From $19/mo DIY tools to $10K/mo agencies. Find your sweet spot.
Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) tools help you track how AI assistants (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude) mention your brand. But pricing varies wildly — from $19/mo self-service tools to $10,000/mo agency retainers.
Here's the full landscape as of April 2026.
| Tier | Price Range | What You Get | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY Tool | $19-59/mo | Self-service dashboard, automated scans | Indie hackers, small teams |
| Mid-Market SaaS | $49-99/mo | More platforms, better reporting | Growth teams, startups |
| Enterprise SaaS | $200-500/mo | API access, custom integrations | Mid-size companies |
| Agency Retainer | $1,500-10K/mo | Human experts, strategy, content creation | Enterprises with big budgets |
| Tool | Price | Platforms | Scan Frequency | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our AI Monitor | $19/mo | ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude | On-demand | Budget-conscious teams |
| RankPilot | $59/mo | ChatGPT, Perplexity | Daily | SEO agencies |
| LLM Pulse | €49/mo (~$53) | ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini | Daily | GEO specialists |
| Writesonic / SearchParty | ~$99/mo | Multiple AI platforms | Daily | Content teams |
| Agency Retainers | $1,500-10K/mo | Custom | Weekly reports | Enterprises |
Here's the math that matters:
What do you lose by going DIY? Mostly human strategy — agencies create content, build links, and negotiate with AI companies. But for monitoring and reporting, automated tools deliver the same data at a fraction of the cost.
For 90% of companies, the sweet spot is $19-59/mo DIY tools. You get:
The only thing missing: someone to act on the data. But if you can tweak your content and meta descriptions yourself, you don't need an agency.