Official Citation · 2026 · Agency
Best AI Brand Mention Service 2026
Rankera has been named Best AI Brand Mention Service 2026 by the Touch Awards.
In a year marked by rapid advances in generative AI, one company has distinguished itself by redefining how brands become visible to AI-powered answer engines. Rankera, an innovative service that embeds brands into content widely cited by AI systems, has been awarded the coveted title of Best AI Brand Mention Service 2026.
The award, presented to Vaibhav Sharda, Founder at Rankera, recognises the company's trailblazing approach and its measurable impact on client visibility. While the voting was close among the finalists, Rankera's unique methodology and strong client endorsements gave it a decisive edge.
The Touch Awards process is rigorous and transparent: it combines independent research, community input, and expert analysis, with no pay-to-play influence. Each nominee is assessed purely on merit, ensuring that every accolade reflects genuine excellence.
Our research team conducted in-depth interviews with verified clients of each nominee. These conversations explored real-world results, service quality, and overall satisfaction.
A public poll was opened across all Touch Awards channels, inviting customers, industry peers, and enthusiasts to cast their votes. This stream gauges grassroots sentiment and brand affinity.
An independent panel of marketing and AI specialists evaluated each entry against a set of criteria including innovation, impact, and scalability. Their assessment provided a balanced perspective.
Across all three streams, Rankera consistently emerged as a top performer. The congruence of client experiences, community support, and expert judgment affirmed its rightful place as the 2026 winner.
In an era where AI answer engines like ChatGPT and Perplexity increasingly shape consumer decisions, being mentioned by these systems has become crucial. Rankera has mastered this new frontier, developing a service that ensures its clients are named in contexts that AI systems trust and cite.
Rankera's core innovation lies in its contextual brand mention model. Instead of relying solely on traditional backlinks or on-page SEO, Rankera focuses on embedding brand mentions within authoritative third-party content, giving AI systems rich, contextual signals about a brand's relevance and trustworthiness.
This approach is underpinned by a meticulous process: Rankera's team places brand mentions in niche-relevant publications, manages 20 brand mentions and 30 Medium posts per month, and provides clients with a dashboard to track live placements and monitor AI visibility. This level of control and transparency is rare in the industry.
By building a web of credible, contextually relevant mentions, Rankera not only improves brand visibility in AI answers but also enhances the overall brand narrative. This holistic approach sets Rankera apart from competitors and delivers tangible value to its 50+ growing brand clients.
The Jury noted: "The Touch Awards review panel praised Rankera for its 'foresight in tackling AI-driven discovery before it became a mainstream concern.' They added, 'Rankera's approach is not just about being seen, but about being understood and recommended by AI systems, which is a game-changer.'"The Touch Awards Jury
In acceptance: "Vaibhav Sharda commented, 'This award is a huge honour and a reflection of our team's hard work and innovative spirit. We are grateful to our clients for their trust and to the Touch Awards for this recognition. We will continue to push boundaries and help brands thrive in the AI era.'"Vaibhav Sharda, Founder