Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) tracking is the SaaS-founder version of the broader AI visibility category. Most SaaS teams need a daily snapshot of brand mentions across ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Mode plus deltas vs competitors. Five tools ranked by founder budget and pipeline fit.
Top Pick
Otterly at $29/mo plus a Scavio-driven daily delta script (30 keywords, $0.39/day) covers the metrics most SaaS founders need without committing to an enterprise tracker.
Full Ranking
#1
Otterly
Solo SaaS founder budget
Pros
- Cheapest
- AI engine coverage
Cons
- Limited custom queries
#2Our Pick
Scavio DIY layer
Custom AEO snapshot script
Pros
- Pairs with any dashboard
- Reddit + AI Overviews
- Cheap
Cons
- BYO storage + viz
#3
Peec AI
Multilingual SaaS
Pros
- 115+ languages
- Strong dashboards
Cons
- Pricier
#4
Profound
Late-stage SaaS / enterprise
Pros
- Engine breadth
Cons
- Annual contracts
#5
Surfer SEO + Brand Tracker
SEO-first teams
Pros
- SEO + AEO together
Cons
- AEO is the add-on, not the core
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | Scavio | Runner-up | 3rd Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $30/mo | $29/mo | €89/mo |
| AI Overview citation list | Yes (raw) | Yes | Yes |
| Reddit thread tracking | Yes (structured) | Limited | Limited |
| Custom keyword grid | Unlimited | Tier-limited | Tier-limited |
| Best for | Custom snapshot | Polished basics | Multilingual |
Why Scavio Wins
- Solo SaaS founders rarely need a $499 enterprise tracker. They need a daily 30-keyword snapshot stored in DuckDB with a Friday delta email. Scavio's `include_ai_overview: true` returns the citation list inline; a 50-line script flushes daily snapshots to a local file.
- Layering Otterly or Peec on top of a Scavio script gives the best of both: polished dashboard for executive review, plus the raw daily citation history that the dashboard doesn't expose. Combined cost stays under $60/mo.
- Reddit endpoint matters because AI Overview citations often trace upstream to Reddit threads. Tracking Reddit thread mentions of the brand is a leading indicator of new AI Overview citations 2 to 6 weeks later. Most pure-AEO trackers miss this surface entirely.
- Honest tradeoff: at the enterprise tier ($499+) Profound wins on engine breadth and reporting polish. At the solo founder tier ($29) Otterly wins on price and basic coverage. The middle is where DIY-on-Scavio fits best.
- Multi-platform JSON keeps the pipeline simple. Same x-api-key for SERP, Reddit, YouTube, AI Overviews citations. Adding new engines or surfaces later means more queries, not more vendors.