Cited vs Profound
Expert-Led Results vs Enterprise Data Platform
Profound is a powerful enterprise platform backed by $96M in funding, trusted by brands like DocuSign, Figma, and Target. But for most businesses, it's built for a scale and budget they simply don't have. Cited takes a different approach: expert-led, human-reviewed AI visibility work — starting completely free.
Results in 3–5 minutes · 100% free · No account required
Feature Comparison
A side-by-side look at what matters for AI search visibility.
| Feature | Cited | Profound |
|---|---|---|
| Free audit available | No credit card required | Paid plans only |
| Starting price | Free | $99/month (billed annually) |
| Human expert review | Every audit reviewed by a certified AI technician | Automated dashboards only |
| Done-for-you optimisation | We implement the fixes for you | DIY — you act on the data yourself |
| Time to first insight | 3–5 minutes | Requires onboarding and setup |
| No account needed to start | Just your URL and email | Account required |
| AI platforms covered | ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Copilot, Claude | ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Copilot, Google AIOs |
| 6-dimensional scoring | Citability, Authority, Content, Technical, Schema, Platforms | Keyword/prompt-level tracking only |
| Built for SMEs and agencies | Yes | Designed for enterprise (Fortune 500) |
| Years of search experience | 20+ years | Founded 2023 |
| Typical monthly cost | Free → accessible paid plans | $99–$399+/month |
See the Difference
Cited delivers a full AI visibility audit in under 5 minutes — no platform setup required.
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Cited — 6-dimensional AI visibility audit results
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Profound — Enterprise AI visibility platform (from $99/month)
Why Businesses Choose Cited Over Profound
Profound is a data tool. Cited is a results service.
Profound gives you dashboards, prompt tracking, and competitive benchmarking. It's exceptional at telling you what is happening with your AI visibility. But it stops there. Turning that data into action — fixing content, improving structure, building authority — is entirely on you.
Cited is different. Our team of certified AI technicians doesn't just audit your website; we tell you exactly what needs to change, in order of impact, and for clients on our managed service, we do it for you. That's the difference between a report and a result.
The price gap is significant.
Profound's most affordable plan starts at $99/month for a limited feature set. Their Growth plan is $332/month. For many SMEs and agencies, that's a significant ongoing cost — before a single optimisation has been made.
With Cited, you can start for free. Get your full 6-dimensional AI visibility audit, understand exactly where you stand, and decide from there. No credit card, no commitment, no complex onboarding.
Enterprise tools for non-enterprise problems.
Profound counts Ramp, Target, and Walmart among its customers. If you're running a regional business, an agency, or a growing SaaS product, you don't need a platform built for Fortune 500 procurement cycles.
You need fast answers and practical action — and that's what Cited delivers.
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