Compare · AI visibility (GEO) trackers
AthenaHQ alternative: LaunchRanked vs AthenaHQ
AthenaHQ (athenahq.ai) measures and improves AI search visibility using credits, where 1 credit is 1 AI response. At the time of writing (September 2026), a free Essential tier includes a $25 credit (300 credits) on ChatGPT, Perplexity, AI Overviews, Gemini and Copilot. Starter is $295/mo with 3,600 credits across 11 models (adding AI Mode, Claude, Grok, DeepSeek, Meta AI and Mistral), GA4 and Search Console integrations, Shopify and Webflow integrations, and a content optimization agent. Annual billing is 17% off.
LaunchRanked Autopilot ($49/mo, early access) is a smaller, fixed setup: 25 prompts on 4 engines alongside 30 articles.
Where AthenaHQ is a great choice
- Wide engine coverage on a self-serve plan: 11 models on Starter.
- Connecting AI visibility with site traffic through GA4 and Search Console.
- Trying it free with $25 of credits.
- Managing AI crawler access with a smart robots.txt and llms.txt.
LaunchRanked vs AthenaHQ at a glance
AthenaHQ details are from their own site or our research, at the time of writing (September 2026). Prices and terms change, so check their site before you decide.
| Feature | AthenaHQ | LaunchRanked |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free ($25 credit); Starter $295/mo; Enterprise custom | $49/mo for 30 articles (founding price, early access) |
| Unit | Credits (1 credit = 1 AI response); 3,600 a month on Starter | 25 prompts |
| Engines | 11 on Starter | ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude |
| Integrations | GA4, Search Console, Shopify, Webflow | WordPress, Webflow, Shopify, Framer, Ghost, GitHub PR for Next.js / MDX |
| Content | Content optimization agent; on-page and off-page actions | 30 articles a month plus title rewrites on ranking pages |
| API | Paid add-on on Starter | None |
Where we differ
Credits vs a fixed set
Credits let you spread tracking across many prompts, models and regions. A fixed prompt set is easier to reason about for one small site.
Coverage
Athena's Starter covers 11 models, including Claude, Grok and DeepSeek. We cover the four that send most traffic for most businesses.
Where the work happens
Athena suggests and drafts optimizations. Autopilot publishes articles and edits titles on your site each month.
When to pick AthenaHQ instead
- You need 11 AI models on a self-serve plan.
- You want AI visibility joined with GA4 and Search Console data.
- You want to try tracking free first.
Frequently asked questions
How much is AthenaHQ?
At the time of writing (September 2026): a free tier with a $25 credit (300 credits), Starter at $295/mo with 3,600 credits, and custom Enterprise. API access and extra credits are paid add-ons on Starter.
What's an Athena credit?
One credit equals one AI response, per its pricing page.
Which models does Athena track?
Starter lists ChatGPT, Perplexity, AI Overviews, AI Mode, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, Grok, DeepSeek, Meta AI and Mistral.
Sources we checked
Checked on their own sites on 23 September 2026. Prices and terms change, so check before you buy. Domain ratings are approximate third-party estimates.