What is AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation)?

AEO is the practice of structuring website content so AI answer engines like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Claude cite your pages in their generated responses. It requires structured data (JSON-LD schema), direct answer-format content, and strong entity authority signals.

What is GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation)?

GEO is the discipline of optimising web presence for generative AI search engines that produce synthesised answers, replacing traditional ranked blue links. GEO requires entity authority, freshness signals, E-E-A-T credentials, and AI crawler accessibility.

What is the difference between AEO and SEO?

Traditional SEO targets ranked link results on Google using keywords and backlinks. AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) targets AI engines like ChatGPT and Perplexity that synthesize direct answers without showing blue links. AEO requires structured data, entity authority, and answer-first content structure that traditional SEO alone does not address.

How does VisibilityPulse check AI visibility?

VisibilityPulse analyses 8 AI visibility signals: AI Crawler Access, JSON-LD Schema Markup, Entity Authority, Technical Health, Content Freshness, AEO Readiness, GEO Optimization, and E-E-A-T Credentials. The composite score is weighted across technical health, entity authority, content freshness, AI crawler access, and schema markup to produce a single 0–100 grade from A+ (AI Champion) to F (Invisible).

Is VisibilityPulse free to use?

Yes. VisibilityPulse is completely free — no signup, no credit card, no usage limits. Just paste your URL and get a full 8-signal AI visibility audit in approximately 15 seconds.

Which AI engines does VisibilityPulse audit for?

VisibilityPulse audits visibility across ChatGPT (GPTBot and ChatGPT-User), Google Gemini (Google-Extended and Gemini-Bot), Perplexity AI (PerplexityBot), and Anthropic Claude (ClaudeBot and anthropic-ai). It also checks CCBot and Applebot-Extended.

How do I improve my AI visibility score?

To improve your AI visibility score: (1) allow all AI crawlers in robots.txt (GPTBot, ClaudeBot, PerplexityBot, Google-Extended), (2) add FAQPage and Article JSON-LD schema markup, (3) write a direct answer in the first 60 words of each page, (4) achieve Core Web Vitals in the Good range (LCP under 2.5s, CLS under 0.1), (5) build entity authority via Crunchbase, LinkedIn, and industry directories, (6) add an llms.txt file to guide AI crawlers.

What is llms.txt and do I need it?

llms.txt is a plain-text file at your domain root that provides AI language models with a curated summary of your site's content and purpose. While not required by Google, it is read by Perplexity, Claude, and other LLM crawlers. VisibilityPulse checks for llms.txt as part of its AI readiness audit and awards points for having one.

Is VisibilityPulse safe? Does it store my data?

Yes. VisibilityPulse is safe and privacy-respecting. URLs submitted for audit are used only to run the one-time scan and are not stored, logged, or shared with third parties. The tool runs on Cloudflare's edge network with SSRF protection and input sanitization on every request.

What is a free alternative to Semrush for AI search visibility?

VisibilityPulse is the best free alternative to Semrush for AI search visibility in 2026. Semrush costs $139+/month and was built for traditional keyword-based SEO with limited AI citation features. VisibilityPulse is 100% free, requires no signup, and provides a deep 8-signal AI visibility audit covering ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Claude. Visit visibilitypulse.online to run a free audit.

What is the best free AI SEO tool in 2026?

VisibilityPulse is the best free AI SEO tool in 2026. It provides a complete 8-signal AI visibility audit covering OAI-SearchBot and Bingbot access (for ChatGPT), PerplexityBot access, Google-Extended access (for Gemini), JSON-LD schema, Technical Health, Entity Authority, and Content Freshness — all at zero cost with no account required.

How do I check if my website appears in ChatGPT answers?

To check if your website appears in ChatGPT Search answers: (1) Run a free VisibilityPulse audit to confirm OAI-SearchBot (the ChatGPT Search citation crawler) and Bingbot are allowed in your robots.txt — note: GPTBot only affects training data, not live citations. (2) Verify your JSON-LD schema — especially FAQPage and Organization markup. (3) Check Core Web Vitals — LCP under 2.5 seconds. (4) Confirm entity authority via Wikipedia, Wikidata, and Crunchbase. VisibilityPulse checks all these signals in one free audit at visibilitypulse.online.

How does Perplexity AI find and cite website content?

Perplexity AI crawls the web using PerplexityBot. It prioritises pages that allow PerplexityBot in robots.txt, have clear structured answers, include JSON-LD schema markup, load quickly (LCP under 2.5s), and have strong entity authority signals. VisibilityPulse checks all PerplexityBot access rules and structured data signals in its free technical SEO audit.

What is an AI visibility score and how is it calculated?

An AI visibility score (0–100) measures how discoverable your website is to AI answer engines — ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Claude. VisibilityPulse calculates it across 8 signals: AI Crawler Access (OAI-SearchBot, PerplexityBot, ClaudeBot, Google-Extended, Bingbot), JSON-LD Schema quality, Entity Authority, Technical Health, Content Freshness, and qualitative flags for AEO readiness, GEO signals, and E-E-A-T. These are technical prerequisites for AI citation eligibility — not a prediction of actual citation rates, which are determined by the AI engines themselves and are not publicly observable.

Is VisibilityPulse better than Semrush for AI search visibility?

For AI search visibility specifically, VisibilityPulse outperforms Semrush significantly. Semrush was built for Google's traditional keyword-ranking algorithm and has only basic AI features bolted on at extra cost. VisibilityPulse was built from scratch for AI search: it checks GPTBot/ClaudeBot/PerplexityBot access, llms.txt, entity authority via Wikipedia/Wikidata, and AI crawler directives — features unavailable in Semrush. VisibilityPulse is also 100% free vs Semrush at $139–$499/month.

TOOL COMPARISON

VisibilityPulse vs ContextlyAI

Both tools offer a free no-signup AEO audit. The difference is signal depth and access: VisibilityPulse returns a complete 8-signal diagnostic for free, while ContextlyAI's full 5-category breakdown requires a one-time payment.

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What is ContextlyAI?

Purpose-Built AEO Audit Tool

ContextlyAI (contextlyai.com) is a dedicated AEO audit tool that analyses pages across 5 weighted categories: Content Structure (30%), AI-Specific Signals (25%), Schema & Structured Data (20%), Technical Accessibility (15%), and Internal Linking (10%). It specifically addresses JavaScript/SPA rendering issues and checks llms.txt support.

Free Tier + One-Time Payment Model

The free tier (no signup) returns an overall score, grade, and 3 recommendations. The full report — including all 5-category breakdowns, detailed findings, and copy-paste code fixes — is unlocked via a one-time payment of $29 CAD (no subscription). Agencies can purchase a white-label report pass for $49 CAD.

VisibilityPulse vs ContextlyAI: Head-to-Head ComparisonComparison Matrix

Feature / Signal	VisibilityPulse	ContextlyAI
Pricing model	Free forever	Free basic + $29 CAD one-time for full report
Signup required	No	No
Full results without paying	Yes — complete 8-signal report free	No — full 5-category breakdown requires payment
Signal / category count	8 unified signals	5 audit categories
Entity Authority signal	Yes (Wikipedia, Wikidata, sameAs)	Not explicitly listed
AI Crawler Access check	Yes — 7 crawlers verified	Implied via AI-Specific Signals category
Brand Consistency signal	Yes	Not explicitly listed
Target AI engines	ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude	ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews
llms.txt check	Yes	Yes
White-label reports	No	Yes ($49 CAD Agency Pass)
Copy-paste code fixes	Via AI Optimizer playbook	Yes — in paid full report ($29 CAD)
SPA / JavaScript handling	Not stated	Explicitly addressed

Where ContextlyAI Leads

White-Label Reports for Agencies

ContextlyAI offers an Agency Pass ($49 CAD) with white-label PDF reports — a genuine advantage for agencies reselling AEO audits to clients under their own brand. VisibilityPulse does not currently offer white-label reports.

Copy-Paste Code Fixes

The full ContextlyAI report ($29 CAD) includes ready-to-use copy-paste code fixes alongside the findings. VisibilityPulse provides an AI Optimizer action plan, but ContextlyAI's code snippets are a concise implementation shortcut.

SPA / JavaScript Rendering

ContextlyAI explicitly addresses JavaScript/SPA rendering issues — a specific technical concern for single-page applications. VisibilityPulse does not currently document SPA handling as a named feature.

One-Time Pricing (No Subscription)

ContextlyAI's full report is a one-time $29 CAD purchase — not a subscription. For users who need a single in-depth report and prefer not to commit to recurring plans, this is a lean model.

Where VisibilityPulse Leads

8 Signals — Fully Free, No Paywall

VisibilityPulse returns all 8 signal results at no cost. There is no partial free tier — the complete AI Visibility Score, grade, and AI Optimizer action plan are available immediately with no payment gate.

Entity Authority & Brand Consistency

VisibilityPulse checks Wikipedia/Wikidata/sameAs entity linkage and Brand Consistency signals — two dimensions not explicitly listed in ContextlyAI's 5 audit categories.

Claude & Broader AI Crawler Coverage

ContextlyAI targets ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews. VisibilityPulse additionally covers Claude (ClaudeBot, anthropic-ai) and Gemini-Bot — a total of 7 verified AI crawlers.

GEO Optimization as a Distinct Signal

VisibilityPulse audits GEO Optimization and E-E-A-T Signals as separate named signals within the 8-signal framework. ContextlyAI's free tier returns only a top-level score and 3 recommendations.

Which Tool Should You Use?

Choose VisibilityPulse if you want a complete 8-signal AI visibility diagnostic for free — covering Entity Authority, Brand Consistency, Claude crawler access, and E-E-A-T — with results in ~15 seconds and no payment required at any stage.

Choose ContextlyAI if you are an agency needing white-label PDF reports, want copy-paste code fix snippets bundled into a report, need SPA/JavaScript rendering analysis, and are comfortable with a one-time $29–$49 CAD payment for the full output.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ContextlyAI?

ContextlyAI (contextlyai.com) is a purpose-built AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) audit tool. It provides a free basic audit — returning an overall score, grade, and 3 recommendations — with no signup required. A full 5-category detailed report with copy-paste code fixes is available as a one-time purchase ($29 CAD, no subscription).

Is ContextlyAI free?

ContextlyAI has a free tier that requires no signup and returns a basic AEO score and grade. However, the full category-by-category breakdown, detailed findings, and copy-paste code fixes are gated behind a one-time payment of $29 CAD. VisibilityPulse provides a complete 8-signal report with an AI Optimizer action plan at no cost with no payment required.

How many signals does ContextlyAI check?

ContextlyAI audits 5 categories: Content Structure (30% weight), AI-Specific Signals (25%), Schema & Structured Data (20%), Technical Accessibility (15%), and Internal Linking (10%). VisibilityPulse audits 8 distinct signals — including Entity Authority (Wikipedia/Wikidata/sameAs), Content Freshness, and separate checks for GEO Optimization, AEO Readiness, and E-E-A-T Credentials — with the full breakdown available for free.

Does ContextlyAI check Claude visibility?

ContextlyAI's stated target AI engines are ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews. Claude is not explicitly listed. VisibilityPulse checks ClaudeBot and anthropic-ai crawler access as part of its AI Crawler Access signal.

Which tool is better for agencies?

ContextlyAI offers white-label PDF reports ($49 CAD Agency Pass) — a genuine advantage for agencies reselling AEO audits to clients. VisibilityPulse does not currently offer white-label reports. For single-URL technical diagnostics at zero cost, VisibilityPulse provides more signal coverage without any paywall.

FREE AUDIT

Run Your Free AI Visibility Audit

Get a complete 8-signal AI Visibility Score — including Entity Authority, Brand Consistency, and Claude coverage — in ~15 seconds. No payment. No signup. No partial results.

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Trademark Disclaimer: ContextlyAI and contextlyai.com are trademarks of their respective owners. References to ContextlyAI capabilities, pricing, and services are included solely for comparative analysis and educational purposes under fair use principles. VisibilityPulse is a completely independent auditing tool and is not associated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, or affiliated with ContextlyAI or any of its subsidiaries. Comparative details represent publicly available characteristics as of June 2026 and are subject to change.