The Ultimate Guide to AI SEO Tracking Tools in 2025: Beyond Traditional Search Optimization

August 20th, 2025 by Will Scott

Key Insights:

  • AI search adoption is surging: With AI search nearing 1 billion users and tools like ChatGPT becoming mainstream, tracking brand visibility in AI-generated answers is now essential for SEO success.
  • Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is the new frontier: The shift from ranking pages to providing “best answers” across platforms like Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini requires a different optimization approach.
  • AI SEO tracking tools vary widely in capabilities: From enterprise-focused solutions like Scrunch AI and Profound to budget-friendly options like RankScale and WriteSonic, pricing, platform coverage, and refresh rates differ significantly.
  • Early adoption offers a competitive edge: Brands that start monitoring AI search performance now can secure AI visibility before the market becomes oversaturated.
  • Selecting the right tool depends on business size and goals: Enterprises need robust compliance and integration features, while SMBs and agencies may prioritize affordability, speed, and content creation integration.

The AI revolution has fundamentally transformed how brands appear in search results. With AI search approaching 1 billion users and 27% of consumers using AI for half their internet searches, tracking your brand’s AI visibility has become essential for modern SEO strategy.

As Google invests $75 billion in AI integration and ChatGPT becomes the 6th most popular website globally, this comprehensive guide examines the rapidly evolving landscape of AI SEO tracking tools, analyzing both established platforms and emerging solutions designed specifically for the AI search era.

[We recently posted on the Search Influence blog a review of many of these tools from my GEO Master Class presented with SMX. What follows is an update including the use of Deep Research in both Claude and Gemini to fill in some gaps.]

The AI SEO Tracking Market Is Exploding, and For Good Reason

The global AI SEO software market is projected to reach $4.97 billion by 2033, up from $1.99 billion in 2024. This explosive growth reflects a fundamental shift in search behavior that demands new tracking capabilities.

Key market drivers:

  • 75% of marketers now leverage AI to optimize their SEO workflows (WriteSonic research)
  • 82% of enterprise SEO specialists plan to increase their AI tool investments (Industry surveys)
  • 88.1% of AI Overview queries are informational, requiring answer-focused optimization (Semrush AI Overviews Study)
  • 60% of consumers now start product research with AI assistants (Profound research, 2025)
  • 47% of marketers have already implemented AI SEO tools for competitive advantage (Industry data)
  • Google’s AI Mode launched for all US users on May 20, 2025, accelerating AI adoption

What’s driving this surge?

Traditional SEO focused on ranking pages; AI SEO requires optimizing for direct answers across multiple AI platforms. When consumers “outsource browsing to AI,” as Scrunch AI CEO Chris Andrew puts it, brands must adapt their strategies from targeting “best pages” to providing “best answers.”

The emergence of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)

This paradigm shift has created Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) — a new discipline focused on optimizing content for AI systems rather than traditional search engines. Modern AI SEO tools monitor brand visibility across:

  • ChatGPT and SearchGPT
  • Google AI Overviews and AI Mode
  • Perplexity AI
  • Claude and Meta AI
  • Gemini and other emerging platforms

A Comprehensive Look at Today’s AI SEO Tracking Landscape

Our research identified 25+ AI SEO tracking tools currently available, ranging from purpose-built startups to established SEO platforms adding AI capabilities. The sector attracted substantial investment throughout 2024-2025, with over $77 million in collective funding during the May-August 2025 period alone, validating the market opportunity:

  • Profound: $23.5M total funding ($3.5M seed in August 2024, $20M Series A in June 2025)
  • Scrunch AI: $19M total funding ($4M seed in March 2024, $15M Series A in July 2025)
  • AirOps: $15.5M Series A (October 2024)
  • Peec AI: €7M raised in just 5 months (April-July 2025)
  • BrandLight: $5.75M Series A (April 2025)

Each tool approaches the challenge differently, creating a diverse ecosystem of solutions for various organizational needs.

Tool-by-Tool Analysis: The Ten Market Leaders

1. Scrunch AI: The enterprise powerhouse setting the standard

Scrunch AI has quickly established itself as a premium enterprise solution since its November 2024 launch. With $19M in total funding ($4M seed in March 2024, $15M Series A in July 2025) from investors including Decibel, Clara Shih, and TJ Parker, Scrunch now serves over 500 brands, including Lenovo and Penn State University, achieving 50% month-over-month growth.

Key capabilities:

  • Pricing: $300-$1,000/month (Enterprise custom pricing available)
  • Platform coverage: ChatGPT (including Shopping), Perplexity, Claude, Meta AI, Gemini, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode (as of July 2025)
  • Data refresh: Every 3 days
  • Security: SOC 2 Type II compliance, SAML/OAuth SSO

What sets Scrunch apart is their comprehensive approach to enterprise needs:

  • Agent Experience Platform (AXP): Revolutionary infrastructure layer creating machine-readable content versions served exclusively to AI agents, with customers seeing 4x improvement in AI visibility
  • Configurable Personas: See how AI personalizes responses for different user profiles
  • Risk Management: Transform unknown risks into managed outcomes
  • Bot Traffic Analysis: Monitor AI crawler activity via Cloudflare integration
  • Dedicated support: Account executives for enterprise clients
  • Proven results: Customers report an average 40% increase in referral traffic

CEO Chris Andrew’s vision is clear: “90% of human traffic will go away as consumers outsource browsing to AI agents. Brands must adapt from targeting ‘best pages’ to providing ‘best answers.'”

2. RankScale: Deep analytics for data-driven marketers

RankScale offers what they call a “full drill-down approach for geeky minds” at the most accessible price point of €20/month, using a flexible credit-based subscription system that supports any size and provides budget allocation flexibility for agencies.

Technical specifications:

  • Platform coverage: 7 platforms, including DeepSeek and Mistral AI
  • Tracking intervals: Flexible (hourly, daily, or weekly)
  • Key features: AI search engine simulation, citation analysis, sentiment tracking
  • Support: 24/7 live assistance

Founded by Mathias Ptacek, RankScale has a solid feature base and is developing iteratively toward additional functionality, specifically focusing on simplicity and data-driven insights, recommendations for improvement, trends, and signals. The platform has earned positive reviews from Whatagraph, who praised its simple interface while noting that some analysis features need better documentation.

3. WriteSonic GEO: Democratizing AI SEO with integrated content creation

WriteSonic GEO represents exceptional value, combining AI visibility tracking with content creation tools at just $16/month (premium plans up to $249/month).

Platform highlights:

  • User base: 10+ million users globally
  • Real-time tracking: Via Cloudflare integration
  • API capabilities: 2,500+ app integrations via Pipedream
  • Compliance: SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA certified
  • SEO AI Agent: Launched February 2025 in public beta

As part of the broader WriteSonic ecosystem, it uniquely positions itself as “the Ahrefs for AI Search.” Key features include:

  • AI Traffic Analytics: Reveals AI crawler interactions invisible in standard analytics
  • Brand Presence Explorer: Tracks visibility across all major AI platforms
  • SEO AI Agent: Works 24/7 to optimize content for both traditional and AI search
  • One-click publishing: Direct to WordPress and social platforms

The platform’s integration of tracking and content creation creates a powerful end-to-end workflow, explaining its significant market share among SMBs and agencies.

 

4. Otterly AI: Rapid growth through strategic integrations

Otterly AI emerged from stealth in December 2024 with 1,000+ customers (now over 5,000+), offering a unique approach through platform integration.

Growth metrics:

  • Pricing: $29-$989/month
  • Key differentiator: GEO Audit tool, Semrush App Center integration
  • Data updates: Weekly (daily updates coming very soon)
  • Platform coverage: Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity (Google AI Mode, Gemini, MS Co-Pilot coming very soon)

This bootstrapped Austrian startup plans to become “the Semrush of AI search” without external funding. As covered by TechCrunch, their integration strategy provides:

  • Familiar workflows for Semrush users
  • Single sign-on convenience
  • Real-time visibility alerts
  • Sentiment analysis capabilities

API access is planned for the next 60 days, which will address current enterprise integration limitations.

5. Peec AI: Real-time tracking with proven results

Germany-based Peec AI represents the fastest-growing entrant in the market with remarkable metrics.

Growth trajectory:

  • Funding: €7M raised in 5 months (€1.8M pre-seed in April 2025, €5.2M seed in July 2025)
  • Revenue: €650K ARR within 4 months of launch, €80K weekly growth, targeting €4M ARR by year-end
  • Pricing: €89-499/month
  • Investors: Led by 20VC

Their client success stories are particularly compelling:

  • Blog posts ranking for targeted prompts within 24 hours
  • Major brands, including idealo and Wix providing testimonials
  • Multi-language support for global operations
  • GDPR compliance for European markets
  • Quick feature iteration: Added AI Overviews tracking within weeks based on user feedback

The platform emphasizes actionable insights over raw data, with AI-powered recommendations for improving visibility across 7+ platforms.

6. xFunnel: End-to-end AI search engine optimization

xFunnel delivers a service-oriented approach that covers every phase of AI search engine optimization, from data-driven strategy to hands-on execution.

Unique positioning:

  • Founders: Neri Bluman and Beeri Amiel, serial entrepreneurs with more than $150M raised across prior ventures
  • Funding: Privately funded
  • Pricing: Custom engagements
  • Clients: HubSpot, Monday.com, Wix, Fiverr, Check Point, Next Insurance
  • Focus: Full-cycle AI search engine optimization powered by ongoing client experiments that create a proprietary data moat

xFunnel provides:

  • Deep, experiment-driven strategy development
  • Tailored optimization playbooks executed by the xFunnel team
  • Dedicated analyst support
  • Full-range services (content writing, AI-friendly affiliate network, UGC strategy)
  • Published AI search behavior studies
  • Conversion-focused optimization

As noted in Joe Youngblood’s industry glossary, xFunnel is “a tool for optimizing content that appears on generative AI systems,” highlighting their specialized, end-to-end focus.

7. Profound: Premium enterprise solution with major backing

Profound operates at the highest market tier with enterprise-only access and premium features.

Enterprise credentials:

  • Funding: $23.5M total ($3.5M from Khosla Ventures in August 2024, $20M Series A led by Kleiner Perkins with NVIDIA participation in June 2025)
  • Founder: James Cadwallader (former Kyra founder)
  • Starting price: $499/month
  • Compliance: SOC 2 Type II
  • Scale: Processing 100+ million AI search queries monthly across 18 countries

Standout features include:

  • Conversation Explorer: First-of-its-kind real-time search volume insights for AI Answer Engines
  • 20+ language support: Global enterprise coverage
  • Agency “God-View”: Multi-client management
  • Proven results: Helped Ramp become “5th most visible fintech brand” globally; clients report 25-40% lifts in AI answer share-of-voice within 60 days

As noted by iPullRank CEO Michael King: “Profound has the strongest reporting, and they are rapidly adding additional features like their conversation explorer and bot tracker that help you understand what’s going on.”

The exclusive beta model limits independent verification, but coverage from TechCrunch and Adweek confirms their enterprise sophistication.

Traditional SEO Platforms Adapt to AI Reality

Established SEO platforms are rapidly adding AI capabilities to maintain relevance:

Advanced Web Ranking

Advanced Web Ranking has evolved from a pure rank tracking specialist to include AI Overview monitoring:

  • AI Features: Google AI Overview tracking for Desktop and Mobile
  • AI Brand Visibility: Launched May 2025, leveraging 4 popular LLMs for comprehensive brand insights including sentiment analysis and competitive benchmarking
  • Free Tool: AI Overview Study tool tracking weekly trends
  • Key Finding: 57% of searches now include AI Overviews (June 2025)
  • Unique Insight: Only 47.7% of AI Overview sources come from top 10 organic results

AWR’s research reveals that AI Overviews push organic results down an average of 1,686 pixels when expanded, requiring significant scrolling to reach traditional listings. Their tracking is enabled by default across all plans for Google Universal search engines.

Semrush AI Toolkit

Semrush leverages its market position to capture 72% of AI Overview tracking data.

  • Pricing: Starting at $139.95/month (AI toolkit: $99/month premium add-on)
  • Platform coverage: ChatGPT, SearchGPT, Google’s AI Mode, Gemini, Perplexity
  • Features: Brand performance reports, sentiment analysis, competitive perception metrics
  • Data updates: Weekly
  • May 2025 restructure: Platform reorganized into 7 focused toolkits with dedicated AI capabilities
  • Integration: ContentShake AI and Copilot features
  • Advantage: Seamless addition for existing users

SE Ranking

SE Ranking launched comprehensive AI features in 2024 and expanded significantly in 2025:

  • Pricing: $119-$259/month (20% off annual subscription)
  • Features: AI Overviews tracking, ChatGPT monitoring, Google’s AI Mode analysis, citation analysis
  • Research: June 2025 study of 10,000 keywords revealed only 9.2% URL consistency in Google AI Mode
  • Automation: OTTO automated fixes for identified issues
  • Coverage: All supported countries for AI Overviews

Ahrefs AI Content Helper

Ahrefs takes a content-first approach:

  • Launch: September 2024, enhanced February 2025
  • Features: Chat integration, support for 174+ languages
  • Philosophy: Topical coverage over keyword density
  • Results: Users report an average 72% traffic increases
  • Goal: Align content with AI search intent

Emerging Players and Specialized Solutions

The market continues to evolve with new entrants addressing specific niches:

Waikay.io: AI brand perception monitoring

Launched on March 19, 2025, Waikay.io represents a pure-play approach to AI brand monitoring. Created by SEO veteran Dixon Jones and InLinks Optimization Ltd, the platform addresses the critical shift from traditional SEO to AI optimization with patent-pending technology for interrogating large language models.

Waikay.io’s core innovation lies in its entity-based analysis using knowledge graphs rather than simple keyword approaches. The platform provides a comprehensive AI Brand Score out of 100, showing how ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity perceive brands across key topics. Unique features include:

  • Hallucination detection: Flags misinformation about your brand
  • Broken link alerts: Notifies when AI cites incorrect brand URLs
  • “Check, flag, or delete” workflow: Manage AI-generated claims
  • 13 language support: Global brand monitoring
  • Bidirectional topic analysis: See how topics relate to your brand and vice versa

Pricing remains highly accessible, with a free tier followed by plans at $19.95 (8 reports), $69.95 (30 reports), and $199.95 (90 reports) per month. Early case studies show impressive results, with some brands achieving a 350% AI visibility surge using the platform’s actionable intelligence and optimization recommendations.

AirOps: Content operations platform (not SEO tracking)

AirOps is fundamentally different from other tools listed here. It’s an AI-powered content operations platform that includes SEO optimization features rather than a dedicated tracking tool. Founded in 2021 and securing $15.5 million in Series A funding (October 2024), AirOps focuses on workflow automation for content creation and optimization at scale.

The platform integrates over 30 AI models, including GPT-4, Claude, and Gemini, offering:

  • Drag-and-drop workflow building: No code required
  • Human-in-the-loop approach: Quality control built in
  • Direct CMS integration: Seamless publishing
  • SEO integration: Through Semrush and DataForSEO

Notable clients like Webflow report 5x faster content refresh and 40% traffic increases, while Toys “R” Us achieved a 90% reduction in product launch time. AirOps targets experienced content teams needing workflow automation rather than dedicated SEO tracking, with enterprise pricing requiring direct sales contact.

SE Ranking: AI visibility tracking with accurate data

SE Ranking brings together a powerful SEO platform and specialized AI search tracking tools used by 1M+ SEO professionals.

Key capabilities:

  • Pricing: $119-$259/month (20% off annual subscription, free trial available)
  • Platform coverage: Google AI Overviews, AI Mode, ChatGPT (Perplexity, Gemini, and others coming soon)
  • Data refresh: Daily for tracked keywords
  • Security: GDPR-compliant, secure servers

SE Ranking differentiates by converting complex AI data into clear business metrics:

  • Monitor brand mentions, links, and positions in AI search tools
  • Learn which prompts trigger visibility in AI-generated answers
  • See how your AI search visibility stacks up against competitors
  • Track how your presence in AI answers changes over time
  • Intuitive interface with full-scale SEO suite integration
  • Agency-specific features for multi-client management

Their June 2025 research analyzing Google’s AI Mode behavior across 10,000 keywords revealed only 9.2% URL consistency across repeat queries, highlighting the volatility of AI search results.

Purpose-built tools:

  • Surfer AI Tracker: Add-on for Surfer users (June 2025), $95-495/month
  • BrandLight: Premium reputation management ($4,000-$15,000/month), emerged in April 2025 with $5.75M funding
  • GrowthBar: AI content optimization ($79/month)
  • Frase: AI brief generation ($15-$115/month)

Technical Capabilities Comparison

API and integration excellence

Leaders in technical integration:

  1. WriteSonic:
  • Comprehensive REST API documentation
  • 2,500+ app integrations
  • Native Zapier support
  1. Scrunch AI:
  • Enterprise-grade APIs
  • Custom integration support
  • Cloudflare bot tracking

Integration gaps:

  • Most tools lack data warehouse connections
  • Only seoClarity offers direct BigQuery/Snowflake integration
  • Custom development often required for enterprise needs

Security and compliance landscape

Enterprise-ready platforms:

  • SOC 2 Type II: Scrunch AI, WriteSonic, Profound
  • HIPAA compliant: WriteSonic only
  • GDPR certified: Peec AI, WriteSonic

Data update frequency

Refresh rates significantly impact use cases:

Update Frequency Platforms Best For
Real-time/Daily WriteSonic, Peec AI, RankScale Crisis management, rapid response
Every 3 days Scrunch AI Enterprise accuracy requirements
Weekly Otterly AI, Surfer AI Tracker Strategic planning, reporting
Custom RankScale Flexible needs

Comprehensive Comparison Matrix

[Image placeholder: Visual comparison table/infographic of all seven priority tools]

Tool Starting Price Platforms Covered Data Refresh API Security Key Features Target Market
Scrunch AI $300/month 8 (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Meta AI, Gemini, Google AI, AI Mode, Shopping) Every 3 days Enterprise API SOC 2 Agent Experience Platform, personas, bot traffic Enterprise brands
RankScale €20/month 7 (+ DeepSeek, Mistral) Daily Not available Standard Credit-based system, AI simulator, deep citations SMBs, agencies
WriteSonic $16/month 6 major platforms Real-time Via integrations SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA Content creation, SEO AI Agent Content teams
Otterly.AI $29/month 3+ (Google AI, ChatGPT, Perplexity, more coming) Weekly/Daily soon Coming in 60 days Standard GEO Audit, Semrush integration Marketing teams
Peec AI €89/month 7+ platforms Daily Not mentioned GDPR Quick AI Overviews addition, multi-language Agencies, brands
xFunnel Custom 6 platforms Daily Not mentioned Standard Full-service optimization, proprietary data Enterprise
Profound $499/month 6 major platforms Real-time Coming soon SOC 2 Type II Conversation Explorer, 100M+ queries/mo Fortune 500
Waikay.io $19.95/month 4 (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity) On-demand Not mentioned Standard AI Brand Score, hallucination detection SMBs, brands
AirOps Custom/Enterprise N/A (content ops) N/A Yes Enterprise 30+ AI models, workflow automation Content teams
SE Ranking $119/month 3+ (Google AI, ChatGPT, more coming) Daily Yes GDPR Full SEO suite integration, AI Mode analysis Agencies

Review Authenticity: Separating Hands-On Experience From Desk Research

Our research revealed that most published reviews appear to be desk research rather than hands-on testing, creating evaluation challenges.

Reliable sources with verified usage:

Red flags for surface-level reviews:

  • Lack of specific pricing details
  • No mention of implementation challenges
  • Missing discussion of limitations
  • Generic “Top X Tools” format without depth

Strategic Recommendations by Organization Type

For large enterprises (1000+ employees)

Primary recommendation: Scrunch AI

  • Budget $300-$1,000/month for comprehensive features
  • SOC 2 compliance meets security requirements
  • Dedicated account management
  • Cloudflare integration for bot traffic insights

Alternative: Profound (if you can gain access)

  • Premium features for Fortune 500 needs
  • Conversation Explorer for search volume data
  • Multi-language support

For mid-market companies (100-1000 employees)

Best balance: Peec AI

  • Rapid ARR growth validates effectiveness
  • €89-499/month pricing scales with needs
  • Multi-language capabilities for expansion
  • Strong client testimonials

Integration play: Otterly AI

  • Semrush integration leverages existing tools
  • $29-989/month flexible pricing
  • 3,000+ customers validate approach

For small businesses and agencies

Maximum value: WriteSonic

  • $16/month entry point
  • Combines tracking with content creation
  • 10+ million users prove accessibility
  • End-to-end workflow optimization

Budget option: RankScale

  • €20/month lowest price point
  • Professional features at starter pricing
  • Good for testing AI SEO capabilities

For specific use cases

Use Case Recommended Tool Why
Brand reputation BrandLight Comprehensive monitoring at enterprise scale
Content teams Surfer AI Tracker Integrates with existing workflows
European companies Peec AI GDPR compliance, EU focus
Technical analysis RankScale Granular data, citation tracking
Conversion focus xFunnel Buying journey optimization

Additional Resources and Industry Analysis

Essential reading:

Market analysis:

The Path Forward: Evolution, Not Revolution

The AI SEO tracking market represents a fundamental shift in search visibility strategy. Key takeaways for success:

Market momentum is undeniable:

  • $4.97 billion market by 2033 (CAGR of 10.7%)
  • 1 billion AI search users approaching rapidly
  • 25% drop in traditional search predicted by Gartner (2026)
  • 84% of marketers use AI tools for trend identification

Investment validates the opportunity:

The substantial funding rounds throughout 2024-2025 demonstrate investor confidence:

  • Profound: $23.5M total ($3.5M seed August 2024 + $20M Series A June 2025)
  • Scrunch AI: $19M total ($4M seed March 2024 + $15M Series A July 2025)
  • AirOps: $15.5M Series A (October 2024)
  • Peec AI: €7M (€1.8M pre-seed April 2025 + €5.2M seed July 2025, led by 20VC)
  • BrandLight: $5.75M Series A (April 2025)
  • WriteSonic: Bootstrapped to 10M+ users

Tool diversity ensures options for everyone:

From WriteSonic’s accessible $16/month entry point to Scrunch AI’s enterprise sophistication at $1,000/month, the market offers solutions for every organization size and need.

Early adoption provides a competitive advantage:

Organizations that recognize AI SEO tracking as an essential evolution, not a separate discipline, will maintain visibility as AI-powered search becomes dominant. The window for early-mover advantage is closing rapidly.

Success requires selecting tools that enhance rather than replace human expertise. By matching platforms to specific needs, technical capabilities, and strategic objectives, brands can navigate the expanding universe of AI-powered search while preparing for whatever comes next in this rapidly evolving landscape.

Ready to start tracking your AI search visibility? Explore the tools mentioned in this guide and request demos to find your perfect fit. The future of search is AI-powered. Make sure your brand is part of the conversation.

Need help executing on your GEO/AI SEO strategy? Get in touch. We’re deep in the “cause and effect” and have a tested roadmap for AI Search Success.

Acknowledgments: Special thanks to the tool providers who contributed direct insights to this analysis: Chris Andrew (Scrunch AI), Mathias Ptacek (RankScale), Klaus-M. Schremser (Otterly AI), Malte Landwehr (Peec AI), and Neri Bluman (xFunnel). Their feedback ensured accuracy and provided a valuable perspective on the rapidly evolving AI SEO tracking landscape.