marketmuse vs frase
MarketMuse vs Frase — features, pricing, and which to choose for your SEO workflow in 2026.
Quick Verdict
MarketMuse and Frase represent two different philosophies in AI-powered content optimization. MarketMuse focuses on building comprehensive topical authority through content clusters and strategic planning, while Frase excels at generating detailed content briefs for individual pieces. The choice between them often comes down to whether you need enterprise-level content strategy or efficient brief generation for content teams.
Both tools use AI to analyze search results and suggest content improvements, but they approach the problem from opposite ends. MarketMuse starts with your entire content ecosystem and identifies gaps, while Frase begins with a target keyword and builds outward to create comprehensive briefs.
Feature Comparison
MarketMuse's content cluster analysis sets it apart from brief-focused tools. It maps your existing content against competitor topical coverage, identifying authority gaps and suggesting content opportunities based on semantic relationships. The platform's Content Score feature evaluates how well your content covers a topic compared to top-ranking pages, while its Optimize module provides specific improvement recommendations. Frase specializes in research automation and brief generation. Its SERP analysis pulls data from top-ranking pages to create detailed content outlines, suggested headers, and key questions to address. The tool's answer engine identifies common questions around your topic, while its content optimization provides real-time scoring as you write. Frase also includes an AI writing assistant for generating sections based on your brief. MarketMuse's Inventory feature audits your entire content library for topical gaps, something Frase doesn't offer. However, Frase's brief generation is more detailed and actionable for writers, including specific word count recommendations and competitor content analysis that's easier to act on immediately.
Pricing Comparison
The pricing gap between these tools is significant. Frase starts at $15/month for the Solo plan, which includes 4 articles and basic optimization features. Their Team plan at $45/month covers 30 articles with collaboration features, while the Pro plan at $115/month provides unlimited articles and advanced analytics. MarketMuse begins at $149/month for the Standard plan, nearly 10 times Frase's entry price. This includes 100 queries and basic content scoring. The Premium plan jumps to $399/month with 1,000 queries and advanced features. Enterprise pricing requires custom quotes but typically starts around $1,500/month. For the price difference, MarketMuse provides strategic content planning and authority building that Frase simply doesn't offer, but many content teams find Frase's brief generation delivers better immediate ROI for their writing workflow.
Best For
MarketMuse works best for enterprise content teams and agencies managing large content portfolios across multiple topics. If you're building topical authority systematically, need comprehensive competitive analysis, or want to identify content gaps across your entire site, MarketMuse's strategic approach justifies its premium pricing. It's particularly valuable for SaaS companies and enterprises where content authority directly impacts lead generation. Frase is ideal for content teams focused on producing high-quality, search-optimized articles efficiently. If your priority is generating detailed briefs that writers can immediately act on, or you're scaling content production with freelancers who need clear guidance, Frase's workflow-focused approach and affordable pricing make more sense.
The Verdict
Choose Frase unless you have a large content budget and need enterprise-level strategic planning. For most content teams, Frase's brief generation and optimization features provide better immediate value at a fraction of MarketMuse's cost. The only compelling reason to choose MarketMuse is if you're managing hundreds of pieces of content and need the strategic oversight its content clusters and authority mapping provide.