# AI Citations Finder: LLM Mentions in ChatGPT & AI Overviews (`plainrows/ai-citations-finder`) Actor

AI citations finder and MCP tool: real LLM mentions of your domain or brand in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews, no prompts needed. One row per AI question: AI search volume, answer excerpt, cited sources, your source position. Fee per target searched plus per question.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/plainrows/ai-citations-finder.md
- **Developed by:** [PlainRows](https://apify.com/plainrows) (community)
- **Categories:** SEO tools, AI, Marketing
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $3.00 / 1,000 ai questions

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## AI Citations Finder: LLM Mentions in ChatGPT & AI Overviews

An **AI citations finder and MCP tool**: give it **a domain or a brand name** and get the **real questions people asked ChatGPT or Google AI Overviews where it is mentioned or cited**, one row per question, with the **AI search volume**, the monthly trend, an **excerpt of the AI answer**, the **sources the answer cites**, whether **your site is one of them and at which position**, and the **other domains cited** next to you (your competitors in AI answers).

**No prompts needed**: you do not have to guess what people ask the AI. The questions come from a database of real ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews answers (LLM mentions), updated continuously by the data provider. One search per target, about 2 seconds.

### Typical uses

- **AI visibility / GEO audit**: which questions make ChatGPT or Google AI Overviews talk about your brand, and how often they are asked.
- **Citation tracking**: `targetCitedAsSource` and `targetSourcePosition` tell you if the answer links to your site, and where in the list of sources.
- **Competitor research in AI answers**: run it on a competitor's domain, or read `otherCitedDomains` to see who is cited next to you.
- **Content ideas**: the questions with a high `aiSearchVolume` where you are mentioned but not cited are pages worth writing.
- **Reports**: send the rows to Google Sheets, Looker Studio, Slack, n8n, Make or Zapier.

### What you get for each question

| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| `target`, `targetType` | The domain or brand name searched; `domain` or `keyword` |
| `platform`, `modelName` | `google` (AI Overviews, model `google_ai_overview`) or `chat_gpt` |
| `question` | The real question asked to the AI |
| `aiSearchVolume`, `monthlySearches` | Estimated monthly AI searches for the question, and the monthly trend (`month`, `searchVolume`) |
| `firstResponseAt`, `lastResponseAt` | First and last time this answer was seen |
| `answerExcerpt`, `answerLength` | The first 300 characters of the answer as plain text (not the full answer), and the full length |
| `targetMentionedInAnswer` | The answer text names your target |
| `targetCitedAsSource`, `targetSourcePosition`, `targetSourceUrl` | Your site is among the cited sources; its position (1 = first) and URL |
| `sources`, `sourcesCount` | The first 10 cited sources (position, domain, URL, title, source name) and how many there are in total |
| `otherCitedDomains` | The other domains cited in the same answer (up to 20) |
| `totalQuestionsAvailable` | How many questions the database holds for this target (can be more than you asked for) |
| `found`, `status`, `message` | `FOUND` for a question row; rows without a question say why: `NO_QUESTIONS`, `PROVIDER_ERROR`, `REJECTED`, `NOT_SEARCHED` |

Missing values are `null`, never guessed. Subdomains count as your site (`www.pipedrive.com`, `support.pipedrive.com` for `pipedrive.com`). Your position is computed over all the sources, even beyond the first 10 listed.

#### Example row (real data, pipedrive.com, Google AI Overviews, US, October 2026, shortened)

```json
{
  "target": "pipedrive.com",
  "targetType": "domain",
  "status": "FOUND",
  "platform": "google",
  "modelName": "google_ai_overview",
  "question": "customer management software",
  "aiSearchVolume": 165000,
  "monthlySearches": [{ "month": "2026-06", "searchVolume": 246000 }, { "month": "2026-07", "searchVolume": 201000 }],
  "firstResponseAt": "2025-10-31T07:27:07.000Z",
  "lastResponseAt": "2026-09-02T09:55:57.000Z",
  "answerExcerpt": "Customer management software, also known as a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system, centralizes your customer data, tracks interactions, and automates sales and support tasks. Top CRM Software Options - Salesforce Sales Cloud : Best for large enterprises and fast-scaling teams needing…",
  "targetMentionedInAnswer": true,
  "targetCitedAsSource": true,
  "targetSourcePosition": 12,
  "sourcesCount": 12,
  "sources": [
    { "position": 1, "domain": "salesforce.com", "url": "https://www.salesforce.com/crm/what-is-crm/", "title": "What Is CRM (Customer Relationship Management)? - Salesforce", "sourceName": "Salesforce" },
    { "position": 2, "domain": "hubspot.com", "url": "https://www.hubspot.com/products/crm", "title": "Streamline Your Entire Business With a Free CRM | HubSpot", "sourceName": "HubSpot" }
  ],
  "otherCitedDomains": ["salesforce.com", "hubspot.com", "pcmag.com", "microsoft.com", "zoho.com", "oracle.com", "zapier.com", "zendesk.com", "uschamber.com", "appvizer.com"],
  "totalQuestionsAvailable": 10519,
  "country": "US",
  "languageCode": "en"
}
```

In this real test, all 100 questions returned for pipedrive.com cited the site as a source, and 21 named it in the text of the answer (a citation link alone does not count); the database held 10,519 questions for it.

### Input

```json
{
  "targets": ["pipedrive.com", "Pipedrive"],
  "platform": "google",
  "country": "US",
  "maxQuestionsPerTarget": 100
}
```

- **targets** (required): up to 100 per run. A value with a dot and no space (`pipedrive.com`, `https://www.pipedrive.com/en`) is searched as a **domain** (where your site is cited or named); anything else (`pipedrive`, `pipedrive crm`) as a **brand name or keyword** mentioned in the questions and answers.
- **platform**: `google` (Google AI Overviews, default) or `chat_gpt` (ChatGPT).
- **country**: for Google AI Overviews, one of US, GB, CA, AU, IE, IN, DE, AT, CH, FR, BE, ES, MX, IT, NL, PT, BR, PL, SE, JP (default US). **ChatGPT data exists for the United States only**: another country with `chat_gpt` is refused at once, before anything is searched (only the $0.002 run start fee is charged). **languageCode** defaults to the country's main language.
- **maxQuestionsPerTarget** (default 100): 1 to 1,000 questions per target.

### Pricing

Pay per event, no subscription (see the **Pricing** tab for the current prices):

- **Target searched**: a fee once per domain or brand name searched, **including a search that finds 0 questions**. The data source bills every search, empty or not, so an empty search is not free: its row says "0 question found; the search itself is charged".
- **AI question**: plus a fee per question row returned.
- A small **Actor start** fee per run.

For example, one domain with 100 questions = 1 target fee + 100 question fees. Targets the data source failed or refused, and targets not reached (budget or timeout), get a free row with `found: false` and the reason: no fee at all. A target starts only when the run's maximum cost still covers its fee and at least one question; the questions are cut to what the budget allows.

**Free Apify plan:** not available. Every search costs the data source $0.10, so on a free Apify plan the run searches nothing and charges only the $0.002 run start fee (one free row per target says so). Any paid Apify plan works.

### Good to know

- The data is a database of AI answers collected by the data provider, not a live question to the AI: an answer can be a few weeks old (`lastResponseAt` says when it was seen). For live answers to your own prompts, use [AI Search Visibility Tracker](https://apify.com/plainrows/ai-search-brand-visibility).
- Small or new brands can have few or no questions yet: try a smaller `maxQuestionsPerTarget` first.
- A brand-name target counts a cited domain as yours when its name is the brand, or the brand is one hyphen-separated part of it (`pipedrive` matches `pipedrive.com` and `blog.pipedrive.com`, not `mypipedriveguide.com`). Use the domain for an exact match.
- Not affiliated with OpenAI or Google.

### Run summary

Each run stores a summary in the key-value store (`OUTPUT`): targets searched, targets with no question, questions billed, and anything skipped because of the free-plan or budget limit.

### Use it from code, automations or AI agents

**API (one call, results returned directly):**

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/plainrows~ai-citations-finder/run-sync-get-dataset-items?token=YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"targets": ["pipedrive.com"], "maxQuestionsPerTarget": 100}'
```

**n8n, Make, Zapier:** use the Apify integration, pick `plainrows/ai-citations-finder`, schedule it monthly and send the rows to Google Sheets or Slack.

**AI agents (MCP tool):** add `https://mcp.apify.com?tools=plainrows/ai-citations-finder` to Claude, Cursor or any MCP client, then ask "Which ChatGPT questions mention pipedrive.com?".

### FAQ

**What are LLM mentions?**
The times a large language model (ChatGPT, Google's AI Overviews) names a brand or cites a website in its answer. This Actor lists them question by question.

**Do I need to write prompts?**
No. The questions come from a database of real AI questions and answers: you only give your domain or brand name.

**Why am I charged for a target with 0 questions?**
The data source bills each search, even when it finds nothing. The "Target searched" fee covers that search; the question fees apply only to questions returned.

**Can I get ChatGPT data for another country?**
Not yet: the source has ChatGPT answers for the United States only. Google AI Overviews works for every country in the list.

**Mentioned or cited, what is the difference?**
`targetMentionedInAnswer` = the answer text names you; `targetCitedAsSource` = the answer links to your site as a source. Mentioned but not cited is a content opportunity.

### More PlainRows tools

Same pay-per-result pricing, same clean JSON, built to chain together in n8n, Make, Zapier or AI agents.

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### Support

Missing a field or found a bug? Open an issue on this page. Issues are read and answered.

# Actor input Schema

## `targets` (type: `array`):

One target per line: a domain ("pipedrive.com"; https://, www. and paths are ignored, subdomains count) or a brand name / keyword ("pipedrive"). Up to 100 per run. Each target is one search in the AI answers database, charged even when it finds 0 questions (the data source bills every search).

## `platform` (type: `string`):

Where the questions and answers come from: Google AI Overviews (any country below) or ChatGPT (United States only).

## `country` (type: `string`):

Country of the AI answers. Google AI Overviews: any country of the list. ChatGPT: United States only (another country is refused before anything is searched; only the $0.002 start fee is charged).

## `languageCode` (type: `string`):

Two-letter language code, e.g. "en". Leave empty to use the country's main language.

## `maxQuestionsPerTarget` (type: `integer`):

Most questions returned per target, 1 to 1,000 (default 100), most searched first. You pay one fee per target searched (0 questions included) plus one fee per question returned (see Pricing).

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "targets": [
    "pipedrive.com"
  ],
  "platform": "google",
  "country": "US",
  "maxQuestionsPerTarget": 10
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

No description

## `summary` (type: `string`):

No description

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "targets": [
        "pipedrive.com"
    ],
    "platform": "google",
    "country": "US",
    "maxQuestionsPerTarget": 10
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("plainrows/ai-citations-finder").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "targets": ["pipedrive.com"],
    "platform": "google",
    "country": "US",
    "maxQuestionsPerTarget": 10,
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("plainrows/ai-citations-finder").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "targets": [
    "pipedrive.com"
  ],
  "platform": "google",
  "country": "US",
  "maxQuestionsPerTarget": 10
}' |
apify call plainrows/ai-citations-finder --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,plainrows/ai-citations-finder"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/D5aORiXRzTgyfEJWc/builds/F9NWYghBEMwVUybhC/openapi.json