Credits, prompts, and responses are not interchangeable
AthenaHQ defines one credit as one AI response and publishes 300 credits on Essential and 3,600 on Starter. Digraph publishes tracked prompts and brands, with 30 prompts on Standard and 300 on Pro across nine listed AI systems. A prompt can produce multiple model responses, so compare the exact number of prompts, model calls, categories, markets, and stored answers rather than the headline quota.
Compare a broad optimization suite with answer-level evidence
AthenaHQ positions content recommendations, citation analysis, competitor share of voice, alerts, and optimization agents as a connected action layer. Digraph emphasizes the prompt, full answer, recommendation, cited URL, source domain, competitor context, and follow-up analysis behind a finding. Give both tools the same citation or missed-recommendation problem and record whether a reviewer can trace the proposed action back to evidence.
Model coverage needs a like-for-like test
AthenaHQ lists 11 models on Starter and additional models on request, while Digraph lists nine AI systems on Standard and Pro. The names alone do not establish equivalent model versions, query modes, geography, or sampling. Run the same dated prompt set across the overlapping engines, record the full answers and citations, and document any differences in refresh or credit accounting.
Separate included features from paid add-ons
AthenaHQ says API access and extra credits are optional paid add-ons on Starter, while Enterprise adds governance, custom access, BI, and recommendation or citation capabilities. Digraph lists reports and exports on public plans and API access on Enterprise. Confirm export fields, API limits, integrations, user permissions, archive retention, and any credit overage before choosing an operating model.
Run a controlled side-by-side pilot
Use the same brand, competitors, categories, markets, language, buyer questions, active engines, collection window, and reporting format. Record full answers, model and prompt context, brand position, competitor mentions, sentiment or claim labels, cited URLs, source domains, proposed actions, refresh time, and resource consumed. Compare one recurring report and one verified follow-up action before choosing the operating model.