What’s Search Engine Optimization?
If you want people to see the content you’re making, whether it’s blog posts or YouTube videos, search engine optimization (SEO) will be an important tool in your arsenal. Good keyword research means you’re making content people are looking for, answering their questions, and generally providing value.
All that said, there’s TONS of options, both paid and free, for SEO tools. I’ve combed the web for the best of the best in both categories, so let’s dive in!
Best Overall – SEMRush
There are two powerhouse tools in the SEO space, and choosing between the two of them for “best” was a bit difficult. I chose Semrush because based on my experience with the tool, as well as what others say their favorite is, Semrush comes out ahead, if only slightly.
Semrush offers a 7-day free trial, but its lowest-cost paid plan is a hefty $129 per month, up to $499 for their business-level plan. It also offers a bunch of add-ons, most of which will be more useful to the seasoned SEO vet.
Semrush is incredibly powerful and feature-rich and can be used for keyword research, website audits, creating and tracking pay-per-click campaigns, and generally improving your website’s rankings in search engines. The downside of all the tools and features is a steep learning curve, so beginners are better off looking at some of the other tools I suggest in this post.
Pros – Feature-rich, advanced features, free 7-day trail
Cons – Expensive for beginners, no historical data on entry-level plan, steep learning curve
Best Runner Up – Ahrefs
The other powerhouse in the SEO space is undoubtedly Ahrefs. It’s another all-in-one SEO tool for finding keywords, evaluating the competition, and search volume for them. Like Semrush, you can track keyword rankings, monitor backlinks, and audit your website to further optimize it.
Ahref’s entry-level plan can be had for as low as $83 per month when purchased annually. The lite plan is where I’d recommend most people start with the tool, but to get all of Ahref’s features you’ll need the standard or high plan. They also offer a free basic webmaster tool option, which provides limited access to search traffic, keywords, backlink info, and SEO health, but it is pretty limited in features compared to the paid plans.
Pros – More affordable than SEM Rush, free basic webmaster tools, track your ranking progress
Cons – Expensive for beginners, no free trial, somewhat steep learning curve.
Best Budget – AnswerThePublic
AnswerThePublic is a powerful SEO tool designed to provide users with insights into the questions people have related to a particular topic. It goes beyond traditional keyword research by visualizing data in a unique and user-friendly way.
AnswerThePublic uses search engine autocomplete suggestions to generate visualizations of questions, phrases, and keywords associated with a specific topic. The tool organizes this information into a “search cloud” or “content map,”
While more limited in features than Ahrefs or Semrush, I think AnswerThePublic is a great tool to start with for beginners. It’s very easy to use, has little to no learning curve, and gives you easy-to-implement results. Those reasons are why AnswerThePublic is one of my go-to tools!
Pros – easy to use, low cost (starts at $9 / month), free tier with limited features, great for generating content ideas
Cons – Limited features compared to others, limited daily searches on entry tier, only uses autocomplete data from search engines
Paid Alternative – KWFinderby Mangools
KWFinder by Mangools is a comprehensive SEO tool designed to streamline the process of keyword research. While not as feature-rich as competitors, it offers the essential tools needed to do the job, making it a good option for those on a budget.
KWFinder is also easy to use, and beginner-friendly, so it’s a great option for those just starting out with SEO. Their chrome extension makes
KWFinder starts at $29.99 per month, but the lowest tier plan is pretty limited on the research you can do. You can do up to 25 competitor keywords, and 100 keyword looks ups every 24 hours.
Pros – affordable compared to other tools, 10-day free trial, easy to use, limited free tools
Cons – Daily keyword lookup limits for entry-level plan, limited historical data for keywords
Best Free Tool(s) – Google Search Console, Keyword Planner, and Google Search
Sure, it’s not a singular tool, but Google does have some tools to help you on your SEO journey, all for free. Truth is, all the tools above pull data from Google, and you don’t need to pay tons of money for a tool when you’re just starting out.
If you want to see what people are searching for related to certain keywords, you can go right to the Google homepage and use the autocomplete options to start. You can also use the “people also search for” area further down the page to come up with more ideas.
Google Search Console helps you monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot your site’s presence in Google search results, to make sure you’re showing up for your audience there. It offers tools for site crawling, fixing indexing issues, viewing search traffic of your site, and showing what sites link to yours.
Google Keyword Planner helps you research keywords (who would have guessed!). You can use it to find new keywords, see estimated search volumes, and see how much it costs to target them. It’s built to support pay-per-click campaigns but is also a handy SEO tool.
Pros – Free, data comes right from the source, WordPress native plugins
Cons – Takes more time & effort, no insights on competition or volume
Best Free Tool Runner-Up – SEMRush Free Account
Truth is Semrush has some really great tools available for free, if not limited. This isn’t the same as the free trial, which gives you access to all the features of the full tool for a limited time.
With a free account, you can do keyword research, competitor analysis, track keyword rankings, run a site audit, and more. Like I said, there are limits on the free account. You can run 10 keyword searches per day, with 10 results per report. You can analyze up to 10 domains per day, track 10 keywords, and crawl up to 100 URLs with the Site Audit tool.
You could look at the free account as an extended free trial, or just use it with limits indefinitely. It’s my runner-up to Google because you get the convenience of having all the tools in one place, but have pretty low limits on searches.
Pros – Get access to some of Semrush’s best tools for free, don’t need to enter your credit card to make an account
Cons – Low limits on searches and URL crawls, paid tiers are pretty expensive if you’re considering making that jump
FAQ
What is SEO?
SEO stands for search engine optimization. It’s the art and science of enhancing a website’s visibility on search engines like Google. It involves optimizing various elements on your site to improve its ranking in search results, with the ultimate goal being driving organic traffic.
When should I invest in a SEO tool?
If you’re just starting out, it’s a good idea to learn the fundamentals first with the free tools available. As you grow your business and revenue, it makes sense to invest in a tool to help maximize your content’s visibility and grow your site’s traffic.
How do you choose the best SEO tool?
Consider your specific needs, such as keyword research, backlink analysis, or site auditing. Look for tools that offer a user-friendly interface, accurate data, and regular updates. The choice depends on your goals and the scale of your operation. Make use of the various free trials available, to test all the top tools and take your pick from those that fit your budget!
