AI visibility tool, agency or do it yourself?
By the Why Won't AI team · Published · Last updated
As of November 2026, the right choice depends on what is blocking you. If AI crawlers cannot read your pages, no tracking tool fixes that, and you need a technical fix first. If they can read your pages but AI does not recommend you, you need measurement and content work. A tool measures, an agency makes changes, and doing it yourself costs time instead of money.
Compare the three options
| Option | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking tool | Regular numbers on mentions and citations across assistants | It reports problems but does not fix them. Check how it counts failed answers. |
| Agency | Fixes and new pages done for you | Ask for a fixed scope, before and after proof, and no guaranteed rankings. |
| Do it yourself | A small site, a few questions and some free time | Manual checks are slow and hard to repeat the same way each time. |
First, check that AI can read your site
Many sites built with JavaScript frameworks or app builders look fine in a browser but give AI crawlers an empty page. Check this first, with View Source or a crawler test. Tracking a site that crawlers cannot read only measures the problem.
Questions to ask any tracking tool
- Which assistants does it check, and in which countries?
- Does it collect the answer a person sees in the app, or call the model's API? The two can differ.
- How often does it run, and what does each run cost?
- How does it count failed requests?
- Can you see and export the full answers and every cited address?
Questions to ask any agency
- What exactly will you change, on which pages?
- How will you show the result before and after?
- Who owns the pages and code you write?
- Do you promise rankings or AI mentions? If yes, walk away.
Where we fit
We offer a free scan of what AI crawlers get from your site, self-serve plans that track results, and fixed-scope fix sprints. If you only need a prompt tracker for a large brand, dedicated trackers such as Profound, Peec AI and Otterly.ai focus on that job.
Questions people ask
Can I start for free?
Yes. Check crawler access with View Source and a free scan, and ask a few buyer questions by hand.
When is an agency worth it?
When you know what to fix but lack the time or skill, and the agency gives a fixed scope and before and after proof.
What should a tool cost a small team?
Entry plans we compared start at $29 to $129 a month. See the small teams guide.
What this does not tell you
Which option fits your budget and team, and what to fix first on your own site.