Best SEO tools for beginners
You do not need an expensive suite on day one. Start with free tools to learn what you need, then pay for the one that answers a question you keep asking.
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Read this first. The main source for this page is dated January 2025. Free tiers and trials change often, so confirm each on the vendor's site.
The short answer
Start with free tools, then add Ahrefs or Semrush once you know what you need.
- Google Search Console. Set it up first. It is free and shows how your own site appears in Google.
- Ubersuggest. Pick it for keyword and content ideas on a small budget. It has a limited free tier.
- Ahrefs. Pick it as an all-round tool once you outgrow free options. Its free tier covers Webmaster Tools.
- Semrush. Pick it when you want to analyze competitors.
Side by side
| Tool | Best for | Free option, as of our source | Beginner note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahrefs | All-round SEO and keyword tracking | Free Webmaster Tools tier with 5,000 crawls a month | Well documented, with tutorials. Also has advanced tools |
| Semrush | Competitor analysis | Free tier limited to 10 requests a day. The Pro plan had a 7-day trial | The dashboard is described as easy to use |
| Ubersuggest | Content strategy and keyword ideas | A limited free tier with daily quotas | Affordable, and suited to newcomers |
| Mangools | Keyword research, especially long-tail | No free tier listed. A 10-day trial | Described as affordable |
| Screaming Frog | Fast site crawling and audits | Free for up to 500 URLs per crawl | Beginner suitability not stated |
| AnswerThePublic | Audience questions and content ideas | A free tier, subject to traffic levels | Beginner suitability not stated |
Free-tier details come from a source dated January 2025 and may have changed.
Try them
How to choose
- You have no site data yetSet up Google Search Console and a free analytics tool before paying for anything.
- You want keyword ideas for your first postsTry Ubersuggest's free tier or Mangools' trial.
- You want to see what competitors rank forTry Semrush's free tier or trial.
- You want to audit your own site for technical problemsRun Screaming Frog's free crawl on up to 500 URLs.
Common questions
Do I need a paid SEO tool at the start?
Not necessarily. Google Search Console is free and shows the queries your site already appears for. Add a paid tool when it answers a question you keep asking.
Which tool is best for keyword research?
Our source names Mangools for long-tail keyword research and Ubersuggest for keyword ideas. Test the free options before you pay.
Sources
We have not hands-on tested every tool on this page. Details come from the sources above. See how we review.