needle is an AI search optimization platform. It scans your website for 150+ signals that determine whether AI systems like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude can discover, read, and cite your content. Then it generates the exact config files needed to fix any issues.

How is this different from traditional SEO tools?

Traditional SEO tools optimize for Google rankings. needle optimizes for AI visibility — robots.txt rules, llms.txt configs, schema markup, content structure, and Content Signals that AI crawlers look for.

What happens during a free scan?

Paste any URL and needle runs 150+ checks in under 60 seconds. You get a score across 9 categories, your top issues, and a clear picture of your AI readiness. No signup or credit card required.

What AI crawlers do you check?

We check 25+ AI crawlers including GPTBot, ChatGPT-User, ClaudeBot, Claude-SearchBot, PerplexityBot, Google-Extended, Applebot-Extended, and many more.

AI SEO Tools

needle.sh

Scan your site for AI visibility issues and get production-ready config files to fix them.

needle.sh

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What is needle.sh?

needle is an AI search optimization platform that scans websites for 150+ signals affecting discoverability by AI systems like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude. It generates robots.txt, llms.txt, schema markup, and other config files to fix issues.

needle.sh vs Similar AI Tools

	needle.sh	Robynn AI	P Phantomstory	Dondo
Pricing Model	Free, Freemium	Free, Freemium	Paid	Free, Free Trial, Paid
Free Credits
Key Features	150+ signal audit covering robots.txt, schema, content structure, and more Automatic fix file generation (robots.txt, llms.txt, JSON-LD, meta tags) AI citation monitoring via Observatory (query generation and search across platforms)	Auto Loop: weekly measure-recommend-approve-publish-measure cycle Inbound optimization: audits, fixes, and SEO/GEO improvements Outbound personalization at the prospect level	Deploy a production blog with SSL, sitemaps, and schema in under 5 minutes. Auto-pilot content research, writing, and publishing based on your set cadence. Contextual CTAs and branded mentions that funnel readers to your website.	AI-optimized titles, descriptions, and keywords AI-generated product images (lifestyle, studio, social, advertising) Brand DNA analysis for consistent brand voice
Pros	Free scan available with no signup required Comprehensive 150+ signal audit in under 60 seconds	Fully autonomous weekly optimization Easy installation with a script tag	Fast deployment (under 5 minutes). Fully automated content creation and publishing.	All-in-one solution replacing multiple tools Significant time savings (up to 12 hours per week)
Cons	Free tier limited to 5 pages per scan Monthly credits reset and do not roll over	Requires analytics integration for goal tracking Approval step may slow down rapid iterations	Relatively high monthly cost ($500). Requires custom domain ownership.	Credits-based pricing may require monitoring usage Advanced features like competitor analysis limited to higher plans
Best For	Website owners and marketers focused on AI search visibility SEO professionals optimizing for ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude	Marketing teams seeking continuous website improvement SaaS companies aiming to optimize conversion funnels	Marketing teams seeking to dominate AI search results. SEO specialists looking to expand into AEO.	E-commerce sellers on Amazon, Shopify, and other marketplaces Agencies managing multiple client catalogs

How to use needle.sh?

1Enter any website URL on the needle homepage.
2Wait ~60 seconds for the scan to complete.
3Review the prioritized issues and download the generated fix files.
4Deploy the files to your site to improve AI crawler access.

needle.sh Key Features

150+ signal audit covering robots.txt, schema, content structure, and more
Automatic fix file generation (robots.txt, llms.txt, JSON-LD, meta tags)
AI citation monitoring via Observatory (query generation and search across platforms)
Automated weekly re-scans with score tracking
Competitive benchmarking and industry comparison

needle.sh Use Cases

Ensuring AI crawlers can access your content
Fixing robots.txt violations that block GPTBot, ClaudeBot, etc.
Optimizing llms.txt and Content Signals for AI citation
Validating schema markup for richer AI understanding
Tracking AI visibility over time and against competitors

needle.sh Pricing & Free Credits

needle.sh currently operates on a Free, Freemium model.

Free Tier

Free

1 project, 1 analysis, 5 pages, 20 AI credits on signup

Paid Plans

Starter

$29/mo

1 project, 6 analyses/month, 15 pages per scan, Observatory, 150 AI credits/mo

Pro

$79/mo

3 projects, 18 analyses/month, 30 pages per scan, Observatory, 500 AI credits/mo

Agency

$199/mo

10 projects, 56 analyses/month, 50 pages per scan, Observatory, 2000 AI credits/mo

One-time

Single analysis, 15 pages, 50 AI credits, full Observatory access for 1 year

Credit Top-up

100 AI credits, no expiry for 1 year

Free

1 project, 1 analysis, 5 pages, 20 AI credits on signup

Starter

$29/mo

1 project, 6 analyses/month, 15 pages per scan, Observatory, 150 AI credits/mo

Pro

$79/mo

3 projects, 18 analyses/month, 30 pages per scan, Observatory, 500 AI credits/mo

Agency

$199/mo

10 projects, 56 analyses/month, 50 pages per scan, Observatory, 2000 AI credits/mo

One-time

Single analysis, 15 pages, 50 AI credits, full Observatory access for 1 year

Credit Top-up

100 AI credits, no expiry for 1 year

needle.sh Pros & Cons

Pros

Free scan available with no signup required
Comprehensive 150+ signal audit in under 60 seconds
Generates production-ready fix files
Monitors AI citation across multiple platforms
Competitor benchmarking feature

Cons

Free tier limited to 5 pages per scan
Monthly credits reset and do not roll over
Some advanced features require subscription

What is needle.sh best for?

Website owners and marketers focused on AI search visibility
SEO professionals optimizing for ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude
Content creators wanting to ensure AI systems can cite their work

needle.sh FAQ

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