Updated July 17, 2026 · 8 tools tested
The big AI SEO software review: 8 tools, one scoreboard
We put 8 AI SEO platforms through the same test campaign and scored every one out of 5 stars, weighted for value.
#1 · The free manual method: run your prompts by hand and log every AI answer in a spreadsheet.
Google Sheets
3 out of 5 stars: the free way to start today. You run every prompt and log every answer by hand, so the sheet costs hours instead of dollars.
Why it comes first
- Costs nothing with a Google account, so no budget approval stands in your way
- You read every full AI answer yourself and learn how the engines talk about your brand
- You pick the prompts, the engines, and the columns, with no plan limits
The runners-up
Temso AI
The platform for agencies: from $199 per month, unlimited seats
The full scoreboard
Open the full ranking →-
Google Sheets
3.0/5Best free start
Free Read review → -
Temso AI
4.5/5The platform for agencies
$199/mo Read review → -
Otterly.AI
4.0/5Cheapest paid entry
$29/mo Read review → -
Peec AI
4.0/5Best for unlimited seats
€85/mo Read review → -
Surfer
3.5/5Best content editor
$49/mo Read review → -
Profound
3.5/5Deepest enterprise analytics
$99/mo Read review → -
GetMint
3.0/5Track
$80/mo Read review → -
Writesonic
3.0/5Writing suite with tracking bolted on
$99/mo Read review → -
OTTO SEO
2.5/5Automation first
$99/mo Read review →
Category winners
Same eight products, graded again for the team shape you actually have.
How we score
Every tool on this site went through the same test cycle in June and July 2026. We set up each product on a real account, ran an identical evaluation campaign in each one, and graded five criteria: value for money at 30%, all-in-one scope at 20%, ease of use at 20%, tracking depth at 15%, and content and execution at 15%. The result is a 5-star score with half-stars, printed big on every review.
Read the full rubricCommon questions
What is AI SEO software? +
It is software that tracks how AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Gemini, and Copilot describe your brand, then helps you improve those answers. Entry-level tools monitor mentions and citations. The best tools add content creation, site audits, and recommendations so one subscription covers the whole job.
How much does AI SEO software cost? +
As of July 2026, credible monitoring starts at $29 per month with Otterly.AI Lite, agency platforms start at $199 per month with Temso AI Growth, and enterprise trackers such as Profound effectively start at $399 per month. Watch the fine print: prompt caps, per-engine add-ons, and features locked behind higher tiers move the real price fast.
How are the star ratings calculated? +
Each product is scored out of 5 stars, with half-stars, across five weighted criteria: value for money (30%), all-in-one scope (20%), ease of use (20%), tracking depth (15%), and content and execution (15%). Value carries the biggest weight, because a great tool you overpay for is not a great deal. The methodology page publishes the full rubric.
Does AI SEO software replace my traditional SEO tools? +
Not fully. Most tools in this category, including our top scorer, skip classic keyword rank tracking and backlink indexes. Keep a conventional SEO tool for those jobs. AI SEO software covers the layer your old stack cannot see: what the AI engines say about you and which sources they pull from.