The AEO Audit Checklist (Interactive, Scored)
A free, interactive AEO audit checklist scored against the eight Canon pillars. Tick every item that's true of your site, see your score per pillar, and fix the earliest unchecked layer first. Runs entirely in your browser — nothing is saved or sent.
This is a free, interactive AEO audit checklist scored against the eight AEO Canon pillars. Tick every item that's already true of your site, read your score per pillar, and fix the earliest unchecked layer first — because the pillars cascade, an unaddressed item near the top outranks anything below it.
Quick answer
Work top-down. The checklist groups every move under its pillar in cascade order — Foundation → Reputation → Momentum. Your highest- leverage fix is the first unchecked box, because a gap early in the cascade caps everything after it. Score yourself, then go fix the top.
The AEO audit checklist
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Tick every item you can honestly say is true of your site today. Your score is grouped by pillar so you can see where the gaps are — work the earliest unchecked layer first. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.
AccessFoundation
0/3AlignmentFoundation
0/3ExtractabilityFoundation
0/3AuthorityReputation
0/3CredibilityReputation
0/3OriginalityReputation
0/3FreshnessMomentum
0/3AdaptabilityMomentum
0/3Start checking the boxes you can honestly tick.
How to read your score
Your total is how much of the citable-site checklist you've done; your per-pillar scores show where the gaps are. Don't optimize evenly — the pillars are ordered on purpose. If Access or Extractability has unchecked items, fix those before touching Freshness or Adaptability, because an engine that can't read or lift your page never gets to the rest. This is the same logic as using the Canon as a diagnostic: find the first broken gate and start there.
Where to go next
Each item maps to a pillar with a full deep-dive — open the one you scored lowest on. Start from The AEO Canon for the whole framework, walk the diagnostic method, and when you want an automated, URL-level technical check, the AI visibility analyzer is launching soon. For a quicker, higher-level read, try the 8-pillar self-assessment.
How we review
This guideis compiled from each vendor’s own documentation and current independent testing, and was last verified in 2026; we re-check quarterly. Pricing and features in this space change fast — confirm current details on the vendor’s site before buying. We don’t earn affiliate commissions on the tools we cover, and we don’t accept payment for placement.
Frequently asked questions
- What is an AEO audit?
- An AEO audit is a structured check of whether your site can be found, read, and cited by AI answer engines. This checklist scores you against the eight AEO Canon pillars — access, alignment, extractability, authority, credibility, originality, freshness, and adaptability — by asking whether you've done the concrete work each one requires. Your score per pillar shows where the gaps are.
- How do I use the AEO audit checklist?
- Tick every item you can honestly say is already true of your site. The tool scores each pillar and your total, and groups results by pillar so you can see your weak spots. Because the pillars cascade, fix the earliest unchecked layer first — an unaddressed access or extractability item matters more than anything below it. Use the print button to save or share your result.
- Is this AEO audit free?
- Yes — it's completely free and runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you check is saved, sent, or tracked. It's a self-assessment against the same eight pillars the rest of the Canon explains, not an automated scan of your URL.
- What's the difference between this and the AI visibility analyzer?
- This checklist is a manual self-audit you score yourself, useful right now and offline. The AI visibility analyzer (launching soon) will automatically fetch your URL and check on-page SEO, AI-readiness, rendering, and Core Web Vitals. Use the checklist to audit your practices; use the analyzer to audit a specific page's technical state.