AI Visibility Tools Comparison 2025
Compare pricing, methodology, and accuracy across Surmado Signal, Otterly, Profound, Writesonic, and more.
Updated October 2025: See which AI optimization (AIO / AEO / GEO) tool is right for you.
The Market at a Glance
Signal
$25-50 one-time
~15 minutes
Persona-based testing
For owners, agencies & developers
Otterly AI
$29/month
Hours
Generic prompts
For marketers
Rankscale AI
$20/month (credits)
Days
Generic prompts
For SEO pros
Peec AI
$90-99/month
Days
Generic prompts
For enterprise
Writesonic
$99+/month
Days
Big data analytics
For enterprise teams
Profound
$99-399/month
Weeks
Generic prompts
For enterprise
Notice the pattern: Every other tool uses generic prompts. Only Signal tests as your actual customer.
The difference isn't price. It's methodology. Generic testing = fantasy data. Signal = what your customers actually see.
AI Visibility: Annual Costs vs. One-Time
| Tool | Annual Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Profound Growth | $4,788/year | 3 engines; billed yearly. Starter $1,188 for ChatGPT only |
| Writesonic Advanced | $4,788/year | Billed annually |
| Gumshoe | $0.10/conversation | Can add up: ~$3,600/year standard usage |
| Surmado Signal | $50 one-time | Persona-based, 7 platforms. Re-run anytime. |
Persona-based testing across 7 AI platforms. Not just ChatGPT. One-time payment.
$50 one-time vs. $1,188 to $4,788/year subscriptions.
Proof: 0% → 67% in 30 Days
El Tianguis (San Diego)
Before: 0% visibility for "celiac-safe" queries. Completely invisible.
After: 67% visibility, #1 in category. How: Signal identified the gap, Solutions provided the roadmap.
Why Signal Is Different
Persona-Based = Real
They test "best pizza in Boston." We test as your actual customer. This is the only way to get real data.
Accessible, Not Cheap
$25-50 one-time for accurate data beats $240-348/year for dashboard subscriptions.
Solutions, Not Dashboards
Otterly shows problems. We fix them. Diagnostic + roadmap via Signal + Solutions.
Built for Business Owners
Not SEO pros or marketing teams. You get a report with answers, not a dashboard you need to interpret.
The Choice Is Simple
You can pay $300+/year for fantasy data. Or $25 to $50 once for the truth you can resell and automate.