r/explainlikeimfive for brand marketing: what AI answers cite and where we have posted
r/explainlikeimfive threads were cited 53 times in 49 AI answers we tracked (Jun 6, 2026 to Oct 2, 2026), which ranks it #131 of the 138 subreddits cited 50 or more times. We have placed under 50 verified comments there, so none of our own placement numbers for it are published.
53
AI citations of its threads
21
different threads cited
under 50
verified comments we placed
#131
of 138 by AI citations
How AI answers use r/explainlikeimfive
| Engine | Citations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Perplexity (Sonar) | 29 | 55% |
| Gemini (2.0 and 2.5 Flash) | 24 | 45% |
| OpenAI models (GPT-4o, GPT-5.1) | 0 | 0% |
| Question type | Citations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Describing a problem | 44 | 83% |
| Looking for a product to buy | 6 | 11% |
| Comparing products or competitors | 3 | 6% |
The r/explainlikeimfive threads AI answers cite most
| Thread (from its link) | Times cited |
|---|---|
| Eli5 why are pills so intense on the stomach | 12 |
| Eli5why do business class airfare cost several… | 7 |
| Eli5 why do energy drinks make me more jittery… | 5 |
| Eli5 difference between delta8 thc and delta9thc… | 4 |
| Eli5 why does simple video editing take so long… | 4 |
These 5 threads account for 32 of the 53 citations.
Our verified comments in r/explainlikeimfive
We have placed under 50 verified comments in r/explainlikeimfive, so we publish no placement numbers for it.
Reading the r/explainlikeimfive numbers
Perplexity supplies the largest share of the citations (55%, 29 of 53), ahead of Gemini at 45%.
By question type, describing a problem accounts for 83% of the answers that cited r/explainlikeimfive, then looking for a product to buy (11%) and comparing products or competitors (6%).
Citations are spread out: the most-cited thread accounts for 23% of them and the top three for 45%, out of 21 different threads.
Before you post anything yourself, read the rules of r/explainlikeimfive; moderators change them. For how these threads reach answers, see the AI search guide.
Frequently asked questions
Do AI answers cite r/explainlikeimfive?
Yes. In 66,986 AI answers we tracked between Jan 9, 2026 and Oct 2, 2026, r/explainlikeimfive threads were cited 53 times across 49 answers and 21 different threads.
How many comments has CommunityMentions placed in r/explainlikeimfive?
Fewer than 50 verified comments, so we do not publish a count for it.
Similar general-interest subreddits
| Subreddit | AI citations | Our verified comments | Members |
|---|---|---|---|
| r/NoStupidQuestions | 68 | under 50 | |
| r/AskReddit | under 50 | 215 | 58,645,639 |
| r/NewToReddit | 274 | under 50 |
Related lists and guides
Method
Counts come from CommunityMentions' AI-answer tracking and delivery database; anything under 50 shows as "under 50". The page text is generated from those counts. Full method.
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