7 Best Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) Tools in 2025

Remember when everyone thought voice search would kill traditional SEO? That was nothing compared to what's happening now. According to Gartner, traditional search engine volume will drop 25% by 2026. ChatGPT alone has exploded to over 400 million weekly users as of February 2025, with growth accelerating rapidly.

Here's what this actually means for your business: When someone asks ChatGPT "what's the best project management software for startups," they get a direct answer. No blue links. No clicking through to websites. Just an answer. If your brand isn't in that answer, you don't exist in their world.

We've spent weeks testing and evaluating the seven most powerful GEO tools available today. Each offers unique capabilities to help you track, optimize, and dominate AI search results:

1. Promptmonitor - Most affordable with comprehensive tracking
2. AthenaHQ - Y Combinator-backed platform for growing startups
3. Lorelight - Crisis detection specialist for PR teams
4. ScrunchAI - Enterprise-grade hallucination detection
5. Semrush AI Toolkit - Traditional SEO meets AI optimization
6. Mentions.so - Professional monitoring for teams
7. SurferSEO - Content optimization meets AI tracking

We get it. You're already tracking keywords, monitoring backlinks, and optimizing content for Google. Now there's another thing to worry about: AI search. But here's why you can't ignore it anymore.

McKinsey's latest survey found that 65% of organizations now regularly use generative AI, nearly double from just ten months prior. The generative AI market itself will reach $66.89 billion by 2025. Your customers are asking ChatGPT for recommendations. Your competitors are already optimizing for it. And you? You might not even know if AI mentions your brand.

The problem is that without proper Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) tools, you have no idea what's happening. You can't see when AI mentions your brand, what it says, or which competitors are winning. Traditional SEO tools like Google Search Console don't track ChatGPT citations. Your analytics miss this traffic completely.

We need tools like this as it feels very "black boxy" as to when ChatGPT mentions us vs not.

Brittany Joiner during Promptmonitor launch on Product hunt

Top Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) Tools at a Glance

The 7 Best Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) Tools in 2025

1. Promptmonitor - Best for SMB's and Marketing Teams

Promptmonitor delivers the best value in the GEO space at just $29/month starting price. After testing dozens of platforms, we found Promptmonitor offers features that competitors charge 3-10x more for.

What really sets it apart is the publisher contact extraction feature. While other tools show you which sites mention competitors, Promptmonitor automatically finds emails and social profiles for outreach. This turns insights into action immediately.

Unlike most competitors backed by VCs (AthenaHQ has Y Combinator funding, others have raised millions), Promptmonitor is bootstrapped. This means they focus on profitability and customer value rather than growth at all costs. You get better pricing, more responsive support, and features that actually matter rather than flashy additions designed to impress investors.

Key Features We Tested

1. Multi-Model Tracking - Tracks ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek, Grok, and Perplexity all in one dashboard
2. Finds Sources AI Uses - Shows exactly which URLs AI platforms reference
3. Publisher Contact Extraction - Automatically finds contact info for sites mentioning competitors
4. AI Bot Analytics - See when ChatGPT or other AI visits your site
5. Website Analytics - Privacy-first analytics to track all your visitors
6. Local GEO Tracking - Monitor prompts in specific geographic locations

Pricing That Makes Sense

• Starter: $29/month (Weekly refresh, 1 seat)
• Lite: $89/month (Weekly refresh, Includes website/ai bot analytics)
• Pro: $199/month (Daily refresh, 2 seats)

The 10-day free trial gives you plenty of time to see real value. Most competitors offer 7 days or less.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Lowest entry price with professional features
• Best user interface we've tested
• Actionable outreach data saves hours
• Transparent, credit-based pricing
• Regular feature updates
• Bootstrapped (customer-focused, not VC-driven)

Cons:

• Credit system might require upgrades for heavy usage
• Newer platform (though improving rapidly)
• Weekly refresh on lower tiers

Best for: If you're a marketing team or agency looking for comprehensive tracking without enterprise pricing, Promptmonitor is your best bet. The publisher contact feature alone saves hours of manual research and justifies the cost for anyone doing link building or digital PR.

Track and optimize GEO with Promptmonitor

Track prompts across ChatGPT, Perplexity etc and see exactly where you're mentioned, what sources to target, and how to improve your AI visibility.

Try free for 10 daysSee Live Demo

2. AthenaHQ - Best for Growing Startups

AthenaHQ brings serious credentials to GEO. The founding team includes former Google Search and DeepMind engineers, and their Y Combinator backing (W23 batch) shows in the product quality.

Their standout feature is the AI-Generated Action Center. Instead of just showing problems, it provides specific fixes tailored to your brand. We found this especially valuable when prioritizing optimization efforts.

Features Built for Scale

1. Prompt Analytics - Reveals natural language queries triggering AI responses
2. Query Volume Estimation - Proprietary model predicting AI search volume
3. Competitive Benchmarking - Detailed share-of-voice tracking
4. Action Center - AI-generated optimization recommendations
5. Multi-Engine Coverage - Every major platform plus automatic additions
6. Sentiment Analysis - Tracks how positively AI mentions your brand
7. API Access - Integrate with existing tools (enterprise plans)

Investment-Ready Pricing

• Starter: $295/month
• Growth: $595/month
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Annual plans save you 10%.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Exceptional founding team pedigree
• Most actionable recommendations
• Comprehensive platform coverage
• Strong Y Combinator network
• Unlimited team seats

Cons:

• Higher price point for small teams
• Can be overwhelming initially
• Requires time to maximize value

Best for: If you're a Series A+ startup or growth-stage company, AthenaHQ makes a lot of sense. The founding team's Google and DeepMind background means they understand AI search at a technical level that shows in the product. Yes, it's pricier, but when you're reporting to investors about AI strategy, having a Y Combinator-backed tool with ex-Google founders carries weight.

3. Lorelight - Best for PR and Reputation Management

Lorelight takes a different approach, focusing on reputation and crisis management.

The platform excels at sentiment analysis. When testing, it caught subtle negative mentions that other tools marked as neutral. For PR teams, this early warning system is invaluable.

PR-Focused Feature Set

1. Crisis Detection System - Immediate alerts for negative spikes
2. Weighted Share of Voice - Shows prominence, not just mention count
3. Organic Mention Discovery - Finds unsolicited brand mentions
4. Multi-Platform Coverage - 8 major AI platforms monitored

Pricing

• Brand Monitor: $99/month (1 brand, 20 prompts)
• Reputation Guardian: $248.97/month (5 brands, 50 prompts)
• Enterprise: $598.94/month (15 brands, 150 prompts)

Market Reality

Market research shows only 22% of marketers currently track what AI says about their brand, leaving huge blind spots in reputation management.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Superior sentiment analysis accuracy
• PR-specific features
• Clean, focused interface
• Excellent crisis detection

Cons:

• Limited to weekly tracking, delays in crisis prevention.

Best for: PR teams and brand managers will find Lorelight invaluable, especially if you're in an industry where reputation matters (finance, healthcare).

4. ScrunchAI - Best for Enterprise

ScrunchAI solves problems large enterprises face. Their hallucination detection system caught several instances of AI spreading outdated pricing and feature information during our testing.

The journey mapping feature visualizes how customers interact with AI during research. This revealed surprising drop-off points where competitors were intercepting potential customers.

Enterprise Capabilities

1. Hallucination Detection - Identifies false/outdated AI information
2. Customer Journey Mapping - Visualizes AI-powered discovery paths
3. Multi-Team Workflows - Department-specific dashboards
4. Advanced Security - SOC 2 compliance, SSO support
5. API Integration - Connects with CRM, BI platforms
6. Custom Reporting - Tailored executive dashboards
7. Dedicated Support - Assigned success manager

Custom Enterprise Pricing

ScrunchAI doesn't publish pricing since everything is custom-quoted. Based on our research, expect mid-four-figure monthly investments for comprehensive coverage.

Enterprise Adoption Stats

SEO Clarity research reveals that 86% of enterprise SEO professionals have already integrated AI into their strategy, making tools like ScrunchAI essential for the remaining 14%.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Unmatched hallucination detection
• Comprehensive journey mapping
• Enterprise-grade security
• White-glove support
• Scalable architecture

Cons:

• Overkill for smaller companies
• Requires dedicated team
• Long implementation timeline
• High cost barrier

Best for: If you're a Fortune 500 company or large enterprise where brand accuracy directly impacts revenue, ScrunchAI is worth the investment. The hallucination detection alone can save millions in lost sales from AI spreading wrong pricing or outdated product info. Their journey mapping shows exactly where you're losing customers to competitors in AI search. Yes, it requires a dedicated team to manage, but at enterprise scale, the ROI is clear.

5. Semrush AI SEO Toolkit - Best for AI visibility with SEO features

Semrush leverages 15+ years of SEO expertise in their AI toolkit. If your team already uses Semrush, this add-on integrates seamlessly without requiring new workflows.

Integrated Features

1. Brand Performance Reports - AI perception tracking across platforms
2. Buying Journey Analysis - Visibility at each funnel stage
3. AI Traffic Analytics - Which content AI crawlers access
4. Site Audit Integration - AI-specific technical checks
5. Prompt Tracking - 10-50 prompts depending on plan
6. Competitive Analysis - Side-by-side AI visibility
7. My Reports Integration - Automated client reporting

Add-On Investment

• AI SEO Toolkit: $99/month per domain
• Base Semrush Required: $139.95-$749.95/month
• Enterprise AIO: Custom pricing

Combined cost can exceed $250/month, but existing Semrush users might find the integration worth it.

Market Impact

Semrush's own research discovered that Google's AI Overviews now appear on at least 13% of all searches, making AI tracking essential for SEO teams.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Seamless integration with Semrush
• Trusted platform and data
• Combines SEO and GEO insights
• Existing workflow compatibility
• Comprehensive reporting

Cons:

• Limited to tracking 10 prompts
• Limited AI models tracking
• Requires Semrush subscription
• Expensive as add-on

Best for: SEO teams already using Semrush can consider this add-on. You're already paying for Semrush, your team knows the interface, and the AI Toolkit integrates perfectly with your existing workflows. One warning: the costs add up quickly. Budget at least $250/month total, but if Semrush is already central to your operations, this is the most logical expansion.

6. Mentions.so - For Small Teams and Agencies

Mentions.so positions itself as the professional choice for teams needing solid AI monitoring. At $49/month starting price, it offers more features than basic tools while avoiding enterprise complexity.

Team-Focused Features

1. AI Traffic Analytics - Track actual visitor numbers from AI
2. Multi-LLM Tracking - 3 models on starter, all models on higher tiers
3. Daily Performance Reports - Actionable insights delivered
4. Unlimited Seats - All plans include full team access
5. Competitor Comparison - Real-time visibility benchmarking
6. Tailored Insights - Recommendations based on your data
7. Multi-Site Support - Track up to 10 sites on business plan

Transparent Team Pricing

• Starter: $49/month (25 prompts, 3 LLMs)
• Pro: $99/month (50 prompts, all LLMs)
• Business: $199/month (100 prompts, all LLMs)
• Agency: $399/month (300 prompts, white-label)

The 7-day free trial lets you test core features before committing.

Platform Comparison

Mentions.so sits between budget tools and enterprise platforms, offering professional features without enterprise pricing. It's more expensive than Promptmonitor but includes different strengths like content optimization.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• AI traffic analytics included
• Unlimited team seats
• Clear pricing tiers
• Agency white-label option
• Daily updates standard

Cons:

• Higher entry price than Promptmonitor
• No publisher contact extraction

Best for: Professional teams and agencies will appreciate Mentions.so's balance of features and price. The unlimited seats on all plans means your entire team can access insights without per-user fees (looking at you, enterprise tools).

7. SurferSEO - Best for Content Optimization

SurferSEO bridges the gap between content creation and AI visibility. Launched in July 2025, this add-on shows how content performs in AI responses while you optimize it.

The integration with Surfer's content editor is seamless. As you write, you see both traditional SEO scores and predicted AI visibility, powerful for content teams juggling both priorities.

Content-Centric Capabilities

1. Real-time Optimization - AI visibility predictions while writing
2. Prompt-Level Analysis - Exact queries triggering mentions
3. Citation Tracking - Which content gets referenced
4. Content Editor Integration - Unified SEO and GEO scores
5. Multi-Platform Coverage - ChatGPT, Google AI, Perplexity (more coming)
6. Weekly Auto-Updates - Fresh data without manual checks
7. Team Collaboration - Share insights across content team

Pricing

• Essential: $79/mo
• Scale: $175/mo

Tiered Add-On Pricing:

• $95/month: 25 prompts
• $195/month: 100 prompts
• $495/month: 300 prompts

Requires base SurferSEO subscription. Total investment can reach $270+ monthly for comprehensive coverage.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Seamless content optimization
• Real-time AI predictions
• Proven platform stability
• 7-day money-back guarantee
• Strong content team features

Cons:

• Limited platform coverage, only 3 AI models currently
• Expensive with base subscription
• Newer feature (July 2025 launch)
• No standalone option

Best for: Content teams already using SurferSEO will love this add-on. You write content, optimize for traditional SEO, and see predicted AI visibility all in one place. No switching between tools, no duplicate work, just unified optimization. The $95/month add-on price stings a bit when combined with Surfer's base cost. Just note that platform coverage is limited to ChatGPT, Perplexity and AI Overviews.

Side by Side Feature Comparison

How to Choose the Right GEO Platform?

Selecting the right GEO tool isn't about finding the "best" one. It's about matching capabilities to your specific needs. After testing all these platforms, here's our framework for making the right choice.

Start with Your Budget Reality

• Under $100/month?
  Your best budget friendly options are Promptmonitor ($29/mo), or Mentions.so ($49/mo) or Lorelight ($99/mo). Each serves different needs—Promptmonitor for comprehensive tracking, Lorelight for PR, Mentions.so for team collaboration.
• $100-500/month?
  This range opens professional tools like Promptmonitor's advanced plans, AthenaHQ's starter tier, or Semrush's AI Toolkit if you're already a subscriber.
• $500+/month?
  Enterprise options like ScrunchAI, AthenaHQ Growth, or comprehensive Semrush bundles become viable. These deliver advanced analytics and enterprise features.

Match Features to Your Primary Goals

Almost every tools provides multi platform tracking, sources and citations, sentiment analysis. Few features that don't overlap much:

• Need citation urls and outreach contacts?
  Promptmonitor is the only platform offering publisher contact extraction at any price point.
• Want to see actual AI traffic numbers?
  Promptmonitor and Mentions.so include website analytics combined with AI traffic analytics showing real visitor data and AI bots.
• Must detect false information?
  ScrunchAI's hallucination detection becomes essential for enterprise reputation management.
• Require content optimization?
  SurferSEO or Semrush combine content creation with tracking in unified workflows.

Consider Your Team's Capacity

• Simple tools like Promptmonitor require minimal training. Our team was productive within hours of setup.
• Mid-tier platforms like AthenaHQ need more onboarding but deliver deeper insights. Plan a week for full adoption.
• Enterprise solutions demand dedicated resources. ScrunchAI implementations often take 2-4 weeks with assigned success managers.

Evaluate Integration Requirements

• Already using SEO tools?
  Semrush or SurferSEO add-ons leverage existing workflows and data.
• Need standalone solution?
  Promptmonitor, AthenaHQ, or Mentions.so work independently without dependencies.
• Require API access?
  Enterprise platforms like ScrunchAI and AthenaHQ Growth connect with your tech stack.

Quick Recommendations by Business Types

After extensive testing, here are our specific recommendations for different business scenarios:

For Small and Medium Businesses

Promptmonitor at $29/month delivers unbeatable value. The publisher contact extraction feature alone saves hours of manual research, while comprehensive tracking keeps you competitive. The 10-day trial proves ROI quickly.

Alternative: Lorelight at $99/month if PR and reputation are primary concerns although Promptmonitor also includes Sentiment analysis feature.

For Enterprises

ScrunchAI handles complexity with hallucination detection and journey mapping. Yes, it's expensive, but false AI information about enterprise brands costs far more in lost revenue and reputation damage.

For PR/Crisis Management

Lorelight specializes in reputation with superior sentiment analysis. Their crisis detection system caught issues 24-48 hours before they appeared in other tools during our testing.

For Content Teams

Promptmonitor + SurferSEO combo covers both tracking and optimization. Create optimized content with Surfer, then track performance and get outreach targets with Promptmonitor.

This dual approach costs less than enterprise solutions while delivering comprehensive capabilities.

For Agencies

Promptmonitor wins with multi-team and multi seats support and publisher contacts. Track multiple clients from one dashboard while the contact extraction feature supports link-building services.

For larger agencies, Mentions.so Agency plan at $399/month includes white-label reporting and 300 prompts.

For SEO Teams Already Using Tools

Semrush AI Toolkit integrates naturally if you're already in their ecosystem. No new logins, familiar interface, unified reporting.

Using SurferSEO? Their AI Tracker follows the same integration logic at $95/month.

For Startups (Series A+)

AthenaHQ provides growth-focused features with credibility. The ex-Google/DeepMind founding team resonates with investors, while the Action Center accelerates optimization.

For Solo Marketers

Promptmonitor at $29/month keeps things simple and affordable. Focus on the metrics that matter without overwhelming complexity.

How to get started with GEO?

Getting started with GEO requires action, not perfection. Based on our experience testing these platforms, here's how to launch effectively.

Quick Wins to Implement Today

1. Start with 10 high-intent prompts. Choose queries where you want to appear. Format them as "best [your category] for [customer type] [team size]" to capture buying intent.
2. Check which content AI references. This reveals what AI systems consider your most valuable pages, often surprising results that differ from traditional analytics.
3. Reach out to the publishers to include your brand/product name and link in the content. Make sure to offer to pay them for the update and ask their cost.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Tracking too many prompts initially creates data overload. We've seen teams track 100+ prompts then ignore the insights. Start with 5-10, expand based on learnings.
2. Ignoring sentiment means missing reputation issues. Negative mentions harm more than no mentions. Every tool we tested except budget options includes sentiment analysis for good reason.
3. Analysis paralysis kills progress. Spend 20% of time analyzing, 80% implementing. The teams seeing results take action on insights immediately.
4. Abandoning traditional SEO remains a mistake. I have seen people asking in Reddit whether they should do SEO or GEO, there is no GEO without SEO. Strong SEO provides the foundation for GEO success.

Integration with Your Marketing Stack

• Feed insights into content calendars. When tools reveal citation gaps, create content specifically targeting those opportunities. We've seen 40%+ visibility improvements from targeted content creation.
• Share dashboards with leadership weekly. Unlike complex SEO metrics, "ChatGPT mentions us 47% of the time for key prompts" resonates with executives immediately.
• Coordinate with PR on sentiment issues. When AI spreads outdated information, PR teams need immediate notification to address the narrative before it solidifies.

What's the Best Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) Tool to Enhance AI Visibility?

Promptmonitor is the best overall GEO tool for most businesses. At $29/month with comprehensive features, it delivers exceptional value that competitors can't match.

The publisher contact extraction feature provides immediate ROI. While other platforms show you problems, Promptmonitor gives you the exact people to contact for solutions. This actionability separates insights from impact.

The platform also offers the best user experience we've tested. Clean interface, logical workflows, and helpful documentation mean you're productive immediately, not after weeks of training.

However, specific situations demand different tools:

• Large enterprises need ScrunchAI's hallucination detection
• PR teams benefit from Lorelight's crisis monitoring
• SEO teams should leverage existing Semrush investments
• Content teams get value from SurferSEO integration

The key is to start tracking today. Semrush predicts LLM traffic will overtake traditional Google search by the end of 2027. Every day without GEO tracking means competitors capture AI-driven growth while you stay invisible.

Pick a tool that fits your budget and needs. Start with Promptmonitor if you want the best value. The important thing is to start now, not to wait for the perfect solution.

Track and optimize GEO with Promptmonitor

Track prompts across ChatGPT, Perplexity etc and see exactly where you're mentioned, what sources to target, and how to improve your AI visibility.

Try free for 10 daysSee Live Demo

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What is Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)?

GEO is the practice of optimizing content to appear in AI-generated responses from platforms like ChatGPT.

How is GEO different from SEO?

Traditional SEO targets rankings on search engine result pages where users click through to websites. GEO focuses on being mentioned within AI-generated answers where users get complete responses without clicking anywhere.

Do I need both SEO and GEO tools?

Yes, both remain important and complementary. Strong SEO provides the foundation since AI systems often reference top-ranking content. GEO tools then show you how that SEO success translates into AI visibility. Think of them as two sides of the same coin. SEO gets you crawled, GEO gets you cited. Learn more about this relationship in our complete GEO guide.

Which AI platforms should I track?

At minimum, monitor ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini since these drive the most AI search traffic currently. Add Google AI Overviews for comprehensive coverage since they appear on 13% of searches. Platforms like DeepSeek and Grok matter for specific industries or regions. Start with major platforms, then expand based on where your audience actually searches.

How much should I budget for GEO tools?

Small businesses can start effectively with $29-99/month using tools like Promptmonitor or Lorelight. Mid-size companies typically invest $200-500/month for comprehensive tracking and optimization. Enterprises allocating serious resources to AI visibility spend $1,000+/month. Remember that ChatGPT referral traffic converts at 4.4 times the rate of traditional organic search, making GEO investment highly profitable.

Is there a free tool for GEO?

While some platforms offer limited free trials or demos, effective GEO requires paid tools. The complexity of tracking multiple AI platforms, analyzing sentiment, and providing actionable insights demands robust infrastructure and AI/LLM api costs are also quite high. Free trials help evaluate tools, but sustained monitoring needs proper investment. Promptmonitor's 10-day trial offers the best free evaluation periods.