yext vs brightlocal
Yext vs BrightLocal — features, pricing, and which to choose for your local SEO workflow in 2026.
Quick Verdict
The choice between Yext and BrightLocal boils down to scale and budget. Yext positions itself as the enterprise-grade solution for large brands managing hundreds or thousands of locations, while BrightLocal targets agencies and smaller businesses with affordable, practical local SEO tools.
Both handle the core local SEO tasks, but they approach them from completely different angles. Yext emphasizes its "Knowledge Graph" technology and direct API integrations with major publishers, while BrightLocal focuses on comprehensive auditing, tracking, and citation building tools that most local SEO professionals actually need day-to-day.
Feature Comparison
Yext's standout feature is its direct publisher network — they have formal partnerships with Google, Facebook, Bing, Apple Maps, and over 150 other directories. This means updates push instantly rather than relying on crawling or manual submission. Their location pages product also generates branded landing pages for each location, which can be valuable for franchise operations. BrightLocal takes a different approach with more granular local SEO tools. Their Local Search Rank Checker tracks positions across multiple locations and search engines, while their Citation Tracker identifies missing or inconsistent listings across 80+ directories. The Google Business Profile Audit tool is particularly thorough, catching issues that simpler tools miss. BrightLocal also includes review management and white-label reporting features that agencies need. Where Yext excels in automation and scale, BrightLocal provides better visibility into what's actually happening with your local SEO. You can see exactly which citations are missing, track rank changes over time, and generate detailed client reports.
Pricing Comparison
This is where the two tools diverge dramatically. BrightLocal starts at $39/month for small businesses and scales up to $499/month for agencies managing multiple clients. They also offer a limited free tier for basic local search audits. Yext doesn't publish pricing — everything is custom enterprise contracts. Based on reported pricing, expect to pay thousands per month for even modest implementations. Their pricing scales with the number of locations and features needed, making it prohibitive for smaller businesses or agencies. The value equation is straightforward: BrightLocal gives you comprehensive local SEO tools for under $500/month, while Yext requires enterprise budgets but delivers enterprise-grade automation and integrations.
Best For
BrightLocal is better for SEO agencies, consultants, and small to medium businesses serious about local SEO. If you need to track rankings across multiple locations, audit citations regularly, or provide detailed reports to clients, BrightLocal delivers these features at a reasonable price point. The free tier also makes it risk-free to test their tools. Yext makes sense for large franchises, national retailers, or enterprises with hundreds of locations and the budget to match. If you're managing local presence for McDonald's or a major bank chain, Yext's automation and direct publisher relationships justify the premium pricing. Their location pages feature also adds value for brands that need consistent, branded local landing pages.
The Verdict
For 90% of local SEO work, BrightLocal is the clear winner. It provides all the essential tools most businesses and agencies need at a fraction of Yext's cost. The only time Yext makes sense is when you have enterprise scale, enterprise budget, and need the automation that comes with their direct publisher integrations. If you're not sure which category you fall into, start with BrightLocal's free tier — you'll know quickly if you need to scale up to enterprise-level tools.