Generative AI is rewriting the rules of search. AEO and GEO are becoming a main focus in SEO strategies. Two of the earliest AEO/GEO auditors in the space are AthenaHQ and AEO Checker. Below is a head-to-head look at where each shines.
Why the "answer layer" matters
- 58.5 % of U.S. Google queries and 59.7 % of EU queries ended with zero clicks in 2024—users got their answers without leaving Google.
- Gartner predicts traditional search volume will shrink 25 % by 2026 as AI chatbots replace follow-up searches.
If fewer people click, the site Google (or ChatGPT) quotes is the real winner. Auditing that answer-readiness is where tools like AthenaHQ and AEO Checker come in.
Feature-for-Feature Comparison
| Category | AthenaHQ | AEO Checker |
|---|---|---|
| Core focus | GEO: monitors share-of-voice across ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Copilot & Google AI Overviews. | AEO: scores a single URL for answer-readiness (structured data, FAQ depth, entity coverage). |
| Modules | Lighthouse (site prep), Olympus (brand monitoring) & Action Center (task suggestions). | One-click Site Audit + personalised "next steps" checklist. |
| Platforms tracked | ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Copilot, Google AIO. | ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity (focuses on these four). |
| Competitive intel | Yes – compares your AI share-of-voice against rivals and pinpoints sources they cite. | Road-map item only (no live competitor panel yet). |
| Automated outreach / link gap | Built-in outreach workflow for placement requests. | Not included. |
| Pricing | Lite plan: $270 / mo (annual) for 3 500 credits ≈ 14 000 AI responses analysed. | Free instant test; premium tiers (not public) teased as "coming soon" → entry-level cost is $0. |
| Testimonials | Case study claims 38 % MoM lead lift after moving from 5th → 1st in AI search. | Early-stage—public homepage stresses "try for free," no case studies yet. |
| Ideal user | Growth / brand team needing ongoing competitive monitoring across multiple AI surfaces. | Content or SEO manager needing a quick health-check and fix list. |
What reviewers and users say
"We moved from 5th to 1st position in AI search rankings and saw a 1 561 % ROI with an 18-day payback."
— Bryce Alsten, VP Marketing, AthenaHQ case study.
Google's John Mueller recently reminded SEOs that "clear, authoritative passages still win featured snippets and AI Overviews."
AEO Checker's audit focuses exactly on that on-page clarity.
Strengths, Weaknesses & When to Choose Each
| AthenaHQ | AEO Checker | |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths | Deep visibility metrics, competitor benchmarking, enterprise-grade dashboards. | Zero-cost entry, laser-focused recommendations, instantly actionable for small sites. |
| Weaknesses | Higher learning curve; minimum $270/mo may deter solo marketers. | Lacks long-term trend charts and outreach automations. |
| Best for | Brands already winning classic SEO and now chasing share-of-voice across every AI surface. | Start-ups or SMEs who want to fix on-page issues first before investing in ongoing GEO monitoring. |
Verdict: Start with AEO, Scale into Athena
Both tools attack the same future: a world where being the answer beats being the link.
If you're new to AI-SEO and need immediate, fast, actionable insights, AEO Checker's free audit is the obvious opening move. Once you're shipping structured answers and FAQ schema with confidence, AthenaHQ's Olympus + Action Center can layer on strategic intelligence and outreach to widen your AI footprint.
Recommendation: Start with an AEO Checker scan to patch the basics, then graduate to AthenaHQ if you need multi-brand tracking, automated outreach, or if internal teams demand board-level GEO metrics.
That balanced, crawl-then-walk approach gives you quick wins today and positions you for the AI-first search landscape that Gartner says will swallow a quarter of classic search traffic by 2026.