10 Best Surfer SEO Alternatives That Are Better & Cheaper

In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, Surfer SEO has emerged as a powerful tool for optimizing web content. It’s a data-driven SEO platform that helps businesses climb search engine rankings by providing in-depth analysis and actionable insights into their content strategy.

Surfer SEO effectively solves a significant problem that many businesses face – the challenge of creating SEO-optimized content that ranks high on search engines and resonates with their target audience. It analyses hundreds of ranking factors and provides clear guidelines for tweaking your content for maximum SEO impact.

So why are we discussing alternatives to such a powerful tool? While Surfer SEO is undoubtedly beneficial, there may be better fits for some. Different businesses have different needs, budgets, and preferences.

This blog post aims to introduce you to some of the best Surfer SEO alternatives. We’ll delve into their key features, pricing, and how they compare to Surfer SEO, empowering you to decide on the proper SEO tool for your business.

Stay tuned as we explore these options and help you navigate your SEO journey more effectively.

10 Best Surfer SEO Alternatives: Top Picks of 2023

MarketMuse

MarketMuse is a content optimization tool that uses AI to help you create high-quality content that ranks well in search engines. It provides comprehensive keyword and topic analysis data, allowing you to optimize your content more effectively and quickly.

It comes with an AI writing assistant to generate SEO-optimized content based on the keywords provided. It also offers features such as topic modeling and keyword mapping, which provide deep insights into the topics of your content.

MarketMuse is more expensive than Surfer SEO, but it offers several features that Surfer SEO needs to include, such as AI-generated content suggestions and high-level analysis of search results. This makes MarketMuse an ideal choice for businesses looking for an advanced SEO tool with great features.

Key Features:

• Research: Delivers comprehensive, AI-driven research on any topic, helping businesses create high-quality content.
• Content Planning: Provides a framework for new content based on data-driven insights.
• Content Briefs: Creates detailed content briefs for writers, ensuring content is optimized for search engines and user intent.
• Question Analyzer: Identifies the questions users ask about a particular topic, providing insights for content creation.
• Optimization: Uses AI to suggest improvements to existing content to increase its relevance and performance.
• Competitive Analysis: Allows companies to compare their content against competitors, identifying gaps and opportunities.
• Content Inventory: Helps businesses understand what content they already have, its performance, and how it can be improved.

Pricing:

MarketMuse offers a range of pricing options to suit varying needs. It has a free version for low content volume users and paid plans from $79/month to $149/month, growing based on individual needs.

Pros

• Users have lauded MarketMuse’s AI-driven features: “The AI-powered content optimization is a game-changer,” says one user.
• The competitive analysis tool is highly praised for its insightful and actionable recommendations.
• MarketMuse’s keyword research tool is another standout feature, with users noting its effectiveness in driving website traffic.

Cons

• Some users have mentioned that while the platform is robust, understanding and utilizing its features is a learning curve.
• The sources provided were the only significant negatives.

In conclusion, MarketMuse is a formidable contender as a Semrush alternative. Its advanced features and glowing testimonials make it a robust choice for businesses looking to elevate their SEO strategy.

Dashword

Dashword is a content optimization tool designed to assist in creating SEO-friendly content. It provides keyword research and content briefs that help identify what topics and subtopics should be included in a piece of content to make it more relevant and engaging for the target audience.

Dashword uses data-driven insights to suggest improvements to your existing content. It makes producing high-quality content that ranks well in search engine results easier. Its affordability makes it an appealing choice for those looking for some features of Surfer SEO on a budget.

However, the suitability of Dashword, like any other tool, will ultimately depend on the specific needs and budget of the user.

Key Features

• Content Analysis: Dashword examines your content about specific keywords, assessing your content’s effectiveness.
• Content Score: Dashword’s unique scoring system gives you a clear idea of how well your content is optimized for SEO.
• Keyword Suggestions: This feature provides suggestions for additional keywords that could improve your content’s SEO performance.
• Keyword research: Dashword provides an extensive list of keywords related to your topic, allowing you to choose the best ones for your content.
• Competitor Comparison: Dashwood allows you to compare your content with your competitors, offering insights into areas for improvement.
• Content Briefs: This feature generates detailed briefs for new content, including keyword recommendations and topic suggestions.
• FAQ suggestion: Dashwood helps you identify the most frequently asked questions related to your topic, giving you an idea of which points to include in your content.
• Progress Tracking: Dashwood enables you to track your content’s progress over time, providing insights into the effectiveness of your SEO strategies.

These features contribute to the overall functionality of Dashword as a comprehensive content optimization tool. Consider visiting Dashword’s official website or contacting customer service for more detailed information about these features.

Pricing

Dashwood offers two plans: the Startup plan at $99/month for small teams providing 30 content reports, and the Business plan starting from $349/month for larger teams with 100 content reports, content monitoring, and API access. Both plans offer a free first report trial.

Pros

• Users rave about Dashword’s straightforward interface and easy-to-understand features.
• The Content Score feature is highly praised for its ability to simplify the SEO process.
• Testimonials highlight the quality of Dashword’s keyword and topic research tools.

Cons

• Some users have mentioned that while the tool is comprehensive, there could be more tutorials or guides for beginners.
• The sources provided were only significant cons.

In conclusion, Dashword is a formidable alternative to Surfer SEO. Its impressive array of features and glowing reviews from users make it a compelling choice for your SEO toolkit.

Content Harmony

Content Harmony is a robust digital tool meticulously crafted to optimize content for maximum impact. Its primary goal is to aid users in creating exceptional, SEO-friendly content that excels in search engine rankings.

As a highly efficient tool, it offers a cost-effective solution compared to competitors like MarketMuse. However, it’s worth noting that while Content Harmony provides affordability, it might offer a different comprehensive range of features than specific other tools in the market.

Key Features:

• Keyword Reports: These provide data-driven insights into the most effective keywords for SEO based on relevance and competition.
• Content Briefs: This feature generates comprehensive briefs that guide writers in creating optimized, high-quality content.
• Competitor Analysis: Content Harmony allows you to delve into your competitors’ strategies, providing invaluable insights.
• SERP Analysis: This tool examines search engine results from pages to identify trends and opportunities for improving content visibility.
• Question Analyzer: This function identifies common questions about a specific topic, providing valuable insights for content creation.
• Content Grader: This feature evaluates content quality and SEO optimization, providing recommendations for improvement.
• Share of Voice Reporting: This tool measures a brand’s visibility compared to competitors, highlighting areas for strategic focus.

Each feature has been meticulously designed to provide data-powered guidance in creating content that aligns with search engine algorithms and audience preferences.

Pricing:

Content Harmony offers a pricing scheme with three editions, ranging from $50 to $1,000. The first 10 Content Workflow credits are available for $10, delivering significant value. A free trial is also provided.

Pros

• The comprehensive set of features for content marketing and SEO.
• Praised for its user-friendly interface and in-depth keyword research tools.

Cons

• Some users have mentioned that while the tool is comprehensive, there could be more tutorials or guides for beginners.

In conclusion, Content Harmony is another powerful contender in SEO and content optimization tools. Its robust features, positive user reviews, and advanced capabilities make it a compelling alternative to Semrush.

GrowthBar

GrowthBar is a sophisticated content optimization tool designed to facilitate the creation of high-quality, search-engine-optimized content. It offers a range of features, including AI writing tools and keyword research capabilities, which enhance the relevance and visibility of your content on search engines.

Compared to other tools like Surfer SEO, GrowthBar presents a more affordable solution, making it an attractive option for businesses seeking cost-effective SEO strategies. The tool’s primary function lies in its ability to provide practical assistance in creating content that engages readers and performs well in search engine rankings.

Key Features

• Keyword Research: Enables users to identify relevant and effective keywords for their SEO strategy.
• AI Content Generation: Leverage AI to generate high-quality content.
• SEO Rank Tracking: Helps monitor websites’ position in search engine rankings for specific keywords.
• Backlink Analysis: Provides insights into the number and quality of backlinks to a website.
• Competitor Analysis: Allows users to compare their performance with competitors regarding SEO metrics.
• Content Ideas: Offers suggestions for content topics based on keyword relevance and popularity.
• Facebook Ad Spy: Gives users the ability to see the Facebook ads run by any company, providing insights into competitors’ advertising strategies.
• Google Ads Keyword Planner: Facilitates planning of Google Ad campaigns by providing keyword suggestions and estimates.

Each feature contributes to an effective SEO strategy, helping users improve their online visibility and reach their target audience more effectively.

Pricing

GrowthBar offers three pricing tiers: $29/month for the Starter plan, $79/month for the Pro plan, and custom pricing for the Agency plan. It includes SEO tools, content brief keyword research, backlink analysis, and more.

Pros

• Users appreciate GrowthBar for its end-to-end capabilities in researching, writing, and optimizing SEO content.
• The AI-powered features are highly praised for their efficiency and quality of output.
• The tool is recognized for being user-friendly and affordable.

Cons

• There were no significant cons found in the sources provided.

RankMath Content AI

RankMath Content AI is an advanced content optimization tool seamlessly integrated with the RankMath SEO plugin for WordPress. Its main objective is to assist in creating high-quality, search-engine-optimized content.

With comprehensive keyword research capabilities, detailed content optimization suggestions, and an AI-powered writing assistant, this tool empowers you to boost your content’s visibility in search engines by providing invaluable insights and recommendations. It is a robust instrument for those looking to enhance their website’s SEO performance and elevate the overall quality of their content.

Key Features:

• Content Optimization Suggestions: Suggestions to refine content for better audience engagement and search engine visibility.
• Quantitative SEO Score: Measures how well the content adheres to basic SEO guidelines such as meta tags, readability, and links.
• Writing Assistance: Functions like a personal writing assistant, helping boost search rankings.
• Keyword Research: Assists in researching keywords and identifying the right ones to use in content.
• Keyword Placement: RankMath Content AI helps you integrate relevant keywords into your content, headings, and meta tags.
• Module Enablement: Allows users to enable the Content AI module from their WordPress admin area.

Pricing

As of today, RankMath does not explicitly list a separate price for their Content AI feature. It is included as part of their SEO Suite, which comes in two tiers: Pro and Business. The Pro version costs $59 annually and supports up to 500,000 URLs.

The Business version costs $199 annually and supports up to 2,000,000 URLs. Please visit the official website for the most accurate, up-to-date information.

Pros

• Offers personalized content suggestions.
• Assigns an SEO score to help users gauge their content’s performance.
• User-friendly interface.

Cons

• Some users have noted that the tool could provide more detailed explanations of its suggestions.

In conclusion, if you’re looking for a user-friendly, effective SEO tool offering personalized content suggestions, RankMath Content AI could be the perfect fit.

WriterZen

WriterZen is an advanced and sophisticated content optimization tool meticulously designed to empower you to create top-notch digital content that can effectively rank on search engines. With the power of artificial intelligence at its core, WriterZen offers a range of cutting-edge features that elevate your content creation process.

Its advanced keyword research feature provides valuable insights into your niche’s most relevant keywords, giving you a competitive edge. Additionally, WriterZen’s data-driven analyses offer practical content optimization suggestions that can significantly enhance the SEO value of your content.

But WriterZen doesn’t stop there. It also boasts an AI-powered writing assistant that assists you in crafting captivating, well-structured, and SEO-optimized content. Whether you’re a content creator, an SEO specialist, or a digital marketer, WriterZen is an invaluable asset for improving online visibility and boosting audience engagement.

Key Features

• Keyword Explorer: This feature provides an exhaustive list of relevant keywords, facilitating effective SEO strategies.
• Topic Clustering: This tool groups related keywords together, enabling comprehensive content that covers all aspects of a topic.
• Content Creator: This function guides users in creating SEO-optimized content based on data-driven insights.
• Plagiarism Checker: This feature ensures the originality of content, reducing the risk of copyright infringement.
• SERP Analysis: This tool analyzes the top-ranking pages for a particular keyword, offering insights into successful SEO strategies.
• Grammar Checker: This feature checks the grammar and readability of the content, ensuring high-quality output.

Pricing

WriterZen offers four pricing plans. The Lite plan costs $23/month with 10,000 keyword credits and 20 content briefs. Plus plan is $89/month with 20,000 keyword credits and 50 content briefs.

The $219/month pro plan provides 50,000 keyword credits, 100 content briefs, and two member seats. Lastly, the Ultra plan costs $399/month, offering 100,000 keyword credits, 300 content briefs, and four member seats.

Pros

• Users have praised WriterZen’s comprehensive suite of SEO tools, notably its Keyword Explorer and Topic Discovery features.
• The Content Brief tool is highlighted as a standout feature, allowing for a complete and efficient content creation process.

Cons

• While reviews are generally positive, some users have noted that as a newer platform, there may be occasional bugs or updates.

In conclusion, WriterZen emerges as a promising alternative to Surfer SEO. Its robust features, positive user feedback, and focus on SEO and content creation make it a compelling choice for businesses looking to elevate their content strategy.

Frase

Frase is a well-regarded alternative to Surfer SEO, primarily recognized for its suite of tools aimed at keyword research, content optimization, and AI-driven writing assistance. It distinguishes itself with a pricing model that is more economical than that of Surfer SEO, even providing a free trial plan that allows potential users to test its capabilities.

Therefore, it offers a blend of practical features and affordability that can cater to a wide range of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) needs.

However, as with any tool, the suitability of Frase largely depends on one’s specific requirements and budgetary considerations.

Key Features

• Content Optimization: Frase provides suggestions for enhancing content’s SEO performance by comparing it with top-ranking competitor content.
• Topic Research: This feature aggregates the most relevant sources, statistics, and topics to aid in comprehensive content creation.
• Content Briefs: Frase generates detailed briefs to guide content writers, ensuring the created material aligns with SEO strategies.
• Question Ideas: Frase identifies commonly asked questions about a specific topic, providing insights for content strategy.
• Competitor Analysis: This feature allows users to compare their content against competitors’, helping identify potential areas of improvement.
• Document Analysis: Frase analyses existing content for relevance and comprehensiveness, providing insights on improving its quality.
• AI Writing Assistant: This feature aids in drafting content, offering real-time SEO suggestions as you write.

Each feature bolsters content marketing strategies through data-driven insights and AI technology.

Pricing:

Frase offers multiple pricing plans. The Solo plan costs $14.99/month or $12.66/month if paid annually. The Basic plan is $44.99/month, or $38.25/month when billed yearly. The Team plan is priced at $114.99/month.

Pros

• Frase offers several powerful features for content optimization, including AI-generated content briefs and a unique answer engine.
• It is highly regarded for its focus on keyword research and content analysis.
• Users have praised the quality of content recommendations it provides.

Cons

• Some users have noted areas for improvement, but these need to be specified in the sources provided.

In conclusion, Frase stands out as a robust and reliable SEO and content optimization alternative. Its impressive range of features and positive testimonials from users make it a worthy contender to consider in your SEO toolset.

Scalenut

Scalenut is a platform specializing in content optimization, providing tools and services catering to various aspects of digital content creation and management.

These include keyword research, which aids in identifying the most relevant and high-performing keywords for a given topic or industry; content optimization, which ensures that the produced content meets the highest standards of quality and relevance; and AI writing tools, which leverage artificial intelligence technology to generate content efficiently.

Regarding affordability, Scalenut presents a competitive edge over other platforms, such as Surfer SEO. It offers a free plan, making it accessible to users starting or operating on a tight budget. This makes Scalenut a cost-effective solution for content optimization needs.

It’s important to note that while comparison with other platforms like Surfer SEO provides valuable context, the choice of a platform should be based on the specific needs and objectives of each user or organization. It’s recommended to review the features and pricing of each platform thoroughly before making a decision.

Key Features

• Keyword Planner: This tool lets users pinpoint the keywords their target audience uses, optimizing content to align with search intent.
• SEO-Focused Content Outlines: This feature supports the creation of SEO-optimized content, ensuring it is designed for maximum visibility and reach.
• AI Copywriting: Scalenut utilizes advanced artificial intelligence technology to generate copy, significantly reducing the time and effort typically required in content creation.
• Content Optimizer: This feature allows for optimizing content to ensure it meets SEO standards and improves search engine rankings.
• SEO Writing: Scalenut supports the creation of SEO-friendly content that adheres to best practices for improved visibility and reach.
• NLP Analysis: Natural Language Processing (NLP) analysis is used to understand and interpret human language, helping to create more effective and engaging content.
• Cruise Mode: This feature facilitates the rapid creation of posts and content, improving overall productivity and efficiency.

Pricing:

Scalenut offers three distinct plans: Essential, Growth, and Pro, with prices ranging from $39 to $149 per month. However, pricing may vary according to different sources. A free trial is also available.

Pros

• Users have praised Scalenut for its intuitive interface and easy-to-use features.
• The AI content writer is a standout feature that can significantly speed up your content creation process.
• Its competitor analysis tool is another big plus, providing valuable insights into your competitors’ content strategies.

Cons

• Some users have noted that the AI content writer, while impressive, may require some editing to ensure the content fits perfectly with your brand voice.
• The sources provided were only significant cons.

In conclusion, Scalenut is a robust and reliable alternative to Surfer SEO. With its powerful set of features and positive reviews from users, it’s a worthy contender to consider in your search for the perfect SEO tool.

SE Ranking

SE Ranking is a comprehensive SEO solution that offers a wide range of functionalities, including an exceptional content optimization tool similar to Surfer SEO.

Renowned for its affordability and versatility, this all-in-one SEO tool facilitates the creation of top-notch content that is highly likely to achieve favorable rankings in search engines. Accomplishing this feat is made possible through its intelligent system, which provides optimization suggestions based on your content.

Whether you’re an SEO professional or a content creator, SE Ranking is an invaluable asset in your digital marketing arsenal, empowering you to succeed in the competitive landscape.

Key Features

• Keyword Rank Tracker: This feature allows you to track your website’s keyword rankings across various search engines, providing insights into your SEO performance.
• Website Audit: It performs an in-depth website analysis, identifying technical issues that could affect your search engine rankings and recommending improvements.
• On-page SEO Checker: SE Ranking provides detailed suggestions for improving your on-page optimization.
• Backlink Monitoring: This feature provides detailed insights into your backlink profile, helping you identify and manage healthy and potentially harmful backlinks.
• Competitor Research: It allows you to analyze your competitors’ SEO strategies, giving you a competitive edge.
• On-Page Checker: This tool assesses the SEO effectiveness of your web pages, providing suggestions for optimization.
• Marketing Plan: This feature provides a step-by-step guide tailored to your website’s SEO needs, helping you to develop and implement an effective marketing strategy.
• Social Media Analytics: This feature allows you to track and analyze your social media performance, helping you to refine your social media strategy.

Pricing:

SE Ranking offers flexible pricing, with plans from $31.2/month to $239/month, depending on your SEO needs. They offer eight different plans, and a free trial is available for first-time users. Prices vary based on features and data requirements.

Pros

• SE Ranking is lauded for its comprehensive suite of SEO tools, including keyword tracking, competitor analysis, and on-page SEO checks.
• Users appreciate its user-friendly interface and detailed reports.
• It offers flexible pricing plans, making it accessible for businesses of various sizes.

Cons

• Some users find the keyword research tool could be more intuitive.
• While it offers many features, there might be a learning curve for beginners.

In conclusion, SE Ranking might be the perfect fit if you’re looking for an all-in-one SEO solution with various features. Its competitive pricing, in-depth analysis, and user-friendly design make it a strong contender in SEO tools.

Clearscope

Clearscope is an advanced content optimization tool that leverages artificial intelligence to scrutinize and suggest improvements for your content.

It is primarily designed for businesses seeking to enhance the quality of their content while boosting their search engine optimization (SEO) performance. Despite its marginally higher price than its competitor, Surfer SEO, Clearscope compensates for this with its superior features. It is a valuable investment for those prioritizing content quality and SEO effectiveness.

Key Features

• Relevant SERP Research: Clearscope includes relevant Search Engine Results Page (SERP) research in its reports, which helps users understand the competitive landscape of their target keywords.
• Optimize Feature: The Optimize feature is a core functionality of Clearscope, aiding in keyword research and content optimization.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Content Creation: Clearscope utilizes AI to assist in content creation, providing users with valuable insights to improve their content.
• SEO Tools: Clearscope offers a range of SEO tools, including search rank tracking, keyword research, competitor analysis, and content creation tools.
• User-friendly Interface: Clearscope is designed with a user-friendly interface that simplifies SEO writing.
• Content Optimization with a Text Editor: Clearscope provides a text editor for content optimization, allowing users to make necessary adjustments to improve their SEO performance.

Pricing:

Clearscope offers three plans: Essentials at $170/month for 1 user with 10 content reports, business with custom pricing offering advanced features and 5 user seats, and Enterprise with custom pricing for unlimited domains and custom data pipeline.

Pros

• Clearscope’s user-friendly interface and practical features have earned praise from users: “Clearscope has been a game-changer for our content strategy,” says one user.
• Its AI-powered content optimization feature is a standout, significantly improving the content creation process.
• Clearscope’s competitor analysis tool offers crucial insights into your competitors’ content strategies, providing a competitive edge.

Cons

• While Clearscope’s AI content optimization feature is impressive, some users note that it may require fine-tuning to ensure the content aligns perfectly with your brand voice.
• The sources provided were the only significant negatives.

Conclusion

In conclusion, many Surfer SEO alternatives cater to varied requirements and budget constraints. Tools such as Frase or Scalenut mirror the features offered by Surfer SEO, serving as suitable alternatives.

SE Ranking emerges as a commendable option for those bound by financial limitations. MarketMuse and Clearscope, on the other hand, utilize Artificial Intelligence to aid in generating superior, SEO-optimized content. Your unique needs determine the selection of the appropriate tool.

However, more than the mere procurement of an optimal tool is required; it is imperative to invest time in comprehending its functionality to harness its capabilities thoroughly. With the right tool and dedicated effort, enhancing your content’s SEO and elevating your website’s ranking on search engines is feasible.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I choose the best Surfer SEO alternative for me?

Selecting the most suitable Surfer SEO alternative requires carefully evaluating your budget, requirements, and personal preferences.

• Budget: If you are constrained by budget, opting for a less expensive alternative to Surfer SEO could be a viable choice.
• Needs: Certain tools offer specific features, such as AI content generation. If this aligns with your needs, select a tool that provides these capabilities.
• Preferences: The user interface is another critical factor. If you prefer easy-to-use software with a user-friendly interface, ensure your chosen tool aligns with this preference.

The best Surfer SEO alternative for you will effectively balance cost, functionality, and user experience according to your unique needs and preferences.

What is the equivalent of SurferSEO?

Several tools can be considered equivalents to SurferSEO. These include Clearscope, MarketMuse, Frase, Semrush Writing Assistant, GrowthBar, Topic, Ahrefs, Dashword, RankScience, Content Harmony, NeuronWriter.

Each tool has unique features and benefits, aiming to assist in content optimization and SEO strategy.

Is SurferSEO worth it?

Whether SurferSEO is worth it may depend on individual needs and circumstances. While it is not within my purview to make personal recommendations or judgments, various sources suggest that SurferSEO has several valuable features.

However, it’s also important to note that numerous alternatives are available, each with its unique offerings.

Is SurferSEO better than MarketMuse?

Comparing SurferSEO and MarketMuse might not provide a definitive answer as to which is better because the effectiveness of such tools often depends on specific user needs and preferences.

Both tools offer content optimization features but may have different strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, potential users should consider their specific requirements and try both tools before deciding.