SEO Tools
The following tools help analyze and promote organic search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. SEO plugins and unusual SEO tools (like Hreflang) also listed.
Subcategories
Crawlers | Penalty checkers | Ranking tools
Ahrefs – An SEO analysis tool that highlights areas on a webpage for improvement, does keyword research, keyword ranking, backlink analysis, and finds the most linked to content in an industry. Their Domain Comparison feature is a co-location tool that finds sites linking to your competitors but not you. Detailed help guide available, their blog is one of the best sources of SEO information online.
Advanced Web Ranking – Obsessed with rankings? This one is for you 🙂
Fresh rankings daily, weekly or on demand for desktop, mobile and local searches. White label reports available, can be accessed from any device (feed the addiction).
Forecheck – Analyzes full websites in minutes and then lists what needs to be fixed or addressed. Color codes important issues so you tackle them first. Looks for broken links, duplicate content, robot.txt issues and more.
GTMetrix – This tool analyzes webpage speed and lists recommendation on how to optimize it. Can set alerts for page speed, page load time, total page size, etc. Offers optimization guides for WordPress sites in their resource section.
Headmaster SEO – Check, analyze, filter and sort bulk URLs for status code, redirect details, response time, response headers and HTTP head fields. Desktop program for PC or Mac, checks up to 500 URLs at no charge.
Hreflang Tag Generator – Created by my friend Aleyda Solis, this tool will generate multi-language or multi-country hreflang tags.
Hreflang Testing Tool – Analyze a list of pages or analyze pages from a sitemap.
Lipperhey – Tool name is a hat tip to one of the first inventors of the Dutch telescope, Johannes Lipperhey. Very basic tool, the free option provides status codes, load times and which pages have been indexed. It also scores on meta keywords which are a non-issue for Google and will compare your site to a competitor.
Netpeak Checker – A research tool for bulk URL analysis. All standard options plus they let you add the API’s for tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, Majestic and compare URLs based on their parameters.
Map Broker – XML sitemap validator.
Moz – A full platform tool that provides webpage/site audits and lists what steps can be taken to improve the SEO of each page.
Raven Tools – This platform is really six tools in one! Website auditor (one of the best), backlink analyzer, rank tracker, marketing reports, competitor research and a link building manager that finds thousands of link opportunities. Their Google Analytics Guide helps you set up and configure Google Universal Analytics Events and Campaign Variable tracking.
Rank Ranger – An all-in-one SEO platform, Rank Ranger is an adaptable tool for business of any size. Offers keyword tracking, competitive analysis and reporting, local and maps tracking and ranking reports. Link building, landing page, social network management and tracking, plus Rank Ranger monitors monthly and annual Google Analytics traffic and Ads performance. Bonus – their Google algorithm updates list keeps track of all the major updates and what the engine says about them.
SEMrush – A full platform providing easy access and monitoring for ranking, social, local, SEO, link, PPC and content information for your site or a competitor. An SEO industry favorite, SEMrush provides training for new and current users with webinar and onsite resources and hosts the popular weekly @SEMrushChat on Twitter.
SearchMetrics – A web-based software for SEO and content marketing, the SearchMetrics tool offers comprehensive website analysis, historical keyword rankings, subdomain rankings, backlink analysis, competitor analysis and keyword research. Their webinar library is a helpful learning resource.
SEOPowerSuite – With options for small to enterprise customers, this software platform is four tools in one, a rank tracker, website auditor, link prospecting and backlink research tool. Tool training available through their learning hub.
SEOQuake – A free Chrome extension, this tool conducts on-page audits in real-time, looks at internal and external links, compares domains and measures keyword density. Owned by SEMrush.
SerpStat – A keyword research and analysis tool with performance tracking, and competitor analysis. Their Missing Keywords feature highlights keywords your competitors are ranking for but you are not. SerpStat owns Netpeak Spider and Netpeak Checker.
Sitebulb – SEO audit tool that provides comphrehensive reports and data visualizations at scale.
SpyFu – Search on Google for any URL and see where they show up, what keywords they’re buying on Adwords, where they rank for the term and ad variations over the last 13 year. Learn competitors’ PPC & SEO tricks and avoid their mistakes.
WooRank – Instant SEO checker and SEO audit tool.
Plugins
All in one SEO Pack – Optimize your WordPress site for SEO. Submits sitemap to Google and Bing, provides Google AMP support, generates meta tags automatically, ties into Google Analytics and more. Free and paid versions.
Yoast – Popular SEO plugin since 2008 with a full range of free and paid options. Sitemaps, control breadcrumbs, set canonical URLs to avoid duplicate content, title and meta description per page, snippet preview and more.
Unusual but helpful SEO tools
Answer The Public– This is a great, free keyword phrase search tool. Find topics to write about, find variations of phrases and questions. Use it free five times a day or upgrade to the paid program which allows unlimited searches and has comparison data.
Search Analytics for Sheets – Set this tool to automatically retrieve data and create automatic backups from Google Search Console and/or Analytics into Google Sheets. (Bypass the 90-day rule GA has!) Retrieve query, page, clicks and other data on-demand for any of your verified websites. Chrome add-on, detailed set-up instructions included, no charge.
See how we add tools to the directory. If we’ve listed your tool and you want it removed, use the contact form and let us know.