
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.
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:
Feature | Yoast SEO Free | Yoast SEO Premium |
---|---|---|
SEO Analysis | Basic on-page & readability | Enhanced, inclusive language, content insights |
Focus Keywords | 1 keyword/post | Up to 5 related keywords/post |
XML Sitemaps | Auto-generated | Auto-generated, IndexNow |
Meta Titles/Desc. | Manual customization | Manual, AI-powered suggestions |
Internal Linking | Manual | Auto-suggestions, orphaned/stale content finder |
Redirect Manager | No | Yes (301 redirects) |
Social Previews | Basic settings | Live previews (Facebook, X) |
Schema Markup | Basic Schema.org | Advanced controls (FAQ, How-To) |
Support | Help center, community | 24/7 priority (email, live chat) |
Ad-Free | No | Yes |
AI Functionality | No | Yes (content optimization, title/meta generation) |
Keyword Export | No | Yes (CSV of keywords, titles, URLs) |
Crawl Optimization | Limited | Advanced (reduce server load, block AI bots) |
SEO Workouts | No | Yes (guided site health improvement) |
Integrations | Basic (Google Search Console) | Enhanced (Semrush, Wincher) |
Robots.txt/.htaccess | View/edit | View/edit, advanced bot blocking |
Pricing:
- Free plan with limited features
- Premium plan: $99/year.
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:
Feature | AIOSEO Free | AIOSEO Premium |
---|---|---|
On-Page SEO Analysis | TruSEO on-page analysis, readability checks | TruSEO, AI Writing Assistant, SEO Revisions, Headline Analyzer |
Focus Keywords | 1 focus keyword/post | Unlimited focus keywords/post, Keyword Rank Tracker |
XML Sitemaps | Basic XML, HTML, RSS sitemaps | Smart XML, Video, News, RSS sitemaps, IndexNow |
Meta Titles & Descriptions | Manual customization | Dynamic tags, AI Title/Description Generator |
Internal Linking | Manual | Link Assistant (auto-suggestions, orphaned links) |
Redirect Manager | No built-in | Yes (301 redirects, 404 monitoring) |
Social Media | Basic integration, profile links | Enhanced control over social appearance, Open Graph |
Schema Markup | Basic Schema.org | 20+ Schema types, Custom Schema Generator |
Support | Community forums, documentation | Priority support (Mon-Fri US East Coast business hours) |
Ad-Free | No | Yes |
Local SEO | No dedicated features | Yes (local business schema, multiple locations) |
WooCommerce SEO | Limited | Advanced WooCommerce SEO tools |
SEO Audit | Basic site audit checklist | Comprehensive site audit, competitor analysis |
Search Statistics | No direct integration | Built-in Search Statistics, Google Search Console integration |
Image SEO | Limited | Automatic image alt text/title attributes |
User Access Control | No | Yes (custom SEO user roles) |
Pricing:
- Free basic plan
- Premium plan starts from $49.60/ year
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:
Feature | Rank Math SEO Free | Rank Math SEO Premium (PRO) |
---|---|---|
On-Page SEO Analysis | Content analysis (100+ factors), readability, 5 focus keywords/post | Content AI (AI writing assistant, suggestions), unlimited focus keywords/post, SEO Revisions |
Keyword Research | Basic keyword suggestions | Advanced Keyword Rank Tracker (up to 500 keywords), Google Trends integration |
XML Sitemaps | Auto-generated XML, HTML sitemaps | Video, News, RSS sitemaps, IndexNow, custom sitemaps |
Meta Titles & Descriptions | Manual customization, snippet previews | AI Title/Description Generator, advanced dynamic tags |
Internal Linking | Internal linking suggestions, orphan page detection | Link Assistant (advanced suggestions, automation) |
Redirect Manager | Yes (301, 302, 307 redirects), 404 monitor | Advanced redirect options (bulk import/export), .htaccess sync |
Schema Markup | Basic Schema.org (16+ types) | 840+ Schema types, Custom Schema Builder, Schema Templates, Speakable, Podcast, Dataset Schema |
Support | Community forums, documentation | Priority email support, 24/7 (for higher plans) |
Ad-Free | Minimal ads/prompts | Fully ad-free interface |
Local SEO | Yes (basic local business schema) | Advanced Local SEO (multiple locations, custom blocks) |
WooCommerce SEO | Yes (basic product optimization) | Advanced WooCommerce SEO features |
Analytics & Reporting | Google Search Console integration | Advanced Google Analytics 4 integration, keyword ranking history, SEO performance email reports |
Image SEO | Auto-add Alt/Title attributes | Advanced Image SEO (watermarking, find & replace) |
Content AI | Limited free credits | More Content AI credits, advanced AI features |
Role Manager | Yes | Yes (more granular control) |
SEO Audit | Comprehensive site SEO analysis (30+ tests) | Enhanced SEO audit, competitor analysis |
Google Index Status | Track Google Index Status | Track 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/Category | Yoast SEO | AIOSEO | Rank Math |
---|---|---|---|
Focus Keywords (Free) | 1 | 1 | Up to 5 (or more, depending on setup) |
SEO Analysis | Basic, Readability (traffic lights) | TruSEO, Readability, Headline Analyzer | Comprehensive (100+ factors), Content AI |
Schema Markup | Basic (limited types) | Extensive (20+ types), Custom Schema Builder | Highly Extensive (840+ types), Custom Builder |
Internal Linking | Manual suggestions (Premium) | Link Assistant (Premium) | Link Assistant (Free/Premium) |
Redirect Manager | Premium only | Premium only | Free (301, 404 monitor) |
XML Sitemaps | Basic (XML, HTML) | Basic (XML, HTML, RSS) | Advanced (Video, News, RSS, custom) |
AI Features | Limited (Premium: title/meta suggestions) | AI Writing Assistant (Premium), Smart Tags | Content AI (extensive, free/premium credits) |
Local SEO | Premium only | Premium only (multi-location support) | Free (basic), Premium (advanced multi-location) |
WooCommerce SEO | Premium add-on | Premium (built-in) | Free (basic), Premium (advanced) |
Analytics/Reporting | Limited (basic GSC integration) | Built-in Search Statistics, GSC integration | Advanced GSC & GA4 integration, Keyword Rank Tracker |
Ease of Use | User-friendly, good for beginners | User-friendly, streamlined setup | Feature-rich, but good wizard, modular |
Performance | Can be heavier | Moderate | Generally 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.
SEO Services, Books & Courses
| WordPress SEO services (Fiverr)
| Best WordPress SEO books
| Udemy courses for WordPress SEO
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Ibochouba Singh is a content writer and reviewer with a passion for writing about digital marketing and tech gadgets, including software tools and new tech gadgets. He has over 15 years of experience writing for several consumers and clients, including tech startups, marketing agencies, and software companies. He has written many articles and product reviews for many websites, including nigcworld.com and buywin.in.