10 Best DIY SEO Software: Ranked & Reviewed (2023)

SEO is often viewed as a labyrinth of complexity. It’s a specialized discipline requiring knowledge of intricate algorithms, keyword research, backlinks, and an understanding of how search engines operate.

But what if there’s a way to navigate the SEO landscape without having to dig deep into your pockets? This is where DIY SEO software tools come in, saving the day for those who are just getting started or those with limited budgets. These tools, designed to be user-friendly, empower you to tackle SEO tasks on your own, giving you the ability to pull the levers behind your online presence.

From keyword research, site audits, rank tracking, to competition analysis, the right SEO tools can be your guiding star in the labyrinth. Imagine having a virtual SEO assistant, only without the high costs. All of these tools are designed with you in mind, enabling you to demystify SEO, optimize your content, and, ultimately, improve your site’s ranking.

What are the best DIY SEO software tools?

In this article, we will review ten of the best DIY SEO software solutions available on the market today, these are:

These tools, affordable and user-friendly, are designed to simplify SEO and elevate your website’s visibility without breaking the bank. Ready to dive in and boost your SEO game? Let’s get started.

1. SEMRush

When it comes to the DIY SEO world, SEMRush is a tool I find incredibly valuable. It’s a comprehensive SEO suite packed with features like keyword research, site auditing, backlink tracking, and competitor analysis. Whether you’re running a small blog or a larger website, its user-friendly interface and extensive database can make your SEO tasks significantly easier.

Pros

• All-in-One Platform: What I appreciate about SEMRush is its wide range of features. It’s like a Swiss Army knife for all your SEO needs.
• Superb Keyword Research: It provides in-depth data on keywords, which helps in strategizing your content effectively.
• Excellent Competitor Analysis: With SEMRush, you can keep an eye on what your competitors are doing, giving you the upper hand.

Cons

• Steep Learning Curve: If you’re new to SEO, SEMRush can be a bit overwhelming with its multitude of features.
• Pricing: It’s a bit pricier compared to other SEO tools. However, considering its comprehensive offerings, I still think it’s a good investment.
• Limited Users: The basic plan only accommodates one user, which might be limiting if you’re planning to collaborate.

Pricing

SemRush has three different plans:

• Pro – $129.95/month
• Guru $249.95/month
• Business $499.95/month

You can save 20% with an annual subscription. Although it’s a bit on the higher end of the price spectrum, the wealth of features SEMRush offers makes it a worthwhile tool for anyone serious about improving their website’s SEO.

2. Mangools

As someone who has navigated the world of SEO, I find Mangools to be a standout DIY SEO tool for those embarking on their SEO journey. It’s a user-friendly suite offering a bundle of features such as keyword research, SEO metrics analysis, and SERP analysis. Mangools is known for its simplicity, making it an ideal choice whether you’re managing a personal blog or a small business website.

Pros

• User-Friendly Interface: Mangools is straightforward and intuitive, making it easy to understand, even for those new to SEO.
• Quality Keyword Research: It provides valuable keyword insights, assisting in crafting effective SEO strategies.
• Comprehensive SEO Metrics: Mangools offers a solid range of metrics to evaluate your site’s SEO performance.

Cons

• Limited Features: Compared to comprehensive platforms like SEMRush, Mangools has fewer features, but they focus on quality over quantity.
• Limited Queries: The basic plan has a cap on the number of queries you can make in a day.
• No Multi-User Support: Unfortunately, the base plan doesn’t support multiple users. For collaborations, you’ll need to upgrade.

Pricing

Mangools offers three pricing tiers:

• Basic Plan: $49/month
• Premium Plan: $69/month
• Agency Plan: $129/month

Save ~35% with annual plans.

3. SE Ranking

SE Rankings is an all-in-one SEO platform that offers real-time keyword tracking, website auditing, and comprehensive SEO analysis. Regardless of whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or managing a small-to-medium business, SE Ranking’s detailed data can give you a firm grasp on your website’s SEO performance.

Pros

• Real-Time Keyword Tracking: I find its real-time tracking particularly useful, helping me stay on top of my keyword performance.
• Detailed Website Audit: SE Ranking’s site audit feature provides an in-depth analysis, allowing for effective website optimization.
• Comprehensive SEO Analysis: With a wide array of SEO tools, SE Ranking helps me understand and improve my website’s SEO health.

Cons

• Complexity: For those new to SEO, SE Ranking’s advanced features can be a bit overwhelming.
• Slower Loading Time: Some users have reported that the tool can be slow at times.
• Price vs Features: While not the most expensive, the pricing could be better aligned with the features offered.

Pricing

SE Ranking offers three subscription plans:

• Essential Plan: $49/month
• Pro Plan: $109/month
• Business Plan: $239/month

You can save 20% with an annual subscription.

4. Surfer SEO

Surfer SEO is an advanced SEO tool that focuses primarily on providing data-driven insights for on-page optimization, ensuring your content is not just engaging but also SEO-friendly.

One of the features I love about Surfer SEO is its SERP Analyzer. It allows you to understand why certain pages rank high for specific keywords, enabling you to replicate their success.

The Content Editor feature is a game-changer for creating SEO-optimized content. It provides real-time SEO suggestions as you write, helping you craft content that’s both user and search-engine friendly.

Pros

• Data-Driven SEO Analysis: I value Surfer SEO for its evidence-based approach to SEO. Its comprehensive data insights can help optimize your content like a pro.
• User-Friendly Interface: Despite its advanced features, Surfer SEO maintains a user-friendly and intuitive interface.
• Content Editor Feature: Its Content Editor is a game-changer, guiding you to create SEO-optimized content effortlessly.

Cons

• Limited Off-Page SEO Features: Surfer SEO focuses heavily on on-page optimization, leaving a bit to be desired when it comes to off-page SEO.
• Pricing: Compared to other tools with similar features, Surfer SEO could be considered a bit pricey.
• Advanced Features Learning Curve: While user-friendly, some of its advanced features might require a bit of a learning curve.

Pricing

Surfer SEO’s pricing structure is as follows:

• Lite Plan: $29/month
• Essential Plan: $89/month
• Advanced Plan: $179/month
• Max Plan: $299/month

Savings are available if you choose to pay annually.

5. Frase.io

When it comes to content optimization, one tool that I often turn to is Frase. It’s an AI-powered SEO tool that assists in creating and optimizing content for better search engine visibility. Whether you’re a content creator, a blogger, or a small business owner, Frase’s intelligent features can significantly boost your content’s SEO performance.

Frase’s AI Content Optimization tool provides real-time SEO suggestions as you write, helping you craft content that appeals to both users and search engines.

Pros

• AI-Powered Optimization: Frase’s AI-driven features make content optimization seamless, helping you to create content that is both user-friendly and search-engine-friendly.
• Robust Content Briefs: Its content briefs feature is an invaluable asset when preparing to write a new piece, providing relevant data to guide your content creation.
• Comprehensive Question Research: Frase excels at finding commonly asked questions around your topic, which can greatly enhance your content’s relevance and usefulness.

Cons

• Limited SEO Features: Frase primarily focuses on content optimization, meaning it lacks some of the broader SEO functionalities found in other tools.
• Learning Curve: With its advanced AI-powered features, there might be a bit of a learning curve, particularly if you’re new to SEO.
• Pricing: While Frase offers extensive content optimization features, its pricing is a bit on the higher side compared to some other tools.

Pricing

Frase provides three pricing tiers:

• Solo Plan: $14.99/month
• Basic Plan: $44.99/month
• Team Plan: $114.99/month

Get started with a 5-day trial for only $1. Cancel anytime.

6. Respona

Respona is a comprehensive digital PR tool designed for SEO outreach and link building. The platform suitably serves all your digital PR needs, regardless of whether you’re a freelance content marketer or running a full-fledged digital marketing agency. 

Its prime selling point is its advanced feature set, which provides you with a holistic view of your link-building and outreach efforts.

Pros

• Well-Designed Outreach Tool: I appreciate Respona’s well-structured interface which simplifies the process of pitching and managing PR outreach.
• Dedicated Link Building: Respona’s unique focus on link building provides an unparalleled experience for acquiring quality backlinks.
• Effective Email Finder: The platform includes a programmable email finder feature, assisting me in identifying and reaching the right industry professionals.

Cons

• Learning Curve: Initial use of Respona can be challenging due to the multitude of features it offers.
• Pricing: Although powerful, some small businesses may find Respona’s pricing plans a bit steep.
• Integration Limitations: Some users have found that Respona could use more integration options with other common platforms.

Pricing

Respona offers 3 subscription plans:

• Starter: $197/month
• Pro: $397/month
• Unlimited: custom price

7. Ahrefs

Ahrefs is a comprehensive do-it-yourself SEO toolset that offers in-depth insights into your website’s performance, competitive analysis, keyword research, backlink analysis, and more. Whether you’re a small business owner or a freelance marketer, it provides the data you need to build an effective SEO strategy.

Pros

• Comprehensive SEO Suite: Ahrefs offers a robust set of SEO tools, making it a one-stop-shop for all your SEO needs.
• Quality Keyword Research: Its Keywords Explorer tool provides in-depth keyword data that can significantly enhance your SEO strategy.
• Competitor Analysis: With Ahrefs, you can easily analyze your competitors’ strategies, which I find invaluable in staying competitive.

Cons

• Steep Learning Curve: Given its comprehensive feature set, Ahrefs can take some time to master, particularly for SEO newcomers.
• Pricing: While Ahrefs provides powerful features, its pricing is on the higher end compared to some other tools.
• No Free Version: Unlike some other SEO tools, Ahrefs doesn’t offer a free version.

Pricing

Ahrefs has four pricing plans:

• Lite Plan: $99/month
• Standard Plan: $199/month
• Advanced Plan: $399/month
• Agency Plan: $999/month

Pay annually, and get 2 months free!

8. Google Keyword Planner

As an SEO expert, one of my go-to resources has always been Google Keyword Planner. It’s a free tool provided by Google Ads and is primarily designed to help you find the right keywords for your Ad campaigns. However, it’s also a fantastic resource for any SEO project, helping you understand which keywords are popular, trending, and relevant to your business or niche.

Pros

• Free to Use: One of the major advantages of Google Keyword Planner is that it’s entirely free to use. You get access to valuable keyword data without having to spend a penny.
• Reliable Data: Being a Google product, the data you get is reliable and directly applicable to your Google SEO efforts.
• Detailed Keyword Insights: From search volumes to competition levels, Google Keyword Planner provides an array of keyword data that can assist in building a solid keyword strategy.

Cons

• Designed for Google Ads: Google Keyword Planner is primarily a tool for Google Ads, so some of its features and data may not be as relevant if you’re focused solely on organic SEO.
• Requires Google Ads Account: To access the tool, you need a Google Ads account, and you have to provide your billing information even if you’re not planning to run ads.
• Lacks Some Advanced Features: Unlike some other paid SEO tools, Google Keyword Planner doesn’t offer advanced features like rank tracking, site audits, or backlink analysis.

Pricing

As a free tool, Google Keyword Planner doesn’t offer traditional pricing plans. However, to access it, you will need a Google Ads account.

9. LowFruits

LowFruits is one of my favorites when it comes to discovering long-tail keywords. It’s a relatively new tool in the market, but it has quickly gained recognition for its unique approach to keyword research. The primary goal of LowFruits is to help small businesses and bloggers find low-hanging ‘fruit’ keywords – these are the keywords that have lower competition and are easier to rank for.

Long-tail keywords are more specific and generally have less competition, making them ideal for new websites or small businesses. With LowFruits, I’ve been able to uncover these less competitive keywords that are still highly relevant to my content.

Pros

• Focus on Long-Tail Keywords: LowFruits’ emphasis on discovering long-tail, low-competition keywords is a significant advantage for small businesses and beginners in SEO.
• User-Friendly Interface: The tool is straightforward and easy to use, making it accessible even for those new to keyword research.
• Flexible Pricing Options: In addition to monthly and annual plans, LowFruits provides a pay-as-you-go option by buying credits, offering financial flexibility.

Cons

• Limited Features: While LowFruits excels in keyword research, it doesn’t provide a comprehensive SEO suite like some other tools. It lacks features like site audits, backlink analysis, or rank tracking.
• Newer Tool: As a relatively new tool in the market, it might not be as refined or feature-packed as other established tools.
• Lack of Free Version: Unlike some other SEO tools, LowFruits doesn’t offer a free version or trial, which could be a deterrent for some users looking to try the tool before making a financial commitment.

Pricing

Pricing-wise, LowFruits offers two plans:

• Standard Plan: $29.9/month
• Premium Plan: $79.9/month

Besides the monthly and annual plans, LowFruits offers the possibility to pay as you go by buying credits. Also, savings are available if you choose to pay annually.

10. KeywordsPeopleUse

If you’re like me, always looking for practical tools to peek into the minds of potential customers, then you’ll probably find KeywordsPeopleUse as fascinating as I do. It offers unique insights into real-world search queries, helping us understand not only what people are searching for but the specific questions they’re asking.

One feature that truly stands out for me in KeywordsPeopleUse is the “People Also Ask” query, which live crawls Google for search terms and mines these questions. It then groups these queries based on Google’s suggested search intent. I personally find this quite insightful, as it maps out the potential search paths our audience might be taking.

Pros

• Real-Time Data: Offers live, real-time data from search engines, keeping you updated with the latest trends.
• In-Depth Keyword Insights: Gives a comprehensive understanding of what people are searching for and the specific questions they’re asking.
• Unique Query Features: The “People Also Ask” query provides insights into search intent based on Google’s suggestions.

Cons

• Lacks Advanced SEO Features: KeywordsPeopleUse focuses on keyword and query research but does not offer features like backlink analysis or site audits.
• Limited Language and Country Options: While the tool does allow you to specify the country and language for searches, the available options might be limited compared to other tools.
• Doesn’t Show Search Volume: Unlike other keyword research tools, KeywordsPeopleUse doesn’t provide information on search volume for the identified keywords, which could be a crucial metric for SEO strategies.

Pricing

KeywordsPeopleUse offers a tiered pricing structure with options to suit various needs and budgets:

• Free Plan ($0/month): Includes 20 searches per month, 20 keyword lists, 3 search alerts, AI content writer tokens (~3,750 words), 24-hour search history, image export, and CSV export. This plan is perfect for beginners or those with basic keyword research needs.
• Lite Plan ($15/month): This plan boosts your searches to 150 per month, includes 5 search alerts, AI content writer tokens (~11,250 words), 1-month search history, deep search, bulk search, and API access.
• Standard Plan ($39/month): Expands the number of searches to 500 per month, 50 keyword lists, 15 search alerts, AI content writer tokens (~37,500 words), 1-year search history. Also includes deep search, bulk search, and API access.
• Pro Plan ($79/month): For the more advanced users, this plan provides 1500 searches per month, 30 search alerts, AI content writer tokens (~75,000 words), 2-years search history. Also includes deep search, bulk search, and API access.
• Unlimited Plan ($299/month): As the name suggests, this plan offers unlimited searches, 50 search alerts, AI content writer tokens (~187,500 words), unlimited search history, and all the other features provided by the Pro plan. This is ideal for large organizations or heavy users.

All paid plans are billed monthly and can be canceled at any time.

11. SpyFu

As SEO enthusiasts, one DIY SEO tool that can make a considerable difference in your strategy is SpyFu. Its primary appeal lies in its competitive intelligence capabilities, allowing you to delve into your competitors’ strategies.

With SpyFu, you’ll be able to unearth invaluable insights, such as which keywords your competitors are targeting for their SEO and PPC campaigns and even their estimated monthly budget.

Pros

• In-Depth Competitor Analysis: SpyFu’s strength lies in its ability to provide comprehensive insights into competitors’ SEO and PPC strategies, which can greatly aid in planning your own campaigns.
• Unlimited Data Exports and Reports: The tool offers unlimited data exports and in-depth reports, which is beneficial for data analysis and creating actionable SEO and PPC strategies.
• SERP Analysis: SpyFu’s feature to conduct an in-depth SERP analysis can provide valuable insights to structure your content and ad campaigns for maximum visibility.

Cons

• Limited SEO Features: While SpyFu excels in competitive analysis, it might fall short in other SEO tasks such as site auditing and backlink analysis.
• Complex Interface: For beginners, the user interface of SpyFu can be somewhat daunting, requiring a learning curve to fully exploit its potential.

Pricing

SpyFu offers three distinct pricing tiers:

• Basic Plan: Costs $39 per month
• Professional Plan: Costs $79 per month
• Team Plan: Costs $299 per month

Notably, SpyFu provides a discount if you choose to pay for your subscription on an annual basis.

In conclusion, when it comes to DIY SEO software, there’s an abundance of great tools available, each with their own strengths. SEMRush, Mangools, SE Ranking, Surfer SEO, Frase, Ahref, Google Keyword Planner, LowFruits, KeywordsPeopleUse, and SpyFu all stand out for their unique features and functionalities that cater to different needs.

Whether you’re looking for an all-in-one solution like SEMRush, the AI capabilities of Frase, or the free benefits of Google Keyword Planner, the choice is yours. It’s about finding the tool that fits your SEO goals and budget best. Remember, a well-executed SEO strategy can significantly enhance your site’s visibility and increase your brand’s online presence.

By leveraging these tools, you’ll be able to understand your audience better, track your performance, find gaps in your strategy, and make data-driven decisions. So, roll up your sleeves and start optimizing. Good luck on your SEO journey!

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