Free AI visibility tools: what you can actually check for $0
Last updated 27 July 2026 · Written by the Kartafla team
What you can genuinely check for free, where the free tiers stop, and how to get a real read on whether ChatGPT mentions your brand without a credit card.
Kartafla runs one scan against ChatGPT with no account and no card, and shows you the score plus the top issues. That's the whole free tier and we'd rather say so: it's one engine and one question, enough to find out whether you have a problem, not enough to run a programme. A free account adds a site audit and basic fixes.
Where we stand: we build Kartafla, so treat this as a vendor's view rather than a neutral review. We've tried to describe the alternatives as their own sites describe them, and to say plainly where another tool is the better answer. Verify anything that matters on the vendor's site before you buy.
What actually matters for anyone who wants to check their AI visibility without paying
- Free as in free, or free as in 'free trial, card required'?
- Do you have to create an account before seeing anything?
- How much do you actually get — one query, or a usable picture?
- What's the honest upgrade trigger?
Tools worth considering
AthenaHQ
An answer-engine optimization platform tracking brand visibility across a broad set of AI models, sold to mid-market and enterprise marketing teams. Best for mid-market and enterprise marketing teams that want broad model coverage and a named account team. Pricing: self-serve plans + sales-led enterprise (see site). See how it compares to Kartafla →
Rankscale
A self-serve AI visibility platform advertising coverage of a very wide set of generative engines, with citation analysis and credit top-ups. Best for teams that want the widest possible engine coverage and are comfortable managing usage credits. Pricing: self-serve plans (see site). See how it compares to Kartafla →
Peec AI
A self-serve AI visibility tracker popular with startups and marketing teams. Best for startups and small teams that want a straightforward self-serve tracker. Pricing: self-serve plans (see site). See how it compares to Kartafla →
Positioning reflects each vendor's own public description as of July 2026. Verify current features and pricing on their site.
How we checked: Free-tier details change often and vendors rarely announce it when they tighten one. Everything below was checked against the vendors' own sites in July 2026 — confirm before you rely on it.
Where Kartafla fits
Kartafla runs one scan against ChatGPT with no account and no card, and shows you the score plus the top issues. That's the whole free tier and we'd rather say so: it's one engine and one question, enough to find out whether you have a problem, not enough to run a programme. A free account adds a site audit and basic fixes.
When Kartafla is the wrong choice
- You need more than the four major engines — Kartafla tracks ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini, not Copilot, Grok, or DeepSeek.
- You want AI visibility bundled into a full SEO suite you already pay for.
- You need AI-targeted media buying, not just measurement and fixes.
- You want daily or weekly re-scanning — Kartafla's plans run one scan per project per month, which is what keeps the price at $29.
Frequently asked questions
What should anyone who wants to check their AI visibility without paying look for in an AI visibility tool?
Free as in free, or free as in 'free trial, card required'? Do you have to create an account before seeing anything? How much do you actually get — one query, or a usable picture? What's the honest upgrade trigger?
Which AI visibility tool is best for anyone who wants to check their AI visibility without paying?
No single tool wins this segment outright. Kartafla runs one scan against ChatGPT with no account and no card, and shows you the score plus the top issues. That's the whole free tier and we'd rather say so: it's one engine and one question, enough to find out whether you have a problem, not enough to run a programme. A free account adds a site audit and basic fixes.
Which AI engines matter most?
ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini carry the bulk of buyer research today. Some platforms track ten or more engines; whether the extra coverage changes a decision depends on where your customers actually ask.
How much does Kartafla cost?
Kartafla starts free (one manual scan), with self-serve paid plans at $29/mo (Starter), $99/mo (Growth), and $399/mo (Agency). No sales call is required to start.