value |
|---|---|
| Coverage | 3–4 core LLMs |
| Data Freshness | Near real-time |
| Team Fit | Growth, product marketing |
| Pricing | Startup-friendly |
Profound Plans:
- Profound Lite: $499/month — includes daily tracking, 200 unique prompts (~24,000 responses), one region/brand.
- Enterprise/custom pricing available.
✅ Best for scrappy growth teams experimenting with GEO playbooks.
4. Peec AI (Mid-Market Pick)
Positioning: A flexible, modular platform for mid-sized marketing orgs that want GEO dashboards without complexity.
Key Features:
- Modular dashboards with plug-and-play LLM coverage.
- Clean, non-technical UX.
- Affordable entry plans for mid-market orgs.
- Especially strong adoption in B2B SaaS ecosystems.
Why It Matters:
Where Surfgeo feels enterprise and Profound feels startup, Peec AI is the middle path—simple enough for marketing managers, robust enough for directors.
| Feature | Peec AI Value |
|---|---|
| Coverage | Configurable LLM mix |
| Data Freshness | Weekly to bi-weekly |
| Team Fit | Mid-market, B2B SaaS |
| Pricing | Affordable/modular |
Peec Ai Plans:
- Starter Plan: €89/month (~$95) — 25 prompts, 3 countries, daily tracking, unlimited seats.
- Pro Plan: €199/month (~$210) — 100 prompts, 5 countries, daily tracking, Slack + Email support.
- Enterprise Plan: €499/month (~$530+) — >300 prompts, >10 countries, full support.
✅ Best for mid-market marketing teams that want GEO insights without enterprise overhead.
5. Keyword.com (AI Brand Monitoring)
Positioning: A well-known SEO tracker evolving into AI brand monitoring.
Key Features:
- Covers ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity, Mistral, DeepSeek, AI Overviews.
- Easy pivot for SEO managers used to keyword rank tracking.
- Straightforward reporting → less “analytics,” more visibility snapshots.
- Large dataset of prompt-to-answer mappings.
Why It Matters:
Keyword.com is less nuanced than Surfgeo but offers the widest coverage footprint today. If you want simple monitoring across many engines, this is it.
| Feature | Keyword.com Value |
|---|---|
| Coverage | 6+ LLMs + AI Overviews |
| Data Freshness | Weekly |
| Team Fit | SEO-first orgs, generalist marketers |
| Pricing | Affordable |
Keyword Plans:
- AI Visibility Add-on: Starts at $24.50/month (usage-based “credits,” 50 credits included).
- Alternative listing for AI rank tracker:
- Starter: $104/month
- Pro: $233/month
- Enterprise: $585/month
✅ Best for SEO-centric orgs that want GEO-lite monitoring.
6. ZipTie.dev (Speed & Simplicity)
Positioning: A plug-and-play visibility tracker delivering fast insights for lean teams and solo operators.
Key Features:
Monitors AI citations—brand mentions, sentiment, and ranking signals across ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews, including 10+ international markets.
Includes an AI Success Score, query generation assistant, and competitive snapshot views.
Why It Matters:
Launch visibility tracking within minutes—no steep onboarding or enterprise friction.
Feature Highlights:
| Feature | ZipTie.dev Value |
|---|---|
| Coverage | ChatGPT, Perplexity, AI Overviews (12 countries) |
| Data Freshness | Fast, automated tracking |
| Team Fit | Solo operators, SEO agencies, startup founders |
| Pricing | ~$179/month (Estimated BASIC tier) |
7. AthenaHQ (Comprehensive GEO Suite)
Positioning: A full-stack AI visibility and content optimization platform built for mid-to-large growth teams.
Key Features:
Full visibility across top LLMs (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, Grok, AI Overviews, AI Mode) with real-time analytics and recommendations.
Includes personalized GEO content optimizers, competitor behavior intelligence, RBAC, and multi-platform integrations (GA4, log ingestion).
Why It Matters:
It’s your dashboard, SEO engine, and AI strategy hub, all in one—and built for scaling visibility with precision.
Feature Highlights:
| Feature | AthenaHQ Value |
|---|---|
| Coverage | Top LLMs + enterprise integrations |
| Data Freshness | Real-time with credits model |
| Team Fit | Mid-market to enterprise brand/sales teams |
| Pricing | Starter: $295+/month (3,500 credits); Growth & Enterprise: custom tiers |
8. Otterly.AI (Prompt-Level Precision)
Positioning: A highly focused GEO tool providing prompt-level tracking and optimization insights.
Key Features:
Tracks LLM visibility across ChatGPT, Gemini, AI Overviews, Copilot, AI Mode, Perplexity with sentiment, link citation mapping, and weekly reports.
Why It Matters:
If your strategy depends on knowing precisely which prompts mention your brand—and why—you need Otterly’s laser precision.
Feature Highlights:
| Feature | Otterly.AI Value |
|---|---|
| Coverage | Key LLMs with prompt-level insight |
| Data Freshness | Real-time prompt tracking |
| Team Fit | Content teams, performance marketers |
| Pricing | Lite: $29/mo (10 prompts); Standard: $189/mo (100 prompts); Pro: $989/mo (1,000 prompts) |
9. SE Ranking – AI Visibility Tracker (SEO-Embedded GEO Tool)
Positioning: GEO monitoring integrated into an SEO-native platform—no context switch required.
Key Features:
Tracks brand mentions and link citations within AI Mode, Perplexity, Gemini, AI Overviews, and more. Includes real-time tracking, historical trend views, and competitive benchmarking.
Why It Matters:
For SEO teams that won’t budge from their stack—but need AI visibility—this maintains workflow continuity while expanding capability.
Feature Highlights:
| Feature | SE Ranking Value |
|---|---|
| Coverage | Growing list of AI sources |
| Data Freshness | Daily automated tracking |
| Team Fit | SEO teams embedded in legacy tools |
| Pricing | AI Visibility Add-on: $89–$179+/mo depending on keyword/prompt volume |
10. Ahrefs – Brand Radar (SEO + GEO Hybrid)
Positioning: An SEO workhorse extending organic visibility dashboards with AI brand tracking.
Key Features:
Access to the largest AI visibility index—tracks impressions, share-of-voice, sentiment, and prompt clustering across ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, AI Overviews, Perplexity.
Unifies AI insight with traditional SEO tools (Site Explorer, Rank Tracker) in one dashboard.
Why It Matters:
SEO teams don’t need an extra console—Brand Radar blends AI visibility into tools they already trust.
Feature Highlights:
| Feature | Ahrefs Brand Radar Value |
|---|---|
| Coverage | Major LLMs via large AI index |
| Data Freshness | Ongoing index updates |
| Team Fit | SEO teams adopting GEO |
| Pricing | Lite plan ($129/mo) includes Brand Radar; AI index add-ons ($99/mo each) |
Comparative Overview
| Tool | Entry Price (USD) | What You Get | Ideal For | ROI Perspective & Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surfgeo | $129–$699/mo | Full GEO dashboards, Citation Heatmaps, Copilot | GEO-first, enterprise growth teams | High-value strategic OS; medium pricing but unmatched depth |
| Semrush AIO | ~$99–139/mo | GEO tracking added to SEO workflows | SEO-heavy teams | Low-friction GEO entry—great cost-to-comfort ratio |
| Profound | $499/mo | Real-time SOV, API, prompt-level tracking | Fast-moving growth/product teams | High-speed visibility—strong ROI for agile marketers |
| Peec AI | ~$95/mo (Starter) | Daily prompt tracking, modular scalability | Mid-market B2B SaaS teams | Best ROI-for-scale under $200; flexible and efficient |
| Keyword.com | $24.50–104/mo | Broad LLM coverage, snapshot monitoring | SEO-centric, generalist marketers | Budget-friendly broad coverage—great for breadth over depth |
| ZipTie.dev | $179–799/mo | AI search checks, data summaries, content optimizations | SEO agencies, solo operators | Fast setup with robust AI checks—ROI grows with scale |
| AthenaHQ | ~$295+/mo Starter | Full-stack GEO: LLMs, AI optimization, RBAC, analytics | Mid-to-large enterprises | Strategic GEO intelligence with broader operational ROI |
| Otterly.AI | $29–989/mo (tiered) | Prompt-level tracking, citation mapping, brand reports | Content teams needing precision | Cost-effective coverage—scales ROI based on prompt volume |
| SE Ranking – AI Tracker | $89–179/mo add-on | AI-mode, Overviews, branding visibility embedded in SEO tool | SEO teams wanting GEO continuity | Seamless workflow expansion—minimal additional cost |
| Ahrefs – Brand Radar | $129/mo (Lite plan) | AI + SEO visibility: massive AI index, prompt clustering | SEO teams evolving into GEO | Unified visibility in one dashboard—strong hybrid ROI |
How to Analyze Search Performance Across AI Platforms
Step 1 → Tracking: Use Surfgeo, Profound.
Step 2 → Benchmarking: Compare your citation share vs competitors.
Step 3 → Iteration: Repackage content into FAQs, listicles, comparisons for better LLM inclusion.
Comparative Framework
| Analysis Type | GEO Tools That Help | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Benchmarking | Surfgeo, Profound | Citation share across LLMs |
| Prompt Discovery | Surfgeo | Prompts where you’re cited or ignored |
| Competitive Mapping | Surfgeo, Profound SOV, | Real-time competitor visibility |
| Trend Tracking | Semrush AIO, Peec AI | Longitudinal growth in AI mentions |
TL;DR
- If you’re not tracking AI citations, you’re invisible in 2025.
- GEO dashboards = the new SEO dashboards.
- Best GEO-first pick → Surfgeo.
- Best SEO-first pivot → Semrush AIO.
👉 GEO visibility = +27–30% more discoverability across ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity, and AI Overviews.
Conclusion
The game has changed:
- SEO was about links & rankings.
- GEO is about citations & mentions inside AI answers.
🚀 If you want to future-proof your brand, start tracking LLM search visibility now.
Tools like Surfgeo, Semrush AIO, and Profound aren’t add-ons. They’re the new operating system for digital growth in the age of Generative AI.
