Rank Math vs Yoast SEO
Updated October 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
Rank Math
Feature-rich WordPress SEO plugin with a generous free version, PRO plans and AI content tools.
Yoast SEO
The most widely used WordPress SEO plugin, with a free version, Premium upgrade and Shopify app.
The short answer
Both are WordPress SEO plugins that handle titles, meta descriptions, sitemaps and structured data. Rank Math suits users who want as much as possible in the free version, including redirects and Search Console data. Yoast SEO suits writers and site owners who want guided, simpler defaults and readability feedback. The biggest difference is what is free: Rank Math includes redirects and multiple focus keywords at no cost, which Yoast reserves for Premium.
Rank Math or Yoast SEO: our take
Yoast SEO is the long-established option. Its free version covers titles and meta descriptions, XML sitemaps, canonical tags, breadcrumbs, structured data and social previews, and it scores each post for keyword use and readability as you write. The guidance is easy to follow for people without technical knowledge, though its traffic-light scores can push writers toward keyword stuffing if followed blindly. Yoast also offers a Shopify app and a Google Docs add-on. Rank Math became popular by packing more into its free plugin: schema markup with many templates, redirections, a 404 monitor, Google Search Console integration, multiple focus keywords and content analysis. The trade-off is a large number of settings that can overwhelm beginners.
On paid plans, Yoast SEO Premium costs $118.80/year (ex VAT) per site, with extra seats at $5/month each, and adds redirect management, internal linking suggestions, multiple focus keywords and AI-generated titles and descriptions; WooCommerce, local and video SEO are separate add-ons. Rank Math PRO adds advanced schema, rank tracking, more analytics and WooCommerce features, sold as annual plans by number of sites, up to 100 client websites on the Business plan. PRO renews at €8.99/month billed annually, and renewal prices are higher than first-year offers. PRO also needs the free plugin installed alongside it, and Rank Math's Content AI is sold separately with its own credits. Both plugins run on your own self-hosted WordPress site.
Pick Rank Math if you are comfortable with settings and want redirects, schema and Search Console data without paying, or if you manage many client sites and want a plan that scales. Pick Yoast if you want a calmer setup with readability help for writers, or if you also work in Shopify or Google Docs. For a small blog either free version covers the essentials; the decision mostly comes down to whether you prefer more features or more guidance.
Which should you pick?
Choose Rank Math if…
- WordPress users who want many SEO features in the free plugin
- Generous free version with schema and redirects
- Search Console data inside WordPress
Choose Yoast SEO if…
- WordPress site owners and writers who want guided on-page SEO
- Free version covers essential on-page SEO
- Readability and keyword guidance while writing
About each app
What is Rank Math?
Rank Math is a WordPress SEO plugin that became a popular alternative to Yoast by packing more into its free version: titles and meta tags, XML sitemaps, schema markup with many templates, redirections, a 404 monitor, Google Search Console integration, multiple focus keywords and on-page content analysis. Rank Math PRO adds advanced schema, keyword rank tracking, more analytics, WooCommerce features and support, sold as annual plans that differ by the number of sites, from personal use to agencies with hundreds of client sites; Content AI and other AI tools are sold separately with their own credits. It suits bloggers, small businesses and agencies running WordPress who want many SEO features in one plugin. The sheer number of options can be overwhelming, and renewal prices are higher than introductory offers. It runs as a WordPress plugin, self-hosted on your site.
What is Yoast SEO?
Yoast SEO is the classic on-page SEO plugin for WordPress. The free version handles titles and meta descriptions, XML sitemaps, canonical tags, breadcrumbs, structured data and social previews, and scores each post for keyword use and readability as you write. Yoast SEO Premium adds redirect management, internal linking suggestions, multiple focus keywords, AI-generated titles and descriptions and support, sold as a yearly subscription per site with extra seats available; WooCommerce SEO, local SEO and video add-ons are sold separately, and bundles combine them. Yoast also offers a Shopify app, a Google Docs add-on and an SEO training academy. It suits WordPress site owners and writers who want sensible defaults and guidance without technical knowledge. Its traffic-light scores can encourage keyword stuffing if followed blindly, and some features many people want sit behind Premium. It runs as a WordPress plugin, self-hosted on your site.
Side by side
| Attribute | Rank Math | Yoast SEO |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | Self-hosted | Self-hosted |
| Best for | WordPress users who want many SEO features in the free plugin | WordPress site owners and writers who want guided on-page SEO |
| Status | Active | Active |
Rank Math vs Yoast SEO pricing
Platforms
| Platform | Rank Math | Yoast SEO |
|---|---|---|
| Self-hosted |
Rank Math facts
4 of 4 verified- Business plan sites
- 100 client websites
- Checked Oct 25, 2026rankmath.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Buy Now Supports 100 client websites”
- Free version
- Yes
- Checked Oct 25, 2026rankmath.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “You can download the free version of Rank Math and install it on your website”
- PRO builds on free
- Both plugins required
- Checked Oct 25, 2026rankmath.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “The PRO version is built on top of the free plugin, so you need to keep both installed and activated to use the PRO.”
- PRO renewal
- €8.99/month billed annually
- Checked Oct 25, 2026rankmath.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Renews at € 8.99 per month + taxes The PRO plan comes with a renewal fee of € 8.99 + taxes per month (Billed annually).”
Yoast SEO facts
4 of 4 verified- Premium price
- $118.80/year (ex VAT)
- Checked Oct 25, 2026yoast.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Only $ 118.80 / year (ex VAT) Get Yoast SEO Premium Trustpilot The work is never the problem.”
- Extra seats
- $5/month each
- Checked Oct 25, 2026yoast.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “You can add more for the rest of your team at $5 (excl. VAT) per month each.”
- Shopify app
- Yes
- Checked Oct 25, 2026yoast.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Yoast SEO for Shopify Easy SEO, now with AI insights”
- Readability analysis
- Included in free version
- Checked Oct 25, 2026yoast.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Products: Yoast SEO Premium June 2016 Readability Analysis Our readability tools help you write easy-to-read content that your readers love. Products: Yoast SEO,”
Pros and cons of Rank Math
- Generous free version with schema and redirects
- Search Console data inside WordPress
- PRO plans scale to agency client sites
- Many settings can overwhelm beginners
- Renewals cost more than first-year prices
- AI features need separate credits
Pros and cons of Yoast SEO
- Free version covers essential on-page SEO
- Readability and keyword guidance while writing
- Also available for Shopify and Google Docs
- Redirects and internal linking need Premium
- Scores can push writers toward keyword stuffing
Other apps to consider
- Wi
Screaming Frog SEO SpiderInstead of Yoast SEO
A crawler for checking the whole site's technical health.
Rank Math vs Yoast SEO: common questions
Is Rank Math better than Yoast SEO?
Both are WordPress SEO plugins that handle titles, meta descriptions, sitemaps and structured data. Rank Math suits users who want as much as possible in the free version, including redirects and Search Console data. Yoast SEO suits writers and site owners who want guided, simpler defaults and readability feedback. The biggest difference is what is free: Rank Math includes redirects and multiple focus keywords at no cost, which Yoast reserves for Premium.
Is Rank Math free?
Rank Math has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is Yoast SEO free?
Yoast SEO has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is Rank Math or Yoast SEO open source?
Neither is open source.
Which platforms do Rank Math and Yoast SEO support?
Rank Math: Self-hosted. Yoast SEO: Self-hosted.