45%
of consumers have used AI tools for local business recommendations, up from 6%
BrightLocal Local Consumer Review Survey, February 2026, n=1,002 opt-in panel
93%
of domains AI cites for local searches are business websites
BrightLocal local AI visibility study, September 2026, 200,085 searches across 1,300 locations
97%
of the businesses AI assistants picked were named from their own site
Picked by Agents probe, 96 picks across 16 local categories in Dallas and Phoenix, September 2026
What each of us actually does
BrightLocal's Track, Manage and Grow plans are priced on request, for 1 to 100+ locations, with up to 100 keywords and a saving on annual billing. Track includes a new Local AI Visibility Tracker, Manage adds AI Insights, and Grow adds review tools. Separately it offers a Managed Local SEO service at $1,299 a month and a Citation Builder from $2 a citation, which it says you own forever. It serves local businesses, agencies and consultants.
Picked by Agents runs your customers' real questions, like "best cosmetic surgeon near me for a tummy tuck, what does it cost", through the assistants they use, and reads why they passed on you. Then we fix what you own. The deciding fact on your site, your Google profile and the directories the assistants cite, and a booking path an agent can finish. Named is $2,997 a month and Picked is $4,997, month to month.
Where the two approaches part
- 01
Visibility tracking vs the reason you were passed
A tracker tells you whether you appear. We record who the assistant named, what it said about them, and what it could not find about you.
- 02
Citations vs the deciding fact
Consistent citations are part of our work too. But BrightLocal's own study found 93% of the domains AI cites for local searches are business websites. The fact that wins is usually on your own site, or missing from it.
- 03
Managed local SEO vs managed picks
BrightLocal's managed service covers local SEO strategy and optimization. Ours is measured on one outcome, being named by the assistants for agreed questions.
- 04
A service vs a guarantee
Named by the assistants in 90 days or we work free until you are.
Why we cost more than managed local SEO
At $1,299 a month BrightLocal's managed service is the lower price, and for classic map pack and ranking work it is a strong option. We cost more because each month we run your questions against your competitors, ship the fixes ourselves, and stand behind a guarantee on the pick.
When BrightLocal is the better choice
If you are an agency or a consultant managing many clients, or an owner who wants rank tracking, citations and reviews in one tool, BrightLocal is the better fit and we would say so. If you want to be the business an assistant names when your customer asks, with someone accountable for it, we are.
BrightLocal vs Picked by Agents
| BrightLocal | Picked by Agents | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Local SEO software, citations and a managed service | A done for you service for the AI pick |
| Price | Plans on request, managed local SEO $1,299 a month, citations from $2 | $2,997 or $4,997 a month, month to month |
| AI measurement | Local AI Visibility Tracker and AI Insights | Picks and passes on your customers' questions, with reasons |
| Who makes the fix | You, or their managed team for local SEO | We do, on your site, profile, directories and booking path |
| Guarantee | None stated on their pricing page | Named by the assistants in 90 days or we work free |
| Built for | Local businesses, agencies and consultants | Local businesses with a big ticket and an owner who decides |
Questions we get asked
- Is Picked by Agents a BrightLocal alternative?
- For the AI pick, yes. For rank tracking, reviews and citation building across many clients, BrightLocal does more and costs less.
- Why cite BrightLocal's research on a comparison page?
- Because it is some of the best published data on how assistants treat local businesses. We use it where it is the best source, and say so.
- Can we use both?
- Yes. We have no exclusivity. Clean citations from BrightLocal help, and our fixes land on your own pages and profile.
- Where do your numbers about BrightLocal come from?
- Their public pricing page and published research, read in September 2026. The 97% is our own probe from the same month. If BrightLocal changes its plans, tell us and we will correct this page.
See who the assistants name for your customers' questions.
The report is free, and it is the same run we use to measure the guarantee. If BrightLocal fits you better, we will say so.
Or write to Greg at greg@gregmiller.ai.