AEO Audit is a free tool that scores B2B SaaS websites for AI search visibility — how likely they are to be cited by ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews when B2B buyers search.

What is AI Engine Optimization (AEO)?

AI Engine Optimization (AEO) is the practice of structuring content, entity signals, and technical infrastructure so that AI engines cite your brand in generated answers. It extends traditional SEO to cover ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and Google AI Overviews.

Yes. AEO Audit is free. Enter any B2B SaaS brand and receive a full AI visibility score with prioritised recommendations.

How does AEO Audit score websites?

AEO Audit scores across six pillars: AI Visibility (22%), Brand Authority (23%), Content Quality (18%), Platform Optimization (15%), Structured Data (12%), and Technical AEO (10%). Each pillar reflects specific signals that AI engines use when deciding which sources to cite.

Subcategory · AI Citation Index

Who AI is citing in Digital Advertising

Adobe Substance 3D Painter leads AI citations at 72 despite zero shortlist appearances; the category shows no dominant discovery-stage recommendations across 16 prompts.

Brands tracked

Avg AEO score

54/100

Citation coverage

of brands cited at least once

Dominant brands

cited > 50% of queries

Discovery stage

The shortlist

When buyers ask AI for the best Digital Advertising software

No discovery-stage prompts have been scored against this category yet — once the shortlist cron runs, this section will surface which brands AI cites most.

Evaluation stage

The battleground

How brands fare on comparison queries · category median 40/100

Adobe Substance 3D Painter scores 61 average across 4 comparison queries, the highest in the category. Localiq follows at 45, while WebFX (35) and SmartSites (32) trail below the 40 median. The evaluation layer shows more differentiation than discovery, but Adobe's lead is narrow.

Adobe Substance 3D Painter

Each brand's evaluation score averages how AI responds to head-to-head comparison queries that mention them. Above-median brands win their comparisons more often than they lose.

Trends

Over the last 12 months

Too few audits to establish a trend. March 2026 averaged 55 across 4 prompts; April rose to 56 across 12 prompts. Localiq climbed 12 points month-over-month, the only rising brand tracked.

Biggest gain

Localiq

+12 pts

Editorial picks

Brands worth watching

Adobe Substance 3D Painter

Scores 72 in featured rankings and 61 average in evaluation queries, topping the category despite appearing in just 4 comparison prompts. The brand's presence in Digital Advertising data is anomalous given its core 3D design positioning.

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Localiq

Jumped 12 points month-over-month, the sharpest climb in the category. Averages 45 in evaluation and 58 in featured rankings, positioning it as the second-strongest citation after Adobe across 4 comparison queries.

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Webfx

Ties Localiq at 58 in featured rankings but scores lower in evaluation queries (35 average across 5 comparisons). Appears in more comparison prompts than any tracked brand, signaling breadth over depth.

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Smartsites

Cited in 6 comparison queries — the widest evaluation footprint — but averages just 32, below the 40 median. Featured ranking of 46 suggests moderate visibility without strong AI preference in head-to-head scenarios.

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FAQ

Digital Advertising questions, answered

Which digital advertising platforms does AI recommend most often?+

AI models currently recommend zero digital advertising brands consistently across discovery queries. The 0% shortlist coverage rate across 16 prompts indicates severe fragmentation, with no platform appearing reliably in best-of responses.

What is the best digital advertising software for small businesses?+

Adobe Substance 3D Painter leads featured citations at 72, though its presence in this category appears misclassified given its 3D design focus. Localiq and WebFX tie at 58, offering more traditional digital advertising capabilities with moderate AI visibility.

How do Localiq and WebFX compare in AI citations?+

Localiq scores 45 average in evaluation queries versus WebFX's 35, both below the 40 median. Localiq appears in 4 comparison prompts while WebFX spans 5, and Localiq shows momentum with a 12-point monthly gain.

Which digital advertising brand is growing fastest in AI recommendations?+

Localiq rose 12 points month-over-month between March and April 2026, the only tracked rising brand. The category averaged 55 in March and 56 in April across a small sample, too limited to confirm broader momentum.

Are there established leaders in digital advertising AI citations?+

No. Zero brands dominate shortlists, and evaluation scores cluster near the 40 median with narrow separation. Adobe Substance 3D Painter's 61 evaluation average is the highest, but its 4-query sample and product misalignment weaken its authority.

How fragmented is the digital advertising category in AI responses?+

Extremely. 81 total brands compete with 0% shortlist coverage and no brand appearing in more than 6 comparison queries. The 53.6 category average and 40 evaluation median reflect weak consensus across AI models on category leaders.

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