9 Best SEO Software For Small Business (Free & Paid Tools)
The digital landscape is continuously evolving, and for small businesses, it’s crucial to keep up with the latest trends and stay ahead of the competition using the best SEO tools.
Using the right marketing tools is essential to stay ahead of competitors in today’s digital landscape. One of the most critical aspects of digital marketing is search engine optimization (SEO), which helps improve your website’s visibility on search engines like Google.
To give you an idea of how powerful SEO is, statistics show it can deliver 1000%+ more traffic to your site than social media!
To help you navigate the complex world of SEO, I’ve compiled a list of the best SEO software tools. These tools cater to various aspects of SEO, such as keyword research, rank tracking, on-page optimization, and analyzing backlinks, and should be part of any serious SEO strategy.
I use many of these tools daily, which have saved me so much time and money; I regard them as an essential investment in my business.
The Best SEO Software For Small Business
1. Surfer SEO
Best overall
Overview
Surfer SEO is a user-friendly SEO tool and one of my personal favorites that simplifies on-page optimization for small businesses. It uses data-driven insights to provide actionable recommendations on improving your website’s performance on search engine result pages.
With its content editor and SERP Analyzer features, Surfer SEO helps you create optimized content that ranks higher on search results pages.
I love how it scans the top ten ranking posts and then gives you specific recommendations on which words to include, the article length, and even the amount of paragraphs and titles to use!
Its audit feature is also easy to use and very helpful for ranking. Surfer also has a Grow Flow feature that sends you weekly tasks, like adding internal links, words, and phrases to boost your ranking.
Key Features and Benefits
- Content Editor: Provides real-time suggestions to optimize your content based on your target keywords
- Audit: Easy to use Audit feature to maximize your website’s performance
- Grow Flow: A weekly list with specific tasks to improve your ranking
- SERP Analyzer: Analyzes the top-ranking pages for your target keywords and provides insights on what you need to do to outrank them
- Keyword Research: Identify low-competition, high-traffic keywords to target in your content
Pricing
Surfer SEO has a four-tier pricing level and up to 35% discount for paying annually. The prices below are for annual billing.
- Essential: $69/month
- Advanced: $149/month
- Max: $249/month
- Custom: Check for details
Below are the prices for the add-ons, which are only now included in the Max Plan:
Pros/Cons of Surfer SEO
Pros:
- Save yourself hours researching
- Data-driven on-page optimization recommendations
- User-friendly interface, suitable for beginners
- Real-time content optimization suggestions
- Powerful audit feature
Cons:
- The number of content editors for the LitePlan could be increased
- Expensive
My Take
Surfer SEO is a great choice for small businesses focusing on content optimization and looking for data-driven insights to improve their on-page SEO. It’s user-friendly and can seriously help boost your rankings.
Get started with Surfer SEO.
2. Semrush
Best for accurate data
Overview
Semrush is an all-in-one SEO and digital marketing suite that offers a wide range of features to help you improve your online presence.
It provides real-time insights into your website’s performance. The keyword research tools help you find popular terms and phrases that customers are searching for, comprehensive competitor analysis to understand better the online landscape, and a wide variety of reports to help you understand it all.
I also use their audit feature regularly to alert me to any potential problems with my sites, like broken links, duplicate content, and slow loading times.
Key Features and Benefits
- Keyword Magic Tool: Discover the best keywords for your business with extensive keyword research and analysis
- Site Audit: Identify and fix technical SEO issues on your website
- Backlink Analysis: Analyze your website’s backlink profile and identify potential link-building opportunities
- Competitive Analysis: Compare your website’s performance with your competitors and identify areas for improvement
- Track your keywords: Quality rank tracking feature to keep you ahead of your competitors
Pricing
Semrush has three pricing bands, with a 17% discount for annual billing.
- Pro: $129.95monthly
- Guru: $249.95
- Business: $499.95
Pros/Cons of Semrush:
Pros:
- Comprehensive all-in-one SEO and digital marketing suite
- Reliable and accurate data
- Extensive keyword research and competitive analysis features
- Regular updates and new feature additions
Cons:
- The steep learning curve for beginners
- Additional cost for extra users
My Take
Semrush is an excellent choice for small businesses looking for a comprehensive SEO and digital marketing tool. The keyword research and competitive analysis features are some of the best on the market, and the regular updates ensure you always have access to the latest data.
Get started with Semrush.
3. SE Ranking
Best for rank tracking
Overview
SE Ranking is an affordable and comprehensive SEO software that caters to businesses and digital marketing agencies. With features like keyword rank tracking, website auditing, and competitor analysis, SE Ranking provides the tools you need to improve your website’s search engine rankings.
Key Features and Benefits
- Keyword Rank Tracker: Monitor your website’s rankings for target keywords on different search engines and locations
- Website Audit: Analyze your website’s technical and on-page SEO issues and get recommendations on how to fix them
- Competitor Research: Monitor your competitors’ rankings, backlinks, and PPC campaigns to stay ahead of the competition
- Advanced Reports: Generate detailed SEO reports to give you a better understanding of your website’s performance
Pricing
SE Ranking has three main plans and a 20% discount for annual billing. It also uses a custom pricing structure. The mains prices are:
- Essential: $55/mo
- Pro: $109.00/mo
- Business: $239/mo
Pros/Cons
Pros:
- Great for accurate daily rank tracking
- The comprehensive suite of SEO features, including rank tracking and website audits
- User-friendly interface
Cons:
- The pricing structure can be a little confusing
- The number of features can be overwhelming for beginners
My Take
SE Ranking is a great choice for small businesses seeking an affordable, user-friendly, and comprehensive SEO tool. It delivers highly accurate data to keep your SEO on track.
Get started with SE Ranking.
4. Ahrefs
Best for SEO professionals
Overview
Ahrefs is a popular SEO software suite known for its keyword research capabilities. It offers an array of features, including backlink analysis and competitor research. It also includes tools like a content explorer and website audit tool, making it an ideal choice for SEO professionals.
With its extensive database of backlinks and keywords, Ahrefs provides valuable insights that help small businesses improve their search engine ranking.
Key Features and Benefits
- Site Explorer: Analyze your website’s backlink profile and identify potential link-building opportunities
- Keyword Explorer: Discover high-potential keywords with low competition to target in your content strategy
- Content Explorer: Find popular content in your niche and identify opportunities for content creation and promotion
- Rank Tracker: Monitor your website’s rankings for target keywords and track your SEO progress over time
Pricing
Ahrefs has four main pricing plans and two months free if paying annually.
- Lite: $99
- Standard: $199
- Advanced: $399
- Enterprise: $999
Pros/Cons
Pros:
- Excellent keyword research features
- Large database of backlinks and keywords
- Regular updates and new feature additions
Cons:
- Expensive pricing plans may not be suitable for those with limited budgets
- The steep learning curve for beginners
My Take
Ahrefs is a good choice for businesses seeking an advanced SEO tool with comprehensive capabilities. However, the pricing and complexity may be too much for some users, particularly those with limited budgets or SEO experience. It is best suited to more experienced users who can fully use the features on offer.
They recently changed their pricing, and it is now based on usage. Many of the features that were available on the Lite plan have now been removed, making this software even more expensive to run.
5. Keysearch
Best budget all-in-one SEO software
Overview
Keysearch is an affordable and powerful SEO tool that offers keyword research, competitor analysis, and rank tracking features for small businesses. With its intuitive interface and easy-to-understand metrics, Keysearch makes SEO accessible to companies of all sizes.
Key Features and Benefits
- Find profitable keywords with low competition using Keysearch’s comprehensive keyword research tool.
- Competitor Analysis: Analyze your competitors’ websites, backlinks, and keyword rankings to identify growth opportunities.
- Rank Tracking: Monitor your website’s rankings for target keywords and track your progress over time.
- YouTube Research: Discover popular video topics and keywords to optimize your YouTube content.
Pricing
This awesome budget software has two plans and a limited free trial.
- Starter: $17/ month
- Pro: $34/month
Pros/Cons
Pros:
- Affordable pricing plans
- Great for researching keywords with high daily limits
- Competitor analysis feature
- Good competitor gap analysis feature
- User-friendly interface
- Very handy YouTube research feature
Cons:
- Limited data on backlinks and anchor text
- Lacks some advanced features offered by more expensive tools
My Take
Keysearch is an excellent choice if you’re looking for an affordable and user-friendly SEO tool focusing on keyword research and competitor analysis. While it may lack some advanced features, it offers tremendous value for its price and is definitely worth considering for those on a budget or just beginning.
Get started with Keysearch.
6. Moz Pro
Best for small agencies
Overview
Moz Pro is a well-known SEO software suite that provides a wide range of tools to help you improve your search engine rankings. With features like keyword analysis and site audits, Moz Pro offers an all-in-one solution for your SEO needs.
Key Features and Benefits
- Keyword Explorer: Find the best keywords for your business based on search volume, competition, and relevancy
- On-Page Optimization: Get actionable recommendations to optimize your website’s content for target keywords
- Site Audit: Identify and fix technical SEO issues on your website to improve its search engine performance
- Link Explorer: Analyze your website’s backlink profile and find new link-building opportunities
Pricing
Moz pricing plans are based on usage and offer four tiers and a 20% discount for annual billing.
- Standard: $99/month
- Medium: $179/month
- Large: $249
- Premium: $599
Pros/Cons
Pros:
- Comprehensive all-in-one SEO solution
- Intuitive user interface
- Strong community support and educational resources
- High-quality data
Cons:
- I find the layout to be a little confusing compared to other software
- Expensive for small businesses with limited budgets
- It could be too complex for beginners
My Take
Moz Pro is a solid choice for an all-in-one SEO solution with a user-friendly interface, accurate data, and strong community support.
Get started with Moz Pro.
Free SEO Tools
7. Google Site Kit
Best free software
Overview
Google Site Kit is a free, official WordPress plugin that integrates essential Google tools like Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and PageSpeed Insights into your website. With Google Site Kit, you can monitor your website’s performance and make data-driven decisions to improve its search engine rankings.
Key Features and Benefits
- Easy Integration: Connect Google Analytics, Search Console, and other Google tools to your WordPress website with just a few clicks
- Ads: Check how your Google Ads are performing
- Unified Dashboard: Monitor your website’s performance, traffic, and SEO metrics from a single, easy-to-use dashboard
- PageSpeed Insights: Optimize your website’s speed and performance to improve its search engine rankings
Pricing
Free!
Pros/Cons
Pros:
- Free and easy-to-use SEO tool for WordPress users
- Integrates essential Google tools into a single dashboard
- Official Google plugin ensures compatibility and reliability
Cons:
- Limited to Google tools and WordPress websites
- Lacks advanced SEO features offered by other tools on this list
My Take
Google Site Kit (formerly Google Webmaster Tools) is an excellent choice for everyone using WordPress and looking for a free, easy-to-use tool to integrate essential Google tools. However, it may not be the best choice for a small business seeking advanced SEO features or those not using WordPress.
While we’re discussing Google, if you’re on a very tight budget, use Google Trends and the Google Keyword Planner to start your researching your keywords, but switch to a paid tool like the ones mentioned above when you can.
8. Screaming Frog
Best for free technical audit
Overview
Screaming Frog is a powerful website crawler and technical SEO tool that helps you identify and fix on-site SEO issues. With its comprehensive crawling capabilities, Screaming Frog provides in-depth insights into your website’s structure, metadata, and internal linking.
Key Features and Benefits
- Website Crawling: Crawl your website to identify technical SEO issues like broken links, duplicate content, and missing metadata
- XML Sitemap Generation: Create XML sitemaps for your website to improve its search engine visibility
- Custom Extraction: Extract specific data from your website’s HTML, such as schema markup or meta tags, for further analysis
Pricing
- Free: $0
- Paid: $239/ year
Pros/Cons
Pros:
- Comprehensive website crawling and technical SEO features
- Flexible pricing, including a free version with limited features
- Custom extraction for advanced data analysis
Cons:
- The steep learning curve
- Limited to technical SEO
My Take
Screaming Frog is best suited for those focusing on technical SEO and website crawling. While it may not be the best choice for beginners or those looking for a comprehensive SEO solution, its advanced features make it a valuable tool for addressing technical SEO issues.
Get started with Screaming Frog.
9. Rank Math
Best free SEO plugin
Overview
Rank Math is a popular WordPress SEO plugin that simplifies on-page optimization. With its intuitive interface and advanced features, Rank Math helps you optimize your website’s content, metadata, and schema markup for better search engine performance.
I know many SEOs are loyal to the Yoast plugin, but I feel Rank Math has a significant edge over it now, which is why I recommend it!
Key Features and Benefits
- On-Page Optimization: Get real-time suggestions to optimize your content for target keywords
- Rich Snippets: Add schema markup to your website to improve its search engine visibility and click-through rate
- SEO Analysis: Analyze your website’s SEO performance and get recommendations on how to improve it
Pricing
Rank Math has four pricing bands, and be aware that the prices exclude VAT.
- Free: $0
- Pro: For $59/year
- Business: $199/year
- Agency: $499/year
Pros:
- User-friendly on-page optimization features for WordPress users
- Rich snippet and schema markup integration
- Free version available with essential features
Cons:
- Limited to WordPress websites
- Lacks advanced features offered by more comprehensive SEO tools
My Take
Rank Math is a good choice for WordPress users, focusing on on-page optimization, and the free version is often enough, especially when starting out. It’s pretty basic and should preferably be used with a more advanced tool for optimal results.
Get started with Rank Math.
FAQs For The Best SEO Software For Small Business
How do I choose the best SEO software for my small business?
Consider your budget, the specific features you require, and the tool’s ease of use before deciding.
Are free SEO tools sufficient for small businesses?
While free tools can provide basic insights, premium SEO tools often offer more comprehensive data and advanced features that can significantly improve your SEO efforts.
Can I use multiple SEO tools for my small business?
Yes, combining tools can provide a more holistic view of your SEO performance and help you address different optimization aspects. I use a selection of tools, as each one tends to have that certain metric I prefer for a given task!
Do I need an SEO background to use these tools effectively?
While having a basic understanding of SEO concepts is helpful, many of these tools have user-friendly interfaces and guide to help you optimize your website.
How often should I use SEO software to analyze and continue optimizing my website?
Regularly using SEO software is essential to keep up with changes in search engine algorithms and stay ahead of your competitors. Aim to perform audits and optimizations at least once a month or more frequently if your industry is highly competitive.
Wrapping Up
Navigating the ever-changing landscape of SEO can be challenging, especially for small businesses with limited resources.
However, with the right tools, you can significantly improve your online presence and stay ahead of the competition. Each SEO tool listed above has unique strengths, and finding the right one for your business is crucial for your long-term success.
As a fellow small business owner, I understand the challenges of making your mark in the digital space. I’ve personally tested and used many of these tools in my own journey, and they have made a world of difference in my business’s growth.
My advice is to take the time to research and try out these tools to find the perfect fit for your specific needs and budget. Remember, SEO is an ongoing process, and with perseverance and the right tools, you can achieve impressive results.
