20 Must-Have Tools for Effective SEO Content Writing in 2024

If you’re new to the world of marketing and hunting for the best content writing tools for SEO, you’re in the right place.

Exploring different SEO content tools can be overwhelming.They each offer unique keyword suggestions, global search volumes, and competition metrics. Switching between various tools can also be a hassle. We are well aware that not every SEO tool lives up to its hype.

In this article, we’ll share the best paid and free tools for SEO content writing, ones that you can use to boost businesses’ online presence and drive engagement. Whether you're a newbie or looking to fine-tune your strategy, these tools will help you with keyword research and content optimization.

Understanding SEO content writing

Let's start with a simple question: How do you usually search for answers online? Do you Google them, seek help on social media, or post queries on forums like Quora?

Research shows that over 68% of online experiences begin with a search engine. Plus, more than 47% of people review 3-5 pieces of content before making a purchase decision. Despite the allure of social media, organic traffic from search engines remains vital. Since over 75% of users never venture past the first search engine results page, it’s crucial for your content to rank high.

This is where SEO content writing comes into play. SEO writing involves optimizing your content with keywords and search phrases that people use when looking for information. It’s a strategy that delivers long-term, impactful results.

Top paid and free SEO content writing tools

1. SE Ranking

SE Ranking is a comprehensive tool for managing all aspects of SEO, including content creation.

Its Content Marketing module, equipped with an AI Writer, helps you:

• Generate a stream of content ideas
• Write compelling copy
• Optimize content for search engines

SE Ranking lets you monitor your content’s progress, track optimization efforts, and check text quality — all without leaving your document. It also analyzes your competition, offering insights on word count, keywords, and content structure based on SERP analysis.

With its Content Score feature, you can compare your content to top competitors and get actionable tips to boost your rankings. The Content Editor integrates directly with Google Docs, providing real-time SEO metrics as you write.

Pricing: SE Ranking offers flexible plans starting at $55 per month. The Content Marketing Module add-on begins at $29/month for 15 articles, with a 20% discount if billed annually.

2. GREMI

GREMI is a game-changer, combining AI-driven copywriting with keyword research in one seamless tool. Say goodbye to juggling multiple tools!

Here’s how to set up an automated SEO campaign with GREMI:

1. Select a subscription and click “new” on the “Campaign” page.
2. Describe your product with clear, straightforward language (avoid buzzwords).
3. Save your changes to access your campaign management page.
4. Review keyword suggestions and their respective SEO article headlines. Check out the competition and search volume for each keyword.
5. Choose a keyword combo you like, click “Generate Article,” and publish it to your site.

For more guidance, GREMI offers a helpful video tutorial:

Pricing: GREMI is budget-friendly, starting at $19.99 for the basic package and $39.99 for premium. It’s perfect for beginners and seasoned marketers alike. While not as feature-rich as competitors like Semrush or Ahrefs, it’s a solid choice for those just starting out.

3. Blogi

Blogi is a new all-in-one solution for SEO content creation and keyword research. Forget the hassle of juggling multiple tools — Blogi streamlines the process so you can handle everything in one place, saving you valuable time and effort.

Getting started with Blogi is a breeze:

1. After choosing a subscription, click “New Campaign”;
2. Describe your topic clearly and simply, avoiding jargon that might confuse your audience;
3. Save your description to access the campaign management page, where you can review keyword suggestions that align with your topic. Each keyword comes with a pre-generated SEO article headline and detailed metrics;
4. Find a keyword combo you like or one recommended by Blogi, click “Generate Article,” and publish it directly to your blog.

Pricing: Blogi offers two affordable plans — $9.95 per month for the Elite plan or $47 per year. Both options are designed to meet your content and research needs, making Blogi a great choice for beginners and seasoned marketers alike.

4. Robinize

Robinize is a game-changing AI-powered platform that simplifies SEO content optimization. It’s designed to help you create high-ranking content and drive organic traffic without breaking the bank.

Robinize was built by SEO experts, content writers, and software developers who wanted to create a user-friendly tool that delivers top-notch content recommendations without unnecessary complexity.

Pricing: Robinize offers a free plan with 3 reports. For more extensive needs, you can start at $19 for 10 reports or $49 for 50 reports. Annual plans offer lower prices, making it an affordable option for content creators.

5. Ahrefs Keyword Explorer

Ahrefs is a heavyweight in the SEO toolkit arena, known for its powerful features that help marketers grow their websites.

If you’re looking for a reliable tool for keyword research and SEO writing, Ahrefs’ Keyword Explorer is a great choice. Here’s how you can use it:

1. Enter your chosen keyword into the Keyword Explorer;
2. Select your search engine (Google is the default);
3. Choose your target country (I typically go with the United States);
4. Hit “Search.”

Ahrefs provides comprehensive data, including:

• Keyword Difficulty: Gauge how competitive the keyword is;
• Global Volume: See how often the keyword is searched worldwide;
• Local Volume: Find out the search volume for your specific country;
• Keyword Ideas: Discover related keywords to include in your content for better rankings.

Pricing: Ahrefs offers a range of tools, with Keyword Explorer available in the paid plans starting at $99 per month. They also provide some free tools on their website, like the Keyword Generator and Keyword Difficulty Checker, which I highly recommend checking out.

6. Semrush SEO Writing Assistant

Semrush is a robust all-in-one marketing tool that excels in various areas, including SEO, PPC, social media, keyword research, competitor analysis, and content marketing. As a marketer, you can use Semrush for site audits and backlink analysis.

One standout feature is the Semrush SEO Writing Assistant for Google Docs. This tool helps you assess your content’s tone, readability, originality, and SEO optimization. Here’s how to set it up:

1. Go to the SEO Writing Assistant extension page on Google Marketplace;
2. Click “Install”;
3. Sign in with your Google account and grant Semrush permission to manage your documents;
4. You’ll find the Semrush SEO Writing Assistant as a Google Docs Add-on.

Hint: If you encounter delays during setup, refreshing your Google Doc page a few times usually resolves the issue.

Pricing: The Semrush SEO Writing Assistant isn’t free, unfortunately. To access it, you’ll need a subscription to the Semrush Guru plan, which costs $229.95 monthly or $191.62 annually. However, Semrush offers a 7-day free trial, allowing you to explore its features and see if it fits your needs.

7. Frase.io

Frase.io is highly praised for its ability to refine existing content, generate new material, and provide targeted SEO insights, such as determining the monthly search volume for specific keywords. This makes it an excellent choice for those looking to create SEO-optimized content but who may be pressed for time or resources.

What sets Frase.io apart is its dedicated focus on SEO. Known as the 'AI Article Wizard,' its AI is tailored specifically for optimizing content for search engines. Unlike broader AI tools that cover various types of content, including social media posts, Frase.io hones in on its core strength — exceptional keyword research and search volume analysis. This specialization allows Frase.io to deliver precise, SEO-focused support for its users.

Pricing: Frase.io operates on a paid model with no free trial available. The Solo plan starts at $14.99 per month, which includes 1 user, 4 articles, and up to 10,000 AI-generated characters. However, you can try Frase.io for just $1 with a 5-day trial to see if it meets your needs.

8. Small SEO Tools

Small SEO Tools offers a treasure trove of free resources for improving your website's SEO, including a backlink checker, keyword position tracker, plagiarism checker, and favicon generator. These tools are user-friendly and accessible to everyone, regardless of their SEO expertise, making Small SEO Tools a go-to resource for boosting your search engine rankings.

Pricing: Small SEO Tools provides several pricing plans. The basic plan, costing $9.80 per month, eliminates search and page limits. For $19.80 per month, the premium plan includes additional features like:

• 2 user seats
• 300 searches
• A WordPress plugin
• Plagiarism checker with up to 90,000 words

9. Paraphrasingtool.ai

Paraphrasingtool.ai is an all-in-one solution tailored for content creators and marketers. This tool offers a suite of features including paraphrasing, summarizing, content generation, and both plagiarism and grammar checkers. Leveraging AI and advanced machine learning models, it generates content that closely mirrors human writing.

One standout feature is the Paraphraser tool, which utilizes over 500,000 synonyms to make your content unique and offers a content uniqueness indicator. Plus, its multilingual capabilities allow you to create content in various languages without translation hassles.

Pricing: Paraphrasingtool.ai is free with optional premium features, allowing you to save money and effort while enhancing your content.

10. Rephraser.co

Rephraser.co is an online paraphrasing tool designed to help you rework existing content. Whether you copy and paste text or upload a file, Rephraser.co processes up to 500 words per session, using AI algorithms to generate unique content while preserving the original ideas. It also offers summarizing and grammar-checking features.

Pricing: Rephraser.co provides both free and premium plans, with the premium plan starting at $19 for 20,000 words.

11. WordPress SEO Plugin

If you’re a solo content creator worried about expensive tools, don’t fret. While tools like Ahrefs and Semrush are top-tier, there are cost-effective options available. Kathleen Garvin from Semrush notes that having multiple keyword tools and a mix of head and long-tail keywords can enhance your content marketing.

For WordPress users, the All in One SEO plugin is a fantastic option. It’s one of the most popular SEO plugins alongside Yoast SEO, providing an easy way to optimize your content and improve your site’s ranking.

With the free version, you can write SEO-friendly titles, meta descriptions, and check overall content optimization.

Pricing: The All in One SEO plugin is available for free, but the advanced features of the Pro plan are priced at $99 per year for one website. This plan offers enhanced functionality for those looking to take their SEO efforts to the next level.

12. Ubersuggest

Neil Patel, a top web influencer and co-founder of Ubersuggest, has created a powerful yet free content writing tool for SEO. Ubersuggest allows you to generate and analyze keyword ideas without registration, offering three keyword searches daily. It’s a quick and convenient way to get a snapshot of keyword stats.

Ubersuggest provides details like monthly search volume, keyword difficulty, paid difficulty, and CPC (cost per click). Keep in mind that these are estimates, so it’s beneficial to cross-reference with other tools. One standout feature is the “Page 1 Ranking Potential,” which shows which keywords your site could rank for on the first page of search results.

For a streamlined keyword analysis and related suggestions, Ubersuggest is a great choice. You get three daily searches for free, which is perfect for basic needs.

Pricing: If you need more extensive keyword research and additional features, Ubersuggest’s paid plan starts at $12 per month, making it a cost-effective option compared to Moz, Ahrefs, and Semrush.

13. Moz Keyword Explorer

If you’re passionate about SEO, you’ve probably heard of Rand Fishkin. He’s a renowned thought leader in search engine optimization and one of the co-founders of Moz. Established in 2004, Moz is a comprehensive marketing tool that predates others like Ahrefs and Semrush, helping businesses tackle various SEO tasks including keyword research, SEO audits, content audits, and link building.

Moz’s Keyword Explorer is a tool that makes finding search queries for your content a breeze. Once you register on Moz, simply enter your keyword into the Keyword Explorer, and you’re set. Moz stands out by offering ten free keyword searches per month — perfect for those who need just a bit of keyword research without a hefty investment.

Inside Moz, you’ll find detailed keyword analysis, including monthly search volume, keyword difficulty, and organic CTR. This data helps you determine whether a keyword is worth targeting. Moz also provides around 1000 semantically related keyword suggestions, which can guide you in crafting SEO-friendly content. Plus, you can see who’s already ranking in the top ten, which can inspire better content and headlines.

Pricing: Moz is a paid tool, with the Pro plan costing $179 per month after a 30-day free trial. However, the ten free searches per month offer a great starting point for personal blogs or smaller websites.

14. CanIRank

CanIRank is an AI-powered SEO tool designed for small businesses and startups, offering a powerful alternative to more expensive giants like Ahrefs and Semrush. Created by Stanford engineers in 2010, CanIRank aims to provide actionable insights rather than just raw data.

The tool gives a quick overview of your website’s performance and offers actionable tips to improve your search results. It’s particularly useful for comparing your web pages to competitors, evaluating your chances of ranking for specific keywords, and finding link-building opportunities.

We’ve tested CanIRank’s free version and were impressed by its accuracy in highlighting issues.

It’s a handy tool for those who need insightful recommendations without breaking the bank.

Pricing: CanIRank offers a robust free version with valuable insights. For more advanced features, including additional keywords, SEO reports, and link-building opportunities, the paid version starts at $49 per month.

15. Plagiarismremover.net

Plagiarismremover.net is a valuable tool for writers and webmasters aiming to ensure their content is original. This tool detects and removes plagiarism by rephrasing text in multiple ways while preserving the original meaning. It supports 16 languages, including English, and offers three modes to generate different types of output. Additionally, users can copy or download the revised text in both TXT and DOCX formats, making it versatile and easy to use.

Pricing: Plagiarismremover.net is entirely free, with no registration required and no word limit constraints, making it an accessible option for all users.

16. Rapide.ly

Rapide.ly is an innovative AI-powered content generator designed to align your posts with your audience's preferences. This tool’s brainstorming engine helps you generate compelling content ideas effortlessly, saving time for entrepreneurs and businesses.

Rapide.ly utilizes GPT-3 AI technology to craft impactful content, assist with social media posts, and manage a content calendar tailored to your workflow.

Key Features:

• Utilizes GPT-3 AI technology for content generation;
• Provides answers and ideas for social media posts;
• Helps brainstorm and manage content ideas and calendars.

Pricing:

• Free Trial: No credit card required;
• Pro Plan: $19/month for 300,000 AI tokens, 1 user, and 1 business account;
• Community Manager Plan: Starts at $49/month for 500,000 AI tokens, team collaboration, and 3 business accounts.

17. AI Detector

AI Detector is a sophisticated online tool that leverages advanced algorithms and machine learning to determine whether a text is created by a human or an AI writing tool.

It analyzes writing style, sentence structure, and uses natural language processing to identify AI-generated content. Notably, it detects repetition of words, phrases, and sentences, a common issue in AI-generated text.

Pricing: AI Detector is completely free, offering a cost-effective solution for writers, students, journalists, researchers, marketers, HR professionals, website owners, and educators.

18. QuillBot

QuillBot enhances your writing by providing tools to craft clear, polished, and professional content quickly.

It integrates seamlessly with your favorite apps and websites, improving communication and impact. QuillBot offers a range of features including a paraphraser, grammar checker, plagiarism checker, AI detector, and summarizer.

Pricing:

• Free Option: Available.
• Premium Plan: $8.33/month.

19. Hypotenuse AI

Hypotenuse AI is a powerhouse when it comes to content creation. This versatile AI tool excels at generating all kinds of content, from SEO-friendly articles and product descriptions to catchy headlines, slogans, and engaging social media posts.

One of its standout features, 'Bulk Generation,' is perfect for businesses with heavy content demands, letting you produce large volumes of content with ease. For those times when accuracy is key, 'Content Detective' dives into research to ensure your content is factually spot-on. Plus, 'HypoChat' lets you brainstorm and craft copy directly with the AI, while 'HypoArt' helps you create eye-catching images.

But that's not all — Hypotenuse AI can also rewrite and summarize text, integrate smoothly with Shopify, WordPress, and Webflow, and adapt to your brand's unique voice and guidelines. It even performs content audits to keep everything consistent and on-brand.

The AI is designed to follow SEO best practices, automatically considering primary keywords and researching SERP/PAA results, making sure your content hits the mark for both search engines and your audience. Whether you need bulk content creation, tailored AI models, or team collaboration, Hypotenuse AI has you covered.

Pricing: 

• Free trial: Available;
• Essential: $56/month (billed annually) for 180,000 words;
• Custom option: Available.

20. Sudowrite

Sudowrite is a cutting-edge AI writing tool designed to accelerate the creation of novels and screenplays. Endorsed by esteemed publications like The New Yorker, The NY Times, and The Verge, and praised by numerous successful authors and journalists, Sudowrite offers a range of features to enhance writing productivity. The tool includes a brainstorming buddy that provides beta feedback and a “Show, Not Tell” button to refine your writing.

User-friendly and intuitive, Sudowrite requires no prior experience with AI tools. It is developed by Human++, Inc., and offers a free trial before committing to a monthly subscription. Whether you’re an aspiring writer or a seasoned author looking to boost productivity and content quality, Sudowrite is a strong option to consider.

Pricing:

• Free Trial: Available;
• Hobby & Student Plan: $10 per month;
• Professional Plan: $22 per month;
• Max Plan: $44 per month.

How to choose the most suitable SEO content writing tool

Choosing the right SEO content writing tool can be challenging, especially if you’re a solopreneur or running a small business. High-end tools can be costly, and it’s crucial to find a balance between cost and functionality. As an SEO writer and marketing expert, here are some criteria to consider when selecting an SEO tool:

1. Budget: Determine if you can allocate a few hundred dollars monthly for a tool;
2. Data accuracy: More accurate tools often come with a higher price tag;
3. Learning curve: Complex tools may require more time to master;
4. Impact: Ensure the tool will help achieve your business goals effectively.

7 best practices for SEO content writing

Effective content writing tools are essential for crafting content that ranks well in search engines. However, adhering to SEO best practices is crucial for maximizing your content’s performance. This checklist is designed to help you create content that stands out to both readers and search engines.

1. Optimize main headlines (H1) and sub-headlines (H2, H3, H4)

Headlines play a critical role in readability and SEO. Well-structured content allows readers and search engine bots to quickly grasp the topic of your page. For search engine bots, clear headlines help in indexing and ranking your content. Ensure your target keywords are included in both your main headline and sub-headlines. For instance, in this article, the headline “13 Content Writing Tools For SEO In 2023 (Reviewed by a Marketer)” not only promises up-to-date information but also incorporates the target keyword effectively. Apply the same principle to your sub-headlines by including semantically related keywords.

2. Optimize your meta title and description with target keywords

Metadata plays a crucial role in helping search engines understand your web page’s content. The meta title and description appear in search engine results and are the first elements users see before visiting your site. Crafting a catchy and optimized meta title and description is therefore essential.

Meta titles typically have a limit of 62 characters, while meta descriptions can be up to 170 characters. For best results, use a title that mirrors the one on your webpage, ensuring it’s both compelling and optimized. If you use WordPress, plugins like All in One SEO can streamline the process of optimizing metadata for search engines.

3. Incorporate relevant, contextual links to existing content

Adding contextual links to previously published content not only enriches the reader’s experience but also extends the time they spend on your site. This practice is part of optimizing user experience, which is integral to Google’s Core Web Vitals. These metrics assess loading speed, user interaction, and layout stability, all of which influence search rankings.

It’s a good idea to interlink new content with related pages and reference new articles in older posts. This approach helps maintain reader engagement and reduces bounce rates by encouraging users to explore more of your site.

4. Optimize article length

Before publishing new content, review the length of high-performing articles in your niche. To surpass them, your content should be comparable in length or even longer, and offer greater value. Merely replicating content length without adding unique insights won’t improve your rankings.

Adding personal perspectives and unique insights to well-trodden topics makes content stand out. If you’re covering familiar subjects, infuse your writing with your individual experience and viewpoints to enhance its appeal and memorability.

5. Target low and medium-competition keywords with high monthly volumes

Utilize top SEO tools to find low-hanging fruit keywords for your site. With a low domain authority, it’s challenging to rank highly against established competitors. Instead, focus on low and medium-competition keywords with substantial search volumes. This strategy has steadily increased my website’s impressions, and some pages have even reached the second page of Google without link-building efforts.

6. Optimize your images

Search engine bots cannot interpret the content of images directly but can read titles and alt tags. To make your images SEO-friendly, include target keywords in both the image title and alt tags. This helps search engines understand your content and can improve your visibility in image search results.

Additionally, compressing image sizes can enhance your site’s loading speed, which is a key ranking factor. Consider modern formats like AVIF or WebP for better compression and quality. For WordPress users, plugins like Smush can automate image compression and optimization.

7. Balance SEO optimization with user experience

While optimizing content for search engines is essential, user experience should also be a priority. Tools like Grammarly and Hemingway can assist in refining grammar, spelling, readability, and tone. Keyword density checkers, such as SEO review tools or Prepostseo, help ensure that your keyword usage is balanced and not overdone.

Conclusion

Having the right SEO content writing tools at your disposal is essential for thriving in the dynamic digital world of 2024. These tools are your secret weapons for everything from hunting down keywords and crafting compelling content to fine-tuning and analyzing your efforts. Whether you're a newbie or a pro fine-tuning your approach, the perfect blend of free and paid tools can truly transform how you drive traffic and connect with your audience. By putting these tools to work, you'll supercharge your online presence, climb higher in search rankings, and hit your business goals with flair.