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7 Best Free SEO Tools In 2024

Contributor
Small Business Editor

Reviewed

Published: Apr 30, 2024, 11:00am

Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.

No matter what you’re selling, SEO is of utmost importance. It can help you attract organic visitors to your site and, hopefully, convert them into loyal customers. Unfortunately, however, many SEO platforms come with expensive monthly fees that may be out of your budget, especially if you’re a startup or newer business. The good news is there are a number of reputable SEO solutions you can use instead. Here’s our roundup of the seven best free SEO tools of 2024. These tools all have free plans and options, along with upgraded plans if your business expands and needs more robust tools down the line.

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The Best Free SEO Tools of 2024


Best for SEO Keyword Research

Keyword Hero

Keyword Hero

Starting Price

$9 per month

Free Trial

Yes, 14 days

Key Features

Keyword and traffic analysis, weekly performance report

Keyword Hero

$9 per month

Yes, 14 days

Keyword and traffic analysis, weekly performance report

Editor's Take

Keyword Hero is a robust keyword research tool that collects data from Google Analytics and Google Search Console. It can tell you which organic keywords bring users to your pages so you can make smart, data-driven changes to your content and SEO strategy. In addition to keywords, it will help you measure other metrics, including average time spent on pages, bounce rates, conversion and more.

The tool will also send you a weekly SEO performance report so you know where you stand. The report will share whether your organic traffic has grown or declined, which keywords grew the most for mobile and desktop devices and more.

Who should use it:

If keyword research is your top priority and your website is already set up with Google Analytics, Keyword Hero should be on your radar.

Pros & Cons
  • Quick, straightforward setup process
  • Up to 10 URLs and 2,000 sessions in free plan
  • Sends weekly alerts on your SEO performance
  • Requires a Google Analytics account
  • No keyword recommendations

Best for SEO Content Optimization

AnswerThePublic

AnswerThePublic

Starting Price

$9 per month

Free Trial

Yes, seven days

Key Features

Visual keyword analyzer, CSV reports

AnswerThePublic

$9 per month

Yes, seven days

Visual keyword analyzer, CSV reports

Editor's Take

AnswerThePublic is an SEO platform with a focus on keyword research and content ideas. It uses searches from Google and Bing to visualize search questions and offer ideas on what type of long-tail keywords to target. You can export this information to a CSV format and use it to come up with relevant content ideas for your pages, blog posts and other marketing materials.

All you have to do is enter a topic, brand, keyword or product related to your business. If you notice any irrelevant keyword suggestions, you can always hide them. The free plan has a limit of three searches per day but can come in handy if you’re just getting started with your SEO strategy.

Who should use it:

AnswerThePublic is ideal if you’re looking for ways to improve the SEO content on your pages and blogs.

Pros & Cons
  • Free plan includes three searches per day
  • Makes it easy to brainstorm new content ideas for SEO
  • Can export keyword data to a CSV format
  • No search volume data
  • No competitive analysis

Best for Local SEO

Localo

Localo

Starting Price

$29 per month per location

Free Trial

No

Key Features

Google business profile monitoring, keyword suggestions

Localo

$29 per month per location

No

Google business profile monitoring, keyword suggestions

Editor's Take

As its name suggests, Localo is specifically designed for local SEO. With the free plan, you can constantly monitor how your Google business profile and its competitors rank on Google. You may use this information to determine how to improve your profile and in turn improve your local SEO efforts.

The platform also protects your profile from unauthorized changes. This means that you can easily prevent a competitor or someone else from marking your business permanently closed or changing your name, location or opening hours.

Who should use it:

If you’d like to improve your Google business profile and local SEO, Localo is your best bet.

Pros & Cons
  • Free plan with up to five keyword suggestions
  • Google business page monitoring and protection
  • Local competitor monitoring
  • Only focused on monitoring and protecting your Google business profile
  • Very basic for a local SEO tool

Best for SEO Audits

SEOquake

SEOquake

Starting Price

Free

Free Trial

No

Key Features

SEO audits, link analysis

SEOquake

Free

No

SEO audits, link analysis

Editor's Take

Powered by Semrush, SEOquake is a free SEO browser extension that is compatible with Safari, Chrome, Firefox and other popular browsers. The SEO dashbard offers details about your domain, page and backlinks to give you a bird’s-eye view of how you’re doing. You’ll also have easy access to an internal and external link analysis, keyword density report and social media metrics.

Once you click on “Diagnosis,” SEOquake will run a quick SEO audit, which includes a page analysis, site compliance and mobile compliance. You’ll notice green check marks that indicate what you’re doing right and red warning signs that show what you can improve.

Who should use it:

SEOquake is a solid choice if you’d like to quickly perform SEO audits on the pages of your website.

Pros & Cons
  • Provides a lot of valuable SEO information with a single click
  • Shows how difficult it is to rank for a specific keyword
  • Available on iOs and Android devices
  • Can be overwhelming as it is very data-rich
  • No guides that explain how to use it

Best for Technical SEO

Screaming Frog

Screaming Frog

Starting Price

$259 per year

Free Trial

No

Key Features

Website crawling, XML sitemap generator

Screaming Frog

$259 per year

No

Website crawling, XML sitemap generator

Editor's Take

Screaming Frog is known as an “SEO spider tool.” It “crawls” the pages on your website to look for technical issues that can hinder its rankings. With the free plan, it can crawl up to 500 URLs and inform you of broken links, duplicate pages, redirect errors and other common back-end SEO problems.

You can also count on the tool to generate XML sitemaps so you can help Google find your pages and, hopefully, rank them. In addition, Screaming Frog will show you where you need to optimize your website’s speed as slow loading times can also impair your SEO efforts.

“The free version has all of the features that a small business owner would need, especially if their site is under 500 URLs. If there are any paid features that they feel like they’re missing out on, I can confirm that there are other free SEO tools out there to help fill in the gaps. The tool is updated very frequently and their customer support is well-liked. I’ve used Screaming Frog since the beginning of my SEO career and couldn’t recommend it more,” says Lauren Galvez, an SEO consultant.

Who should use it:

If technical SEO is your top priority, Screaming Frog’s crawling tool is your best bet.

Pros & Cons
  • Uncovers errors on up to 500 URLs for free
  • Generates XML sitemaps
  • Integrates with Google Analytics so you can track traffic
  • Updates can take a while
  • Free plan is solely for technical SEO

Best for On-Page SEO

Yoast

Yoast

Starting Price

$99 per year

Free Trial

No

Key Features

Real-time SEO content analysis, XML sitemap generator

Yoast

$99 per year

No

Real-time SEO content analysis, XML sitemap generator

Editor's Take

Yoast is an extension with a focus on on-page SEO for WordPress websites. With the free version, you can see how your pages will appear in search results. This will help you optimize your titles and meta descriptions to ensure they are the right length. Yoast will also use a variety of SEO best practices to analyze your content and give it a score. In addition, you may add up to eight different social media platforms so Google can associate them with your website.

“The free version of the Yoast plugin is great for small businesses. Not only does it allow you to add in all the relevant SEO information to every page of your website, it gives a red, amber and green visual indicator of how well your page is optimized,” says Alexander Bentley-Sutherland, CEO at More Profitable Marketing, an agency that specializes in SEO and digital marketing.

Who should use it:

If you have a WordPress website and would like to improve its on-page SEO, Yoast may be worthwhile.

Pros & Cons
  • Content optimization recommendations
  • Makes it easy to create and edit meta titles and descriptions
  • Handles sitemaps and permalinks
  • Only for WordPress websites
  • Need to upgrade to Premium for local SEO support

Best for SEO Analytics

Hotjar

Hotjar

Starting Price

$32 per month

Free Trial

Yes, 15 days

Key Features

Heatmaps, visitor recordings

Hotjar

$32 per month

Yes, 15 days

Heatmaps, visitor recordings

Editor's Take

Hotjar is an SEO tool that revolves around web analytics and feedback. There’s a generous free plan that allows you to track your users’ behaviors and gain insights from heatmaps, session recordings, visitor polls and form analytics.

“Hotjar makes it easy to visually see how users interact with your website. It offers heatmaps to find out where people are clicking to identify if those clicks are on things that don’t do anything (for example, a logo that isn’t linked to the home page) or what the most popular links on a page are. This helps you see if there are things that could be improved on the site in terms of on-site engagement,” says Mika Lepisto, a digital marketing consultant at BackOps Marketing.

If you’re wondering about the performance of specific sections of your website, the visitor recordings feature will also be beneficial. It will allow you to record your site visitors as they engage with your site to reveal where they’re clicking, how long they’re spending on CTA forms and more.

Who should use it:

If you’d like meaningful analytics on your SEO and content initiatives, Hotjar can help.

Pros & Cons
  • Unlimited heatmaps to help you understand user engagement
  • Visitor recordings to show user interactions in real time
  • Can create a custom dashboard with the information that’s most important to you
  • Free plan has a limit of 5,000 daily sessions and one month of session data retention
  • Must install a special tracking code on your website

Forbes Advisor Ratings

Company Starting Price Free Trial Key Features LEARN MORE
Keyword Hero $9 per month 14 days Keyword and traffic analysis, weekly performance report View More
AnswerThePublic $9 per month Yes, seven days Visual keyword analyzer, CSV reports View More
Localo $29 per month per location No Google business profile monitoring, keyword suggestions View More
SEOquake Free No SEO audits, link analysis View More
Screaming Frog $259 per year No Website crawling, XML sitemap generator View More
Yoast Price: $99 per year No Real-time SEO content analysis, XML sitemap generator View More
Hotjar $32 per month Yes, 15 days Heatmaps, visitor recordings View More

How To Choose the Best Free SEO Tools

As you look for a free SEO solution, you’ll find that there are many options available. By comparing the following elements, you can narrow down your search and zero in on the right free SEO tool for your unique needs and preferences.

Essential Features

  • Keyword Research: Keywords are a vital part of SEO as they can tell you what terms users search to find your site and how your pages rank for different queries. Ideally, you’d choose an SEO platform that takes the guesswork out of keyword research.
  • Technical Crawling: Technical issues can interfere with the way your site ranks. That’s why you should make sure the tool you choose can help you identify these issues, such as slow page load times and duplicate URLs.
  • Cross-Device Compatibility Testing: Chances are you’d like your website to look and work well on a variety of devices, including desktops, laptops and smartphones. With a quality SEO software, you can confirm that it does and make changes if it doesn’t.
  • Content Marketing Analysis: Content marketing and SEO go hand in hand as Google gives preference to sites with relevant, original content. Opt for an SEO tool that monitors on-page content, reports on content performances and offers content recommendations in real time.
  • Link Analysis: High-quality backlinks can improve the way your site ranks. Many all-in-one SEO platforms provide a backlink analysis and can help you find opportunities for earning links.
  • Local SEO: Local SEO is especially important if you have brick-and-mortar locations and hope to attract customers who are geographically close to you. If possible, find an SEO solution that can help you increase your visibility in local search results.

Ease of Use

The reality is most SEO platforms are loaded with features. While this is a plus, it also means that they may require a steep learning curve. Before you commit to an SEO tool, test it out to ensure it’s user-friendly. After all, a free software won’t help your business unless you and other members of your team find it quick and easy to set up and use. Free demos or free trials can give you a good idea of a platform’s ease of use.

Integrations

Some free SEO tools are limited in their capabilities but allow you to enhance them through integrations with other popular SEO tools, such as Google Analytics or Google Search Console. It’s in your best interest to choose an SEO tool that seamlessly integrates with the various SEO and marketing solutions you use or plan to use in the future.

Customer Service

At some point in time, you’ll likely have questions or require assistance with the free SEO software you choose. That’s why excellent customer service is crucial. The company should have a good reputation for service via various channels, including phone, email, live chat and/or community forums. Note that you may have to upgrade to a paid plan to receive the best and most flexible support.


Why Your Business Needs Free SEO Tools

There are a number of reasons your business may benefit from free SEO tools, including:

  • Higher Rankings: By taking advantage of a free SEO platform, you can collect the information and insights you need to rank higher for the search terms that are most relevant to your business.
  • Improved Brand Reputation: Whether you’re starting a new business or have been around for years, using free SEO tools to achieve higher rankings can greatly enhance your reputation and establish you as an industry expert.
  • More Conversions: Attract the right visitors who are interested in your products or services and will eventually make a purchase, schedule an appointment or perform your desired action.
  • Money Savings: While paid search and ads are effective, they don’t come cheap. If you enhance your SEO through free SEO tools, you may be able to cut back on paid marketing solutions and save a lot of money.
  • Grow Your Business: A free SEO solution can allow you to do so by attracting the right visitors.

Methodology

Forbes Advisor analyzed dozens of reputable SEO solutions that business owners can use at no charge. We looked at pricing and fees for paid plans, general features, advanced features and customer support to find the top seven options. Here are the details on each factor in our rigorous evaluation:

Pricing and Fees

Once we confirmed that a tool could be used for free, we dove deep into the paid plans as you may want to upgrade to one as your business grows and circumstances change. Bonus points were given to platforms with transparent pricing, reasonable monthly rates, free trials or free demos, and money-back guarantees.

General Features

The main goal of an SEO tool is to improve your website ranking. We prioritized platforms that can allow you to meet this goal through general features, such as keyword research, technical crawling, cross-device compatibility testing, content marketing analysis, link analysis and SEO.

Advanced Features

Some free SEO solutions go the extra mile and offer advanced features that can take your SEO efforts to the next level. We gave more points to tools with these features in their free or paid plans, such as competitor comparison, mobile rankings, ranking alerts, API access and XML sitemap generators.

Customer Support

Customer support via different channels, such as phone, email and chat, was also important to us. We considered customer support in each platform we analyzed by reading customer reviews and looking at their contact pages as well as extra support resources, including community forums, self-serve knowledge bases and robust frequently asked questions pages.

Testing

Lastly, we did the heavy lifting and tested various free SEO tools. This gave us valuable firsthand experience so we could see how each solution really worked across different use cases.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the best free SEO tool?

The best free SEO tool depends on your particular business needs and goals. Semrush, AnswerThePublic, Yoast and Screaming Frog are several options you may want to explore.

How can I benefit from free SEO tools?

Free SEO tools can help you grow your business through organic search. You can use them to improve your brand reputation and generate more conversions online.

Will I need to upgrade to a paid SEO tool?

As your business expands and your SEO goals evolve, you may find the need to invest in a paid SEO tool. Fortunately, many free SEO platforms allow you to seamlessly upgrade to a plan with a set monthly fee.


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