We all know that SEO is the cornerstone of ranking higher, and this is why there are now hundreds of SEO tools all vying for your attention.
To avoid splurging on an ultimately disappointing software, here’s the list of 10 most prominent SEO tools you can take for a spin before you spend even a single dollar on them.
1. SEO PowerSuite
Key points: All-in-one SEO solution; desktop software; no limits on SEO functionality; free version available.
SEO PowerSuite aims to handle all of the SEO tasks in a single desktop-based package at an affordable price. Providing everything from an SEO crawler to a mobile-friendly test tool, SEO PowerSuite is a one-stop-shop.
There are no restrictions on the number of projects, nor on the backlinks and keywords researched, so it’s great for large-volume SEO campaigns. That said, there is a limit on competitors researched at the same time, where you can’t research more than 10 at once.
It’s also a freemium tool. There is a perfectly viable free version of the software, which boasts the same functionality as the paid version, with some limits on backlink research and competitive analysis, and no limits on keywords, which makes it perfect for affordable keyword research.
Free trial terms:
- 7 days full functionality
- No credit card required
- After trial, you move to free version
Pricing plans:
Free version available; Professional license is $299/year and Enterprise license is $699/year.
2. SE Ranking
Key points: All-in-one SEO solution; web-based; adjustable plans; no free version.
In a similar fashion to #1, this is also a comprehensive SEO suite. It’s not the best keyword research tool, but it’s still a great SEO toolbar, and the good news is that there are no restricted functions.
All of the tool’s functionality is available even with the cheapest plan, and the only thing that changes with the increased pricing are the limits.
And within every plan, you can adjust the limits on keywords researched yourself, changing the final price of the product. That way, you’ll only be paying for the functionality you actually need.
Free trial terms:
- 14 days full functionality
- No credit card required
- After trial, you lose access to the tool
Pricing plans:
As per adjustments on keywords researched, Optimum plan is priced at $372-660/year, Plus is $852-1,428/year and Enterprise is $1,812-8,628/year.
3. Moz Pro
Key points: All-in-one SEO solution; web-based; no free version.
Moz is another one of the all-in-one solutions for SEO enthusiasts. From a keyword research tool to a site crawler, it’s got you covered.
It also boasts one of the best backlink databases on the market right now, making its backlink checker one of the most sought-after features for SEO. On the other hand, there is no PPC functionality and no way to directly manage your website’s content.
Additionally, it’s quite a bit more expensive than most other SEO tools, so it might not be the best fit for a freelance specialist or a small business owner.
Free trial terms:
- 30 days full functionality
- Credit card required
- After trial, you get charged for a month
Pricing plans:
Standard plan is $950/year, Medium is $1,719/year, Large is $2,390/year and Premium is $5,750/year.
4. Raven Tools
Key points: All-in-one SEO solution; web-based; uses data from different sources; no free version.
Raven Tools is a cloud-based SEO solution that combines a bunch of different databases for different features, using Moz and Majestic, for example, to give users the best results.
It boasts a very convenient feature of integration with your email automation and call tracking software, where you could import your data from Mailchimp, and run your email campaigns from your SEO tool.
On the other hand, there are restrictions on the amount of projects, keywords tracked and pages available for auditing. This is why it’s best used by an in-house SEO specialist, rather than an agency or an SEO with multiple clients.
Free trial terms:
- 7 days of full functionality
- No credit card required
- After trial, you lose access to the tool
Pricing plans:
Start license is $948/year, Grow is $1,668/year, Thrive is $2,988/year and Lead is $4,788/year.
5. SEMrush
Key points: All-in-one SEO software; web-based; free version available.
SEMrush is a platform aiming to be a real one-stop-shop for all digital marketers out there. SEMrush provides full SEO functionality to its users, from a robust backlink checker to local SEO tools.
Additionally, there are CPC research tools to help run PPC campaigns.This functionality, along with pretty generous limits on the keyword research tool and projects (up to 200), makes it especially convenient for SEO experts working with numerous clients, rather than small business owners or freelance SEOs.
There is also a Free version of SEMrush, which is limited to the point of being unusable for regular work, but it’s perfectly functional as a demo of the larger tool.
Free trial terms:
- 7 day free trial of either Pro or Guru plan
- Credit card required
- After trial, you get charged for the month of a plan you decided to try
Pricing plans:
Pro plan is $999.36/year, Guru is $1,999.36/year and Business is $3,999.36/year.
6. Netpeak Software
Key points: Website audit; competition analysis; desktop-based; no free version.
Netpeak software is actually two apps, both desktop-based. There’s Netpeak Spider, which is an SEO crawler you can use as a website auditor and backlink checker. There is also Netpeak Checker, which is a tool for URL analysis and competitor research.
It’s convenient because you can pay half the price, and use either one of the apps exclusively. That said, the whitelabel SEO report tool, as well as the ability to crawl more than one domain at once and export of search queries from Google Search Console, are only available in the Pro version of the Netpeak Spider, which costs as much as both of the tools’ Standard versions.
Free trial terms:
- 14 days full functionality
- No credit card required
- After trial, you lose access to the tool
Pricing plans:
Standart plan is $364.80/year, Pro is $556.80/year.
7. Monitor Backlinks
Key points: Backlink audit; competition analysis; rank tracking; no free version.
Manage Backlinks is created to help you create a solid backlink profile. It’s first and foremost a backlink research tool. It reviews your current backlinks and gives you historical data you can analyze.
There’s a very handy disavowal tool in place to get rid of your unwanted and spammy backlinks, as well as a Competitor Links module for researching your competition’s backlinks.
This tool might work for an in-house SEO specialist or a business owner who only needs a backlink checker tool and might not have the largest budget available.
Free trial terms:
- 30 days full functionality
- No credit card required
- After trial you lose access to the tool
Pricing plans:
The Start plan is $25/month; Plus is $47.40/month; Professional is $89.91/month; 5D4C is $106.16/month; 7D4C is $139.92/month; 10D4C is $187.42/month.
There’s also a Custom plan if you need extended limits, and its price will depend on your particular arrangement with Monitor Backlinks.
8. RankRanger
Key points: Rank tracking; keyword research; backlink audit; website audit; social media integrations; no free version.
Rank Ranger aims to be the HQ of a digital marketer, with website audit, keyword research, and plenty of social media integrations. Although the Site Auditor feature can only crawl up to 500 URLs daily, and its website audit is still in beta, its main emphasis is on those integrations.
From Mailchimp to Twilio, and from Google Ads to YouTube Analytics, RankRanger can bring together dozens of different tools’ analytics, and work as a single dashboard for your entire social media and PPC marketing campaigns.
Free trial terms:
- 14 days full functionality
- No credit card required
- After trial you lose access to the tool
Pricing plans:
Basic plan is $69/month, Standard is $119/month, and Pro is $399/month.
9. Cognitive SEO
Key points: Site audit; link analysis; rank tracking; social visibility; no free version.
Cognitive SEO is a tool aiming at SEO specialists running content marketing projects. In its Starter plan, the functionality is quite limited, with no Whitelabel nor API access available. There’s also no competition research and CPC management tools.
On the other hand, its limits on backlink research and rank tracking would make it a good choice for an in-house SEO running even a large-volume campaign.
Free trial terms:
- 7 days full functionality
- Credit card required
- After trial, you get charged for the next month
Pricing plans:
Starter plan is $129.99/month; Business plan is completely customizable and its pricing will depend on your particular deal with CognitiveSEO.
Choose your tools wisely
With SEO being the most important factor for a website’s ranking, the type of SEO tool you’ll choose will likely determine the success of your entire marketing campaign.
So choose very carefully, test drive any tool you’re interested in, and, if you decide not to proceed, don’t forget to cancel your subscription before you are charged!
9 of the best SEO tools you can try for free Marketing Land.
