Yoast SEO
WordPress SEOWordPress SEO foundation with readability and AI insights
Overview
Yoast SEO built the template that every WordPress SEO plugin follows. Founded by Joost de Valk in 2010, it became the de facto standard for WordPress SEO with over 13 million active installations. While newer plugins like RankMath offer more free features, Yoast remains the most trusted choice for content creators who prioritize readability and user experience alongside technical SEO.
The plugin's strength lies in its dual focus on search engines and human readers. Unlike purely technical SEO tools, Yoast emphasizes content quality through its readability analysis, which checks sentence length, paragraph structure, and transition words. This approach aligns with Google's E-E-A-T guidelines and helps content perform better in AI-driven search results. The recent addition of AI-powered content insights in the Premium version adds modern relevance to its established foundation.
Yoast competes directly with RankMath, All in One SEO, and SEOPress, but differentiates itself through superior content analysis and a more conservative approach to feature development. While competitors rush to add every possible feature, Yoast focuses on core functionality that actually impacts rankings.
Key features
Real-time SEO Analysis
Live feedback on title tags, meta descriptions, keyword density, and content structure as you write. Shows red, orange, or green indicators for optimization status.
Readability Assessment
Flesch Reading Ease scoring with suggestions for sentence length, paragraph structure, and transition words. Helps content rank better and engage readers.
Schema Markup Automation
Automatically generates structured data for articles, products, FAQs, and local businesses. Integrates with Google's Rich Results without coding.
Internal Linking Suggestions
AI-powered recommendations for relevant internal links based on content analysis. Premium feature that identifies linking opportunities across your site.
Focus Keyword Optimization
Guides optimization for primary and secondary keywords with density analysis, placement suggestions, and SERP preview. Premium supports multiple focus keywords.
XML Sitemap Generation
Creates and automatically updates XML sitemaps for posts, pages, categories, and custom post types. Includes image sitemaps and News sitemaps.
Social Media Previews
Controls how content appears on Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms with custom OpenGraph and Twitter Card settings. Shows live previews.
Cornerstone Content Marking
Identifies and optimizes your most important pages with enhanced analysis. Helps build topical authority around key content pillars.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Basic SEO analysis, meta controls, XML sitemaps, readability checker |
| Premium | $99/year | Internal linking suggestions, redirect manager, multiple keywords, content insights |
| WooCommerce SEO | $79/year | Product schema, breadcrumbs, OpenGraph for products |
| Local SEO | $79/year | Store locator, local business schema, opening hours, multiple locations |
| News SEO | $79/year | News sitemaps, Google News optimization, publication metadata |
FAQ
Is Yoast SEO better than RankMath for WordPress?
Yoast has better readability analysis and more mature features, while RankMath offers more free features and built-in rank tracking. Yoast is better for content-focused sites, RankMath for technical users.
Do I need Yoast Premium for basic SEO?
No, the free version handles essential SEO tasks like meta tags, XML sitemaps, and basic optimization analysis. Premium adds internal linking suggestions, multiple keywords, and redirect management.
Can Yoast SEO slow down WordPress sites?
Yoast adds minimal overhead but can slow sites if you use many extensions or have poor hosting. The core plugin typically adds 1-3ms of load time on well-configured sites.
Does Yoast work with page builders like Elementor?
Yes, Yoast integrates with major page builders including Elementor, Divi, and Beaver Builder. The SEO analysis works on builder content, though some features may be limited.
How does Yoast's AI content insights work?
Premium users get AI-powered suggestions for related keywords, internal linking opportunities, and content structure improvements based on Google's understanding of your topic.
Review Sentiment
710 reviews across 2 sources
Bottom line
Hard to beat free. Yoast SEO is a genuine asset for WordPress site owners thanks to most widely used WordPress SEO plugin, though free version limited to single focus keyword per page keeps it from replacing paid alternatives entirely.
People love
- +Most widely used WordPress SEO plugin with 5M+ active installations and proven track record
- +Readability analysis helps ensure content is accessible and engaging for broader audiences
- +Automatic technical SEO including XML sitemaps, canonical URLs, and schema output
Common complaints
- –Free version limited to single focus keyword per page — multi-keyword requires Premium at $99/yr
- –Content analysis traffic light system can be misleading — green does not mean fully optimized
- –Plugin bloat has increased over time — more features mean more database queries
Last updated Feb 2026