Simran Bharti
Content Manager
Search is shifting – and fast.
For years, finding SaaS tools was all about Googling “Best Industry tool” or looking for “Best SaaS alternatives,” scanning listicles, and top ranking blog articles and platforms like G2 or Capterra.
However, the way we discover software is being rewritten in real time.
Instead of sifting through pages of results, more people are turning to Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity. You type a question, and boom – you get an answer.
Moreover, the search results have changed too. Before 2024 we’ve seen lots of blog articles, listicles and review platforms in the Google top. Today, with Google confirming that the algorithm favors UGC platforms, Reddit is now featured almost in every search result for the high intent SaaS keyword.
This shift is great for users, in both how we search and what shows up.
But it raises a critical question:
Are LLMs pulling from Reddit threads? Top-ranking blog posts? Review platforms? Their own training data? And if Reddit ranks that well on Google, is it also shaping what AI tools say?
We put it to the test and here’s what we found.
The experiment: Reddit vs. LLMs
First, we picked dozens of high-intent SaaS “alternatives” keywords like:
- “Trello alternatives”
- “Zapier alternatives”
- “Slack alternatives”
We’ve chosen only those where Reddit ranks in Google top-5.
Next step we went to Reddit threads for each of the keywords we analyzed and pulled the tools mentioned in the threads.
That gave us a solid dataset of what Reddit loves. Here’s an example of Reddit thread for Slack alternatives
Next, we asked four leading LLMs: ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini for their recommended alternatives for each keyword. Each model gave us its own unique list.
Finally, we compared the results:
- Which Reddit tools made it into the LLMs’ answers?
- Which ones got left out?
- And what does this tell us about how AI is shaping SaaS discovery?
The results: Overlap, misses, and surprises
Here’s what we saw:
| LLM | Reddit Overlap (%) |
| Perplexity | 38.96% |
| Gemini | 38.27% |
| ChatGPT | 33.46% |
| Claude | 30.86% |
Perplexity showed the strongest Reddit influence, with Gemini close behind.
ChatGPT and Claude had lower overlap, but still notable.
Tools everyone agrees on:
Some tools are so widely discussed, they pop up everywhere:
- Notion
- Trello
- Slack
- Airtable
- ClickUp
If you’re in SaaS, you already know these names. They’re the usual suspects – the ones everyone talks about, on Reddit and in AI answers.
Tools Reddit loves, but LLMs ignore
Here’s where it gets interesting. There are a bunch of tools that Reddit users talk about, but that never show up in LLM recommendations. Here are just a few examples:
- Nimbus Note (Notion alternative)
- Missive (Front/Help Scout alternative)
- RemNote (Obsidian/Roam alternative)
- MirrorFly (Chat SDK)
- Campsite (Light communication tool)
- Jandi (Team chat)
- Breakroom (Remote team interaction)
None of these appeared in ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, or Gemini’s answers.
Lesser-known tools that made it to LLMs
But it’s not all about the big names or total misses. Some smaller, niche tools did show up in both places:
- Chanty – Slack alternative
- Missive – Email/chat alternative
- Zulip – Team chat alternative
- Twist – Async communication
This suggests that if a tool is discussed enough on Reddit – and if those discussions rank well in Google – it’s got a shot at showing up in AI answers.
Why does Reddit matter so much?
Here’s the thing: Reddit ranks in Google’s top 5 for 76% of high-intent SaaS keywords. That’s huge.
When LLMs are generating answers, they’re pulling from the same sources Google is – and that means Reddit threads are often in the mix.
But it’s not just about being on Reddit. It’s about being on Reddit in a way that Google (and, by extension, LLMs) can find and understand.
If your tool is buried in a sub-thread or a low-ranking post, it’s not going to Successfully pass the initial evaluation stages and be selected for advancement.
What this means for SaaS brands
If you want your tool to show up in AI answers, you can’t just rely on Reddit.
But you can’t ignore it, either.
Here’s what you should do:
✅ Don’t put all your eggs in the Reddit basket. Reddit mentions help, but they’re not a magic bullet.
✅ Get active in Reddit discussions. The more you participate, the more visible your brand becomes – and the more likely it is to be picked up by LLMs.
✅ Watch Reddit’s Google rankings. Tools mentioned on top-ranking Reddit threads are much more likely to appear in AI answers.
✅ Build a strong online presence. It’s not just Reddit – the better known your brand is, the more likely it is to show up in LLM responses.
The bottom line
Reddit is shaping AI recommendations more than you might think. But it’s not the only player.
To get your SaaS tool noticed by both people and AI, you need to be everywhere – on Reddit, in Google’s top results, and in the conversations that matter.
SEO isn’t dead. It’s just sharing the stage with AI.
If you want to stay discoverable, you need to play both sides: optimize for search engines, and make your content easy for LLMs to find, understand, and cite.
In 2025, merely ranking isn’t enough. You have to be where people are searching for answers.
Want help getting your brand mentioned across Reddit, Google and LLMs?
