The 10 Best AI Citation Tracking Tools (2026)
Only 2.9% of AI citations point to a brand's own site, so source tracking is mostly about other people's pages. Every tool here lists the domains and pages AI cites. What sets them apart is whether they label each source by type and each page by format, then turn that into a next step. Here are 10 tools, ranked on 10 checks.
Only 2.9% of the citations in AI answers point to the brand's own site, and 75.2% point to other companies' pages, in our GEO study. So tracking your citations mostly means tracking pages you don't own: the publications, forums, review sites and vendor pages AI reads before it names anyone.
Every tool on this list can show you those domains and pages. They part ways on what comes next: whether a tool says what kind of site each source is, what format each cited page takes, which sources cite your competitors and leave you out, and what to do about it. Scored on 10 checks, from listing the sources to acting on them, the 10 tools rank in this order: Ranqo, Peec AI, Promptwatch, SE Visible, Profound, Scrunch, Otterly AI, Semrush, AthenaHQ, and Ahrefs Brand Radar.
Ranqo is our product, so the method comes first, and you can check the arithmetic and argue with it. Then the ranking, a short note on each tool, what the labels are for, and the questions to ask in any demo.
How We Ranked Them
Each tool gets the same 10 checks. A yes scores 1, a partial scores 0.5, and a no, or a check the tool's public pages do not document, scores 0. Ties go to the lower entry price, with no published price last, then to name.
- Lists every cited domain
- Lists every cited page
- Labels each source by type
- Labels each page by format
- Splits sources by engine
- Finds sources that skip you
- Turns a source into a next step
- Exports the source data
- Charts sources over time
- Re-measures after you ship
We checked the first 9 on each vendor's own docs, help center, blog, changelog and pricing pages on 22 October 2026. On those, a zero means we found the feature documented nowhere we looked, not that we proved it missing, and a tool that documents it moves up at our next check. The last comes from the data behind our comparison page, verified 27 July 2026, where each of these cells cites the vendor's own page.
10 tools, 10 checks
One cell per check, numbered as in the list above. A full cell is a yes and a half cell a partial. An empty cell is a check the tool's public pages do not document or, on check 10, a no in our comparison data.
1. Ranqo10 / 10
- Check 1, Lists every cited domain: Yes
- Check 2, Lists every cited page: Yes
- Check 3, Labels each source by type: Yes
- Check 4, Labels each page by format: Yes
- Check 5, Splits sources by engine: Yes
- Check 6, Finds sources that skip you: Yes
- Check 7, Turns a source into a next step: Yes
- Check 8, Exports the source data: Yes
- Check 9, Charts sources over time: Yes
- Check 10, Re-measures after you ship: Yes
2. Peec AI9.5 / 10
- Check 1, Lists every cited domain: Yes
- Check 2, Lists every cited page: Yes
- Check 3, Labels each source by type: Yes
- Check 4, Labels each page by format: Yes
- Check 5, Splits sources by engine: Yes
- Check 6, Finds sources that skip you: Yes
- Check 7, Turns a source into a next step: Yes
- Check 8, Exports the source data: Yes
- Check 9, Charts sources over time: Yes
- Check 10, Re-measures after you ship: Partial (timeline only)
3. Promptwatch9 / 10
- Check 1, Lists every cited domain: Yes
- Check 2, Lists every cited page: Yes
- Check 3, Labels each source by type: Yes
- Check 4, Labels each page by format: Yes
- Check 5, Splits sources by engine: Yes
- Check 6, Finds sources that skip you: Yes
- Check 7, Turns a source into a next step: Yes
- Check 8, Exports the source data: Yes
- Check 9, Charts sources over time: Yes
- Check 10, Re-measures after you ship: No, in our comparison data
4. SE Visible8.5 / 10
- Check 1, Lists every cited domain: Yes
- Check 2, Lists every cited page: Yes
- Check 3, Labels each source by type: Yes
- Check 4, Labels each page by format: Yes
- Check 5, Splits sources by engine: Yes
- Check 6, Finds sources that skip you: Yes
- Check 7, Turns a source into a next step: Yes
- Check 8, Exports the source data: Yes
- Check 9, Charts sources over time: Partial (period comparison only)
- Check 10, Re-measures after you ship: No, in our comparison data
5. Profound8.5 / 10
- Check 1, Lists every cited domain: Yes
- Check 2, Lists every cited page: Yes
- Check 3, Labels each source by type: Yes
- Check 4, Labels each page by format: Partial (page types, not formats)
- Check 5, Splits sources by engine: Yes
- Check 6, Finds sources that skip you: Partial (per prompt, not per source)
- Check 7, Turns a source into a next step: Yes
- Check 8, Exports the source data: Yes
- Check 9, Charts sources over time: Yes
- Check 10, Re-measures after you ship: Partial (enterprise only)
6. Scrunch8 / 10
- Check 1, Lists every cited domain: Yes
- Check 2, Lists every cited page: Yes
- Check 3, Labels each source by type: Partial (ownership only)
- Check 4, Labels each page by format: Partial (a page-type filter only)
- Check 5, Splits sources by engine: Yes
- Check 6, Finds sources that skip you: Yes
- Check 7, Turns a source into a next step: Yes
- Check 8, Exports the source data: Yes
- Check 9, Charts sources over time: Yes
- Check 10, Re-measures after you ship: No, in our comparison data
7. Otterly AI7.5 / 10
- Check 1, Lists every cited domain: Yes
- Check 2, Lists every cited page: Yes
- Check 3, Labels each source by type: Yes
- Check 4, Labels each page by format: Not documented on its public pages
- Check 5, Splits sources by engine: Yes
- Check 6, Finds sources that skip you: Yes
- Check 7, Turns a source into a next step: Partial (a starred shortlist only)
- Check 8, Exports the source data: Yes
- Check 9, Charts sources over time: Yes
- Check 10, Re-measures after you ship: No, in our comparison data
8. Semrush7.5 / 10
- Check 1, Lists every cited domain: Yes
- Check 2, Lists every cited page: Yes
- Check 3, Labels each source by type: Yes
- Check 4, Labels each page by format: Not documented on its public pages
- Check 5, Splits sources by engine: Yes
- Check 6, Finds sources that skip you: Yes
- Check 7, Turns a source into a next step: Yes
- Check 8, Exports the source data: Yes
- Check 9, Charts sources over time: Partial (totals, not per source)
- Check 10, Re-measures after you ship: No, in our comparison data
9. AthenaHQ7.5 / 10
- Check 1, Lists every cited domain: Yes
- Check 2, Lists every cited page: Yes
- Check 3, Labels each source by type: Partial (ownership and social only)
- Check 4, Labels each page by format: Not documented on its public pages
- Check 5, Splits sources by engine: Yes
- Check 6, Finds sources that skip you: Yes
- Check 7, Turns a source into a next step: Yes
- Check 8, Exports the source data: Yes
- Check 9, Charts sources over time: Yes
- Check 10, Re-measures after you ship: No, in our comparison data
10. Ahrefs Brand Radar7 / 10
- Check 1, Lists every cited domain: Yes
- Check 2, Lists every cited page: Yes
- Check 3, Labels each source by type: Partial (ownership only)
- Check 4, Labels each page by format: Not documented on its public pages
- Check 5, Splits sources by engine: Yes
- Check 6, Finds sources that skip you: Yes
- Check 7, Turns a source into a next step: Partial (no built-in workflow)
- Check 8, Exports the source data: Yes
- Check 9, Charts sources over time: Yes
- Check 10, Re-measures after you ship: No, in our comparison data
- Peec AI:
- re-measures after you ship (timeline only)
- SE Visible:
- charts sources over time (period comparison only)
- Profound:
- labels each page by format (page types, not formats)
- Profound:
- finds sources that skip you (per prompt, not per source)
- Profound:
- re-measures after you ship (enterprise only)
- Scrunch:
- labels each source by type (ownership only)
- Scrunch:
- labels each page by format (a page-type filter only)
- Otterly AI:
- turns a source into a next step (a starred shortlist only)
- Semrush:
- charts sources over time (totals, not per source)
- AthenaHQ:
- labels each source by type (ownership and social only)
- Ahrefs Brand Radar:
- labels each source by type (ownership only)
- Ahrefs Brand Radar:
- turns a source into a next step (no built-in workflow)
Checks 1 to 9 verified on each vendor's own pages on 22 October 2026; check 10 from our comparison data, verified 27 July 2026.
The 10 Tools, Ranked
| # | Tool | Score | Entry price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ranqo | 10 / 10 | $49/mo | Going from a cited source to a measured result |
| 2 | 9.5 / 10 | $95/mo | Sorting sources by type and format | |
| 3 | 9 / 10 | $95/mo | Watching each cited page rise and fade | |
| 4 | 8.5 / 10 | $99/mo | A ranked shortlist of pages to pitch | |
| 5 | 8.5 / 10 | Contact | Enterprise teams that define their own buckets | |
| 6 | 8 / 10 | $250/mo | Pitching cited pages through to placement | |
| 7 | 7.5 / 10 | $29/mo | Taking citation data into your own sheets | |
| 8 | 7.5 / 10 | $199/mo | Teams already working in Semrush | |
| 9 | 7.5 / 10 | $295/mo | Running outreach next to the source list | |
| 10 | 7 / 10 | $129/mo | A first look if you already pay for Ahrefs |
RanqoEntry prices are the monthly entry plans on our comparison page. The checks describe each product as its own pages document it, not its cheapest plan.
Each Tool in Brief
1.Ranqo
10 of 10 · $49/mo · Best for going from a cited source to a measured result
We label every cited domain by the kind of site it is and every cited page by its format, on the Domains and URLs tabs. The Citation Pool lists the sources AI keeps citing in answers that leave you out, and Outreach ranks the Reddit communities and threads AI cites, and the lists, comparisons and reviews worth pitching, as targets with drafts. Once you act, our Action Center re-measures and shows the answers you won.
2.
Peec AI
9.5 of 10 · $95/mo · Best for sorting sources by type and format
Sorts cited domains into editorial, corporate, user-generated, reference and institutional sites, beside your own and your competitors', and cited pages into formats such as listicles, comparisons and how-to guides. Gap Analysis finds sources where competitors appear and you don't, and Actions suggests third-party placements to win.
3.
Promptwatch
9 of 10 · $95/mo · Best for watching each cited page rise and fade
Gives every citation a source type and a content type, and Citation Trends charts when each cited page was first cited, when it peaked and how it decays. Offsite Mentions shows which brands each cited third-party page names, and the Action Board covers outreach.
4.
SE Visible
8.5 of 10 · $99/mo · Best for a ranked shortlist of pages to pitch
Labels cited domains by type and cited pages by format, and its Gap score ranks the pages that cite your competitors but not you, as a starting list for outreach. Data exports to CSV, and the API comes with every plan.
5.
Profound
8.5 of 10 · Contact · Best for enterprise teams that define their own buckets
Sorts cited domains into owned, competition, earned media, PR wire, institution, social and custom buckets, and splits citations by engine. Its Opportunities view recommends Reddit communities and threads to engage with, and Citation Decay shows how long cited pages keep being cited.
6.
Scrunch
8 of 10 · $250/mo · Best for pitching cited pages through to placement
Groups citations by domain or by page and shows whether each cited page names you or a competitor. Its targets workflow suggests pages to pitch, drafts the pitch email and brief, finds the author and tracks each pitch to placement.
7.
Otterly AI
7.5 of 10 · $29/mo · Best for taking citation data into your own sheets
Files every cited domain under a fixed set of categories, from news and forums to encyclopedias, video and personal blogs, and flags whether each cited page mentions you or a competitor. You can star the pages worth acting on, and the citations export comes with every plan.
8.
Semrush
7.5 of 10 · $199/mo · Best for teams already working in Semrush
Sorts cited domains into your domain, competitors, social platforms, knowledge bases and other sites, and its Source Opportunities report pairs each kind of source with a suggested action. Cited sources export to Excel, CSV or Google Sheets.
9.
AthenaHQ
7.5 of 10 · $295/mo · Best for running outreach next to the source list
Lists cited domains and pages tagged by ownership, with social platforms in a view of their own, and a Sankey view shows where competitors are cited and you are not. Its Outreach board finds authors, drafts pitch emails and tracks each one.
10.
Ahrefs Brand Radar
7 of 10 · $129/mo · Best for a first look if you already pay for Ahrefs
Lists cited domains and pages, including pages AI found but did not cite, and splits them by engine. Filters isolate the answers that cite a competitor's site and not yours, and the data exports to CSV or Google Sheets.
Why the Source Type Matters
A citation from a publication and one from a forum thread call for different work, so the first thing to know about a source is what kind of site it is. On our Sources page every cited domain carries one of these labels. Each calls for a different move:
| Source type | What to do about it |
|---|---|
| You | Your own pages. Keep the cited ones accurate and current. |
| Competitor | A competitor's own site. You can't get onto it, but you can read what it says that your pages don't. |
| Company sites | Other companies' pages, such as tools and vendors that list others. Ask to be included where you fit. |
| Editorial | News sites and publications. Pitch the writer of the cited piece. |
| Forum | Forums and Q&A threads. Answer in the thread, as yourself. |
| Review | Review and comparison platforms. Ask customers for reviews and keep your profile complete. |
| Social | Social networks. Post where your buyers already ask. |
| Video | Video platforms. Make the video that answers the question, or get into the one AI cites. |
| Reference | Encyclopedias, knowledge bases and documentation. Check that the facts about you are right. |
| Institutional | Academic and government sites. Rarely open to a pitch, so cite them in your own pages. |
| Other | Sites the classifier could not place. Open them before deciding. |
Sources
Which domains and pages AI platforms cite in the answers about your brand and your category.
Domains tab
URLs tab
The Source Types ring counts citations or domains by label, so you can see at a glance whether the answers in your category lean on publications, forums or other companies' pages. The rules for how sources are labelled are in our docs, including how a competitor's own site is told apart from a publication that writes about it. For the sites each engine leans on, see where AI citations come from.
Why the Page Format Matters
The second label is the format of the cited page. In our GEO study the ranked list is the most cited content format, at 35.7% of content citations, ahead of every other format:
What AI cites, by page format
Share of content citations, the ones that point to content rather than a homepage or a product page, across five AI engines in our GEO study.
- Listicle (ranked list)
- 35.7%
- Generic article
- 31.0%
- How-to guide
- 9.7%
- Generic video
- 4.6%
- Comparison
- 4.5%
- Topic guide
- 3.9%
- Documentation
- 3.3%
- Review
- 2.6%
- Research
- 2.5%
- Checklist
- 1.5%
- Alternatives / case study
- 0.7%
Ranqo GEO study, arXiv:2606.20065. Formats as the study grouped them.
Our URLs tab files each cited page under one of these formats: ranked list, how-to guide, guide, alternatives, comparison, review, case study, checklist, blog post, documentation, product page, research, video, and homepage. A page that fits none is filed under Other. The Content Types ring beside it shows which formats carry the citations in your category, and the format tells you what to make or where to pitch:
| Format | What it asks of you |
|---|---|
| Ranked List | Get onto the list: pitch the writer, with the facts they need to include you. |
| Comparison | Get into the comparison AI cites, or publish a fair one on your own site. |
| Alternatives | Make sure the pages listing alternatives to a rival know you exist. |
| Review | Earn the review: ask customers, and answer the reviewer's questions. |
| How-to Guide | Publish the how-to on your own site, step by step. |
| Product Page | Fix your own product pages: what it is, who it is for and what it costs, in plain text. |
From a Source to a Next Step
Labels earn their place when they change what you do next. Three parts of Ranqo take a cited source from a gap to a measured result.
Citation Pool: the sources that leave you out
Its Opportunity Gaps list the sources AI keeps citing in answers that leave you out, and Your Strongholds list the ones where you already appear, so you know what to protect. More on getting into the citation pool.
Outreach: ranked targets and drafts
Outreach turns the citations into ranked targets: the Reddit communities and threads AI cites, and the publications whose cited page is a ranked list, list of alternatives, comparison, or review. It drafts a comment or a pitch when you ask (10 drafts a month on Starter) and never posts for you. See how Outreach ranks targets and how AI cites Reddit.
Action Center: measuring what you won
Each recommendation names the metric it should move and records a baseline. Mark it done and the Action Center counts the runs that follow. Re-measure and it shows the answers you won, each one confirmed in two runs, and your lift in points. It holds a lift back until it clears the noise band, so every lift it shows is real. More on how re-measuring works.
Questions to Ask Any Citation Tracker
The checks above, as questions for a demo or a free trial. Copy them into your evaluation notes:
1. Does it list every domain AI cites, not only the top few?
2. Can I see every cited page, not only its domain?
3. Does it say what kind of site each source is: a publication, a forum, a review site, a company?
4. Does it say what format each cited page is: a ranked list, a how-to, a comparison?
5. Can I see the sources one engine at a time?
6. Does it show the sources that cite my competitors and leave me out?
7. Does it turn a source into a next step: a target, a pitch or a task?
8. Can I export the full source list?
9. Does it show how a source's citations change over time?
10. After I act on a source, does it measure the answers again?How Ranqo Fits
We built Ranqo to answer the questions after “who cites us”: what kind of sources these are, which ones leave you out, and what to do about them. On the Sources page, the Domains tab labels every cited domain by source type, the URLs tab labels every cited page by format, and the Citation Pool lists the sources that leave you out. The Domains and URLs tabs filter by engine and export to Excel or CSV, and the Sources page guide covers every column. Then Outreach ranks where to get mentioned, from Reddit threads to the lists and reviews AI cites, and drafts the comment, post or pitch. Once you act, the Action Center measures the answers you win.
On this method Ranqo scores 10 of 10, and every check is on our Starter plan at $49 a month, with a 7-day free trial. For how these tools compare on the whole loop, from tracking to publishing, see our full tools ranking.
See which sources AI cites in your category
Ranqo labels every source AI cites by type and every page by format, shows the ones that leave you out, ranks the threads and pages worth pitching with drafts, and measures the answers you win after you act.
See Source AnalyticsWritten by
Nisha Kumari
Nisha Kumari is Co-Founder at Ranqo, where she leads growth strategy and client acquisition. With a background in digital marketing and financial management, she specializes in SEO, Generative Engine Optimization, and helping brands build visibility across AI platforms.
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