While search engine optimization (SEO) can be a complicated aspect of digital marketing, most site owners and businesses can accomplish basic SEO tasks without consulting services or agencies.
To help, we’ve compiled a quick list of SEO tools that are user-friendly and suitable for most people looking to improve search traffic on their own.
SEO Software Picks
| Software | Description | Categories |
| Google Keyword Planner | Good for keyword volume and CPC data | Keyword Research |
| Google Search Console | Essential for monitoring and resolving technical SEO issues | Technical SEO, Analytics |
| Bing Webmaster Tools | Similar to Google’s offering but for Bing’s search engine | Technical SEO, Analytics |
| GTmetrix | Analyzes the speed and performance of your website | Technical SEO |
| Surfer SEO | Analyzes your content against top-performing pages | Competitive Analysis |
| Screaming Frog SEO Spider | Crawls your website to find SEO issues | Technical SEO |
| SEOquake | A browser extension providing SEO metrics for web pages. | On-Page SEO |
| Majestic SEO | Offers detailed backlink analysis | Off-Page SEO |
| Ahrefs Backlink Checker | Provides a free version for checking backlinks | Off-Page SEO |
| SEMrush Position Tracking | Tracks daily changes in keyword positions | Rank Tracking |
| Google Analytics | Provides comprehensive data on website traffic and user behavior | Data Analytics |
| Moz Local | Streamlines the process of managing your local business listings | Local SEO |
| Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test | Checks how easily a visitor can use your page on a mobile device | Technical SEO |
| Yoast SEO | A comprehensive SEO plugin for WordPress. Our plugin pick. | On-Page SEO, Technical SEO |
| All in One SEO | Another popular WordPress plugin for those who prefer an alternative to Yoast | On-Page SEO, Technical SEO |
| Google Trends | Another popular WordPress plugin for those who prefer an alternative to Yoast | Keyword Research |
| SimilarWeb | Another popular WordPress plugin for those who prefer an alternative to Yoast | Off-Page SEO |
For more information on the categories, see our articles on the subfields of SEO:
Many of the tools can be used for multiple purposes and cross-category efforts.
When to Seek Assistance
While these tools can help you accomplish significant SEO work, they won’t automatically help you rank better in search results. If you’re new to SEO or uncomfortable with making and executing long-term strategies, you should consider getting expert advice.
That said, the best way to learn SEO is by practicing it, and these tools should help you collect key data and form strategies. If you want to get more out of your efforts, keep learning and refining your techniques.
Bottom Line
These software picks are some of the most popular available for common SEO efforts. Check out those that appeal to your needs, then hone your skills on your favorite tools.
