Today there are 258 different DIY SEO tools. We spent 88 hours comparing the top 50 to find the seven best you can use to optimize your website’s search engine rankings.
What is the Best DIY SEO Tool?
1. Mangools
Our Verdict — Best Of The Best
Price: Starts at $29/month
Mangools is an affordable yet comprehensive toolset that makes other SEO software feel like they’re from the 80s. We think it’s the best because of its accurate keyword research capabilities, SERP analysis for specific locations, and competitor analysis features.
The Best Part:
Simple, yet powerful. With Mangools' easy-to-use interface and clear data presentation, even those who are 100% new to SEO can hit the ground running without missing a beat.
The Worst Part:
No full-site SEO audit. Mangools drops the ball when it comes to giving your site a complete health scan for things like broken links or suggesting ways to improve on-page SEO.
Get it if you want a full set of DIY SEO tools that provides everything from keyword research to competitor analysis, backed up by a support team with hands-on experience in SEO.
I recommend you get started with a 10-day free trial, then get the Mangools Entry plan for $29/month.
(10-day free trial)
Best For
Mangools is best suited for bloggers and online business owners who are looking for a complete DIY SEO toolset that doesn’t cost an arm and leg.
Top Features
It finds the shortest paths to success. Mangools takes the guesswork out of choosing keywords by providing precise difficulty scores that you can easily assess on your own — no more shooting in the dark!
Local SEO genius. With Mangools, you can view Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) for any location or language, helping you tailor your strategy and attract more visitors from more specific markets.
Easy rank tracking. Mangools will keep an eagle eye on your search engine standings with their robust rank tracking feature, and they'll even give you a heads-up via email when there are shifts in your rankings.
Hunts down powerful backlinks. Use Mangools to unearth those valuable backlinks that can give your website's authority a significant boost. It pinpoints exactly where you should be fishing for backlinks.
Identifies traffic-driving content. Wondering what's clicking for your competitors? Mangools shows you their most successful posts and website pages, giving you new ideas for content or places to build links without manually digging through Google results.
Pricing
Mangools offers four pricing plans:
- Mangools Entry: $29/month for beginners in SEO who want a user-friendly toolset with 25 keyword lookups, 50 tracked keywords, and access to 25,000 backlink rows.
- Mangools Basic: $49/month for small business owners who need essential SEO tools including 100 keyword lookups, unlimited domain tracking, and 100,000 backlink rows.
- Mangools Premium: $69/month for growing businesses that want unlimited keyword suggestions and deep data access within Mangools that includes 500 keyword lookups and SERP lookups each, along with access to 500,000 backlink rows.
- Mangools Agency: $129/month for digital agencies and seasoned SEO professionals requiring high limits and additional seats with features like 1,200 keyword lookups and SERP lookups each plus impressive access to over a million backlink rows.
Annual subscriptions provide a 35% discount.
Try Mangools today with a free 10-day trial.
2. Semrush
Our Verdict — Best For Advanced SEO
Price: Starts at $129.95/month
Semrush is an advanced SEO tool designed for those who want to go the extra mile when it comes to SEO. We think it’s the best for advanced SEO because of its comprehensive keyword research capabilities, in-depth competitor analysis features, and detailed backlink audits.
The Best Part:
It’s like a private detective for your SEO. You get to see where your competitors’ traffic is coming from, which websites are referring the most visitors to them, and even how long people stick around on their site.
The Worst Part:
Steep learning curve. Semrush is like a high-tech sports car — it's powerful and impressive, but it might take some time before you're comfortable behind the wheel.
Get it if you want a robust SEO tool to dominate your niche and stay ahead of the competition.
I recommend you get started with a 7-day trial, then get the Pro plan for $129.95/month.
(7-day free trial)
Best For
Semrush is best for businesses that want to bring big results from SEO without having to hire an entire SEO team.
Top Features
Full website audits. Semrush’s Site Audit feature is like getting a health checkup for your website. With over 60+ technical SEO checks available, these audits ensure that everything is running smoothly, under the hood.
Uncovers untapped keyword opportunities. Unearth hidden treasures with the Keyword Gap tool which identifies keywords targeted by competitors but not by you — talk about finding gold nuggets with barely any work.
Cleans up your backlink profile. Semrush allows you to review all details of your backlink profile and quickly locate any toxic ones — consider it as spring cleaning for your website’s links!
Craft SEO-friendly content. Semrush makes creating optimized content a walk in the park by providing ready-to-use content templates and tips to improve keywords and structure.
Master your keywords. Semrush makes it easy to understand how your keywords are performing, showing you all the important details in one place and even suggesting similar words that could boost your website's visibility.
Pricing
Semrush offers three pricing plans:
- Pro: $129.95/month for newbies and small teams who want a full suite of SEO, social, and PPC tools to get their digital presence off the ground.
- Guru: $249.95/month for agencies and businesses that want advanced features like Semrush’s Content Marketing Toolkit, historical data, and multi-location tracking.
- Business: $499.95/month for large agencies and businesses that need top-tier capabilities such as extended feature limits, API access, and comparison features for competition analysis.
Annual subscriptions provide up to a 17% discount.
Try Semrush today with a free 7-day trial.
3. Serpstat
Our Verdict — Best For Beginners
Price: Starts at $59/month
Serpstat is designed to make SEO simple. We think it’s the best for beginners because of its user-friendly interface, easy-to-understand ranking tracking system, and comprehensive set of tools.
The Best Part:
It simplifies complex SEO tasks. Serpstat makes it easy for beginners to navigate the often complicated world of search engine optimization by breaking down complex tasks into simple steps.
The Worst Part:
Technical audit results. For those new to SEO, Serpstat's audit results might come across as too technical and could use a bit more explanation to make them easier to understand.
Get it if you're looking for a user-friendly DIY tool to understand and implement effective SEO strategies.
I recommend you get started with a 7-day free trial, then get the Individual plan for $59/month.
(7-day free trial)
Best For
Serpstat is best for SEO beginners who want to gain a competitive edge without getting tangled up in complex technicalities.
Top Features
Navigate through calm waters. Serpstat’s user-friendly interface makes it simple to find what you're looking for, even if you're new to SEO.
Comprehensive audit reports. Get a clear picture of your website's SEO health with Serpstat's detailed and easy-to-understand audit reports.
Create solid baselines. Understand where your website stands in the digital landscape and plan your next steps and SEO growth effectively, with Serpstat’s domain analysis tool.
Where you stand. Whether sending quick reports to your client or integrating them into your other tools, exporting data in various formats is a breeze with Serpstat.
All the tools you need. Serpstat provides everything you need for DIY SEO, including rank tracking, search volume crawling, domain and keyword batch analysis, and even AI content creation tools.
Pricing
Serpstat offers four pricing plans:
- Individual: $59/month for solo SEO practitioners and freelancers who need to manage a handful of projects and want insights into their competitors' online strategies.
- Team: $119/month for small teams that require additional tools such as batch analysis, branded reports, and team management features.
- Agency: $479/month for marketing agencies and big teams who require extensive features, including more projects, credits, team members, and the ability to use Serpstat's platform under your own brand with white label capabilities.
- Custom: Custom pricing, for large businesses and agencies that have specific demands and needs beyond Serpstat’s fixed price plans.
Annual subscriptions provide up to a 16% discount.
Try Serpstat today with a free 7-day trial.
Our Top Three Picks
Here’s a quick summary of our top three picks:
Here’s a quick comparison of our top seven picks:
Tool | Entry Offer | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
Mangools | 10-day free trial | Starts at $29/mo |
Semrush | 7-day free trial | Starts at $129.95/mo |
Serpstat | 7-day free trial | Starts at $59/mo |
Ahrefs | Free plan | Starts at $99/mo |
Moz | 30-day free trial | Starts at $99/mo |
SpyFu | Free plan | Starts at $39/mo |
Raven Tools | 7-day free trial | Starts at $49/mo |
Here are the top 50 DIY SEO tools we considered in this review:
- Mangools
- Semrush
- Serpstat
- Ahrefs
- Moz
- SpyFu
- Raven Tools
- Buzzsumo
- Majestic SEO
- BrightLocal
- Long Tail Pro
- Yoast SEO
- Ubersuggest
- Google Search Console
- Screaming Frog SEO Spider
- Google Analytics
- Google Keyword Planner
- Seobility
- SEOquake
- Google Trends
- Keywords Everywhere
- SEO PowerSuite
- WooRank
- Siteliner
- LinkResearchTools
- CognitiveSEO
- SEOmator
- SEOlium
- SERanking
- DeepCrawl
- Nightwatch.io
- OnCrawl
- WebCEO
- Advanced Web Ranking
- Rank Ranger
- SEOProfiler
- CanIRank
- Ryte
- AccuRanker
- Keyword Tool
- Answer The Public
- Monitor Backlinks
- SEObility
- ClickFlow
- Clearscope
- Sitebulb
- Varvy SEO tool
- MobileMoxie
- Linkody
- SEO Site Checkup
Frequently Asked Questions About DIY SEO Software Tools
What is the best DIY SEO tool?
Mangools is our top pick because you get a complete DIY SEO toolset built for bloggers and online business owners. The one gap: it does not run a full-site SEO audit, so pair it with an auditor if that matters to you.
How do you choose a DIY SEO tool?
Match the tool to your job. Mangools is our best overall, Semrush is best for advanced SEO, Serpstat for beginners, Ahrefs for backlink tracking, Moz for midsize and large businesses, SpyFu for keyword research, and Raven Tools for SEO audits.
Which DIY SEO tool is best for beginners?
Serpstat is the one to reach for when you are just starting out. Mangools is another user-friendly option, and you can build your keyword research basics alongside it using free resources like Google Trends.
Are there free DIY SEO tools or free trials?
Yes. Ahrefs and SpyFu give you a free plan, while the rest hand you a free trial. You get free trials on Mangools, Semrush, Serpstat, Raven Tools, and Moz, so you can test before you pay.
Which DIY SEO tool is best for backlink tracking?
Ahrefs is the one to reach for when you want to track backlinks, and it gives you a free plan to start.
Is Semrush good for advanced SEO?
Yes, Semrush is our pick for advanced SEO because you get comprehensive keyword research, in-depth competitor analysis, and detailed backlink audits. Expect a steep learning curve, so plan a little ramp-up time.
Do any DIY SEO tools use AI?
Yes. Serpstat includes AI content creation tools, and it is also our pick for beginners, so you get AI help and an easy on-ramp in one place.
How do I start doing SEO myself?
Start with keyword research to find terms with high search volume and low keyword difficulty. From there, create high-quality unique content, monitor performance with Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools, fix your technical SEO issues, and build external links. SEO is a long game, so give it time to show results.
The Bottom Line
To recap, here are the best DIY SEO tools to try this year: