f you’re using WordPress for your website, you’ve probably heard of SEO plugins. They are incredibly useful tools that help you with the technical and on-page side of things, making it easier for search engines to understand your site and rank it higher. Think of them as a friendly guide, pointing out where you can improve your content to make it more visible online. Of course, these SEO plugins don’t do all the heavy lifting for you – not quite – that’s where an SEO agency comes in.
Two of the biggest and most popular names in this space are Rank Math and Yoast SEO. Both have a great reputation and are used by millions of website owners worldwide. For small businesses or bloggers, choosing between them can feel a little daunting. The good news is, you can’t really go wrong with either, but one might be a better fit for your specific needs. In this guide, we’ll take a deep dive into both plugins, comparing them on a range of factors so you can make an informed decision.
While we’re personally huge fans of Rank Math, we’re always here to present both options and help you decide which works best for your website.
Getting Started: Installation and Setup
The first step for any plugin is getting it onto your website. Both Rank Math and Yoast SEO are available in the WordPress plugin directory and are free to install. The process is pretty straightforward for both.
Once installed, both plugins feature a setup wizard. This is a step-by-step guide that walks you through the initial configuration of the plugin. This is a huge help for anyone who isn’t a tech expert. You’ll be asked simple questions about your website, like what type of site it is (e.g., a blog, a small business, an online shop) and whether you want search engines to be able to index certain pages. The Rank Math setup wizard is generally considered a little more detailed, and it even includes an option to connect your website to Google Search Console, which is a big time-saver.
One of the best features of Rank Math is its easy-to-use migration tool. If you have an existing website that already uses Yoast SEO, you can switch to Rank Math with just a few clicks. It will automatically import all your existing settings, so you don’t have to worry about losing any of your hard work.
Features: Free vs. Premium
This is where the biggest differences between the two plugins can be found. Both have a free version, but Rank Math offers a much wider range of features without having to pay a penny.
On-Page SEO
Both plugins do a fantastic job of helping you with your on-page SEO. As you write a new post or page, they provide a checklist and a score to show you how well you’re doing. They’ll give you suggestions for things like:
- Using your main keywords in the title and content.
- The length of your content.
- Adding internal and external links.
- Using your keyword in the first paragraph.
- Your meta title and description length.
Yoast SEO’s free version is well known for its readability analysis. It gives you a score and provides tips to make your content easier to read for your visitors. Things like sentence length, using transition words, and avoiding passive voice are all flagged up to help you improve. Rank Math also has a similar feature, but many users find Yoast’s to be a little more detailed and helpful for content creators.
Keyword Targeting
This is one of the most talked-about differences. In the free version of Yoast SEO, you can only set one focus keyword for each page or post. Rank Math’s free version lets you set up to five. This is a significant advantage, especially for small businesses who want to try and target a few closely related keywords with a single piece of content.
The premium versions take this a step further, allowing for even more keywords. Rank Math’s pro plans offer an unlimited number of keywords, while Yoast’s premium plugin allows for up to five synonyms or related keywords per page.
Technical SEO
This is where Rank Math really starts to pull ahead in the free plan. Many of the technical SEO features that Yoast SEO charges for are included in Rank Math’s free version.
- Redirections: Rank Math has a built-in redirect manager, so you can easily create 301 redirects if you change a URL. This prevents users from hitting a broken link, which is great for user experience and your SEO. Yoast’s redirect manager is only available in its premium version.
- 404 Monitor: Rank Math’s free plan includes a 404 monitor that tracks all the broken links on your site. This is a very useful tool for finding and fixing issues. Again, this is a premium feature with Yoast SEO.
- Schema Markup: Schema is a form of code that helps search engines understand your content better. Both plugins make it easy to add this code to your pages. Rank Math, however, offers a wider variety of schema types in its free version, including FAQ and How-To schema, which can lead to more eye-catching results in the search engines.
User Experience and Performance
A good plugin shouldn’t slow down your website. Performance is a key factor in SEO and user experience. Rank Math is often seen as a lighter and faster plugin than Yoast. It’s built with a modular system, which means you can switch on and off individual features as you need them. If you’re not using the local SEO or video SEO features, you can simply turn them off, which helps to keep your website loading quickly.
Yoast SEO has been around for a long time and has been adding features over the years, which has led to some people calling it “bloated.” While it’s still a very good plugin, Rank Math’s leaner code and modular design make it a great choice for those who are particularly focused on website speed.
When it comes to the user interface, both plugins have a good setup. They both have a clear and simple interface that integrates seamlessly with the WordPress dashboard. Rank Math has a slightly more modern look and a handy dashboard that shows your SEO score and other useful data at a glance.
Switching from Yoast SEO to Rank Math
If you’ve been using Yoast SEO for a while and decide you want to switch to Rank Math, you might be worried about losing all your hard work. The good news is, Rank Math has made the migration process very simple. It’s a worry-free experience that only takes a few steps, and it’s designed to keep all your important data safe.
The process is handled by a built-in tool in Rank Math that does most of the work for you. Here is a simple overview of how it works:
- Create a backup of your website. This is an important first step before you make any major changes to your site.
- Install the Rank Math plugin on your WordPress site. Do not deactivate Yoast SEO just yet.
- Once installed, Rank Math will start a setup wizard. It will automatically detect that you have the Yoast SEO plugin installed and will give you the option to import all your data.
- You can select what data you want to import, which includes your SEO titles and descriptions, keywords, and even some of your settings.
- After the import is complete, you can safely deactivate and delete the Yoast SEO plugin.
- It’s always a good idea to do a quick check of a few pages and posts to make sure everything has been transferred correctly.
Rank Math’s tool is very comprehensive. It will even handle more advanced data like redirects and schema markup. The whole process is designed to be seamless, so you can make the switch without any concerns about losing your search engine rankings.
Pricing: Free vs. Pro
This is a big factor for most people.
Yoast SEO Pricing
Yoast SEO has a free version with all the basics you need to get started. Its premium version is a subscription service that comes with more advanced features, like the redirect manager, internal linking suggestions, and full access to their SEO training academy. Yoast also sells separate premium plugins for things like local SEO, video SEO, and WooCommerce SEO. If you need all of these, the costs can add up quickly.
Rank Math Pricing
Rank Math’s free version is incredibly generous with its features. For many small businesses and bloggers, the free version might be all you ever need.
Their pro plans are also generally more affordable than Yoast’s. For a single yearly fee, Rank Math’s pro plan includes all the features you would have to pay for separately with Yoast, such as local SEO, image SEO, and WooCommerce SEO. This makes Rank Math a more cost-effective option for anyone with a number of different needs. Another great benefit of Rank Math’s pro plans is that they allow you to use the plugin on multiple websites, which is a huge bonus for agencies or people who run more than one site.
The Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?
So, who wins the battle of the SEO plugins? The answer really depends on your specific situation.
Choose Yoast SEO if:
- You are an SEO beginner and want a well-established, trusted plugin.
- You want a strong focus on content readability.
- You’re happy to stick with the free version and don’t need lots of extra features.
- You want access to a comprehensive library of SEO training material (in the premium version).
Choose Rank Math if:
- You want more advanced features, like a 404 monitor and redirect manager, without having to pay.
- You are looking for a more lightweight and faster plugin for your website.
- You have more than one website.
- You are looking for a more cost-effective premium option that includes all the features in one package.
Ultimately, both are brilliant tools that will help you improve your website’s SEO. They both offer a great user experience and provide clear, actionable advice to help you get more traffic. We recommend you start with the free versions of each one and see which one feels more comfortable to you.
Need a hand with your SEO? We’re Here to Help
If you feel baffled, frustrated, or simply exhausted with trying to manage your own SEO, let’s put a stop to that. Here at Suki Marketing, we’re your one-stop-shop for everything SEO.
Whether you’re a local builder wanting to attract more clients, or an online fitness coach trying to build authority in a competitive space – we can help. Plus, we don’t believe in complicated jargon, lengthy contracts or taking the control away from business owners, so you’ll always be in the loop every step of the way.
Want to switch between Rank Math and Yoast SEO, or unsure how to get started? Get in touch with us today and learn about our fully managed SEO services. We’re a helpful bunch – so let’s chat.
Frequently Asked Questions: Rank Math vs Yoast SEO
Will I lose my SEO rankings if I switch from Yoast SEO to Rank Math?
No, you shouldn’t. As long as you follow the proper migration process, your SEO data will be imported, and your search engine rankings will not be affected. It’s always a good idea to back up your site beforehand, just in case.
Can I use both Yoast SEO and Rank Math at the same time?
No, you should not use both plugins at the same time. They both handle similar tasks, and having them both active on your site will cause conflicts and could break your website’s SEO. You should deactivate and delete Yoast SEO after you have successfully migrated to Rank Math.
What is the main difference between the free versions?
The main difference is the number of features. Rank Math’s free version is much more generous, offering things like a 404 monitor, redirect manager, and the ability to add up to five keywords per post or page, all of which are paid features with Yoast.
Is Rank Math’s pro plan a better value than Yoast’s?
For many people, yes. Rank Math’s pro plan is generally more affordable and includes a wide range of features that Yoast sells as separate, expensive add-ons. If you manage multiple websites, Rank Math’s single licence for unlimited personal websites is a huge benefit.
Which plugin is more beginner friendly?
Both plugins are very easy to use and include a setup wizard to help you get started. Yoast SEO has a slightly more simple interface which can be great for beginners, while Rank Math offers a more modern dashboard with more detailed options. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference.
How reliable or trustworthy is the traffic light system on Yoast SEO?
The traffic light system on Yoast SEO is a fantastic tool for beginners as a guide, but it shouldn’t be treated as a definitive score of your content’s quality or potential to rank well. It’s a great way to learn about things like title and meta description length and to get a feel for how to structure your content.
However, SEO is a complex topic with many other factors that the plugin can’t check, such as the quality of your backlinks or how users interact with your page. You can have a page with a green light that doesn’t perform well, and a page with an orange or even red light that ranks perfectly. The best approach is to use the traffic light system as a helpful starting point, but always focus on writing high-quality, natural-sounding content for your readers first and foremost.
