AthenaHQ positions itself as a GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) platform focused on whether and how your brand appears in AI answers. It blends monitoring across assistants with reporting, persona views, and integrations like GA4/GSC.
If you want deeper analytics, a lower entry price, or a tighter link from visibility insights to content fixes, the alternatives below are strong fits.
Quick take
- Best overall: Rankability’s AI Analyzer
- Best cross-engine monitoring: Peec AI
- Best budget starter: Rankscale AI
- Best indie value: LLMrefs
- Best enterprise GEO stack: Scrunch AI
- Best data-rich enterprise analytics: Profound
- Best plug-and-play brand monitoring: Otterly AI
How we chose
- Engine coverage: ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews/AI Mode, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, etc.
- Methodology cadence & transparency: sampling frequency, how results are stored/exported.
- Actionability: ability to turn insights into changes (content/editor/briefs).
- Scalability: seats, roles, SSO/API, exports—especially for agencies/enterprises.
- Price-to-value and market traction.
Quick comparison table
Pricing changes often, so verify on vendor pages before purchase.
| Tool | Best for | Starting price* | Engines/coverage (examples) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rankability’s AI Analyzer | Agencies that want tracking and in-editor fixes | from $124/mo billed annually (suite) | ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity, Copilot, Google AI Overviews/AI Mode, more | Analyzer ties into Rankability’s Optimizer & Monitoring. |
| Peec AI | Cross-engine dashboards with daily tracking | €89/mo Starter | ChatGPT, Perplexity, AIO/AI Mode; add-ons for others | Unlimited seats; modular add-ons for extra LLMs. |
| Rankscale AI | Budget-friendly daily tracking & exports | $20/mo Essential | Broad “AI search” visibility | Credits model, CSV exports. |
| LLMrefs | Solo/lean teams needing simple trend views | Free / $79 Pro | Major AI search surfaces | Weekly trends; lightweight scoring; simple setup. |
| Scrunch AI | Enterprise GEO + optimization (AXP) | $300/mo Starter | ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Gemini, Meta AI, AIO/AI Mode | “Agent Experience Platform” serves AI-optimized content. |
| Profound | Data-rich enterprise analytics | $499/mo Lite | ChatGPT, Google, Perplexity | Conversation-level insights for research + monitoring. |
| Otterly AI | Plug-and-play brand & link monitoring | $29/mo | AIO/AI Mode, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Copilot | Fast setup; KPI-style reporting. |
*“From” prices are directional as of September 5, 2025. Always re-check.
The 7 best AthenaHQ alternatives
1. Rankability — AI Analyzer (Editor’s pick)
Why it’s a strong AthenaHQ alternative: It doesn’t stop at visibility. Analyzer connects tracking to a full content workflow: research → AI brief → in-editor optimization → monitoring, so you can close gaps in AI answers without juggling tools.
Highlights: broad AI search engine coverage; prompt-level tests; competitive citation comparisons; native tie-in to Content Optimizer and Monitoring.
Pricing snapshot: from $149/mo (suite).
Best for: agencies managing multiple clients who want “see + fix” in one stack.
2. Peec AI
Why instead of AthenaHQ: Daily cross-engine tracking, clean dashboards, unlimited seats, and modular add-ons so you only pay for the LLMs you need.
What stands out: clear quotas, multi-country support, straightforward exports.
Pricing snapshot: €89/mo Starter, €199/mo Pro, €499/mo Enterprise.
Trade-offs: analytics-first; content-fix workflows are lighter than a full suite.
3. Rankscale AI
Why instead of AthenaHQ: Aggressive entry pricing with daily tracking and raw exports—great for small teams to establish baselines.
Pricing snapshot: $20/mo Essential, $99/mo Pro, $780/mo Enterprise.
Trade-offs: credits model requires usage planning; indie UX but improving quickly.
4. LLMrefs
Why instead of AthenaHQ: Ultra-simple setup and weekly trend views—ideal for founders/SMBs validating value before committing to heavier suites.
Features: keyword/citation tracking, simple scoring, CSV exports on paid.
Pricing snapshot: Free tier; $79/mo Pro.
Trade-offs: lighter cadence and features vs. enterprise trackers.
5. Scrunch AI
Why instead of AthenaHQ: Moves beyond monitoring into optimization with its Agent Experience Platform (AXP), which can serve an AI-ready representation of your site so assistants parse and quote you more accurately—without changing the human site.
Coverage & fit: supports major assistants; strong for teams pursuing AI legibility and visibility.
Pricing snapshot: $300/mo Starter, $500/mo Growth, $1,000/mo Pro; Enterprise adds security/integration options.
Trade-offs: more moving parts; onboarding takes planning.
6. Profound
Why instead of AthenaHQ: Conversation-level insights into what people ask AI (trends, topics, intent) combined with brand visibility—useful for research, planning, and monitoring.
Pricing snapshot: $499/mo Lite; Enterprise custom.
Trade-offs: priced for teams that can leverage its depth; best when paired with a content optimization workflow.
7. Otterly AI
Why instead of AthenaHQ: Fast, plug-and-play brand and link visibility across major search engines; KPI-style dashboards keep reporting simple.
Pricing snapshot: starts at $29/mo with paid add-ons for extra prompts/engines.
Trade-offs: narrower analytics than enterprise tools; prioritizes simplicity over depth.
Which alternative fits your situation?
Solo/SMB (keep it lean):
- Rankscale ($20/mo) for daily basics + exports, or LLMrefs ($79/mo) if weekly trends and a simple score suffice. Step up to Peec (€89/mo) if you want daily multi-country tracking and add-ons.
Agency (optimize + report):
- Rankability for “see + fix” in one stack. Pair with Peec if you want broad dashboards with unlimited seats. Add Otterly for quick brand/link KPI snapshots.
Enterprise (depth & governance):
- Profound for research-grade insights; Scrunch if you want to serve AI-optimized content (AXP) in addition to monitoring.
Migration tips from AthenaHQ
- Map prompts → topics & intents: recreate key prompts and group by buyer intent to rebuild baselines.
- Normalize cadence: match or exceed prior sampling (daily for volatile categories; weekly for stable).
- Validate citations/exports: confirm each tool’s parsing and CSV/API exports align with your reporting.
- 30-day overlap: run both platforms for a month to compare visibility deltas before fully switching.
FAQs
Do these AI search rank tracking tools measure both AIO and conversational answers?
Most support both, but engine coverage varies by plan. Confirm exact assistants (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews/AI Mode, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, etc.) and any add-ons.
How often should we re-run prompts?
Daily for fast-moving categories; weekly is fine for stable niches. The more volatile the SERPs/answers, the tighter the cadence.
Which option has the lowest entry price?
Typically Rankscale ($20/mo) and Otterly ($29/mo) at the starter level; LLMrefs offers a free tier and $79/mo Pro.
Bottom line
If you want one stack to measure and fix AI visibility, start with Rankability’s AI Analyzer. If you just need daily cross-engine dashboards, Peec is a strong value. For entry-level spend, Rankscale and LLMrefs keep costs down. Enterprises should shortlist Profound (insight depth) and Scrunch (serve AI-ready content + monitoring).
Free GEO Checklist – Download the complete 97-point checklist to optimize your brand for AI-powered search engines like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity.