The Citation Index · Research

Research & Analysis

Data-driven reports on generative engine optimization and the tools that measure whether ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini and Google AI Overviews see (and cite) your brand.

18 piecesEvery figure sourced from the quality-gated indexBuilt to be cited

Latest reportBuyer's guide

Leading AI Visibility and GEO Software: Which Do Both

Of the 76 AI-visibility tools CitedIndex indexes, 44 also do generative engine optimization, and 15 of those track all six major engines. Re-derived 18 August 2026.

Read the report

Statistics

Subscription or Nothing: How 72 AI-Visibility Tools Bill

AI-visibility cost scales with usage. Billing doesn't: of the 69 tools where we could determine the model, 59 sell a subscription and one bills per unit consumed.

Aug 13, 2026 · 7 min

Statistics

Who Publishes a Price? 68 AI-Visibility Tools vs 11 Managed Services

Four of the 68 AI-visibility software tools in our index sell only on a custom quote. Among managed GEO services, 6 of 11 do: the clearest split in the category.

Aug 13, 2026 · 6 min

Statistics

Which AI-Visibility Tools Show Their Work? A Methodology Census

We checked 74 AI-visibility tools for a public methodology behind their accuracy claims. 36 claim precision with zero evidence. Only 6 show their work.

Aug 7, 2026 · 22 min

Data report

What 'Free' Actually Means Across 74 AI-Visibility Tools

17 tools have a real ongoing free tier, 31 offer only a time-limited trial, 18 offer nothing free. What each 'free' claim actually caps, from our own gated data.

Aug 5, 2026 · 16 min

Buyer's guide

Prompt Volume, Seats or Credits: How AI-Visibility Tools Price

Two tools quoting $99/month can mean 15 prompts or 100. We mapped six different pricing units across our index so a quote is comparable, not just a number.

Aug 5, 2026 · 6 min

Buyer's guide

How to Choose an AI Visibility Tool: 7 Things to Check

36 of our 71 indexed software tools advertise a free trial; 17 offer nothing free at all. A checklist for choosing an AI-visibility tool, from our own gated data.

Jul 31, 2026 · 8 min

Statistics

Which AI Engines Do AI-Visibility Tools Track? The 2026 Census

Of the 75 AI-visibility tools where we could determine engine coverage, 74 track ChatGPT and just 31 track Microsoft Copilot — the engine most tools still skip.

Jul 28, 2026 · 21 min

Buyer's guide

SSO and SOC 2 in AI-Visibility Tools: Included or Gated?

We checked 89 AI-visibility listings for SSO, SOC 2 and trust controls. Twenty-seven name one, and only Nightwatch puts SSO on a published price.

Jul 25, 2026 · 21 min

Statistics

Which AI-Visibility Tools Can Your Own AI Agent Actually Query?

We checked all 89 listings in our index for MCP server support. 24 ship one — but only 10 don't gate it behind a paid tier, a subscription, or a sales call.

Jul 24, 2026 · 29 min

Comparison

First Page Sage vs iPullRank vs Omniscient Digital

Three GEO agencies, three theories of earning AI citations — reputation, technical fetchability, or pipeline-tied content. A side-by-side matrix and how to choose.

Jul 23, 2026 · 6 min

Comparison

GEO Agency or Software? How to Choose in 2026

14 GEO agencies charge $1,597 to $24,000+ a month; software runs $29 to $399. A decision framework for which approach fits your team and budget.

Jul 21, 2026 · 7 min

Statistics

AI Search Statistics 2026: The Data Behind the Shift

Zero-click search hit 68% and AI Overviews cut organic clicks up to 60% — the sourced 2026 data on traffic, marketer budgets, and our own GEO tool index.

Jul 21, 2026 · 8 min

Market analysis

Who's Backing Your GEO Stack? The 2025-2026 Money Wave

Three acquisitions — including Adobe's $1.9B Semrush deal — and $200M+ in funding hit seven tools in our index within 15 months. What each means for buyers.

Jul 21, 2026 · 16 min

Methodology

10 AI-Visibility Vendor Facts That Changed Since We Last Checked

Re-verifying listings before publishing caught 10 real pricing and feature drifts this month — what changed, why, and how to check a vendor's claims yourself.

Jul 21, 2026 · 9 min

Comparison

Peec vs Profound vs Scrunch vs Otterly: How to Choose

Four AI-visibility platforms span $29/month self-serve to custom enterprise. A side-by-side comparison and a decision framework for which one fits your team.

Jul 20, 2026 · 7 min

Report

How AI answer engines cite sources (and why it moves)

Three large studies of AI citations show ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews cite different sources — and that the mix keeps shifting. Here is the data.

Jul 16, 2026 · 6 min

Market analysis

The State of GEO & AI-Visibility Tools 2026 — A Landscape Report

An analysis of the 74 most-researched AI-visibility and GEO tools: pricing, engine coverage, API availability and market segments, from verified, sourced listings.

Jul 12, 2026 · 14 min

Evergreen playbooks for earning citations across the AI answer engines.