clearscope vs frase
Clearscope vs Frase — features, pricing, and which to choose for your SEO workflow in 2026.
Quick Verdict
Both Clearscope and Frase tackle content optimization, but they approach it from different angles. Clearscope positions itself as an enterprise-grade content grader using advanced NLP to score existing content against top-ranking pages. Frase takes a broader approach, combining content brief generation with optimization tools to handle the entire content creation workflow from research to publishing.
The fundamental difference comes down to workflow integration. Clearscope excels at analyzing and improving content you've already written, while Frase starts earlier in the process by helping you research, plan, and structure content before you write it. This makes your choice heavily dependent on whether you need post-writing optimization or pre-writing intelligence.
Feature Comparison
Clearscope's strength lies in its sophisticated content grading system. It analyzes your content against Google's top 30 results, providing specific recommendations for semantic keywords, content structure, and readability improvements. The platform integrates directly with Google Docs and WordPress, making it seamless for teams already using these tools. However, Clearscope focuses primarily on optimization rather than content creation. Frase offers a more comprehensive content workflow. Its SERP research automatically generates content briefs by analyzing competitors, extracting key topics, and suggesting content structure. The platform includes AI writing assistance, question research from sources like Reddit and Quora, and content optimization similar to Clearscope's approach. Frase also provides content analytics and the ability to create content clusters for topic authority building. Where Clearscope wins is in optimization depth and enterprise reliability. Its NLP technology is more sophisticated for content grading, and the platform handles large-scale content operations better. Frase wins on versatility, covering research, planning, writing assistance, and optimization in one platform.
Pricing Comparison
The pricing gap between these tools is significant. Clearscope starts at $170/month for their Essentials plan, which includes content grading for up to 30 pieces per month and basic integrations. Their higher tiers can reach $500+ monthly for enterprise features and higher content limits. Frase begins at just $15/month for their Solo plan, including 4 articles per month with full brief generation and optimization features. Their Team plan at $45/month provides 30 articles monthly and collaboration features. Even Frase's highest tier at $115/month costs less than Clearscope's entry point while offering more comprehensive functionality. For small teams and individual content creators, Frase delivers significantly more value per dollar. Clearscope's pricing reflects its enterprise positioning, but makes it inaccessible for smaller operations that could benefit from content optimization tools.
Best For
Clearscope is the better choice for established enterprises with dedicated content teams and substantial budgets. If you're already producing high-volume content and need sophisticated post-writing optimization with enterprise-grade reliability and integrations, Clearscope's advanced NLP and workflow integrations justify the premium pricing. Large publications and agencies working with Fortune 500 clients will appreciate Clearscope's depth and reliability. Frase works better for most other scenarios — small agencies, in-house marketing teams, freelance writers, and growing businesses. If you need help with content research and brief creation alongside optimization, or if budget constraints make Clearscope unrealistic, Frase provides more comprehensive functionality at a fraction of the cost. The platform's all-in-one approach eliminates the need for multiple tools.
The Verdict
Frase wins for most users due to its comprehensive feature set, dramatically lower pricing, and broader utility in the content creation process. While Clearscope offers superior optimization technology, its narrow focus and high pricing limit its appeal to well-funded enterprises. Unless you specifically need enterprise-grade content grading and have the budget to match, Frase delivers better overall value by handling content workflow from research through optimization.