When you ask ChatGPT a question, it often pulls information from websites and mentions them in its answer. But which websites does it use the most?
Coin Ideology Digital teams studied the following key sources to find out the top website that show up in ChatGPT result. This blog brings together all that data in one easy-to-read place.
Key sources used:
- Ahrefs — studied 9.6 million ChatGPT queries (Sep 2025)
- Profound — analyzed 680 million citations (Jun 2025)
- First Page Sage — ran 36,127 buying-focused questions (Dec 2025, updated Apr 2026)
- BuzzStream — cross-study comparison of all major reports (Apr 2026)
- SEMrush AI Visibility Index — industry-specific breakdown (Sep 2025)
Important: The results look very different depending on the TYPE of question asked. A general question gives very different results from a buying-focused question. Keep that in mind as you read.
Top 15 Most Cited Websites in ChatGPT (US Data)
Based on Ahrefs’ study of 9.6 million queries — the largest study available — here are the top websites ChatGPT mentions most in the United States.
| # | Website | Mentions (US) | Category | Key Note |
| 1 | reddit.com | 847,338 | Community / Forum | ~30% of all US citations |
| 2 | en.wikipedia.org | 431,710 | Reference / Knowledge | 7.8% of all global citations (Profound) |
| 3 | amazon.com | 97,457 | eCommerce | Top product source |
| 4 | forbes.com | 48,052 | Media / Business | Appears in ALL 4 major studies |
| 5 | businessinsider.com | 37,712 | Media / Business | Strong across all topics |
| 6 | thespruce.com | 36,195 | Home & Garden | Leading home authority |
| 7 | wired.com | 28,611 | Technology | Top tech & science pub |
| 8 | techradar.com | 28,363 | Technology | Appears in 3 of 4 studies |
| 9 | tomsguide.com | 26,863 | Tech Reviews | Gadgets & buying guides |
| 10 | verywellhealth.com | 25,091 | Health | Top trusted health site |
| 11 | healthline.com | 22,865 | Health | Globally trusted wellness |
| 12 | theguardian.com | 21,602 | News | Major international news |
| 13 | investopedia.com | 20,218 | Finance | Go-to financial knowledge |
| 14 | nerdwallet.com | 16,525 | Finance | Top personal finance site |
| 15 | consumerreports.org | 12,923 | Reviews | Independent product testing |
Why is Reddit #1? In March 2024, Reddit signed an official data partnership with OpenAI. This gives ChatGPT direct access to Reddit’s real-time content — which is why Reddit alone makes up almost 30% of all US citations.
Sites That Show Up Across Every Study
Different research teams used different methods, so raw numbers vary. But some sites show up on every list. These are the true ‘always cited‘ websites.
| Website | Appears In | Why It Matters |
| forbes.com | 4 / 4 | The most consistent publisher. Shows up in every major study. |
| reddit.com | 3 / 4 | Dominates when it appears. Has an official OpenAI data partnership. |
| wikipedia.org | 3 / 4 | Accounts for 7.8% of all 680M citations in Profound’s study. |
| techradar.com | 3 / 4 | A surprising consistent performer across tech and business topics. |
| businessinsider.com | 3 / 4 | Strong presence across business, tech, and lifestyle queries. |
Forbes is the only website that appeared in all 4 major studies — making it the single most consistent publisher for ChatGPT citations. If you want to get featured somewhere to improve your AI visibility, Forbes is your best bet.
When Someone Wants to Buy — Different Sites Win
Here is a very important finding from First Page Sage’s study of 36,127 buying-focused questions. When someone asks ChatGPT ‘what is the best product?’ or ‘which service should I hire?’, different types of websites get cited.
Reddit drops way down the list. Instead, product review sites and consumer platforms take the top spots.
| # | Website Type | Citations | Examples |
| 1 | Product Recommendation Sites | 7,642 | Wirecutter, Tom’s Guide, TechRadar — ‘Best of’ review sites |
| 2 | Consumer Review Platforms | 5,983 | Trustpilot, BBB, Google Reviews |
| 3 | Traditional Media | 4,581 | Forbes, NYT, Wired — major publishers |
| 4 | Digital-Native Publications | 3,826 | TechCrunch, The Verge |
| 5 | YouTube / Video Reviews | 3,211 | Video reviews AI can summarize |
| 6 | Directory Sites | 2,639 | Yelp, TripAdvisor, Angi |
| 7 | Official Brand Sites | 2,208 | Manufacturer or retailer sites |
| 8 | B2B Marketplace Directories | 1,762 | G2, Clutch, UpCity |
| 9 | eCommerce Marketplaces | 1,413 | Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy |
| 10 | Corporate Blogs | 1,109 | HubSpot Blog, Salesforce Newsroom |
| 12 | Forum Communities (Reddit etc.) | 674 | Much lower for buying queries |
Bottom line for buying queries: If you sell a product or service, focus on getting listed in ‘best of’ roundups (like Wirecutter or Tom’s Guide), review platforms (Trustpilot, BBB), and major media like Forbes. Reddit is great for awareness but has very little impact on commercial recommendations — only about 11% influence.
Top Sites by Industry (Buying Queries)
The sites ChatGPT cites change a lot depending on your industry. Based on First Page Sage’s research of 36,127 buying-intent queries across 18 industries:
| Industry | Top-Cited Websites by ChatGPT |
| eCommerce | Wirecutter, Forbes, Tom’s Guide |
| Financial Services | NerdWallet, Investopedia, Forbes Advisor |
| Healthcare | Forbes Health, Verywell Health, Medical News Today |
| Automotive | Car and Driver, Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds |
| Home Services | Angi (Angie’s List), Thumbtack, HomeAdvisor |
| SaaS / Software | G2, DesignRush, Clutch |
| Hospitality | TripAdvisor, Booking.com, Yelp |
| Cybersecurity | Cybersecurity Insiders, Gartner Peer Insights, TechRadar |
| Pharmaceutical | Drugs.com, FDA.gov, PubMed |
| Real Estate | Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin |
| Higher Education | US News Education, Niche.com |
| Manufacturing | Thomasnet, IndustryWeek, Engineering360 |
Key Takeaways — What This Means For You
1. Reddit and Wikipedia Dominate — But Not Everywhere
These two sites come out on top in almost every general study. But for commercial or buying queries, their influence is much smaller. Don’t assume Reddit is the most important thing to focus on for business growth.
2. Getting Listed in ‘Best Of’ Articles Is Very Powerful
Product recommendation sites (Wirecutter, Tom’s Guide, TechRadar) are the #1 type of site cited for buying queries. If you want ChatGPT to recommend your product or service, getting featured in these roundups is where to focus your PR efforts.
3. Reviews Matter a Lot
Consumer review platforms (Trustpilot, BBB, G2) are the 2nd most-cited type for buying queries. Maintaining a strong review presence on these sites directly affects whether ChatGPT recommends you.
4. Forbes Is the Safest Publication to Target
Forbes is the only site that appeared across all 4 major studies. Getting featured in Forbes — or similar high-authority publications — gives you the best chance of showing up in ChatGPT answers across many different types of questions.
5. OpenAI Partnerships Don’t Guarantee Visibility
Of 17 confirmed OpenAI data partners, only 8 showed up in the top 10 of any study. Having a partnership with OpenAI does not automatically mean ChatGPT will cite you more. Good content and domain authority matter more.
6. Your Industry Changes Everything
The sites ChatGPT uses change completely by topic. A healthcare brand should target Verywell Health; an automotive brand should target Edmunds. Always look at your specific industry, not just the overall top 10 list.
7. Good Old SEO Fundamentals Still Apply
The sites ChatGPT trusts most all share the same traits: high domain authority, topical expertise, and strong brand recognition. There is no trick or shortcut — strong content and a trusted brand are what get you cited by AI.
Data Sources
- Ahrefs — ‘100 Most Cited Domains in ChatGPT’ — Sep 2025 — 9.6M queries
- Profound — ‘AI Platform Citation Patterns’ — Jun 2025 — 680M citations
- Wellows — ‘ChatGPT Citations Report’ — Jul 2025 — 485K citations
- SEMrush AI Visibility Index — Sep 2025 — 5 major industries
- First Page Sage — ‘Most Cited Websites by AI for Buying-Intent Queries’ — Dec 2025, updated Apr 2026 — 36,127 queries
- BuzzStream — ‘Top Sites Showing Up in ChatGPT’ — Apr 2026 — cross-study analysis