10 Free Surfer SEO Alternatives: Cheap Options + Writing Tips

As bloggers and content marketers, we’re constantly on the lookout for ways to optimize our content for both readers and search engines. After all, we want our hard work to rank well and deliver exceptional results. And that’s why tools like Surfer SEO can come in handy!

But what if you’re on a tight budget and can’t invest in this tool just yet? Fear not! In this guide, we’ve got you covered with the best FREE Surfer SEO alternatives.

Are There Any Free Surfer SEO Alternatives?

Finding free alternatives to Surfer SEO that offer the same level of functionality can be challenging. Many similar tools follow a freemium model, where you get a limited free trial before needing to become a premium customer for full access.

But don’t worry! There are still a couple of tools that can deliver impressive results if used correctly, like Kazan SEO, Originality AI Content Optimizer, Google Analytics, and Google Search Console. These platforms provide valuable insights and data to optimize your content and boost search engine rankings.

However, if you specifically want features like keyword suggestions and content scoring offered by Surfer SEO, a paid tool may be necessary. But don’t fret! We’ll discuss free alternatives soon in detail and also mention cheap Surfer SEO alternatives.

These options will help you optimize your content effectively without spending a fortune.

Best Free Surfer SEO Alternatives:

#1. Google Search Console

Google search console helps you find the exact keywords and queries, any particular page on your website ranks for. For writing any new post, they may not be that much helpful, but for updating old content and making it SEO optimized, it will be very helpful.

You can try to naturally incorporate keywords and search phrases for which you are getting a lot of impressions but fewer clicks.

Looking at the top-ranking keywords, you can optimize and rewrite the blog post title which leads to more clicks and ultimately more traffic to the existing posts.

By analyzing the keywords and patterns, you will also get many new content ideas that you may not have thought for.

The three important metrics to look for when analyzing data from the search console is clicks, impressions, and CTR (click-through rate on your posts).

#2. Google Analytics

Through Google Analytics you can see the top-ranking pages of your website. Analyzing those pages, you will get a good idea of what keywords you should be targeting next for the new blog post.

The general rule of thumb is to double down on topics that are already ranking and performing well for your website.

#3. AI Models Like Bing Chat

Bing Chat can be a valuable resource for finding keywords commonly used in the top-ranking pages for any given search term.

For example, you can input a prompt like: “Tell me the most common words and phrases that repeatedly appear among the top five pages for the search term [paste the search term here].”

This prompt will allow you to extract keywords that frequently appear in the content of the highest-ranking pages.

By leveraging the power of web browsing and the GPT model utilized by Bing, you can uncover keywords and incorporate them naturally into your content. This process not only saves time but also provides valuable guidance on what to prioritize when creating your content outline.

Moreover, if you possess skills in prompt engineering, you can take this approach a step further by adding more advanced prompts. By refining and customizing the prompts, you can obtain more desired and specific results tailored to your content goals.

I highly suggest checking out this guide on How to write an article with Bing Chat. This guide will offer you a good basic guidance on how to use the tool for better content production.

You can also experiment with similar prompts using Chat GPT, Bard, or other AI models. I recommend you read our ChatGPT For SEO Gains guide to learn how to use tools like ChatGPT for better SEO optimizations.

However, it’s important to ensure that these models have access to the web, as this enables them to analyze and provide insights on keywords.

#4. Keyword Density Checker By Small SEO Tools

Keyword density refers to the percentage of how often a keyword appears in relation to the total number of words on the page. Finding the right balance is crucial, as it can impact the page’s ranking on search engines.

With this tool, you can analyze a web page by using its URL or assess a specific piece of text by copying and pasting it. It provides the density percentage for one, two, three, and four-word phrases. The results are presented in a table and a tag cloud, making it easy to visualize.

By utilizing the Keyword Density Checker, you can optimize your content by ensuring appropriate keyword usage without overstuffing. It helps you identify relevant keywords and phrases for your topic, aiding in content optimization

While one-word variations may not be as helpful, two, three, and four-word keyword phrases can be valuable for content optimization. However, our experiment revealed that the Keyword Density Checker might not consistently produce the most effective results compared to other tools.

#5. Free TF-IDF Tool By SEOlium:

TF-IDF, short for term frequency-inverse document frequency, is a measure that enhances content optimization for semantic search engines. These engines prioritize the meaning and context of words rather than just keywords.

With this tool, you can input a URL or text along with your target keyword for analysis.

SEOlium’s TF-IDF tool offers a focused analysis by allowing you to input both a target keyword and a URL. It generates a list of high TF-IDF scoring keywords, improving your content’s relevance and ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs).

In our experiments, the TF-IDF tool demonstrated slightly better results than the Keyword Density Checker.

#6. Kazan SEO Tool:

Kazan SEO offers a collection of free tools designed to optimize your content.

One such feature is the LSI keyword extraction tool, which suggests keywords based on your target keyword. While it doesn’t provide an overall SEO score, it is valuable for obtaining LSI keywords to enhance your content.

The user interface is good overall, on the right hand sidebar you get all the keyword suggestions based on your pasted content in the content editor space on the left.

#7. Keysearch LSI Keyword Generator:

This tool assists in generating LSI keywords, which are related terms and phrases that enhance your content’s naturalness and coverage.

By entering your target keyword, the tool provides a list of related LSI keywords based on Google’s autocomplete suggestions. You can filter the results by country, language, and search volume.

Using LSI keywords ensures content optimization, relevance, and popularity. It helps avoid keyword stuffing while promoting comprehensive and informative content. The Keysearch LSI Keyword Generator, though not URL-specific, still generates valuable LSI keywords for your content.

The algorithm of the Keysearch goes through the top pages ranking for any given term and suggests keywords based on which of them occur most frequently in those content pieces.

In our testing, we found that Keysearch was the best-performing tool among the free alternatives we included in this guide.

While Keysearch is not free, they do offer a limited-time (1 month) free trial that grants access to all its features. So technically it is not totally free, but it gives you 1-month trial which is quite enough to use the tool effectively to optimize your content.

The trial period allows 5 daily searches and analyses, giving you reasonable opportunities in their free plan to evaluate its effectiveness.

If you find Keysearch beneficial, you have the option to purchase a subscription beyond the trial period.

#8. SwissKnife Entities

The ‘SwissKnife Entities’ is a free tool that anyone can use to improve their content’s SEO. It’s a great choice for those who want to analyze a specific URL and find relevant terms related to entities.

Entities are important for SEO because they help search engines understand your content better. This tool lets you analyze URLs and identify any gaps in entities. However, it may be more suitable for advanced users..

#9. Originality.AI Free Content Optimizer

If you have been using AI content detectors, then you already know about Originality.AI. What deserves praise is the recent launch of their free content optimizer. With this tool, you have the option to input your URL, competitor URL, and your desired keyword.

The tool then performs a thorough comparison and presents a final score, along with keyword percentage and counts, in a well-organized tabular format. Moreover, you have the convenience of downloading the data in a CSV file.

Additionally, the tool highlights specific keywords directly on the webpage, enhancing the user experience. Overall, it is a valuable resource for optimizing your existing content by benchmarking it against competitor pieces.

#10. Harpa.AI

Harpa.AI is a chrome extension that seamlessly integrates with your ChatGPT, enabling you to enhance your SEO efforts. It offers various functionalities such as extracting LSI keywords, conducting on-page audits, researching SEO keywords, and outranking other articles.

This new chrome extension has received overall positive reviews from industry users, making it a promising tool for creating SEO-optimized articles. Feel free to try it out and experience its performance firsthand.

So, currently, these are the only methods available to optimize your content without paying for Surfer SEO. It’s important to acknowledge that they may not offer the exact same features and user experience as Surfer SEO.

If you desire a similar experience to Surfer SEO, you may consider purchasing freemium tools like Frase and others that offer a free trial period. These tools can provide a closer resemblance to Surfer SEO’s functionality. Let’s dive into more detail about these alternatives.

Freemium Surfer SEO Alternatives

Tool Name	Trial period	Starting Cost
MarketMuse	10 queries free per month with limited results	$149 per month
Page Optimizer Pro	7 days free trial	$27 per month
Writer Zen	7 days free trial	$19 per month

Cheap Surfer SEO Alternatives

The monthly pricing for Surfer SEO starts at $29 per month, providing you with 3 content editor credits to optimize 3 articles within that time frame. If you’re a professional blogger publishing at least 7 articles, the cost increases to $89 per month.

For those who publish even more articles and require editing through Surfer SEO, the price jumps to $179 per month, allowing you to optimize up to 25 articles. It’s clear that Surfer SEO can be quite costly.

In comparison, Frase.io offers the ability to write and optimize approximately 30 articles per month at a significantly lower cost of only $44.99, making it more than 3 times cheaper than Surfer SEO.

Another noteworthy tool is Page Optimizer Pro, which offers 25 reports per month at $38 per month and unlimited reports in their $49 per month plan. This makes Page Optimizer Pro a cost-effective option for content optimization and SEO.

If you’re working with a tight budget but still want to use important SEO features, then Similar Content might be your perfect solution. This includes features like NLP, LSI keywords, content scores, and a whole range of content optimization tools.

The best part? It only costs $9 per month! That’s a whopping 10 to 15 times less expensive than Surfer SEO’s $179 monthly price tag. Plus, with Similar Content, you can optimize up to 90 pieces of content.

Now, it’s important to remember that you often get what you pay for. Similar Content is a relatively new tool on the scene, so it may not be as polished as some others out there. However, it’s getting better all the time. So, you can look forward to more features and improved accuracy in the future.

If you dislike the subscription model and are seeking an affordable lifetime deal for a content analysis tool, Neuron Writer is the perfect solution for you. For a one-time payment of just $69, you gain access to 25 content analysis queries per month. This tool is available on App Sumo, where each code costs approximately $69 for a lifetime subscription.

By purchasing multiple codes, you can increase the number of content analyses you can perform each month. Neuron Writer features a user-friendly interface and provides content scoring and keyword suggestions similar to Surfer SEO.

When considering these pricing options, it’s important to weigh the features and functionality offered by each tool against their respective costs. This will help you make an informed decision based on your specific needs and budget.

Pros And Cons Of Free Surfer SEO Alternatives

Pros:

• Cost-effective: Free Surfer SEO alternatives allow you to optimize your content without incurring any additional expenses.

• Basic and simple functionality: While they may not offer the same extensive features as Surfer SEO, free alternatives often provide the basic essential features without any bells and whistles.

• Learning opportunity: Using free alternatives allows you to gain hands-on experience and develop a deeper understanding of SEO practices without a financial commitment.

Cons:

• Limited features: Free Surfer SEO alternatives often have restricted functionality compared to their paid counterparts. Advanced features like detailed keyword analysis and in-depth content optimization may be missing.

• Data limitations: Free tools may impose limitations on the amount of data you can analyze, such as the number of keyword suggestions or pages you can optimize. This can restrict the depth of your SEO analysis.

While free Surfer SEO alternatives can be beneficial for those on a tight budget, it’s important to consider the limitations they may have in terms of features, data, and usability.

Assess your specific needs and objectives before deciding whether a free alternative can sufficiently meet your SEO requirements.

How To Manually Create Surfer SEO-Like Content?

Creating high-quality, optimized content doesn’t always require relying solely on advanced tools like Surfer SEO. By following a manual approach, you can still achieve similar results. Here are some tips to help you manually create Surfer SEO-like content:

#1. Analyze the Top 10 Ranking Articles:

Start by examining the top 10 articles that currently rank for your target keyword. Look for common patterns, such as word count, formatting, headings, and subheadings.

Identify the key elements that contribute to their success and incorporate them into your own content.

#2. Identify Content Gaps:

While analyzing the top-ranking articles, pay attention to any gaps or missing information. Look for opportunities to provide more comprehensive and valuable content that addresses these gaps.

Adding unique insights, additional research, or practical examples can help your content stand out from the competition.

#3. Research Deeply:

Conduct thorough research on your chosen topic to gather as much relevant information as possible.

Dive into authoritative sources, industry reports, case studies, and expert opinions. This extensive research will enable you to provide valuable and well-informed content that resonates with your audience.

#4. Focus on Relevant Keywords:

Identify the keywords and phrases used most frequently by the competing articles. Integrate these terms naturally into your content, ensuring they align with the context and flow smoothly. However, avoid keyword stuffing and prioritize creating engaging and readable content for your audience.

You can also take the help of Google auto suggest, related searches and people also ask questions to understand what keywords and phrases should be present in the content to make it well-optimized for ranking.

Pro-Tip: Don’t be afraid to incorporate topics your audience ‘wants to know’ or ‘should know’ regarding any particular topic. It’s the secret to making your content stand out and dominate the SERPs.

#5. Optimize Structure and Formatting:

Pay attention to the structure and formatting of your content. Use appropriate headings, subheadings, bullet points, and numbered lists to enhance readability and make the content more scannable. This helps both readers and search engines navigate and understand your content better.

#6. Create Unique and Engaging Content:

Aim to provide a unique perspective or valuable insights in your content. Offer practical tips, real-life examples, or personal experiences to captivate your audience.

Engaging content is more likely to be shared and linked to, boosting your chances of improved visibility and organic traffic.

#7. Proofread and Edit:

Take the time to proofread your content carefully for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Ensure your content flows smoothly and delivers a coherent message. Make any necessary edits to refine and polish your work before publishing.

By implementing these manual content creation strategies, you can optimize your content for search engines, provide valuable information to your audience, and increase your chances of ranking well in the SERPs.

Remember, while advanced tools like Surfer SEO offer additional insights, a well-researched, structured, and engaging content approach can still yield excellent results.

Is It Worth It To Buy Surfer SEO?

Surfer SEO is an effective tool for enhancing your website’s search engine ranking. It offers several features designed to optimize your on-page SEO:

• Content Editor: This feature suggests keywords and provides guidance on word count and other factors to improve your content’s ranking.

• LSI and NLP Keywords Suggestions: These help you find relevant long-tail keywords, which are less competitive and easier to rank for.

• Keyword Difficulty Score: This score indicates the level of difficulty to rank for a specific keyword, helping you choose realistic targets.

• SERP Analysis: This feature shows how your website’s pages rank for specific keywords, enabling you to identify areas for improvement.

While Surfer SEO is a valuable tool for boosting search engine rankings, it’s important to note that it isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. You still need to create high-quality content and promote your website to see optimal results.

If you’re considering purchasing Surfer SEO, I recommend taking advantage of the free trial to evaluate its suitability for your needs.

Here are some pros and cons to consider:

Pros:

• Powerful on-page SEO tool
• Offers a variety of features
• User-friendly interface
• Provides a free trial for testing

Cons:

• Can be expensive for long-term use
• Not a guaranteed solution for instant success

In a nutshell, Surfer SEO is a valuable tool for improving search engine rankings. However, it’s important to carefully weigh the pros and cons before making a decision. Remember to focus on creating high-quality content and implementing effective promotion strategies alongside using SEO tools.

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