Guide · prices checked October 2026
There are four ways to work on whether ChatGPT and Google's AI name your business: tracking software, an AEO specialist agency, your existing SEO agency, or doing it yourself. They differ mostly in who does the fixing and what it costs. Here's how they compare, including where we fit and where we don't.
| Option | Typical cost | What it does | Who fixes the gap | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI visibility tracking softwareOtterly, Peec, Profound | Otterly from $29/mo (15 prompts) to $489/mo (400 prompts); Peec doesn't list prices publicly; Profound is enterprise, custom pricing | Measures how often AI names you across many prompts | You (or your marketer) act on the data | Brands with a marketer who will do the fixing |
| Standalone AEO / GEO agencyMany small specialists | Commonly about $1,000 to $3,000/mo in published prices we found in mid-2026; some add one-time setup fees | Audits plus ongoing pages, listings and monitoring | Done for you | Businesses ready for a monthly retainer |
| Local SEO or full-service agencyYour current agency | Often $2,500 to $7,500/mo for full service | Rankings, Maps, ads, content; AI answers sometimes bundled as a line item | Done for you, AI answer often secondary | Businesses that want one vendor for everything |
| Do it yourselfOwner or office staff | Your time | Whatever you can learn and keep up with | You | Owners with time and interest |
| Renownly | Free report; $497 one-time Sprint; Focus $750/mo (one service); Core $2,200/mo (all services) | Shows the actual AI answers for your city first, then fixes one service (Sprint) or all of them (Core) | Done for you, built only from facts you approve | Owner-run local businesses that want proof before a retainer |
Software prices from each vendor's pricing page, October 2026 (Otterly monthly billing; annual is about 15% less). Agency ranges are typical published prices, not quotes. Check current prices with each provider.
If you have a marketer who will act on the numbers, a tracking tool is the cheapest way to watch many prompts across engines over time. It tells you where you're missing. Someone still has to do the work that gets you named.
If you want it done for you every month, an agency fits. A full-service agency makes sense when you also need ads and SEO from one vendor; an AEO specialist makes sense when the AI answer is the specific gap. Either way, ask to see your current AI answers before signing.
We're built for owner-run local businesses that want evidence before a retainer: a free report showing the actual answers for your city, then a $497 Sprint on one service, live in 10 business days or your money back. We take one business per category per city. We're not the right fit if you need ads, a website redesign or national brand tracking across hundreds of prompts; a full-service agency or tracking software will serve you better there.
Doing the work yourself costs only time. The cheapest paid options are tracking tools (Otterly starts at $29 a month), but they measure the gap rather than close it. A one-time project such as Renownly's $497 Sprint sits between a tool and a monthly retainer.
Not necessarily. Ask your agency to show you what ChatGPT and Google's AI say for your top customer question in your city, dated. If they can't, or you're not in the answer, that's the gap a specialist addresses. The two can work side by side.
No. ChatGPT and Google's AI are run by other companies and their answers change week to week. Treat any placement guarantee with caution. A guarantee about the work itself, such as a delivery deadline, is reasonable.
Ask each one for the current AI answers in your city before you pay, which engines they check, what exactly they deliver and by when, and whether you can cancel monthly. Providers that won't show you the answers up front are asking for trust instead of showing evidence.
Whatever you choose, look at the current answers first. Ours are free and take about a minute.
Related: How much does AEO cost?