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I’ve been in the SEO game for over a decade. During that time, I’ve experimented with various SEO tools and documented my findings on my blog.
In this post, I wanted to cherry-pick the best SEO tools on the market — tools that cover different aspects of SEO to improve your organic traffic on Google.
Here are my top picks for the ultimate SEO tool stack:
Let’s explore each of these SEO tools and understand why I regard them as essential.
Table of Contents
What it does: Helps you refine your digital strategy with unmatched SEO data and in-depth market analysis.
Why I love
Price: Starts from $139.95/mo; 14-day free trial available
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What it does: Helps you uncover valuable insights into your website’s performance and visitor behavior.
Why I love Google Analytics: Google Analytics is totally free and easily one of the best SEO tools out there, giving you all the insights you need without costing a dime. Quite simply, it takes the guesswork out of understanding your website’s performance. With Google Analytics, you’re not just looking at the number of visitors — you’re diving deep into their behavior and interactions on your site. It tells you where they’re coming from, what they’re clicking on, and even how long they’re sticking around. Bottom line, Google Analytics is one of the best traffic analysis tools you can use to track user behavior on your site and improve organic trafffic.
Price: Free
Sign up for Google Analytics
What it does: An all-in-one SEO platform that helps improve site performance through site audits, competitor research, and backlink analysis.
Why I love Serpstat: Serpstat has really evolved over time. It used to be all about keywords, but now, it’s a full-fledged SEO toolkit. You can use it to perform in-depth technical SEO audits, backlink analysis, and competitive research. What’s particularly impressive is that all of these features are seamlessly integrated into a user-friendly platform, making it accessible even for those who aren’t SEO experts. It’s become my go-to when I need to get the big picture on my website’s performance and what the competition is up to.
Price: Starts from $59/mo, 7-day free trial available
Sign up for Serpstat
Get 22% discount on any annual Serpstat plan.
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What it does: Helps you with identifying trending content, tracking top-performing topics, and connecting with influencers in your niche.
Why I love BuzzSumo: Want to know what content’s trending in your niche? BuzzSumo has you covered. Curious about which topics are getting the most shares? Check. Plus, its influencer insights? Absolute gold. Whenever I’m in a content rut or need a pulse on the industry, BuzzSumo is my go-to content marketing platform. Beyond the basics, BuzzSumo offers actionable advice to guide your content strategy in the right direction.
Price: Starts from $199/mo; 30-day free trial available
Sign up for BuzzSumo
Related: The Ultimate Guide to BuzzSumo: 18 Actionable Ways to Use BuzzSumo
What it does: A budget-friendly SEO tool that delivers premium insights without breaking the bank.
Why I love SE Ranking: SE Ranking strikes the right balance between affordability and power-packed SEO features. Right from the start, you’ll notice the tool’s intuitive design and the depth of SEO information it provides. While it offers a detailed look into keywords, backlinks, and competitor actions, it remains remarkably user-friendly and accessible. In the spectrum of premium SEO tools, SE Ranking is a refreshing win for budget-conscious folks like me.
Price: Starts from $59/mo; 14-day free trial available
Try SE Ranking free for 2 weeks
What it does: Helps you with invaluable insights to optimize your site’s performance and visibility on Google.
Why I love Google Search Console: Google Search Console is like a backstage pass to your website’s performance in Google search results. With Google Search Console, you can see what keywords are driving visitors, identify issues that might be holding your site back, and even submit your sitemap for Google to crawl. It’s like a direct line of communication with the search giant itself. If you’re serious about improving your search visibility, Google Search Console is one of the best free SEO tools you can include in your marketing arsenal.
Price: Free
Sign up for Google Search Console
What it does: A free Google SEO tool that helps you improve your website’s loading speed and user experience with personalized recommendations.
Why I love Google PageSpeed Insights: With PageSpeed Insights, you get a detailed analysis of your website’s loading time and performance, along with actionable recommendations for improvement. Plus, it’s not just about optimizing for Google — it’s about creating a better experience for your visitors. In a world where fast-loading websites are the norm, PageSpeed Insights is your shortcut to keeping your audience engaged and satisfied.
Price: Free
Check out PageSpeed Insights
What it does: A premium WordPress caching plugin that helps you improve the performance and speed of your WordPress site.
Why I love WP Rocket: WP Rocket is an easy-to-use WordPress caching plugin that optimizes your site’s performance and makes it load faster with just a few clicks. Plus, unlike other caching plugins, it works seamlessly with all the essential WordPress plugins your site depends on. It’s not just about speed, though. WP Rocket also helps improve your site’s SEO by ensuring it’s always running smoothly. If you want a WordPress site that’s fast, efficient, and SEO-friendly, WP Rocket is your secret weapon.
Price: Starts from $59/year
Sign up for WP Rocket
What it does: Helps you uncover invaluable content ideas by revealing the exact questions and queries your target audience is searching for.
Why I love AnswerThePublic: AnswerThePublic takes your topic or keyword and transforms it into a treasure trove of content ideas. You get a glimpse into the very questions people are asking search engines, giving you an inside track on creating content that answers their pressing queries. Plus, it’s a goldmine for understanding search intent, which is like the secret sauce for SEO success. AnswerThePublic is my go-to SEO tool when I want to be in sync with my audience’s curiosity and create content that truly resonates.
Price: Starts from $5/mo; free plan available
Sign up for AnswerThePublic
What it does: Helps you stay ahead of the curve by providing real-time insights into online trends and user interests.
Why I love Google Trends: Google Trends is one of the most underutilized Google SEO tools on the web. And like every other Google SEO tool out there, it’s completely free. With Google Trends, you can explore the latest trends, gauge what topics are currently popular, and even anticipate emerging interests. But the real value lies in its strategic utility. Google Trends empowers you to align your content and campaigns with current trends, making informed decisions to stay competitive.
Price: Free
Check out Google Trends
What it does: Helps you with content ideation, creation, and refinement.
Why I love ChatGPT: There are myriad ways you can use ChatGPT. Beyond just generating text, it ignites inspiration, offering novel ideas and unique viewpoints. From content outlines to idea generation to proofreading, ChatGPT takes care of it all, simplifying and enhancing your content creation journey. You can even streamline your SEO workflow by combining ChatGPT with an SEO tool like Semrush.
Price: Free plan available; $20/mo for ChatGPT Pro
Try ChatGPT for free
What it does: Helps you improve your copy and streamline content production.
Why I love Copy.ai: Using Copy.ai is like having a team of creative copywriters available at your disposal around the clock. Whether it’s crafting engaging blog intros, meta descriptions, or engaging how-to articles, Copy.ai delivers exceptional content in a heartbeat. It goes beyond and beyond your average AI content creation tool by understanding context, adapting to your tone, and even offering SEO-friendly keywords. If you’re looking to level up your content game, Copy.ai is an absolute must in your toolkit.
Price: Starts from $49/mo; free plan available
Sign up for Copy.ai’s free plan
What it does: Helps you manage and optimize your local business listings.
Why I love Moz Local: If you’re struggling with managing your business listings and understanding local SEO, then you need to use Moz Local. It’s one of the best local SEO tools on the market. Armed with this tool, you can seamlessly manage your local presence and ensure your information is consistent across the web. Think of it as setting up a GPS for streamlining your local SEO efforts.
Price: Starts from $14/mo
Sign up for Moz Local
What it does: Helps you with intuitive WordPress SEO optimization to make your content stand out in search engines.
Why I love Squirrly SEO: When it comes to optimizing your WordPress website for search engines, Squirrly is the most comprehensive WordPress SEO plugin that offers a wide range of features. It provides step-by-step guidance to ensure your content is keyword-optimized and your site’s technical SEO is in excellent shape. Its user-friendly interface and insightful recommendations make it a favorite among both beginners and seasoned SEO professionals.
Price: Starts from $29.99/mo
Sign up for Squirrly SEO
This curated SEO tool stack is not just a list; it’s a culmination of over a decade’s worth of hands-on experience in the ever-evolving world of SEO software and platforms.
Each tool in this arsenal has been meticulously chosen to help you navigate the complexities of online visibility and search engine performance.
I’ve personally relied on these tools time and time again to enhance website performance, craft compelling content, and achieve higher search engine rankings. I trust they will deliver similar results for you.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on October 14, 2016 and has been updated frequently since then for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.
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[…] When it comes to SEO, it's all about using the right tools. Here are 10 of the best SEO tools that'll enable you to work smarter & faster with SEO. […]SemRush is hands down a great sEO tool. I never used paid version but have been reading that they have great features. The problem with most SEO tools is that they are mostly paid. Free version is very limited. There are many free seo tools such as from link-assistant, its good and it has free version. No matter what seo tool one uses, if blog doesn’t have quality content then that blog isn’t going to rank good in any search engines. Bing is starting to pick up speed and has improved its algorithm but still hasn’t in parallel pace with Google. To get faster and better results in SERP’s, SEO tools can help your blog outrank your competitors in short period of time. Understanding your traffic is most important, you have to serve your their needs.
Wow great list. Add 3 service to my list. Thank you for useful info.
SEO boils down to regular improvements and practices that cause a website to improve its rankings in search engine search results
This is a massive list of plugins. I found another tool which is also very good, SEOPROFILER. One can explore many things with a free account as well. Many thanks for sharing this guide, Sandeep.
hello Sandeep. i am really a keen reader of your blog and your blog inspired me to start my own blog. currently i am facing troubles getting traffic on my site. this will be solved. No worries. on behalf of the world thanking you for creating 99signals. 🙂 Cheers!
Hey Vikas – That’s so nice to hear. 🙂 Thank you so much for your kind words.
W.r.t traffic, just hang in there and keep creating great content on a regular basis. Follow the SEO basics and leverage social media channels until you improve your search rankings. And focus on creating relevant backlinks for your site through blogger outreach. You’ll eventually get there.
Wish you all the best.
– Sandeep
[…] less than a year, our search traffic tripled, Nightwatch has been listed as one of the best SEO tools available on the market, and our users’ base has been steadily growing ever […]Sandeep Mallya, thank you for sharing this post. All these tools you have shared here are already very popular among the webmasters. It is possible to use these tools and rank well on search engines by implementing the right strategies. A very well written post and you have shared some important facts about the tools too.
[…] even if you’ve never tried your hand at it before, stick around. Today, we’re talking about the best SEO tools money can […]This blog post is a treasure trove for anyone diving into SEO! The tool recommendations are spot-on and incredibly helpful. For those in Jaipur seeking urgent job opportunities, especially women and those interested in startups and MSMEs, Salarite is a fantastic platform. They offer a wide range of job listings and expert career guidance to help you find the perfect fit.
Hi there, I’m Sandeep Mallya!
I’m an entrepreneur and digital marketing consultant from Bangalore, India. I founded my own digital agency, Startup Cafe Digital, in 2015 to help SMBs leverage SEO, social media, and content marketing to grow their traffic and generate qualified leads for their business.
I launched 99signals in 2016 as a side project to document all the strategies, tools, and tactics that I was using to grow my small agency. The goal was simple: to arm other entrepreneurs and bloggers with all the right information and tools they needed to launch a successful online business.
Since then, 99signals has grown significantly and generates over $10,000 in side income each month. Read More about “About Sandeep Mallya”…
Hi there, I’m Sandeep Mallya!
I’m an entrepreneur and digital marketing consultant from Bangalore, India. I founded my own digital agency, Startup Cafe Digital, in 2015 to help SMBs leverage SEO, social media, and content marketing to grow their traffic and generate qualified leads for their business.
I launched 99signals in 2016 as a side project to document all the strategies, tools, and tactics that I was using to grow my small agency. The goal was simple: to arm other entrepreneurs and bloggers with all the right information and tools they needed to launch a successful online business.
Since then, 99signals has grown significantly and generates over $10,000 in side income each month. Read More about “About Sandeep Mallya”…
A few links on this blog are affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service through one of these affiliate links, I’ll receive a commission at no additional cost to you.
Rest assured, I recommend only those tools that I personally use and genuinely trust. In most cases, you’ll find in-depth reviews, tutorials, and how-to guides of these tools on my blog to help you make informed decisions.