Rank Math vs Yoast SEO: What’s Good for You in 2024?

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Search Engine Optimization is important for any business. More website owners are dwelling on optimizing their websites with the right tools and strategies. 

Regardless of whether your audience browses the mobile or desktop version of your website, optimization is key. Search Engine Optimization is what makes websites rank well on Google, Bing, and Yahoo.

When you use the right keywords in your website, it will rank higher in the search engine result pages (SERPs).

If you are using WordPress, you can use certain plugins to boost your site’s visibility. The most popular WordPress plugins are Rank Math, Yoast SEO, and All in One SEO. In today’s review, we will compare Rank Math vs Yoast SEO to know which is better.

Rank Math vs Yoast SEO (General Details)

Rank Math and Yoast SEO are the best plugins that can be used in WordPress search engine optimization. If you are new to WordPress, these two SEO plugins would be the most ideal for you. 

What is Rank Math?

• Availability: It was created in 2018 and is readily available for download here.
• Active Installations: 1 million+
• Number of Downloads: 45 million+

Rank Math is one of the search engine optimization WordPress plugins that makes it easier to modify content based on suggestions. Rank Math makes it easier to control indexed pages and change how you want your website to appear in the Search Engine Result Pages. 

Additionally, it provides you with the option to integrate with 15 built-in modules, configure your website, measure keyword rankings, and track keywords. You can use Rank Math to identify any issues on your import, which allows seamless migrations and compatibility with two popular WordPress editors: Gutenberg and Classic Editor. 

It makes optimization easier than you think based on keyword use, meta description, link use, and much more. Likewise, other SEO plugins for WordPress offer snippet previews to see how your content will look on search engine result pages. 

What is Yoast SEO?

• Availability: It was introduced in 2010 and is readily available for download here. 
• Active Installations: 5 million +
• Number of Downloads: 486 million +

Yoast SEO is the oldest WordPress SEO plugin that helps improve website rankings and visibility by optimizing on-page SEO. This WordPress SEO plugin functions automatically, but you need to properly check what you have done wrong and right first. 

Once you install Yoast SEO, you will be fully guided on how to boost your website to rank better through the slug, meta description, meta title, content, and much more. The plugin will automatically appear on each of the pages and posts that you create and analyze your content in terms of SEO and Readability.

The content is also awarded a readability score based on internal links, external links, keywords, transitional words, subheadings, paragraphs, passive voice, consecutive sentences, Flench reading ease, and much more. 

You also need to specify the focus keyphrase to see whether it is well distributed in the article. Plus, it creates a Google search preview of the meta description, title, and URL to help you see how it will appear on the search engines. Whether your title is displayed without trimming or full to draw the users’ attention to the fullest.

Features: Rank Math vs Yoast SEO (Free Versions)

Are you confused about whether to use Rank Math free or Yoast SEO free? These are the features that you will get with each. It just depends on the kind of functionalities that you need. 

They are both perfect in keyword analysis to ensure your work is well-optimized for search engines. If you provide great content, for sure it will rank high in the search engine result pages. (SERPs)

Rank Math Free Features

Rank Math was introduced later than Yoast SEO but does a good job of optimizing the site. It was introduced in 2018 and has shown great strides over time. It is one of the best WordPress plugins you can use to optimize your website for search engines. 

Through Rank Math Dashboard, it has a modules window where you can switch between Easy and Advanced modes to activate SEO modules as required.

To enable a particular module, you can either switch the toggle or open the settings. The free version provides search engine optimization through

• Advanced Custom Fields (ACF)
• Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP)
• Analytics
• bbPress
• BuddyPress
• Content AI
• Image SEO
• Instant Indexing (popular)
• Link Counter
• Local SEO
• Role Manager
• meta titles
• meta descriptions
• social media descriptions
• Focus keywords analysis
• XML Sitemap
• Structured Schema/data,
• Google Search Console integration
• Google Analytics integration
• Image SEO
• Internal link suggestions 
• 404 Monitoring
• Basic WooCommerce SEO
• Setup wizard
• LSI keyword tool integration
• Redirections
• And Google Web Stories

You can either opt for the free or the premium version of Rank Math. It is an ideal SEO plugin for bloggers, eCommerce owners, businesses, startups, real estate, artists photographers, and other niches. 

Yoast SEO Free Features

Yoast SEO is one of the most common and widely used WordPress plugins. It was introduced in 2010 and has grown over time. It helps website owners to optimize their content using the right keywords. 

Additionally, its ease of installation makes it gain more popularity. Once installed, it will automatically check your content in pages and posts. It even provides suggestions on what you should do. The free version has limited features, unlike the premium one. 

The Yoast SEO free offers

• Keyword optimization
• Google snippet preview
• Readability analysis
• Complete control of breadcrumbs
• Duplicate content checker
• Automatic technical SEO optimizer
• automatic plugin update. 
• Title and meta-description branding
• Schema integration
• Fast loading time suggestions
• SEO analysis
• Multiple language support
• Option to have cornerstone content
• Manage team with SEO roles

Features – Rank Math Vs Yoast SEO (Pro Versions)

If you want to get more features, you better opt for the premium version, which has fewer limitations. The premium versions are affordable based on the number of users who will be using the specific subscription.

Rank Math Pro Features

You can choose to get a premium version for you as an individual, for your company, or large agency. There are fewer limitations. In addition to the free features, the premium version comes with more features. 

These include, in addition to the free features:

• Free 15 Content AI Credits
• Podcast
• Keyword Rank Tracking
• Google Trends Integration
• Google Video SEO sitemap
• Watermarks Social Media Images
• Predefined Schema
• Advanced WooCommerce SEO Features
• Autoconfiguration
• NEW SEO Analyzer
• Unlimited Keyword Optimization
• Quick SEO edit details
• Integration with many WordPress plugins.

Yoast SEO Pro Features

Even if Yoast SEO offers some of the best free features, you can opt for the premium version to see what other benefits you can get from the plugin. 

However, for more features, it is better to opt for the premium version that offers:

• preview of your page on social media sites
• internal link suggestions
• content insights
• redirect managers
• support
• ad-free 
• focus keyword export 
• Redirect pages to prevent having broken pages
• Provides notifications when your most important pages haven’t been updated for a while
• Crawling settings
• Index Now integration
• Insights tools
• Suggestions on synonyms and key phrases
• Content Filter
• New word complexity features
• Language analysis 

Rank Math vs Yoast SEO – Setup

The setup process for Rank Math versus Yoast SEO is easy. It just depends on the kind of features that you need. Once installed, both of them come with a setup wizard that makes it easier to configure and install the right settings for maximum search engine optimization. 

However, you need to take a step at a time to ensure you configure it in the right way to prevent missing out on some analysis. 

How to Set Up Rank Math

First, search for the plugin and activate it. Once you launch Rank Math, it will redirect you to a setup wizard. If you want to use the pro version, you will need to enter your account details to get more features. The free version still has some great features that you will like.

You should fill in all the necessary details in the setup wizard to start using the plugin. 

Step 1: Under Getting Started, the best option to choose is “Advanced.” 

Step 2: Proceed on to import. In case you had previous Yoast SEO or All in One SEO data, you can import from the page; if not, just proceed by clicking, “Skip, don’t import now.” 

Step 3: Under “your site,” be sure to provide relevant details about your website, such as website name, company/organization name, logo, and social share image.

Step 4: Under analytics, connect to your preferred Google services. 

Step 5: In the Sitemap option, you can choose what the sitemap should entail. This step is crucial. 

Step 6: Under Optimization, choose the settings you require most due to SEO analysis. 

Step 7: Now you are all set. You will have configured the schema information, Integrated Google Analytics & Search Console, produced an XML sitemap, and other settings. The plugin will be readily available in your dashboard menu. 

Make sure you choose all the options needed during the setup.

How to Set Up Yoast SEO

Just like Rank Math, it is easy to set up Yoast SEO. It includes a setup wizard that makes it easy to set up the plugin to enhance the optimization of your website.

First, install the plugin on your website. On your dashboard, click on the Yoast SEO plugin option to set it up.

Step 1: Click “First-time configuration.” You will need to provide some information about your site to get started, 

Step 2: Provide the schema information under “site representation.” This is the information that will be crucial for easy search engine optimization. Provide your organization name and logo. 

Step 3: Provide information on social media profiles that you have created for your website. This makes the integration and sharing easier.

Step 4: Proceed on to provide personal preferences for your site. Would you want your data to be tracked or not? Save and continue to finish the setup. 

Step 5: You can always check the SEO dashboard to see whether there are any issues.

Step 6: In features, you can enable or disable any SEO features that you wouldn’t or would want.

Step 7:  You can also set up the integrations connect to webmaster tools and change the crawl settings.

Step 8: You can also make changes by clicking on the plugin on your WordPress dashboard. 

Through the setup, you can change the schema data, choose whether to index your site, change the SEO title templates, and much more. 

Rank Math vs Yoast SEO – User Interface

Both Yoast SEO and Rank Math have a great user interface that is simple to use. Therefore, this makes it easy to optimize any page without having to struggle with what is expected. Actually, they are both straightforward. 

The general outlook for a plugin plays a major role in how much people will use the plugin. Both Yoast and Rank Math have a beautiful interface that is simple to use. It is also easy to know the errors and the steps to take for modification. 

Rank Math User Interface

Rank Math works on both editors, just like Yoast SEO. In the General Settings, you can make all the relevant changes to ensure that your content is optimized in the right way without failure. 

You can edit your SEO based on the various settings. In the General tab, you can edit all the snippet details, set up a keyword, and view the analysis. 

In the Advanced part, you can configure the robots’ meta information. 

Moreover, in the Schema, you can set up a schema markup and structured data, while in Social, you can check the graph information on Facebook and Twitter pages’ progress.

As you write the content into your editor, you will get information on how to use keywords and also the preferred article length. 

Rank Math user interface is straightforward and advanced for those who want to get their content like professionals. The visually attractive interface looks modern and enhances the user experience. 

Yoast SEO User Interface

Yoast SEO works perfectly regardless of the editor you use. The same as Rank Math, it will automatically check your content for any issues. 

First, you will need to provide a focus keyphrase that Yoast will use as the main keyword to analyze your data.

Once you input a meta description, you can have a look at the Google preview that shows how the snippet will look on search engine result pages. 

Additionally, you can check the Analysis results to see what else you need to add to your content to make it much better. 

This includes the outbound links, images, key phrase length, meta description, text length, and title. You will get an analysis of what you have done well and what you haven’t. 

You also get a chance to add a Related keyphrase apart from the main one and even choose whether you would want the content to be the cornerstone. As Cornerstone content, it becomes more important than the others. It is given priority.

The Advanced option enables you to allow search engines to rank the page, and add meta robots, canonical URLs, and breadcrumbs Titles.

Once done, proceed to Insights, where you can know the prominent words, Flench reading ease, number of words, and reading time. Previously it was found in the Readability analysis. 

You can choose the approach that works best for you. 

In SEO, you can set titles, descriptions, keyword analysis, and change advanced settings. Through Readability, you can view readability analysis; in the Schema, you choose a schema type for the content and Social to get information on social media information from Facebook and Twitter.

Keyword and Content Optimization

Keywords are important when it comes to Search Engine Optimization. Therefore, that’s a key factor when looking for the perfect plugin to make your website more visible in the search engine result pages. 

Keywords are key for your digital strategy. In as much as you will need to use the plugins to optimize your content, it is also key to have key content that will be appealing to your target audience. 

Rank Math Keywords and Content optimization

The free version of Rank Math provides content ranking from 0-100%. Therefore, you can gauge how good your content is. If you get over 80%, you are doing great. It also offers a list of suggestions that you can use to make your work better. 

Additionally, it allows you to add 5 focus keywords at once. The Meta Title, meta description, and permalink setup work equally as the Yoast plugin. Whether you write short or long content, you get tips and suggestions on how to optimize your work.

Once you add the focus keyphrase, you can improve the content. First, you get the Basic SEO. 

Here, you get 6 optimization checks, such as Focus Keyword in the SEO title, Meta, URL, beginning of the content, and more. After this, you get the Additional SEO checks.

Here, you do some advanced tweaks to your content to improve its SEO. It gives you the details to add Keyphrase in the headings and alt text. Keyword density, whether less or more. Internal links and external links with do-follow tags. Plus, whether you’ve used Content AI or not. 

From here, when you move forward, you get the Title Readability checks that allow you to improve the content’s title per SEO and Keyword. With this, you can know whether your title reflects positive emotion or negative. Whether it has a power word such as Free, Remarkable, Expert, and more, as you can see in the below illustration. 

The final check you get is Content Readability. 

Using this, you can learn why it’s essential to use a table of contents, short paragraphs, and rich media. And whether your content has these elements and format of writing or not. 

In addition, you can make the content a Pillar Content or Cornerstone Content. This means the main content has multiple sub-contents directed toward it. For example, Digital Marketing is a pillar content, and content marketing, email marketing, and so on are its parts or sub-content. 

To use the pillar content option of Rank Math, simply click the This post is a pillar content. 

Furthermore, by using Content AI, you can improve the SEO and check content trends with the help of the Google Trends feature. 

All of these checks and options allow you to make your content ready for search engines in the best way possible. And Rank Math does it very extensively.

Yoast SEO Keyword And Content Optimization

In the free version, you can easily analyze your unique keyword. The plugin will check your content and see how optimized it is. In the premium version, you can add more keywords to analyze the quality of your work and even get suggestions. 

Yoast SEO also analyzes the work and gives you a green dot if the work is great. With Yoast SEO premium, you can evaluate keywords in multiple languages, including the present, past tense, singular, and plural words. Make your choice. 

You get a readability score that lets you know whether your work is easy to read by other readers. Green means good, yellow ok, and red bad. Therefore, through analysis, you can know how best to improve your content. 

You can check the suggestions to know how best to improve your content. 

Rank Math vs Yoast SEO – User Ratings

Yoast SEO has been in existence for a long time and has garnered more user ratings than Rank Math. However, both of them have great five-star ratings that show how incredible they are. 

Rank Math User Ratings

Rank Math has garnered great scores by getting 5 stars from almost 5000 users, with some few giving it a four. 

This shows how effective and functional the plugin is.

Yoast SEO User Ratings

Yoast SEO also has great ratings. With over 25 thousand people giving it a five-star rating, it is among the best.

The great ratings are because of the vast number of years it’s been in existence and the modifications made over time. 

Rank Math vs Yoast SEO – Pricing 

Both Rank Math and Yoast SEO are fairly priced. However, it depends on the type of functionalities that you need. 

Rank Math Pricing

Rank Math is fairly priced because of the great features that you get. You can opt for the pro version at $129, which is perfect for bloggers, individuals, and solopreneurs. 

There is also the business version at $429, which is perfect for freelancers, businesses, and agency owners. 

Finally, there is the agency version at $999, which is perfect for agency owners with high volumes. 

Yoast SEO Pricing

Based on your budget, you can decide to just use the Yoast SEO-free version. If you are working on a more professional basis, you can consider the Yoast SEO premium plugin at $99 or a plugin subscription of $229. It depends on how well you want to optimize your website.

Conclusion 

Search Engine Optimization is key in increasing any website’s visibility. Rank Math and Yoast SEO are equally functional when it comes to optimization. Yoast SEO is one of the most preferred SEO plugins at the moment. However, Rank Math is slowly getting to pace and has gained popularity since its launch. 

The Rank Math free version tends to give more features than the Yoast SEO free. However, the premium version is equally the same. Rank Math is effective in 404 detection, internal link suggestions, and accepting multiple keywords.

On the other hand, Yoast SEO is ideal if you want to optimize the SEO title, meta description, and target keyword. Yoast SEO can be great for both beginners and advanced specialists, while Rank Math seems more suited for SEO specialists and intermediate users.