Best SEO Tools in 2026
Updated
In short: Ahrefs is ranked #1 of 245 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Screaming Frog SEO Spider and Semrush. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Screaming Frog SEO Spider. The lowest first paid tier on this page is DefiniteSEO at $0.42/mo.
SEO tools support work such as keyword discovery, site reviews, competitor research, and monitoring search positions. Compared on keyword research, site audit, rank tracking, backlink analysis, and competitor research, the entries can be considered against the tasks you need to cover. Tracked keywords and API access are also listed, as are free-plan availability and paid-from pricing. Ahrefs, Screaming Frog SEO Spider, and Semrush are among the options to compare. Consider which SEO activities matter for your work, then weigh the relevant features and access details across these tools.
245 SEO tools ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
25 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AhrefsWeb · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $29/mo | 8.0 | |
| 2 | Screaming Frog SEO SpiderWindows · Mac · Linux · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 8.0 | |
| 3 | SemrushAPI | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | Free | 7.9 | |
| 4 | Google Search ConsoleWeb · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 7.9 | |
| 5 | Rank Math SEOWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 7.8 | |
| 6 | MangoolsAPI | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | Free | 7.8 | |
| 7 | FraseWeb · API · Extension | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $19/mo | 7.8 | |
| 8 | Yoast SEOAPI | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | $9.90/mo | 7.7 | |
| 9 | SEO PowerSuiteAPI | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | $29.08/mo | 7.7 | |
| 10 | SEOPressAPI | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | $4.08/mo | 7.7 | |
| 11 | Marketing MinerWeb · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 7.7 | |
| 12 | Screaming Frog SEO Log File AnalyserWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $11.58/mo | 7.7 | |
| 13 | DefiniteSEOWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted · API · Extension | Three bars | — | 6 of 6 | $0.42/mo | 7.7 | |
| 14 | Keyword ToolWeb · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $68/mo | 7.6 | |
| 15 | MarketMuseWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 7.6 | |
| 16 | OuterankAPI | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | $31/mo | 7.5 | |
| 17 | DataForSEO SERP APIWeb · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | — | 7.5 | |
| 18 | Netpeak SpiderWindows · Mac | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 7.5 | |
| 19 | Authoritas SEO PlatformAPI | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | £99/mo | 7.4 | |
| 20 | SurfaceableAPI | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | $23/mo | 7.4 | |
| 21 | NokofyAPI | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | Free | 7.4 | |
| 22 | SitebazeAPI | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | €19/mo | 7.3 | |
| 23 | AtomicWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $40/mo | 7.3 | |
| 24 | SeodarWeb · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | €29/mo | 7.3 | |
| 25 | Keyword KickAPI | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | $49/mo | 7.2 |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which SEO tool is ranked first on Freedom251?
Ahrefs is ranked #1 of 245 with a score of 8.0. Screaming Frog SEO Spider is second and Semrush third.
How many of these have a free plan?
24 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, DefiniteSEO has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.42/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.