How we rank: SEO tools
The Score (0–100) is a weighted sum of the factors below. Each factor is the weighted average of its metrics; each metric is calculated from one published fact. Missing facts score zero, and a service is ranked only when enough of its Score is backed by facts.
A service is ranked only when at least 70% of its Score is backed by verified facts.
← Best SEO Tools 2026: Keyword Research, Rank Tracking, Audits
Price 30%
Monthly list price in USD of the cheapest paid plan with monthly billing: $0 scores 100, $200 or more scores 0 (weight 3). Annual-billing discounts and annual-only licences are not used; prices shown in euros are converted at the ECB rate on the check date. If the page shows the monthly price only after a script runs, the fact stays empty. Also a permanent free plan (weight 1) and a free trial of the paid product (weight 1).
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| Cheapest paid plan per month | Linear from 0 (100) to 200 (0) — lower is better |
| Free plan | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Free trial | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
Features 40%
Whether the platform offers keyword research, rank tracking, a site audit (crawl of your own site for technical errors), backlink analysis and a documented API, one point each. The fact shows that the tool exists on some plan, not that the cheapest plan includes it: check the note under each fact.
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| Keyword research | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Rank tracking | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Site audit | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Backlink analysis | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Public API | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
Account security 15%
Whether user accounts can be protected with two-factor authentication (weight 1) and whether the vendor offers single sign-on through SAML or a similar standard on any plan, usually Enterprise (weight 1). SEO platforms hold access to Google Search Console, analytics and client data, so account protection matters.
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| Two-factor authentication | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Single sign-on (SSO) | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
Track record 15%
How long the product has been on the market, from the year stated on the official site: 20 years or more scores 100.
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| Founded | Full score at 20+ years |