Guide · Updated June 2026 · ~7 min read

AI visibility tools compared: what a local business actually needs in 2026

A wave of "AI search visibility" tools launched in 2025–2026. Most are built for enterprise marketing teams and priced accordingly. If you run a single local business — a plumbing company, a dental practice, a law firm — here is what these tools do, what they cost, and the simplest way to find out what AI assistants say about you.

Why this category exists

When a customer asks ChatGPT, Claude, or Google's AI Overviews "who's the best [trade] near me," the assistant returns a short answer naming a few businesses. If yours isn't named, you are invisible to that customer — and unlike a search results page, there is no second page to scroll to. Ahrefs' study of 300,000 keywords found that the presence of an AI Overview correlated with a 34.5% lower click-through rate for the #1 organic result; their December 2025 update measured the reduction at 58% (sources: Ahrefs, Ahrefs update). "AI visibility" tools exist to measure and improve whether you show up inside those answers.

The main tools, and who they're for

The figures below are published pricing as of June 2026; always check the vendor's own site, as pricing in this category changes often.

Profound

An enterprise-grade answer-engine analytics platform. Tracks brand mentions across AI assistants, with deep analytics and team features. Published self-serve pricing starts around $499/month. Built for in-house marketing teams and larger brands tracking many prompts and competitors.

Peec AI

An AI search analytics tool positioned for marketing teams and SEO agencies. Published pricing starts around €89/month. Strong for agencies managing several clients who need dashboards and trend tracking.

Otterly.AI

One of the more accessible options, with an entry tier around $29/month. Monitors brand mentions and links in AI search results. A reasonable starting point for the budget-conscious, though still a prompt-volume dashboard rather than a plain-language report.

Where a local business fits

These are good products — for their intended buyer. A marketing team tracking 200 prompts across five competitors gets real value from a dashboard. But a single local business usually has one question: when someone asks an AI assistant for a business like mine, am I named, and what is said? Paying $89–$499/month and learning a dashboard to answer that is overkill.

A simpler, free starting point

You can answer the core question for free. Ask an assistant directly — "best [your category] in [your city]" — and read what comes back. To make it systematic, AEO Pulse runs a standard set of those questions for you on Claude with live web search, each as a fresh conversation, and publishes a plain-language report: whether you were named, the exact wording used, which competitors were recommended instead, and three concrete recommendations. The check is free, needs no account, and gives you a permanent link. If you want it repeated weekly with competitor tracking, the founder plan is $15/month (first 20 customers, then $29). It is deliberately not a dashboard.

How to choose

• You're an in-house marketing team or large brand tracking many prompts: Profound or Peec.
• You're an agency managing multiple clients' AI presence: Peec or Otterly, or a white-label report.
• You're a local business owner who wants a clear answer, not a dashboard: start with a free check, add a low-cost weekly report only if you want to track changes.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best AI visibility tool for a small or local business?

For most local businesses, the honest answer is that you don't need an enterprise dashboard. A free one-off check tells you whether AI assistants recommend you; a low-cost weekly report is enough if you want to track changes over time. The expensive platforms are built for marketing teams tracking many prompts and competitors.

How much do AI search visibility tools cost in 2026?

Published pricing in June 2026 ranges from about $29/month (Otterly entry tier) to $89/month (Peec starting plan) to $499/month (Profound self-serve). A free one-off check is available if you don't need ongoing monitoring.

Can I check what ChatGPT or Claude says about my business for free?

Yes — ask the assistant directly, or use a free checker that runs standardized questions and reports the results. AEO Pulse does this on Claude with web search and publishes a free report with no account required.

Run a free check on your business →

Pricing for third-party tools is summarized from their published plans as of June 2026 and may change; verify on each vendor's site. AEO Pulse is operated by Moorage.