Platform Comparison

Different AI platforms surface your brand differently. Understanding platform-specific performance helps you optimize content for each channel and allocate effort where it will have the most impact.

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Why Platforms Differ

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Different Knowledge Bases

Each AI platform draws on different data:

• ChatGPT - OpenAI’s training corpus combined with live web search
• Perplexity - Live web search with AI synthesis and heavy citation
• Google AI Mode - Google’s knowledge graph and web search index
• Gemini - Google’s AI with search integration
• Grok - X’s real-time data access and web search

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Different Citation Behaviors

Platforms cite sources at different rates and in different ways:

• Perplexity is citation-heavy, typically including multiple source references in every response
• ChatGPT varies by query type; some responses include detailed citations, others do not
• Google AI Mode links to source pages from web search results
• Gemini includes citations selectively
• Grok may reference sources for factual queries

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Different User Bases

Each platform serves a different primary audience, which affects what types of queries are most common and what kind of content performs best.

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Platform Availability by Tier

Not all platforms are available on every subscription plan: If your plan does not include a platform, that platform will not be queried during test runs. Upgrade your plan to add more platforms.

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Per-Platform Metrics

For each platform, DevTune tracks four key metrics from the PlatformMetrics interface:

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Presence Rate

The percentage of prompts where your brand appeared on this specific platform. This is the platform-level version of your Overall Presence Rate.

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Brand Mention Rate

How often this platform mentions your brand by name. Some platforms mention brands more frequently than others, regardless of citation behavior.

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Primary Citation Share

The proportion of this platform’s citations that point to your citation sources versus competitor and other citation sources. This shows how much of the citation real estate you own on each platform.

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Share of Voice

Your share of total brand mentions and citations on this specific platform, relative to competitor brands. Share of Voice can vary significantly between platforms.

Note: Sentiment Score is available at the overall level only and is not broken down by platform. See Understanding Metrics for details on how Sentiment Score is measured.

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Viewing Platform Comparison

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Comparison Dashboard

Access platform comparison from AI Search Tracking > Overview in your project sidebar. The platform breakdown section shows metrics for each enabled platform side by side.

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Platform Detail View

Click on any platform in the comparison to see:

• Full metric breakdown for that platform
• Per-prompt performance on that platform
• Trend data specific to that platform
• Top citation sources on that platform

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Supported Platforms

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ChatGPT

Availability: Starter, Plus, Pro, Enterprise ChatGPT is the most widely used AI assistant. Its search capabilities make it a major channel for product discovery. Key characteristics:

• Largest user base among AI assistants
• Variable citation behavior depending on query type
• Strong for conversational, recommendation-style queries
• Brand mentions are common when discussing product categories

Optimization focus:

• Quality documentation and getting-started guides
• Clear, well-structured content
• Authoritative, up-to-date information

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Perplexity

Availability: Starter, Plus, Pro, Enterprise Perplexity is an AI-native search engine with strong citation behavior, making it particularly valuable for citation-focused tracking. Key characteristics:

• Heavy citation of sources in every response
• Growing rapidly among researchers and technical users
• Provides summarized answers with inline source references
• High citation count makes it valuable for Primary Citation Share analysis

Optimization focus:

• Authoritative, well-structured content
• Clear and citable writing
• Comprehensive coverage of topics

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Gemini

Availability: All plans (including Free) Gemini is Google’s AI assistant. It is the default tracking platform available on all plans. Key characteristics:

• Integrated with the Google ecosystem
• Growing user base
• Research-focused capabilities
• Citation behavior varies by query type

Optimization focus:

• Comprehensive documentation
• Structured data and clear page organization
• Content quality and accuracy

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Google AI Mode

Availability: Pro, Enterprise Google AI Mode provides AI-generated summaries directly in Google Search results, giving it massive reach. Key characteristics:

• Appears at the top of Google Search results
• Enormous potential audience
• Sources from web search content
• Links to source pages inline

Optimization focus:

• SEO fundamentals remain important
• Featured-snippet-style content structure
• Authoritative and comprehensive content

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Grok

Availability: Pro, Enterprise Grok is X’s AI assistant with real-time data access. Key characteristics:

• Real-time information from X and the web
• Growing platform
• Unique perspective informed by X data
• Technical and trending-topic queries

Optimization focus:

• Current, timely information
• Active community and social presence
• Trending topic coverage

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Analyzing Platform Data

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Identifying Platform Strengths

Find platforms where you perform well:

• High presence rate
• Strong Primary Citation Share
• Positive Share of Voice trend

Action: Maintain what is working. Use these platforms as benchmarks for what good performance looks like.

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Identifying Platform Weaknesses

Find platforms where you underperform:

• Low presence rate compared to other platforms
• Low or declining Share of Voice
• Competitors outperforming you

Action: Investigate what content performs well on those platforms and create targeted improvements.

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Cross-Platform Patterns

Look for patterns across platforms:

• If you are strong everywhere, your content strategy is working broadly
• If you are strong on some but weak on others, platform-specific optimization is needed
• If you are weak everywhere, fundamental content improvements are the priority

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Platform-Specific Strategies

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Strong on ChatGPT, Weak on Perplexity

Perplexity favors highly citable, well-structured content with clear source material. If you are strong on ChatGPT but weak on Perplexity, focus on making your content more citable with clear headings, definitive statements, and comprehensive coverage.

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Strong on Perplexity, Weak on ChatGPT

ChatGPT favors conversational, recommendation-style content. If you are strong on Perplexity but weak on ChatGPT, ensure your content includes clear recommendations, getting-started guides, and comparison content.

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Weak Across All Platforms

Focus on fundamental content quality:

• Create comprehensive documentation
• Ensure content is up-to-date and accurate
• Build authority through depth and breadth of coverage
• Address common questions in your category directly

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Platform Trends

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Monitoring Changes

Platform behavior evolves over time:

• Algorithm and model updates change citation behavior
• New features affect how responses are structured
• User base shifts affect which queries are most common

Watch for:

• Sudden visibility changes on a specific platform
• New citation patterns emerging
• Shifts in which platforms cite your content most

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Emerging Platforms

As new AI search platforms emerge and gain significant user adoption, DevTune adds support for them. Keep your tracking comprehensive by enabling new platforms as they become available.

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Next Steps

• Search Configuration - Configure platform settings
• Understanding Metrics - Deep metric understanding
• Citations - Compare citation behavior across platforms
• Search Dashboard - View platform data in context