AI SEO automation market, September 2026
Miles FosterOwner and tester, RankDude
The market▼ Shrinking
- Visits, year on year
- -41%
- Visits vs August 2026
- +4.7%
- Name searches vs October 2025
- -28%
Every month I measure Google visits to the 40 AI SEO automation sites I track, and how often people search for them by name. In September 2026 they got about 943,356 visits, 41% fewer than a year ago but 5% more than in August 2026.
Below: who grew fastest (one site is up 102% in a year), who sits highest on Google, where the visitors live and what comes next.
Data from DataForSEO, Tranco, Chrome UX Report, Ahrefs and SerpApi · not a ranking
AI SEO automation market: the key numbers for September 2026
Four numbers for September 2026. Visits mean visits from Google search to the tracked sites. Tap one for the detail below.
- The tracked sites got 943,356 visits from Google in September 2026, 41% fewer than a year ago and 5% more than in August 2026. WriterZen gained more visits in September 2026 (59,856) than the whole market did (42,619); without it, visits to the other sites fell 2.0% on August 2026.
- “ai seo automation” gets about 40 US searches a month. People searched the site names 70,000 times in the US in September 2026, 28% less often than in October 2025.
- No tracked site is on Google’s first page for “ai seo automation”; the highest is Sight AI, at position 16. Surfer is the most-visited site.
- 19.9% of visits came from the US (24.4% a year ago), then India, United Kingdom and Canada. The five most-visited sites took 52.9% of all visits.
1How many visits
In plain words: These sites got fewer visits from Google than a year ago (-41%), and September 2026 was a better month than August 2026 (+5%). WriterZen gained more visits in September 2026 (59,856) than the whole market did (42,619); without it, visits to the other sites fell 2.0% on August 2026.
- Visits, September 2026
- 943,356 (-41.4% on a year ago, +4.7% on August 2026)
- US visits
- 187,356 (-52.3% on a year ago)
- 24-month peak
- 2,574,939 in October 2024
WorldVisits a month to AI SEO automation sites, worldwide
Source: DataForSEO, Google search visits, all tracked sites.
Miles explains
Judge this line on the year, not the last dot: visits are 41% below a year ago, and 63% below the October 2024 high. One site winning or losing a ranking can swing a single month a lot.
2How many people went looking
People typed a site’s name into Google 28% less often than in October 2025 (-28%). That is the loyalty number, because nobody types a name by accident.
- Searches for "ai seo automation"
- 40 a month in the US, 140 worldwide (12-month average)
- Name searches, September 2026
- 70,000 in the US (-27.7% since October 2025), 287,110 worldwide
USSearches a month for "ai seo automation", United States
Source: Google Ads via DataForSEO.
USSearches a month for the site names, United States
Source: Google Ads via DataForSEO, to September 2026.
| Most searched by name, US | Searches a month |
|---|---|
 Yext | 12,100 |
 Profound | 9,900 |
 Screaming Frog | 9,900 |
 BrightEdge | 5,400 |
 SEO.ai | 5,400 |
 Siteimprove | 5,400 |
 Botify | 4,400 |
 Peec AI | 4,400 |
Most searched by name, US
- Yext
- Searches a month
- 12,100
- Profound
- Searches a month
- 9,900
- Screaming Frog
- Searches a month
- 9,900
- BrightEdge
- Searches a month
- 5,400
- SEO.ai
- Searches a month
- 5,400
- Siteimprove
- Searches a month
- 5,400
- Botify
- Searches a month
- 4,400
- Peec AI
- Searches a month
- 4,400
Ordered by US searches for the brand name in September 2026. A measured order, not a ranking.
Miles explains
Name searches are the number I trust most. They are down 28%, and nobody types a site’s name by accident, so this shows fewer people coming back on purpose.
3Who is on Google's first page
No tracked site is on Google’s first page for “ai seo automation”; the highest-placed is Sight AI, at position 16. Being on that page is the biggest single thing that decides how many visits a site gets.
Ordered by US Google position for “ai seo automation”, then Tranco rank. A measured order, not a ranking.
| Site | Google US | Tranco | Move in 37 days | Search visits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Sight AI | 16 | 1,206,402 | ▼ 107,072 | 3,828 |
| Screaming Frog | – | 17,073 | ▼ 480 | 30,736 |
| Yext | – | 18,888 | ▲ 877 | 21,368 |
 Writesonic | – | 20,539 | ▼ 671 | 29,297 |
 Search Atlas | – | 22,682 | ▼ 2,879 | 30,219 |
 Conductor | – | 25,703 | ▲ 416 | 36,404 |
 Surfer | – | 25,986 | ▼ 57 | 163,885 |
| BrightEdge | – | 35,497 | ▲ 93 | 24,452 |
 Frase | – | 36,796 | ▼ 982 | 4,406 |
| Siteimprove | – | 45,923 | ▲ 2,077 | 32,959 |
| Profound | – | 106,903 | ▲ 11,112 | 27,106 |
 AirOps | – | 114,122 | ▲ 17,914 | 2,127 |
 MarketMuse | – | 117,282 | ▼ 1,111 | 20,044 |
 Clearscope | – | 123,628 | ▲ 2,863 | 2,112 |
 Otterly | – | 148,371 | ▲ 7,273 | 965 |
Site
- Sight AI
- Google US
- 16
- Tranco
- 1,206,402
- Move in 37 days
- ▼ 107,072
- Search visits
- 3,828
- Screaming Frog
- Google US
- –
- Tranco
- 17,073
- Move in 37 days
- ▼ 480
- Search visits
- 30,736
- Yext
- Google US
- –
- Tranco
- 18,888
- Move in 37 days
- ▲ 877
- Search visits
- 21,368
- Writesonic
- Google US
- –
- Tranco
- 20,539
- Move in 37 days
- ▼ 671
- Search visits
- 29,297
- Search Atlas
- Google US
- –
- Tranco
- 22,682
- Move in 37 days
- ▼ 2,879
- Search visits
- 30,219
- Conductor
- Google US
- –
- Tranco
- 25,703
- Move in 37 days
- ▲ 416
- Search visits
- 36,404
- Surfer
- Google US
- –
- Tranco
- 25,986
- Move in 37 days
- ▼ 57
- Search visits
- 163,885
- BrightEdge
- Google US
- –
- Tranco
- 35,497
- Move in 37 days
- ▲ 93
- Search visits
- 24,452
- Frase
- Google US
- –
- Tranco
- 36,796
- Move in 37 days
- ▼ 982
- Search visits
- 4,406
- Siteimprove
- Google US
- –
- Tranco
- 45,923
- Move in 37 days
- ▲ 2,077
- Search visits
- 32,959
- Profound
- Google US
- –
- Tranco
- 106,903
- Move in 37 days
- ▲ 11,112
- Search visits
- 27,106
- AirOps
- Google US
- –
- Tranco
- 114,122
- Move in 37 days
- ▲ 17,914
- Search visits
- 2,127
- MarketMuse
- Google US
- –
- Tranco
- 117,282
- Move in 37 days
- ▼ 1,111
- Search visits
- 20,044
- Clearscope
- Google US
- –
- Tranco
- 123,628
- Move in 37 days
- ▲ 2,863
- Search visits
- 2,112
- Otterly
- Google US
- –
- Tranco
- 148,371
- Move in 37 days
- ▲ 7,273
- Search visits
- 965
Source: DataForSEO (US Google positions) and Tranco, September 2026. First 15 of 40 sites shown.
Miles explains
No tracked site sits high on Google for “ai seo automation”, so most visits here come from people who already know the names.
4Who grew, who faded
Biggest gain in September 2026: WriterZen (+102%); biggest loss: BrandWell (-41%). Year-on-year growers are on the demand page.
Biggest moves in September 2026
| Up this month | Aug 26 | Sep 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 WriterZen | 58,466 | 118,322 | +102.4% |
 Diib | 50,386 | 70,781 | +40.5% |
 Indexly | 7,188 | 8,522 | +18.6% |
| Search Atlas | 26,259 | 30,219 | +15.1% |
 Rankability | 47,610 | 52,320 | +9.9% |
 SurgeGraph | 76,165 | 79,352 | +4.2% |
Up this month
- WriterZen
- Aug 26
- 58,466
- Sep 26
- 118,322
- Change
- +102.4%
- Diib
- Aug 26
- 50,386
- Sep 26
- 70,781
- Change
- +40.5%
- Indexly
- Aug 26
- 7,188
- Sep 26
- 8,522
- Change
- +18.6%
- Search Atlas
- Aug 26
- 26,259
- Sep 26
- 30,219
- Change
- +15.1%
- Rankability
- Aug 26
- 47,610
- Sep 26
- 52,320
- Change
- +9.9%
- SurgeGraph
- Aug 26
- 76,165
- Sep 26
- 79,352
- Change
- +4.2%
| Down this month | Aug 26 | Sep 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 BrandWell | 59,659 | 35,442 | -40.6% |
| MarketMuse | 25,489 | 20,044 | -21.4% |
| Conductor | 43,993 | 36,404 | -17.3% |
| BrightEdge | 28,231 | 24,452 | -13.4% |
| Screaming Frog | 34,120 | 30,736 | -9.9% |
| Botify | 20,819 | 18,803 | -9.7% |
Down this month
- BrandWell
- Aug 26
- 59,659
- Sep 26
- 35,442
- Change
- -40.6%
- MarketMuse
- Aug 26
- 25,489
- Sep 26
- 20,044
- Change
- -21.4%
- Conductor
- Aug 26
- 43,993
- Sep 26
- 36,404
- Change
- -17.3%
- BrightEdge
- Aug 26
- 28,231
- Sep 26
- 24,452
- Change
- -13.4%
- Screaming Frog
- Aug 26
- 34,120
- Sep 26
- 30,736
- Change
- -9.9%
- Botify
- Aug 26
- 20,819
- Sep 26
- 18,803
- Change
- -9.7%
Brand demand, since October 2025
| Searched more | Oct 25 | Sep 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peec AI | 1,900 | 4,400 | +131.6% |
| Profound | 5,400 | 9,900 | +83.3% |
Searched more
- Peec AI
- Oct 25
- 1,900
- Sep 26
- 4,400
- Change
- +131.6%
- Profound
- Oct 25
- 5,400
- Sep 26
- 9,900
- Change
- +83.3%
| Searched less | Oct 25 | Sep 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rankability | 1,600 | 320 | -80.0% |
 RankIQ | 1,000 | 260 | -74.0% |
| Writesonic | 8,100 | 2,400 | -70.4% |
| MarketMuse | 1,000 | 390 | -61.0% |
| Clearscope | 1,300 | 590 | -54.6% |
 seoClarity | 1,000 | 480 | -52.0% |
Searched less
- Rankability
- Oct 25
- 1,600
- Sep 26
- 320
- Change
- -80.0%
- RankIQ
- Oct 25
- 1,000
- Sep 26
- 260
- Change
- -74.0%
- Writesonic
- Oct 25
- 8,100
- Sep 26
- 2,400
- Change
- -70.4%
- MarketMuse
- Oct 25
- 1,000
- Sep 26
- 390
- Change
- -61.0%
- Clearscope
- Oct 25
- 1,300
- Sep 26
- 590
- Change
- -54.6%
- seoClarity
- Oct 25
- 1,000
- Sep 26
- 480
- Change
- -52.0%
Source: Google Ads via DataForSEO.
5Where the visitors live
About 20 of every 100 visits come from the United States.
- US share of visits
- 19.9% (24.4% a year ago)
- Largest outside the US
- India, United Kingdom and Canada
- US share of "ai seo automation" searches
- 29%
USShare of visits that come from the US (%)
US share of worldwide search visits, month by month.
| Country | Search visits a month | Share of the measured countries |
|---|---|---|
| India | 144,860 | 62.1% |
| United Kingdom | 28,681 | 12.3% |
| Canada | 21,738 | 9.3% |
| Australia | 14,854 | 6.4% |
| Germany | 13,729 | 5.9% |
| France | 5,836 | 2.5% |
| Brazil | 3,461 | 1.5% |
Country
- India
- Search visits a month
- 144,860
- Share of the measured countries
- 62.1%
- United Kingdom
- Search visits a month
- 28,681
- Share of the measured countries
- 12.3%
- Canada
- Search visits a month
- 21,738
- Share of the measured countries
- 9.3%
- Australia
- Search visits a month
- 14,854
- Share of the measured countries
- 6.4%
- Germany
- Search visits a month
- 13,729
- Share of the measured countries
- 5.9%
- France
- Search visits a month
- 5,836
- Share of the measured countries
- 2.5%
- Brazil
- Search visits a month
- 3,461
- Share of the measured countries
- 1.5%
Source: DataForSEO, September 2026.
Miles explains
The US is the single biggest market, but only about 20 in every 100 visits. India alone is 62.1% of the countries I measure outside it.
6Links and ratings
The tracked sites had 256,603 referring domains between them in September 2026; this is the first reading, so there is no year-on-year figure yet. The average Domain Rating is 72. Screaming Frog has the strongest link profile at DR 87.
| By Domain Rating (Ahrefs) | DR |
|---|---|
| Screaming Frog | 87 |
| Surfer | 85 |
| BrightEdge | 84 |
| Conductor | 84 |
| Writesonic | 84 |
| Yext | 82 |
| Siteimprove | 81 |
| Frase | 80 |
By Domain Rating (Ahrefs)
- Screaming Frog
- DR
- 87
- Surfer
- DR
- 85
- BrightEdge
- DR
- 84
- Conductor
- DR
- 84
- Writesonic
- DR
- 84
- Yext
- DR
- 82
- Siteimprove
- DR
- 81
- Frase
- DR
- 80
| By referring domains | Domains |
|---|---|
| Writesonic | 26,366 |
| Screaming Frog | 24,985 |
| Surfer | 21,471 |
| BrightEdge | 17,574 |
| Conductor | 16,656 |
| Siteimprove | 11,698 |
| Yext | 11,359 |
| Frase | 9,968 |
By referring domains
- Writesonic
- Domains
- 26,366
- Screaming Frog
- Domains
- 24,985
- Surfer
- Domains
- 21,471
- BrightEdge
- Domains
- 17,574
- Conductor
- Domains
- 16,656
- Siteimprove
- Domains
- 11,698
- Yext
- Domains
- 11,359
- Frase
- Domains
- 9,968
Source: DataForSEO and Ahrefs, September 2026.