FootnotelyWhat is llms.txt, and should you add one?
llms.txt is a proposed plain-markdown file at the root of your site that gives AI tools a short, clean summary of what you do and links to your key pages. It's cheap to add. Just don't expect miracles from it.
Updated October 19, 2026 · By the Footnotely team
Where it comes from
The format was proposed at llmstxt.org. The file lives at /llms.txt: an H1 with your name, a short blockquote summary, then sections of markdown links.
A template for SaaS sites
# YourProduct > One or two sentences: what it is, who it's for, and the main outcome. ## Key facts - Pricing: Free, Pro $X/month (USD) - Who it's for: ... - Contact: hello@yourdomain.com ## Pages - [Pricing](https://yourdomain.com/pricing): plans and limits - [Docs](https://yourdomain.com/docs): how it works - [Comparison](https://yourdomain.com/vs/competitor): how we differ
See ours at footnotely.com/llms.txt.
Why it's still worth 10 minutes
- It forces you to write down your facts (prices, plans, audience) in one place, which is the same work that helps AI answers get you right.
- Agents and dev tools that browse your site can read it cheaply.
- It costs nothing to maintain if you update it when prices change.
What matters more
AI crawlers being allowed in (check yours), server-rendered text, accurate structured data on your pricing page, and being listed on the third-party sites AI answers cite. Then measure whether you're actually mentioned.
FAQ
Do ChatGPT or Google use llms.txt?
We haven't seen any of the major AI search providers publicly commit to using llms.txt for ranking or citations. Treat it as a low-cost extra, not a ranking factor.
Is llms.txt the same as robots.txt?
No. robots.txt tells crawlers what they may fetch. llms.txt is a content summary for language models and doesn't control access.
Track it every week instead of checking by hand
Footnotely asks your buyer questions on ChatGPT, Perplexity and Gemini several times per run and shows the mention rate with its sample size, the raw answers, and who gets named instead of you. Free plan, then from $29/mo.