AI search
Find the "best X" lists that leave you out
Find the "best X" articles that rank on Google for what you sell, read each one, and see which mention you, which name your competitors instead, and which ones Google's AI cites.
Free · No signup · 5 lookups a day
How it works
Enter what you sell, your brand and website, and up to five competitors if you want to compare.
We search Google in the US for "best ..." and "top ...", skip forums, videos, homepages and your own site, and read up to ten of the articles.
You get the lists that leave you out first, then the ones that include you, with competitors named, dates and a CSV.
Why "best X" lists matter for AI search
When someone asks ChatGPT, Perplexity or Google's AI for the best tool in a category, the answer is often built from pages that already compare the options: the "best CRM for small business" and "top 10 project management tools" articles that rank on Google. If those lists don't mention you, the assistants reading them have little reason to either.
That's why these lists are worth more than their traffic suggests. An accurate entry on a list that ranks gets read by people searching Google and by every assistant that leans on it. The "Cited by Google's AI" tag marks lists that Google's AI Overview cited for the same search, which makes them the first ones to work on.
How to read the results
"Lists that leave you out" are articles we read that don't contain your brand name and don't link to your website. Next to each, you'll see where it ranks, which of your competitors it names, and when it was published or last updated. A recently updated list that names your competitors but not you is the best candidate for a polite note to its editor.
"Lists that mention you" are worth a look too. Check that what they say is right: the price, the plan names, who you're for. A correction is the easiest request an editor gets, and it fixes a fact that assistants may be repeating.
"Couldn't read" lists are ones we couldn't open: some sites block automated visits, some build the page with JavaScript, and Google hides the address of some results behind its own link. Open those yourself; they rank, so they still count.
How to get on a list, honestly
Editors owe you accuracy, not a place. Ask for the first and earn the second:
- Find the person who wrote or updates the article, not a generic inbox, and send one short, tailored note, with at most one follow-up.
- Lead with what's useful to them: a fact that's out of date, or the specific slot you fit ("best for agencies under 10 people").
- Make checking easy: a link to your pricing page, current screenshots, a free account they can try.
- No mail-merge blasts, fake personas or offers of money for a better verdict.
Paid placements exist, and they're allowed only when they're labelled. Google's spam policies treat paid links without a sponsored or nofollow tag as link spam, and in the US the FTC's Endorsement Guides require payment, free products or affiliate commissions to be disclosed. If a list asks for money, make sure the listing will say it's sponsored.
Your own "best X" page doesn't replace this. Readers discount a list where the author ranks themselves first. An honest comparison page on your site is still worth having, because it gives editors and assistants a clear source for your facts.
What this tool can't see
It reads the top ten results for two searches in US English at one moment, and up to ten articles. It matches your brand name as a whole word, so a name that's also a common word may be over-counted, and a list that mentions you only in an image or a table built by JavaScript may be missed. Many lists AI assistants cite never rank on Google at all; the AI visibility checker shows which sites the assistants actually cite.
Questions people ask
How do I find the editor of a "best X" article?
Look for the author's name on the article, then their profile on the site or LinkedIn. Many publications list an editorial or corrections email. Write to one person with one tailored note; don't guess or scrape addresses.
Is it worth paying to be included on a list?
Only if the listing is clearly labelled as sponsored and the link carries a sponsored tag. Undisclosed paid placements break Google's spam policies, and in the US the FTC treats payment as a connection that must be disclosed. Readers trust labelled listings less, so weigh it carefully.
Why are some lists marked "Couldn't read"?
The site blocked our visit, the list loads with JavaScript, or Google didn't share the page's address. They still rank, so open them from the link and check them by hand.
Should I make my own "best X" list?
An honest comparison page is useful, especially one that's clear about who each option suits, including when it isn't you. A list that ranks yourself first with no caveats is easy for readers and editors to dismiss.
Is this best-of list finder free?
Yes, with no signup and five checks a day. Each check runs live Google searches, so it's open in the countries where RomeoSEO is available.
Want it done for you?
Romeo builds the pages editors and AI can trust
He writes honest comparison and alternatives pages for your site, keeps your facts and pricing consistent across it, and sends every draft for you to approve before it goes live.
