9 Best WordPress SEO Plugins You Should Be Using

Best WordPress SEO plugins

Search engine optimization (SEO) helps to drive organic traffic to websites. If you have a WordPress site, optimizing your website for search engines is essential for improving your visibility and attracting more visitors. Fortunately, several SEO plugins can simplify the process and help you achieve better search engine rankings. In this article, we will explore only the best WordPress SEO plugins that you should be using to enhance your website’s SEO performance.

On this page, I list the top WordPress plugins that help improve SEO. Now, let’s explore our top selection of WordPress plugins every WordPress site should have.

Best WordPress SEO Plugins

When it comes to SEO for WordPress, there are a few standout plugins that have gained popularity among users. Let’s compare the features, pricing, and ease of use of these top plugins: Yoast SEO, All in One SEO (AIOSEO), Rank Math SEO, and SEOPress.

Yoast SEO plugin

1. Yoast SEO

Yoast SEO is still one of the most widely used SEO plugins for WordPress. It was the first SEO plugin I used. But I have shifted to Rank Math for its better pricing and extensive features.

Yoast offers a comprehensive set of features, including content analysis, XML sitemap generation, meta-tag optimization, and social media integration. The plugin provides real-time suggestions to help you optimize your content for search engines. It also provides a readability analysis that helps you improve your content’s readability and SEO. 

Yoast SEO features:

FeatureYoast SEO FreeYoast SEO Premium
SEO AnalysisBasic on-page & readabilityEnhanced, inclusive language, content insights
Focus Keywords1 keyword/postUp to 5 related keywords/post
XML SitemapsAuto-generatedAuto-generated, IndexNow
Meta Titles/Desc.Manual customizationManual, AI-powered suggestions
Internal LinkingManualAuto-suggestions, orphaned/stale content finder
Redirect ManagerNoYes (301 redirects)
Social PreviewsBasic settingsLive previews (Facebook, X)
Schema MarkupBasic Schema.orgAdvanced controls (FAQ, How-To)
SupportHelp center, community24/7 priority (email, live chat)
Ad-FreeNoYes
AI FunctionalityNoYes (content optimization, title/meta generation)
Keyword ExportNoYes (CSV of keywords, titles, URLs)
Crawl OptimizationLimitedAdvanced (reduce server load, block AI bots)
SEO WorkoutsNoYes (guided site health improvement)
IntegrationsBasic (Google Search Console)Enhanced (Semrush, Wincher)
Robots.txt/.htaccessView/editView/edit, advanced bot blocking

Pricing:

  • Free plan with limited features
  • Premium plan: $99/year.

SEOSEO Plugin

2. All in One SEO (AIOSEO)

All-in-One SEO (AIOSEO) is similar to Yoast SEO. It offers a user-friendly interface and a wide range of features. AIOSEO also provides WooCommerce SEO features for online stores. It also provides a feature called “Smart XML Sitemaps” that automatically generates an XML sitemap for your website.

AIOSEO features:

 

FeatureAIOSEO FreeAIOSEO Premium
On-Page SEO AnalysisTruSEO on-page analysis, readability checksTruSEO, AI Writing Assistant, SEO Revisions, Headline Analyzer
Focus Keywords1 focus keyword/postUnlimited focus keywords/post, Keyword Rank Tracker
XML SitemapsBasic XML, HTML, RSS sitemapsSmart XML, Video, News, RSS sitemaps, IndexNow
Meta Titles & DescriptionsManual customizationDynamic tags, AI Title/Description Generator
Internal LinkingManualLink Assistant (auto-suggestions, orphaned links)
Redirect ManagerNo built-inYes (301 redirects, 404 monitoring)
Social MediaBasic integration, profile linksEnhanced control over social appearance, Open Graph
Schema MarkupBasic Schema.org20+ Schema types, Custom Schema Generator
SupportCommunity forums, documentationPriority support (Mon-Fri US East Coast business hours)
Ad-FreeNoYes
Local SEONo dedicated featuresYes (local business schema, multiple locations)
WooCommerce SEOLimitedAdvanced WooCommerce SEO tools
SEO AuditBasic site audit checklistComprehensive site audit, competitor analysis
Search StatisticsNo direct integrationBuilt-in Search Statistics, Google Search Console integration
Image SEOLimitedAutomatic image alt text/title attributes
User Access ControlNoYes (custom SEO user roles)

Pricing:

  • Free basic plan
  • Premium plan starts from $49.60/ year

Rankmarth SEO plugin

3. Rank Math SEO

Rank Math SEO has become the most popular SEO plugin due to its powerful features and user-friendly interface. Rank Math contains a lot of features useful to users. It also provides an easy-to-follow setup wizard for beginners. The free version offers a generous range of features, making it an attractive option for many users.

Once I switched from Yoast, I am still using Rank Math. 

Rank Math SEO features:

FeatureRank Math SEO FreeRank Math SEO Premium (PRO)
On-Page SEO AnalysisContent analysis (100+ factors), readability, 5 focus keywords/postContent AI (AI writing assistant, suggestions), unlimited focus keywords/post, SEO Revisions
Keyword ResearchBasic keyword suggestionsAdvanced Keyword Rank Tracker (up to 500 keywords), Google Trends integration
XML SitemapsAuto-generated XML, HTML sitemapsVideo, News, RSS sitemaps, IndexNow, custom sitemaps
Meta Titles & DescriptionsManual customization, snippet previewsAI Title/Description Generator, advanced dynamic tags
Internal LinkingInternal linking suggestions, orphan page detectionLink Assistant (advanced suggestions, automation)
Redirect ManagerYes (301, 302, 307 redirects), 404 monitorAdvanced redirect options (bulk import/export), .htaccess sync
Schema MarkupBasic Schema.org (16+ types)840+ Schema types, Custom Schema Builder, Schema Templates, Speakable, Podcast, Dataset Schema
SupportCommunity forums, documentationPriority email support, 24/7 (for higher plans)
Ad-FreeMinimal ads/promptsFully ad-free interface
Local SEOYes (basic local business schema)Advanced Local SEO (multiple locations, custom blocks)
WooCommerce SEOYes (basic product optimization)Advanced WooCommerce SEO features
Analytics & ReportingGoogle Search Console integrationAdvanced Google Analytics 4 integration, keyword ranking history, SEO performance email reports
Image SEOAuto-add Alt/Title attributesAdvanced Image SEO (watermarking, find & replace)
Content AILimited free creditsMore Content AI credits, advanced AI features
Role ManagerYesYes (more granular control)
SEO AuditComprehensive site SEO analysis (30+ tests)Enhanced SEO audit, competitor analysis
Google Index StatusTrack Google Index StatusTrack Google Index Status, URL Inspection API data

Pricing:

  • Free plan available
  • Premium plan starts from $95.88.

There are other popular SEO plugins like SEO Press, Squirrly SEO, SEO Framework, and Slim SEO. However, I recommend the above top three, as I tested them. Which plugin will you choose? See this comparison table:

Comparison: Yoast SEO vs. AIOSEO vs. Rank Math

Feature/CategoryYoast SEOAIOSEORank Math
Focus Keywords (Free)11Up to 5 (or more, depending on setup)
SEO AnalysisBasic, Readability (traffic lights)TruSEO, Readability, Headline AnalyzerComprehensive (100+ factors), Content AI
Schema MarkupBasic (limited types)Extensive (20+ types), Custom Schema BuilderHighly Extensive (840+ types), Custom Builder
Internal LinkingManual suggestions (Premium)Link Assistant (Premium)Link Assistant (Free/Premium)
Redirect ManagerPremium onlyPremium onlyFree (301, 404 monitor)
XML SitemapsBasic (XML, HTML)Basic (XML, HTML, RSS)Advanced (Video, News, RSS, custom)
AI FeaturesLimited (Premium: title/meta suggestions)AI Writing Assistant (Premium), Smart TagsContent AI (extensive, free/premium credits)
Local SEOPremium onlyPremium only (multi-location support)Free (basic), Premium (advanced multi-location)
WooCommerce SEOPremium add-onPremium (built-in)Free (basic), Premium (advanced)
Analytics/ReportingLimited (basic GSC integration)Built-in Search Statistics, GSC integrationAdvanced GSC & GA4 integration, Keyword Rank Tracker
Ease of UseUser-friendly, good for beginnersUser-friendly, streamlined setupFeature-rich, but good wizard, modular
PerformanceCan be heavierModerateGenerally lightweight and optimized
Pricing (Starting Paid Annual)~$99/year (1 site)~$49.60/year (1 site)~$95.88/year (unlimited personal sites)
Who’s it for?Beginners, bloggers who prioritize simplicity and clear on-page guidance.Beginners to intermediate users, small businesses, those valuing an all-in-one approach.Intermediate to advanced users, agencies, power bloggers who want extensive features, advanced control, and good value.

Other Useful Plugins for WordPress SEO

In addition to the SEO plugin mentioned above, other best plugins you can use are:

4. Site Kit by Google: This free plugin integrates various Google tools like Analytics, Search Console, and PageSpeed Insights to view SEO insights of your WordPress site. 

5. WP Rocket: A premium caching plugin that improves your website’s loading times. 

6. W3 Total Cache: A free alternative to WP Rocket.

7. MonsterInsights: A plugin for your website’s analytics data.

8. SEMRush SEO Writing Assistant: Highly recommended if you are a SEMRush subscriber.

9. Easy Social Sharing: Adds social sharing buttons to your content, making it easy for visitors to share your articles on social platforms.

More Tools for Your WordPress Site

Check out these tools and plugins to enhance productivity for your website and business. The good news is they are available on affordable lifetime deals. 

| Check out AppSumo’s deals on WordPress plugins

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