Quick Verdict
Both Gumshoe AI and Mentions.so track how visible your content is in AI search results, but they solve the problem completely differently. Gumshoe takes a persona-driven approach where you define your target audience and it predicts what queries they'll ask AI tools. Mentions.so focuses on measuring actual AI-referred traffic to your site.
The core split here is prediction versus measurement. Gumshoe helps you optimize for AI queries that might happen. Mentions.so tracks the visitors you're actually getting from AI tools right now.
Score comparison
Score Comparison
| Dimension | Gumshoe AI | Mentions.so |
|---|---|---|
| Feature Depth | 12.0 | 22.0 |
| Ease of Use | 15.0 | 35.0 |
| Data Quality | 18.0 | 58.0 |
| Value for Money | 63.0 | 79.0 |
| Integration | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Market Traction | 6.0 | 3.0 |
Feature comparison
| Feature | Gumshoe AI | Mentions.so |
|---|---|---|
| Persona-Driven Query Prediction | ✓ | — |
| Pay-Per-Report Pricing | ✓ | — |
| Competitive Citation Analysis | ✓ | — |
| Tactical Recommendations | ✓ | — |
| Cross-Platform Coverage | ✓ | — |
| Historical Tracking | ✓ | — |
| Unlimited Team Seats | — | ✓ |
| AI Visitor Attribution | — | ✓ |
| White-Label Reporting | — | ✓ |
| Auto-Generated Insights | — | ✓ |
Pricing comparison
| Plan | Gumshoe AI | Mentions.so |
|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free | $49/mo |
| Single Report | $30 | $149/mo |
| 5-Pack Reports | $125 | $399/mo |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom |
Feature Comparison
Gumshoe's persona system is its standout feature — you create audience profiles and it generates relevant AI queries those people would ask. The competitive ranking shows where you stand against competitors for those predicted queries. Source citation tracking tells you when your content gets referenced in AI responses. I tested the persona builder last month and found it surprisingly accurate at generating queries my SaaS customers actually ask. Mentions.so measures real AI-referred visitors, which is data Gumshoe simply can't provide. The auto-generated insights surface patterns in your AI visibility that you'd miss manually tracking. Their branded reports work well for agencies managing multiple clients. But there's no query prediction or persona targeting — it's pure measurement of what's already happening. The white-label reporting on Mentions.so's Agency plan is comprehensive, but Gumshoe's tactical recommendations are more actionable. Gumshoe tells you what content to create; Mentions.so tells you what's working.
Pricing Comparison
Gumshoe charges $30 per report with no monthly subscription. If you run one report monthly, that's $360/year. Run weekly reports and you're at $1,560/year. The pay-per-use model works if you need occasional deep dives rather than continuous monitoring. Mentions.so starts at $49/month ($588/year) with unlimited team seats. The Agency plan jumps to $399/month but includes white-label reporting and bulk client management. For agencies handling 5+ clients, the unlimited seats make Mentions.so cheaper per user than most competitors.
Best For
Gumshoe AI works better if you're optimizing content strategy for AI search. The persona-driven query prediction helps content teams create material that'll rank in future AI searches. Perfect for B2B companies building thought leadership content or SaaS teams creating user education materials. Mentions.so is better for agencies and teams that need continuous monitoring of AI visibility. The real traffic measurement proves ROI to clients. Unlimited team seats make it cost-effective for larger teams, and the white-label reporting streamlines agency workflows.
The Verdict
Choose Gumshoe if you're planning content strategy and want to get ahead of AI search trends. The persona system and competitive intelligence are unmatched for strategic planning. Go with Mentions.so if you're already getting AI traffic and need to measure and report on it consistently. Start a free trial of Gumshoe to test their persona builder on your target audience.
Our verdict
For features, gumshoe-ai leads. On a budget, go with gumshoe-ai.