# AI Overview Scraper & Tracker: Google AI Overview Citations (`plainrows/ai-overview-tracker`) Actor

AI Overview tracker, AI Overview API and MCP tool: for each keyword, see if Google shows an AI Overview, if it cites your domain (rank, URL), which sites it cites, and your organic rank. Pay per keyword, plus a fee per AI Overview found.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/plainrows/ai-overview-tracker.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 $4.00 / 1,000 keyword checkeds

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 Overview Scraper & Tracker: Google AI Overview Citations

Give it **your domain and a list of keywords**, and get one row per keyword: **does Google show an AI Overview, does it cite your site, at which rank and with which page, which other sites it cites, and where you rank in the organic results of the same search**. AI Overview visibility and classic rankings, side by side, from one Google search per keyword.

It calls a commercial SERP data API instead of driving browsers: **no proxies, no CAPTCHAs, no Google account**. Keywords run five at a time, a few seconds each. **You only pay for keywords whose results page was read**, plus a small fee only when an AI Overview is actually there.

### Typical uses

- **AI Overview citation tracking (AEO / GEO)**: which of your target keywords trigger an AI Overview, and are you one of its sources?
- **AI Overview vs organic rank**: spot keywords where you rank in the top 3 but are not cited, or are cited without ranking.
- **Competitor research**: `citedDomains` shows which sites Google's AI relies on for your topics: the pages to beat or to get mentioned on.
- **Bulk check of a keyword list**: find which keywords show an AI Overview at all, before you invest in content.
- **Weekly reports**: schedule a run and send the table to Google Sheets, Looker Studio, Slack, n8n, Make or Zapier.

### What you get for each keyword

| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| `keyword`, `domain` | The keyword searched; your domain (normalized) |
| `aiOverviewPresent` | Google showed an AI Overview (with text or sources) |
| `domainCitedInAiOverview` | Your domain or one of its subdomains is among the AI Overview's sources (its source cards; a link written inside the text is not counted, it stays in `aiOverviewText`) |
| `citationRank`, `citedUrl` | Your position among the cited domains (1 = first) and your page cited |
| `brandMentionedInAiOverview` | One of your brand names appears in the AI Overview text (only with `brandNames`) |
| `citedDomains`, `citations` | Domains cited, in order, and each source (domain, URL, title), up to 30 |
| `aiOverviewText`, `aiOverviewLength` | The AI Overview as Markdown (cut at 2,000 characters) and its full length |
| `organicPosition`, `organicUrl` | Your best organic position within the depth checked, and the ranking URL (`null` = not found) |
| `found`, `status`, `message` | `FOUND` for a billed row; free rows say why: `NO_RESULTS`, `PROVIDER_ERROR`, `REJECTED`, `NOT_CHECKED` |
| `country`, `languageCode`, `checkedAt` | Where and when the search ran |

Missing values are `null`, never guessed. Subdomains count as your site (`blog.hubspot.com` for `hubspot.com`).

### Input

```json
{
  "domain": "hubspot.com",
  "keywords": ["what is a crm", "best crm for small business", "how to write a sales email"],
  "brandNames": ["HubSpot"],
  "country": "US",
  "depth": 10
}
```

- **domain** (required): your site; `https://`, `www.` and paths are ignored.
- **keywords**: up to 1,000 per run, one Google search each.
- **brandNames** (optional): your brand and its variants, matched as whole words in the AI Overview text.
- **country**: US, GB, CA, AU, IE, IN, DE, AT, CH, FR, BE, ES, MX, IT, NL, PT, BR, PL, SE, JP. **languageCode** defaults to the country's main language. Google does not show AI Overviews in every country and language.
- **depth** (default 10): how many organic results to search for your domain, 10 to 100. Each extra 10 results is one more Google page (see Pricing).

### Pricing

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

- **Keyword checked**: once per keyword whose Google results page was read.
- **AI Overview found**: only when Google shows an AI Overview for that keyword. No AI Overview, no charge.
- **Extra results page**: only if you raise `depth` above 10, once per extra page of 10 results Google returned.
- A small **Actor start** fee per run.

Keywords with no results, keywords the data source failed or refused, and keywords not reached (budget or timeout) get a free row with `found: false` and the reason. Keywords with Google search operators (`site:`, `intitle:`, `inurl:`, `filetype:`…) are not searched and listed in `invalidKeywords` of the run summary, at no cost; quotes, `-word` and `OR` work as usual. The run never spends more than the maximum cost you set.

**Free Apify plan:** each run checks the first 5 keywords, so you can test the output. A paid Apify plan removes this limit.

### Good to know

- **AI Overviews vary from one search to the next**, even for the same keyword a minute apart: whether one appears, its text and its sources can change. Track trends over several runs (a weekly schedule), not a single check.
- Results are those of a logged-out desktop user in the chosen country and language.
- Sometimes Google announces an AI Overview that does not load: the row says so in `message`, reports it as absent, and the AI Overview fee is not charged.
- This tracks the AI Overview on the normal results page. For Google AI Mode, ChatGPT and Gemini answers, use [AI Visibility Tracker](https://apify.com/plainrows/ai-search-brand-visibility).
- Not affiliated with Google.

### Run summary

Each run stores a summary in the key-value store (`OUTPUT`): keywords run, keywords with no result, keywords billed, AI Overviews charged, extra pages charged, 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-overview-tracker/run-sync-get-dataset-items?token=YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"domain": "hubspot.com", "keywords": ["what is a crm"]}'
```

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

**AI agents (MCP tool):** add `https://mcp.apify.com?tools=plainrows/ai-overview-tracker` to Claude, Cursor or any MCP client, then ask "Is hubspot.com cited in Google's AI Overview for these keywords?".

### FAQ

**How do I check if my site is cited in Google AI Overviews?**
Put your domain in **domain** and your keywords in **keywords**. `domainCitedInAiOverview`, `citationRank` and `citedUrl` answer it keyword by keyword.

**Is this an AI Overview API?**
Yes: one call per list of keywords, JSON rows back, usable from the Apify API, n8n, Make, Zapier or as an MCP tool.

**Why does a keyword have an AI Overview in one run and not the next?**
Google decides per search. Run the same list on a schedule and look at the share of keywords with an AI Overview and with your citation.

**Do I pay for keywords without an AI Overview?**
Only the "Keyword checked" fee: you still get your organic position and the confirmation that no AI Overview was shown. The AI Overview fee is charged only when one is there.

### More PlainRows tools

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

- **SEO and keywords:** [Keyword Search Volume, CPC & Difficulty](https://apify.com/plainrows/keyword-search-volume) · [Keyword Planner Alternative (Bulk Search Volume & CPC)](https://apify.com/plainrows/keyword-planner-alternative) · [Bing Keyword Search Volume & CPC](https://apify.com/plainrows/bing-keyword-search-volume) · [Keyword Ideas Generator](https://apify.com/plainrows/keyword-ideas-generator) · [Google Autocomplete & People Also Ask](https://apify.com/plainrows/google-autocomplete-questions) · [Google Trends Explorer](https://apify.com/plainrows/google-trends-explorer) · [Google Trends Keyword Discovery (Rising & Related)](https://apify.com/plainrows/google-trends-keyword-discovery) · [Website Organic Traffic & Top Keywords](https://apify.com/plainrows/domain-seo-overview) · [Competitor Keywords API (Ranked Keywords)](https://apify.com/plainrows/competitor-keywords-api) · [Bulk Website Traffic Checker](https://apify.com/plainrows/website-traffic-checker) · [SEO Competitors & Keyword Gap Finder](https://apify.com/plainrows/seo-competitors-keyword-gap) · [PPC Competitor Keywords (SpyFu Alternative)](https://apify.com/plainrows/ppc-competitor-keywords) · [Bulk Domain Authority Checker](https://apify.com/plainrows/domain-authority-checker) · [Backlink Checker](https://apify.com/plainrows/backlink-checker) · [Backlink API (Referring Domains & Backlinks Data)](https://apify.com/plainrows/backlink-api) · [Broken Link Checker](https://apify.com/plainrows/broken-link-checker) · [AI Search Visibility Tracker (ChatGPT, Gemini, AI Mode)](https://apify.com/plainrows/ai-search-brand-visibility) · [Perplexity Search API (Answers & Citations)](https://apify.com/plainrows/perplexity-search-api) · [ChatGPT Search Scraper (Answers & Citations)](https://apify.com/plainrows/chatgpt-search-scraper) · [Google Maps Rank Tracker (Geo-Grid Local SEO)](https://apify.com/plainrows/google-maps-rank-tracker)
- **Leads and companies:** [Google Maps Scraper](https://apify.com/plainrows/google-maps-businesses) · [Google Maps Email Extractor](https://apify.com/plainrows/google-maps-email-extractor) · [Google Maps Businesses Without Website](https://apify.com/plainrows/google-maps-no-website-leads) · [Yellow Pages Australia Scraper](https://apify.com/plainrows/yellowpages-au-scraper) · [Website Technology Checker](https://apify.com/plainrows/website-tech-stack) · [Website Email Extractor](https://apify.com/plainrows/website-email-extractor) · [Contact Details Scraper (Emails, Phones, Socials)](https://apify.com/plainrows/contact-details-scraper) · [ATS Jobs Scraper (Workday, Greenhouse, Lever, Ashby)](https://apify.com/plainrows/ats-job-postings) · [Workday Jobs Scraper](https://apify.com/plainrows/workday-jobs-scraper) · [Greenhouse Jobs Scraper](https://apify.com/plainrows/greenhouse-jobs-scraper) · [Lever Jobs Scraper](https://apify.com/plainrows/lever-jobs-scraper) · [Ashby Jobs Scraper](https://apify.com/plainrows/ashby-jobs-scraper) · [Google Jobs Scraper](https://apify.com/plainrows/google-jobs-scraper) · [Reed.co.uk Jobs Scraper (UK)](https://apify.com/plainrows/reed-jobs-scraper) · [jobs.ch & jobup.ch Jobs Scraper (Switzerland)](https://apify.com/plainrows/jobs-ch-scraper) · [Arbeitsagentur Jobs Scraper (Germany)](https://apify.com/plainrows/arbeitsagentur-jobs-scraper) · [Gupy Jobs Scraper (Brazil)](https://apify.com/plainrows/gupy-jobs-scraper) · [Catho Jobs Scraper (Brazil)](https://apify.com/plainrows/catho-jobs-scraper) · [Vagas.com.br Jobs Scraper (Brazil)](https://apify.com/plainrows/vagas-jobs-scraper) · [Jobs.cz Scraper (Czech Republic)](https://apify.com/plainrows/jobs-cz-scraper) · [Remote Jobs Scraper (Himalayas, RemoteOK, Jobicy)](https://apify.com/plainrows/remote-jobs-aggregator) · [Google Ads Scraper (Transparency Center)](https://apify.com/plainrows/google-ads-transparency) · [Company Registry Lookup (SIRENE, LEI, Brreg)](https://apify.com/plainrows/company-registry-lookup) · [Public Tenders Search (EU TED & UK)](https://apify.com/plainrows/public-tenders-search)
- **E-commerce and travel:** [Amazon Product Search Scraper](https://apify.com/plainrows/amazon-product-search) · [Amazon Keyword Research (Search Volume & Reverse ASIN)](https://apify.com/plainrows/amazon-keyword-research) · [Google Shopping Prices Scraper](https://apify.com/plainrows/google-shopping-prices) · [Google Hotels Prices Scraper](https://apify.com/plainrows/google-hotels-prices) · [Google Hotels Scraper](https://apify.com/plainrows/google-hotels-scraper) · [Tripadvisor Reviews Scraper](https://apify.com/plainrows/tripadvisor-reviews) · [Trustpilot Reviews Scraper](https://apify.com/plainrows/trustpilot-reviews)
- **Marketplaces and classifieds:** [AliExpress Scraper](https://apify.com/plainrows/aliexpress-scraper) · [Kleinanzeigen Scraper (Germany)](https://apify.com/plainrows/kleinanzeigen-scraper) · [AutoScout24 Scraper (Cars, Europe)](https://apify.com/plainrows/autoscout24-scraper) · [Kijiji Scraper (Canada)](https://apify.com/plainrows/kijiji-scraper) · [Marktplaats Scraper (Netherlands)](https://apify.com/plainrows/marktplaats-scraper) · [Property Finder Scraper (UAE)](https://apify.com/plainrows/propertyfinder-scraper) · [Redfin Scraper (US Homes for Sale)](https://apify.com/plainrows/redfin-scraper) · [Otomoto Scraper (Polish Car Listings)](https://apify.com/plainrows/otomoto-scraper) · [Otodom Scraper (Poland Property)](https://apify.com/plainrows/otodom-scraper) · [Imovirtual Scraper (Portugal Property)](https://apify.com/plainrows/imovirtual-scraper) · [Standvirtual Scraper (Portugal Cars)](https://apify.com/plainrows/standvirtual-scraper) · [Immoweb Scraper (Belgium Property)](https://apify.com/plainrows/immoweb-scraper) · [Blocket Scraper (Sweden)](https://apify.com/plainrows/blocket-scraper) · [FINN.no Scraper (Norway)](https://apify.com/plainrows/finn-scraper) · [coches.net Scraper (Spain Cars)](https://apify.com/plainrows/coches-net-scraper) · [2dehands Scraper (Belgium)](https://apify.com/plainrows/2dehands-scraper) · [Storia Scraper (Romania Property)](https://apify.com/plainrows/storia-scraper) · [Autovit Scraper (Romania Cars)](https://apify.com/plainrows/autovit-scraper) · [FINN.no Car Scraper (Norway Cars)](https://apify.com/plainrows/finn-cars-scraper) · [DBA Scraper (Denmark)](https://apify.com/plainrows/dba-scraper) · [Tori.fi Scraper (Finland)](https://apify.com/plainrows/tori-scraper)
- **Content and media:** [Google News Scraper](https://apify.com/plainrows/google-news-scraper) · [YouTube Search Scraper](https://apify.com/plainrows/youtube-search-scraper) · [YouTube Search API (JSON)](https://apify.com/plainrows/youtube-search-api) · [YouTube Comments Scraper](https://apify.com/plainrows/youtube-comments-scraper) · [Google Images Scraper](https://apify.com/plainrows/google-images-scraper) · [Website Screenshot API](https://apify.com/plainrows/website-screenshot) · [Google Maps Reviews Scraper](https://apify.com/plainrows/google-maps-reviews) · [Google Reviews Scraper](https://apify.com/plainrows/google-reviews-scraper) · [App Store & Google Play Reviews Scraper](https://apify.com/plainrows/app-reviews-scraper) · [App Store & Google Play App Details Scraper](https://apify.com/plainrows/app-details-scraper) · [Google Play Reviews Scraper](https://apify.com/plainrows/google-play-reviews-scraper) · [App Store Reviews Scraper](https://apify.com/plainrows/app-store-reviews-scraper)

### Support

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

# Actor input Schema

## `domain` (type: `string`):

The website to look for in the AI Overview citations and in the organic results, e.g. "hubspot.com". Subdomains count (blog.hubspot.com); a path or "www." is ignored.

## `keywords` (type: `array`):

One Google search per line. Up to 1,000 keywords per run, max 200 characters each. Each keyword is one Google results page (plus more pages if you raise the depth).

## `brandNames` (type: `array`):

Your brand and its variants, e.g. "HubSpot". Adds brandMentionedInAiOverview: the name appears as a whole word in the AI Overview text. Up to 10.

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

Country whose Google results you want to check (Google's AI Overview is not shown in every country).

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

Two-letter language code, e.g. "en" or "fr". Leave empty to use the country's main language (for example German for Switzerland, French for Belgium).

## `depth` (type: `integer`):

How deep to look for your domain in the organic results: 10 = first page. Rounded up to a multiple of 10; each extra 10 results is one more Google page, billed as an extra page (see Pricing).

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "domain": "hubspot.com",
  "keywords": [
    "what is a crm",
    "best crm for small business",
    "how to write a sales email"
  ],
  "brandNames": [
    "HubSpot"
  ],
  "country": "US",
  "depth": 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 = {
    "domain": "hubspot.com",
    "keywords": [
        "what is a crm",
        "best crm for small business",
        "how to write a sales email"
    ],
    "brandNames": [
        "HubSpot"
    ],
    "country": "US",
    "depth": 10
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("plainrows/ai-overview-tracker").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 = {
    "domain": "hubspot.com",
    "keywords": [
        "what is a crm",
        "best crm for small business",
        "how to write a sales email",
    ],
    "brandNames": ["HubSpot"],
    "country": "US",
    "depth": 10,
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("plainrows/ai-overview-tracker").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 '{
  "domain": "hubspot.com",
  "keywords": [
    "what is a crm",
    "best crm for small business",
    "how to write a sales email"
  ],
  "brandNames": [
    "HubSpot"
  ],
  "country": "US",
  "depth": 10
}' |
apify call plainrows/ai-overview-tracker --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

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

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/zYYYfDH9YWdoGLpiH/builds/1jc1GZkAx9fy5Zax4/openapi.json