State of AI Search: MSP Software
Which MSP platforms win AI search recommendations?
Overview
The Managed Service Provider software market is a surprisingly tight race in AI search. NinjaOne leads with 43 citations, but the competition is close — Atera, ConnectWise, and Syncro are all clustered at 36 citations each. We tested 14 queries across 77 companies. Every company was cited at least once, but only 22 appear on both engines. This vertical shows that being present on one engine isn't enough — cross-engine consistency separates the leaders from the rest.
Key Findings
NinjaOne leads with 43 total citations — 7 ahead of a three-way tie for second
Atera, ConnectWise, and Syncro are all tied at 36 citations
All 77 companies were cited at least once
Only 22 companies appear on both ChatGPT and Perplexity
Datto rounds out the top 5 with 32 citations
Cross-engine consistency separates the top tier from the rest of the field
Top 5 Companies by Total Citations
Per-Engine Breakdown
ChatGPT
GPT-4o
Perplexity
Sonar Pro
Methodology
Scope & Testing Window
77 companies in the MSP Software vertical were tested across 14 buyer-intent queries using 2 AI search engines: ChatGPT (GPT-4o, OpenAI) and Perplexity (Sonar Pro). Fieldwork dates: May 13 – May 20, 2026.
AI Engines & Configuration
ChatGPT was tested with web browsing disabled to isolate the model's trained knowledge from live search results. Perplexity was tested in its default mode, which retrieves and synthesizes live web sources.
Geography & Account Controls
All queries were run from US-based IP addresses using English-language prompts. Results may differ by region, language, and account history. Fresh browser sessions with no prior conversation history were used for each query batch. No custom instructions or plugins were enabled. ChatGPT was accessed via the Plus plan; Perplexity via the Pro plan.
Query Design
Queries were designed to represent buyer-intent searches — the kinds of queries prospects use when evaluating software or service providers. Informational queries (e.g., "what is endpoint security") were excluded. The full query set is available in the downloadable CSV.
Company Selection
77 MSP software companies were sourced from G2 and Capterra categories for RMM, PSA, and MSP platforms, supplemented by companies listed in Channel Futures and CRN partner program rankings.
What Counts as a Citation
A citation is counted when a company is named as a recommendation, solution, or notable provider in an AI engine's response to a buyer-intent query. Passing mentions in disclaimers, generic lists of alternatives, or follow-up clarification prompts are excluded.
Scoring Rules
Each company received one citation point per appearance in an AI engine response, regardless of position within the response. A company mentioned first and a company mentioned last both receive one citation. No weighting by position, prominence, or sentiment was applied. Total citations = sum of appearances across all queries and both engines.
Repetitions & Statistical Note
Each query was run once per engine per testing session. AI responses are non-deterministic — running the same query again may produce different results. This study captures a single snapshot, not a statistical average. Because each query was run once (not repeated), these results represent a single observation per query-engine pair, not a statistical estimate. Confidence intervals and p-values do not apply. Treat the data as a structured snapshot of AI engine behavior during the testing window, not as a stable measurement.
Engine Coverage Note
This study covers two AI engines (ChatGPT and Perplexity). Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude, Microsoft Copilot, and other AI search products were not included. We plan to expand engine coverage in Q3 2026.
Research Lead
Andrew Swiler is the Founder of AnswerManiac and leads the company's primary research on AI search visibility. With a background in B2B marketing strategy and search optimization, he designed the State of AI Search methodology to give companies verifiable data on how AI engines represent their brands.
Sponsor Disclosure
This research was funded and conducted by AnswerManiac. No company featured in the study paid for inclusion or influenced its methodology or findings. AnswerManiac offers AI visibility optimization services, which creates a commercial interest in the topic studied. The raw data is published to allow independent verification.
Limitations
AI engine responses vary by session, account, and region. Results reflect a specific testing window.
Only two AI engines were tested. Google Gemini, Claude, and Copilot were not included. We plan to expand engine coverage in future quarters.
Citation counts reflect presence in responses, not position weighting or sentiment.
The 14 queries tested cover major buyer-intent categories but do not represent all possible search variations.
Each query was run once per engine. Results represent a single snapshot, not a statistical average across multiple runs.
Cite This Report
Andrew Swiler et al. "State of AI Search: MSP Software." AnswerManiac, June 1, 2026. https://www.answermaniac.ai/research/state-of-ai-search-msp
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Open Data
Full dataset available for download. Licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.
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