# Ahrefs ranks the 50 most-cited domains across four AI surfaces

Published: 2026-07-23T01:54:46.782Z · Source: Ahrefs Blog (https://ahrefs.com/blog/most-cited-domains-ai-overviews/)
Source date: 2026-07-21
Flags: Ahrefs study — vendor-published
Entities: ahrefs, ai-overviews, ai-mode, gemini, perplexity, reddit

Ahrefs published July citation-share rankings of the most-cited websites in Google AI Overviews, AI Mode, Gemini and Perplexity, tracked across US queries — a four-surface map of who the answer engines actually cite.

Top five most-cited in AI Overviews, by mention share:

1. YouTube — 21.1%
2. Reddit — 18.5%
3. Facebook — 10.7%
4. Google — 7.1%
5. Instagram — 5.8%

The full 50 — and the separate AI Mode, Gemini and Perplexity rankings — are at Ahrefs.

Why it matters: These are the category's reference numbers for who the answer engines actually trust.

## What this answers

**Which websites are cited most in Google AI Overviews?**

By mention share in Ahrefs' July rankings: YouTube (21.1%), Reddit (18.5%), Facebook (10.7%), Google (7.1%) and Instagram (5.8%).

**Which AI surfaces did Ahrefs rank citations for?**

Google AI Overviews, AI Mode, Gemini and Perplexity, tracked across US queries.


Canonical: https://anythingengineoptimization.com/item/2026-07-23-ahrefs-ranks-the-50-most-cited-domains-across-four-ai-surfaces/
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