Do comparison pages get cited by AI engines differently than regular blog posts?

Yes. Comparison pages tend to earn citations for high-intent queries that regular editorial content does not. AI engines treat comparison queries as decision-support tasks and look for pages that explicitly rank or evaluate options against named criteria. Structured tables and "best for" labeling dramatically improve extraction rates for this content type.

Should I build a "[My Brand] vs [Competitor]" page even if the competitor is much larger than me?

Yes, with one condition: you need to be honest about where the larger competitor wins. A page that admits tradeoffs is far more likely to earn AI citations than a page that claims across-the-board superiority. AI engines trained on review data have implicit knowledge of competitor positioning and de-prioritize implausible claims.

Does FAQPage schema still help after Google removed FAQ rich results in May 2026?

Yes. The removal of the SERP rich result does not affect how AI engines extract content. FAQPage schema gives AI engines a machine-readable map of Q&A pairs on the page, making your content significantly easier to cite in a generated answer. Multiple 2025 studies found that pages with FAQPage schema consistently outperformed equivalent pages without it for AI Overview citation rates.

How many alternatives should I cover on an alternatives page?

Five to eight is the right range for most categories. Fewer than five looks thin. More than eight dilutes the depth per alternative and makes the page harder for AI engines to extract specific comparisons from. Each alternative should have at minimum a one-paragraph profile, a pricing note, and a "best for" statement.

How do I track whether my comparison page is being cited by AI engines?

Use a GEO audit tool or an AI visibility monitoring platform to run your primary comparison queries across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and Claude, then track which domain gets cited and how often. Check monthly at minimum, as citation patterns shift when competitors update their pages or earn new backlinks.

What is the most common reason a comparison page fails to earn AI citations?

Lack of specific, extractable claims in the first third of the content. AI engines cite the first 30% of a document 44% of the time (Kevin Indig / Search Engine Land, February 2026). If your opening section is a category overview with no concrete comparison data, the page will not earn citations even if the rest of the content is excellent.

Should comparison pages include negative information about my own product?

Yes, one concession per product you cover, including your own. AI engines cross-reference comparison content against review sites and forum discussions. A page that accurately identifies a known limitation of your product reads as credible. A page that claims no limitations reads as promotional and is weighted accordingly.

How often should I refresh a comparison page?

Quarterly at minimum for pricing, ratings, and feature data. Major refreshes, adding new alternatives, restructuring criteria tables, should happen when a significant competitor enters or exits your category or when your product ships a major feature update that changes your competitive position.

How to Optimize Comparison and Alternatives Pages for AI Answers