Yoast SEO
The most installed WordPress SEO plugin, with a free version and Premium at $118.80 a year per site, plus WooCommerce, Local, Video and News add-ons.
- Free plan
- Free or open source
- Cloud
- AI features
- Independent sources
- Verified 13 Nov 2026Sources are dated on this profile
- 2 sourcesLinked, typed and dated
- Independent third-party sourcesHow this profile was compiled
- Not an endorsementStack18 has not tested this product
What is Yoast SEO?
Yoast SEO is an SEO plugin for WordPress that provides on-page SEO and readability analysis, XML sitemaps, schema, breadcrumbs and canonical controls, with a free version and Yoast SEO Premium priced per site per year, plus paid add-ons.
- Best forWriters and bloggers new to SEO
- Team size fitSolo and freelancers, Small teams, Mid-size teams
- PricingFree; Premium $118.80 a year per site.
- Main limitationRedirects require Premium.
- AlternativesRank Math, Semrush, Surfer, Screaming Frog SEO Spider · compare all
Yoast SEO overview: who it is for and what it does.
Yoast SEO is the long-standing default SEO plugin for WordPress, with more than 13 million active installs reported in 2026. Its traffic-light content and readability analysis is aimed at writers.
A 2026 comparison lists Premium at $118.80 a year per site (adding multiple focus keywords, a redirect manager and AI features), WooCommerce SEO at $178.80 a year per site, AI Brand Insights at $358.80 a year and Local, Video and News extensions from $79 a year each. The free version supports one focus keyword per post and limited schema options.
Yoast is simpler to set up than Rank Math and is translated into many languages, but redirects require Premium.
Main problem it solves
Helps WordPress writers and site owners optimise content and basic technical SEO.
Typical customer segment
WordPress bloggers, businesses, publishers and WooCommerce stores.
Target users
- Content writers
- Site owners
- WooCommerce merchants
Primary use cases
- On-page and readability analysis
- XML sitemaps
- Schema and breadcrumbs
- Redirects (Premium)
- AI brand monitoring (add-on)
What makes it distinct
- Largest install base among WordPress SEO plugins.
- Readability analysis for writers.
- AI Brand Insights for AI search visibility.
Yoast SEO features explained.
Content
- SEO analysis
- 1 focus keyword free; more on Premium.
- Readability analysis
- Free.
- AI generation
- Premium (vendor).
Technical
- XML sitemaps
- Free.
- Redirect manager
- Premium.
- Canonicals and breadcrumbs
- Free.
Add-ons
- WooCommerce SEO
- $178.80 a year per site.
- Local, Video and News
- From $79 a year each.
- AI Brand Insights
- $358.80 a year.
Yoast SEO pricing and plans.
Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly. Checked 13 Nov 2026 against BigCloudy · SEO Bargains.
Pricing model
Free plugin; Premium and add-ons per site per year.
Free plan
Yes
Free trial
Not applicable
Yoast SEO plans and prices (USD)
Free
$0
n/a
Core SEO and readability.
Premium
$118.80 a year per site
Annual
Redirects, multiple keywords, AI.
WooCommerce SEO
$178.80 a year per site
Annual
AI Brand Insights
$358.80 a year
Annual
AI search brand monitoring.
Prices from a 2026 third-party comparison; per-site pricing means costs rise with each site.
Prices change. Confirm current plans and terms on the vendor's site before you decide.
Visit official website (external) ↗See alternativesYoast SEO integrations, API and platforms.
Important integrations
- WooCommerce
- Semrush and Wincher (vendor)
- Elementor (vendor)
Supported platforms
- WordPress plugin
- Shopify app (vendor)
API
WordPress hooks; REST and schema API.
Data import and export
Not applicable.
Licences are per site.
Yoast SEO pros and cons.
Strengths, limitations and best fit. Each point cites a source; editorial summaries are not customer reviews.
Strengths
Limitations
Best for
- Writers and bloggers new to SEO
- Sites wanting a well-known default plugin
- Publishers using News SEO
May be less suited to
- Agencies with many sites on a budget
- Users wanting advanced free features
Top Yoast SEO alternatives and competitors.
Rank Math
A WordPress SEO plugin with a generous free version (redirects, schema, five focus keywords) and Pro from $59…
Explore →Related productSemrush
An all-in-one SEO and online visibility platform with Pro, Guru and Business plans from about $140 a month…
Explore →Related productSurfer
A content optimisation tool for writing pages that rank, with plans from about $79 a month billed annually…
Explore →Related productScreaming Frog SEO Spider
A desktop SEO crawler, free for up to 500 URLs and €245 per licence a year for unlimited crawling, on…
Explore →Yoast SEO compared with similar SEO software.
Summaries come from each profile. This is a side-by-side aid, not a ranking.
| Product | Pricing model | Free plan | Starting price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yoast SEO | Free or open source | Yes | Free; Premium $118.80 a year per site. | Writers and bloggers new to SEO |
| Rank Math | Free or open source | Yes | Free; Pro $59 a year. | WordPress sites wanting advanced free features |
| Semrush | Flat or plan-based | No | Pro reported at $139.95 per month ($117.33 billed annually); extra users from $45 a month. | Marketing teams that want one broad SEO and competitive research suite |
| Surfer | Flat or plan-based | Free tier reported (Discovery) | Essential (now Standard) reported at $99 a month or $79 billed annually. | Content teams that want on-page optimisation guidance while writing |
| Screaming Frog SEO Spider | One-time or term licence | Yes (500 URLs) | Free up to 500 URLs; €245 per licence per year. | Technical SEOs who audit sites with a desktop crawler |
| Ahrefs | Flat or plan-based | Yes (own sites) | Free for your own verified sites; Starter $29 and Lite $129 per month. | SEO teams that rely on backlink and competitor data |
Yoast SEO vs competitors: head-to-head comparisons.
Yoast SEO questions and answers
What is Yoast SEO used for?
Yoast SEO is used for on-page and readability analysis, XML sitemaps, schema and breadcrumbs and redirects (Premium).
Does Yoast SEO have a free plan?
Yes. Yes. Free trial: Not applicable.
How much does Yoast SEO cost?
Free; Premium $118.80 a year per site. Prices from a 2026 third-party comparison; per-site pricing means costs rise with each site.
What is the difference between Yoast SEO Premium and WooCommerce SEO?
Premium is listed at $118.80 a year per site (Redirects, multiple keywords, AI). WooCommerce SEO is listed at $178.80 a year per site. Confirm current plan contents with the vendor.
What are the main alternatives to Yoast SEO?
The main alternatives to Yoast SEO covered on Stack18 are Rank Math, Semrush, Surfer and Screaming Frog SEO Spider. Rank Math may suit wordPress sites wanting advanced free features. Semrush may suit marketing teams that want one broad SEO and competitive research suite. Surfer may suit content teams that want on-page optimisation guidance while writing. See the Yoast SEO alternatives guide for a side-by-side table.
What integrations does Yoast SEO support?
Documented integrations include WooCommerce, Semrush and Wincher (vendor) and Elementor (vendor). API: WordPress hooks; REST and schema API.
What are the limitations of Yoast SEO?
Redirects require Premium. One focus keyword on the free version. Per-site pricing adds up for agencies.
Which platforms does Yoast SEO run on?
Yoast SEO is documented as available on: WordPress plugin, Shopify app (vendor).
When was the Yoast SEO profile last verified?
Sources for this profile were last reviewed on 13 Nov 2026. 2 sources are listed under Sources, and prices and plans can change, so confirm with the vendor.
Where this information comes from.
- Rank Math vs Yoast SEO (2026): Honest Comparison & Real Pricing BigCloudy Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026
- Yoast SEO Pricing 2026 SEO Bargains Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026
Secondary-source profile. Vendor pages were not reviewed directly for this profile. Facts and prices are corroborated across independent third-party sources and may differ from the vendor's current pages. Confirm with the vendor before buying.
Plan names, prices and features were checked against the sources listed on 13 Nov 2026. Capabilities were not tested.
Stack18 has not tested this product or received anything from the vendor for this profile. Editorial summaries of vendor information are not endorsements. Confirm details with the vendor before buying.
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