CitedIndex is a neutral, researched directory that tracks AI-visibility and GEO tools, measuring how brands appear in answer engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and AI Overviews.
What is CitedIndex?
CitedIndex is a web-based directory indexing 102 AI-visibility and GEO tools, each listing researched from primary sources and re-verified on a published cadence. It tracks which AI engines each tool monitors (94 track ChatGPT, 83 track Perplexity, 66 track AI Overviews), pricing models, and real limitations. The project is independently operated and self-describes as "est. 2026".
Key Features
- Researched listings: Every tool page lists the sources it is built from, each labelled with the claims it supports, plus a verification date and a changelog of changes.
- Category taxonomy: Browse 86 AI visibility monitoring, 21 AI rank tracking, 56 GEO & content optimization, and 16 citation services; tools can appear in multiple categories.
- Quality-gated submissions: Tool owners can submit for free; each submission must pass an automated gate with minimum structured fields, sourced facts, and an on-topic fit-check.
- Editorial independence: Rankings and verdicts are never for sale; sponsored placements are always labelled and kept separate from editorial listings.
- Freshness commitments: All 102 listings are re-checked within 90 days, and 35 head-to-head comparisons are maintained for side-by-side evaluation.
- Filtering and sorting: Search the index, sort by this week's picks, newest, or recently verified, and filter by tags like free trial or specific engine support.
- Statistical research: Public data reports cover API access (53 of 76 tools have an API), billing models, price transparency, and methodology transparency.
Who is it for?
CitedIndex is for marketing teams, SEO specialists, and agencies that need to decide which AI-visibility tool to adopt or recommend. It also serves small business owners and founders who want a free snapshot of their brand's presence in answer engines, and vendors who want a free, quality-gated listing for their tool.
What can you do with CitedIndex?
- Compare tools: Use 35 head-to-head comparisons to evaluate alternatives in the same category side by side.
- Benchmark visibility: See which tools track ChatGPT vs Perplexity vs AI Overviews, and which offer free trials or API access.
- Submit your tool: Add a new tool free, then claim it from your dashboard to manage the listing.
- Track freshness: Rely on verification dates and changelogs to know exactly when each fact was last checked.
How does CitedIndex work?
Each listing is a researched record built from primary sources, then passed through an automated quality gate that requires minimum structured fields, sourced facts, and an on-topic fit-check. After publication, listings are re-verified on a schedule; changes land in a public changelog rather than silently.
Pros and cons
- Pros: Free to browse and submit; independent editorial stance; sourced facts with verification dates; no pay-to-play in rankings.
- Cons: Does not provide numeric ratings or scores—only researched descriptions, best-for guidance, and limitations.
Pricing
Browsing, searching and submitting are free, and a listing stays free forever. One optional one-time upgrade of $29 makes a listing's outbound link permanently do-follow, and that same do-follow can be earned for free instead by putting the CitedIndex badge on your own site. Monthly placement (Featured, Premium) and clearly-labelled sponsor slots are also sold; none of them change the research, the verdict or the cons.
FAQ
How do tools get listed on CitedIndex?
Each listing is a researched record that must pass an automated quality gate requiring minimum structured fields, sourced facts, and an on-topic fit-check. Thin pages are structurally impossible.
Is CitedIndex free to use?
Yes. Browsing and searching the directory is free, and submitting a tool is free too. Every submission is researched and quality-gated the same way, regardless of payment.
Can a tool pay for a better rank?
No. Rankings and verdicts are editorial and the quality gate is never for sale. Tools can buy clearly-labelled placement (Featured spots, sponsored slots, digest sponsorships) but that never changes the research.
How fresh is the data?
Every listing is re-researched on a schedule, and each fact carries the source it was verified from with the verification date printed on the listing. Changes land in the listing changelog, not silently.
Do you rate or score tools?
No. The site deliberately avoids numeric ratings; instead, it publishes researched descriptions, best-for guidance, and named limitations, with sources labelled and verification dates shown.
