AEO vs GEO vs SEO: Quick Comparison Table (2026)

Understanding the differences between SEO, AEO, and GEO helps you build a complete visibility strategy for 2026. This quick reference breaks down each approach with comparison tables you can use for planning and stakeholder communication.

The Core Comparison Table

Aspect	SEO	AEO	GEO
Full Name	Search Engine Optimization	Answer Engine Optimization	Generative Engine Optimization
Primary Goal	Rank pages in search results	Get selected as the answer	Get cited in AI responses
Target Platforms	Google, Bing, Yahoo	Featured Snippets, Voice Search, AI Overviews	ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini
Success Metric	Rankings, organic traffic	Answer box appearances, voice responses	AI citations, mention frequency
Competition Type	Position 1-10 rankings	Winner-take-most for answers	Multiple sources cited
Content Focus	Keyword-optimized pages	Extractable, concise answers	Comprehensive, authoritative depth

What Each Approach Optimizes For

SEO: Ranking in Search Results

SEO targets visibility in traditional search engine results pages. The goal is earning positions on page one where users can find and click through to your content.

Key activities:

Keyword research and optimization
Technical site health (speed, mobile, crawlability)
Backlink building
Content quality and relevance

Success looks like: Higher rankings, increased organic traffic, improved click-through rates.

AEO: Becoming the Answer

AEO targets selection as the direct answer to user queries. When search engines display answers without requiring clicks, AEO determines whose content gets featured.

Key activities:

Structuring content in Q&A format
Optimizing for featured snippets
Voice search optimization
Schema markup implementation

Success looks like: Featured snippet captures, voice assistant selections, position zero appearances.

GEO: Earning AI Citations

GEO targets citation in AI-generated responses. When LLMs synthesize answers from multiple sources, GEO determines whether your content gets referenced.

Key activities:

Building topical authority
Creating citation-worthy depth
Strengthening E-E-A-T signals
Cross-platform presence building

Success looks like: AI citations, brand mentions in ChatGPT/Claude/Perplexity responses, AI referral traffic.

Platform Coverage Comparison

Platform	SEO Relevant	AEO Relevant	GEO Relevant
Google Search (organic)	Yes	Partial	No
Google Featured Snippets	Yes	Yes	Partial
Google AI Overviews	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bing Search	Yes	Partial	No
ChatGPT Search	Partial	Partial	Yes
Perplexity	Partial	Partial	Yes
Claude	No	Partial	Yes
Gemini	Partial	Partial	Yes
Voice Assistants	Partial	Yes	No

Content Requirements Comparison

Requirement	SEO Priority	AEO Priority	GEO Priority
Keyword optimization	High	Medium	Low
Q&A structure	Medium	High	High
Extractable answers	Medium	High	High
Comprehensive depth	Medium	Low	High
Original data/research	Medium	Low	High
Author credentials	Medium	Medium	High
Schema markup	High	High	High
Freshness/updates	Medium	Medium	High
Backlinks	High	Medium	Medium
Cross-platform presence	Low	Low	High

Technical Requirements

Technical Factor	SEO	AEO	GEO
Site speed	Critical	Important	Important
Mobile optimization	Critical	Important	Important
Crawler access	Critical	Critical	Critical
Schema markup	Important	Critical	Critical
HTTPS security	Critical	Important	Important
Clean HTML structure	Important	Critical	Critical
JavaScript rendering	Important	Important	Important

When to Prioritize Each

Prioritize SEO When:

Building foundational online presence
Targeting transactional keywords
Seeking direct traffic and conversions
Competing in established SERP landscapes

Prioritize AEO When:

Targeting question-based queries
Optimizing for voice search
Seeking featured snippet visibility
Answering factual, simple questions

Prioritize GEO When:

Targeting research-focused audiences
Building long-term brand authority
Competing for complex, synthesized answers
Seeking visibility in ChatGPT/Claude/Perplexity

The Relationship Between All Three

These approaches build on each other rather than competing:

SEO provides the foundation. Without crawlability, indexing, and basic relevance, neither AEO nor GEO can succeed. AI systems can't cite content they can't access.

AEO builds on SEO. Featured snippet optimization requires ranking well first. Answer engines draw from search-indexed content.

GEO extends both. Generative AI systems reference authoritative content that often ranks well and captures featured snippets.

Quick Decision Framework

Ask yourself:

"Do we rank for important keywords?" → If no, start with SEO
"Do we appear in featured snippets?" → If no, add AEO
"Do AI systems cite us?" → If no, add GEO

Most organizations need all three working together. The question isn't which to choose—it's which to prioritize first based on current gaps.

Summary Table: Choose Your Focus

Your Situation	Primary Focus	Secondary Focus
New website, no rankings	SEO	AEO
Ranking well, missing snippets	AEO	GEO
Strong SEO, invisible to AI	GEO	AEO
Comprehensive strategy needed	All three	-

FAQs

Can I do all three simultaneously?

Yes, and most successful strategies do. The tactics overlap significantly—structured content, schema markup, and authority building benefit SEO, AEO, and GEO together.

Which delivers fastest results?

SEO improvements can show within weeks. AEO (featured snippets) can change quickly with structural updates. GEO visibility builds more gradually as authority signals compound.

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Matt Pru