What's the best tool to see if ChatGPT recommends my business?

For a quick, free check, try HubSpot’s AI Search Grader: it gives a snapshot of how ChatGPT and other AI assistants represent your brand, including mentions and competitive positioning. (hubspot.com)

If you want ongoing tracking, I’d look at Semrush AI Visibility Toolkit if you already use Semrush, or a dedicated tracker such as Peec AI. Compare tools by whether they show the exact prompts tested, how often you’re recommended versus merely mentioned, which competitors appear, and what sources ChatGPT cites.

One caveat: these tools run sample prompts repeatedly; they can show trends, but they can’t guarantee what every person will see. For a simple sanity check, ask ChatGPT a few realistic customer questions yourself—such as “best [type of business] in [city]”—and repeat them over time.

There's no single "best" tool. The right pick depends on budget and how seriously you want to track it. For a quick check, start with a free option, then move to a paid tracker if the results matter to your business.

Free options to start

• Semrush offers a free AI visibility checker, limited to 3 checks a day, with no account.
• YouGotRanked's free scan does this across ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity and Google AI Overview. Its first full scan is free with no card.
• Mangools offers a free AI Search Grader.

Paid options

• Otterly AI is the most common recommendation for a general all-around tool. It starts at $29/mo and includes ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews and Copilot.
• Peec AI is a good fit for daily tracking. It starts at $95/month, according to one review.
• Profound is aimed at larger teams. Its pricing runs roughly $99–$399/mo, per one comparison.
• Brand Radar (Ahrefs) makes sense if you already use Ahrefs. It starts at $199/month for one AI index.

What to look for
Results can vary from one run to the next, so a good tool runs each question several times. Look for unbranded prompts, repeated runs, visible answer evidence and the sources behind each answer. Also check whether it shows the full answer and which competitors get named instead of you.

A free DIY check
Open ChatGPT and ask the questions your customers would ask, such as "best [your service] in [your city]," without using your business name. Repeat each question a few times and note whether you appear and where. This is slower than a tool, but it's free and gives you a real baseline.

Pricing and features in these comparisons come from vendor-influenced blogs and may have changed, so check each tool's site before you buy.

To determine if ChatGPT and other AI engines are recommending your business, you need tools specifically designed for AI Search Optimization (AEO) or Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). Traditional SEO tools (like standard Google Search Console) cannot track these interactions because AI-generated answers often do not involve a traditional "click" or web visit.

How to Monitor AI Recommendations

Because AI responses are probabilistic and can vary by session, simple manual checks (like asking ChatGPT once) are often unreliable. Dedicated tracking tools provide a "clean" environment by running consistent, unbiased prompts across multiple engines.

1. Professional AI Visibility Tools

Several platforms are built to monitor mentions, citations, and sentiment across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude, and Google AI Overviews:

• Specialized Trackers: Tools such as KIME, Otterly.AI, Geoptie, and TopCited allow you to set up recurring audits of your brand. They track whether you are mentioned, how often you are cited, and which competitors appear in your place.
• Integrated Suites: Platforms like Semrush (via their AI Visibility Toolkit) and Ahrefs (via Brand Radar) have introduced features to monitor these AI-driven discovery channels alongside your traditional SEO metrics.
• Enterprise Solutions: For larger teams needing compliance-ready reporting and deep analytics, tools like Profound and xSeek provide granular data on sentiment and citation sources.

2. Free Initial Audits

If you want to test your visibility without a subscription, several services offer free one-time AI visibility checks:

• HubSpot’s AI Search Grader: A free tool that analyzes how major AI engines perceive your brand based on your industry and location.
• Ahrefs/Geoptie Free Checkers: Several of the paid platforms mentioned above provide free "lite" versions or one-time audits to show you where you currently stand.

Best Practices for an Accurate Check

If you choose to perform manual checks (or verify the data provided by tools), keep these rules in mind to avoid "flattering" or biased results:

• Use Incognito Mode: Always use a fresh, private, or "clean" browser session to avoid AI "memory" and personalization that might skew results because it recognizes your brand.
• Use Precise, Unbranded Prompts: Avoid asking "Does ChatGPT recommend [My Business]?" Instead, ask questions a potential customer would use, such as: "What is the best [service] in [City/Region] for [specific need]?"
• Run Repeatedly: Because AI models change their answers, a single test is not definitive. Look for tools that track your "inclusion rate" (how often you appear across 20+ runs of the same prompt).
• Monitor Citations, Not Just Mentions: If an AI mentions you, check which sources it cites. Often, an AI is pulling from a listicle or directory site. If you are missing from those specific source pages, getting listed there is usually the fastest way to improve your AI visibility.

Summary

For a professional, ongoing strategy, dedicated AI visibility tools (like KIME or Geoptie) are the best approach as they provide the repeatable, longitudinal data needed to improve your "AI share of voice." For a quick start, run a free AI visibility check from a provider like HubSpot or Ahrefs to see where you stand today.

For a quick, free check, try Ahrefs’ AI Visibility Checker. It tests whether your business appears in answers to relevant prompts across ChatGPT and several other AI platforms, and shows the topics and sources associated with mentions. ⁷

If you want ongoing tracking, HubSpot AEO is a good starting point: it monitors brand mentions, competitor visibility, and citations across ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity, with suggestions for improving visibility. ³ For more advanced prompt and competitor tracking, Ahrefs Brand Radar is another option. ⁸

One caveat: these tools sample selected prompts, so they can show whether you’re appearing in those tests—not guarantee what ChatGPT will recommend to every user. Try several questions your customers might ask, such as “best [service] in [city],” and compare results over time.