SearchestraTwo Tools, Two Different Scores. Which One Do You Believe?
You demo two AI visibility tools and they report different share-of-voice numbers for the same brand. Tempting to believe the higher one. Wrong instinct. The number you should trust is the one the vendor can actually explain, because a confident figure you cannot reproduce is worth nothing.
The higher number is not the truer one
Tools disagree because they use different prompts, platforms, competitive sets and definitions, all legitimate choices that change the result. Picking the vendor with the flattering number, instead of the one who discloses how it was produced, is how you end up defending data that falls apart under a single hard question.
What actually decides trust
| Ask the vendor | If they cannot answer |
|---|---|
| How is the prompt set built? | The number is unrepeatable |
| Which engines and versions? | Coverage is a black box |
| What counts as a mention or citation? | The definitions are hidden |
| How do you handle model updates? | Trends may be artifacts |
Buy the number you can defend
Searchestra uses a versioned, brand-neutral prompt set and reports per engine, so its numbers are interpretable and stable, not a flattering figure you cannot reproduce. Transparency is the whole point.
When tools disagree, trust the transparent number, not the higher one; buy data you can reproduce and defend.
Frequently asked questions
Why do two AI visibility tools disagree?
Different prompt sets, platform coverage, competitive sets and definitions. Two tools can measure the same brand and legitimately differ.
Which tool should I trust?
The one that discloses its methodology, not the one with the higher number. Pick what you can interpret and reproduce.
Is a higher score better?
Not if you cannot reproduce it. An unexplained number is a liability, not a win.