Introduction
If you’ve ever wondered how much traffic you’re getting from AI assistants like ChatGPT or Perplexity, you’re not alone. Traditional analytics overlook those hidden visits. SiteGuru’s AI Visibility Report tries to fill that gap. It’s neat. It’s simple. But it isn’t built for small teams on a shoestring budget.
Enter our open-source AI traffic analysis tracker. It’s transparent. It’s community-driven. And it doesn’t cost a fortune. In this review, we’ll compare SiteGuru and our open-source tracker side by side—no fluff, just facts. By the end, you’ll know which tool fits your small business best.
Why AI Traffic Analysis Matters
People don’t just Google anymore. They ask AI. ChatGPT. Claude. Microsoft Copilot. These platforms steer users to websites. If your content pops up there, that’s traffic you want to count.
Think of it like invisible footfall. You see the numbers in organic search, but AI referrals sneak past your analytics. Without tracking, you’re flying blind.
Benefits of AI traffic analysis:
– Discover which AI platforms mention your site.
– Understand user intent behind AI-driven queries.
– Optimise content to appear in AI-generated answers.
– Adjust marketing budgets based on AI referrals vs organic search.
SiteGuru’s AI Visibility Report: Pros & Cons
SiteGuru offers a plug-and-play experience. Connect your Google Analytics account. It automatically detects visits from AI platforms and breaks them down by source. You get charts, trends, top pages—all in one dashboard.
Strengths:
– Quick setup: linking GA takes minutes.
– Clean interface: no jargon, just numbers.
– Supports major AI tools: ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude, Microsoft Copilot.
– Trend tracking: compare AI referrals to organic search.
Limitations:
– Platform lock-in: you’re tied to SiteGuru’s roadmap and pricing.
– Black box detection: how exactly do they identify AI visits? It’s unclear.
– Limited customisation: fixed dashboards, no code access.
– Recurring fees: pro plans can stretch small budgets.
Our Open-Source Tracker: Key Advantages
We built our tracker for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) who need clarity without complexity.
-
Transparent Codebase
You can peek under the hood. Want to tweak the detection logic? Pull a request. It’s all on GitHub. -
Cost-Effective
No hidden fees. Self-host or use a low-cost managed option. Perfect if your quarterly budget is watched like a hawk. -
Flexible Integrations
Link with Google Analytics, BigQuery, or even lightweight databases. You decide the pipeline. -
Community-Driven
Feature requests? Bug reports? We build with you. This isn’t a closed-door enterprise suite. -
Real-Time Alerts
Set up notifications when AI referrals spike. Catch sudden growth or drift before your competitors do.
Technical Highlights
- Customisable AI referral rules.
- Lightweight front-end for quick overviews.
- REST API for advanced queries.
- Dockerised deployment—no compatibility nightmares.
Feature Comparison: Deep Dive
| Feature | SiteGuru | Our Open-Source Tracker |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Free & self-host / low-cost managed |
| Code Access | Closed-source | Open-source |
| AI Platforms Supported | ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude | All of the above + community tags |
| Dashboard Customisation | Limited | Fully customisable |
| Integration | Google Analytics only | GA, BigQuery, custom endpoints |
| Alerts & Notifications | Basic email reports | Real-time webhooks + email |
| Community Involvement | None | Active GitHub contributions |
This side-by-side shows that while SiteGuru nails simplicity, our tool offers power under the bonnet without the price tag.
Real-World Example: Maggie’s AutoBlog Integration
Meet Maggie. She runs an e-commerce store and uses Maggie’s AutoBlog—our AI-powered platform that auto-generates SEO and GEO-targeted blog posts. Here’s how our open-source tracker fits in:
-
Content Generation
Maggie’s AutoBlog drafts posts in minutes. Each article is optimised for keywords and geography. -
AI Traffic Analysis
Our tracker tags visits from AI assistants that cite Maggie’s posts. She sees which blogs perform best in ChatGPT or Perplexity. -
Iterative Improvement
Armed with data, Maggie tweaks headlines and formats. Visits from AI climb by 30% in weeks.
Without a dedicated AI traffic analysis solution, Maggie would miss out on that growth. SiteGuru could show her some insights, but she’d still pay monthly fees and lack code access.
Pricing & Accessibility
For small businesses, every pound counts. Here’s the breakdown:
- SiteGuru Pro plan: ~£80/month.
- Our open-source tracker: free code, optional managed hosting from £20/month.
If you self-host, your only cost is server time. Need support? We offer paid tiers for SLA-backed assistance, starting at just £50/month—a fraction of the typical enterprise suite.
Getting Started with Your Own Tracker
- Clone the repo from GitHub.
- Configure your detection rules in
config.yml. - Link to your Google Analytics or database.
- Deploy with Docker:
docker-compose up -d. - Watch the dashboard and set up your first real-time alert.
That’s it. Under 15 minutes to full AI visibility.
Conclusion
SiteGuru’s AI Visibility Report isn’t bad. It gives you a quick peek into AI referrals. But for SMEs it can feel pricey and opaque. Our open-source AI traffic analysis tracker flips the script: transparent, affordable, community-powered.
You deserve a tool that grows with you, not one that boxes you in. Give our tracker a spin. See AI traffic from ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude and more—all on your terms.
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