WordPress SEO Plugins: 2026 Comparison

An Honest Comparison of Yoast, All in One SEO, and Rank Math

You've just spent £3,000 on a beautiful new WordPress website. Your designer hands it over, and you're thrilled. Then someone casually mentions: "Oh, make sure you install an SEO plugin."

Suddenly you're staring at the WordPress plugin directory, looking at Yoast SEO (5+ million active installations), All in One SEO, Rank Math, and about fifty others, wondering what the hell any of them actually do and which one won't waste your money.

Here's the thing: your gorgeous website is essentially invisible to Google without proper SEO setup. But the world of SEO plugins is confusing. Free or paid? Which features actually matter? Do you really need the "Pro" version, or is that just clever marketing?

I've used all three of the main plugins over the years with real client websites. I'm going to tell you exactly what each one does, what they cost, and which one I actually recommend. No affiliate links, no corporate sponsorship, just honest experience from someone who's installed these things dozens of times and seen what works.

What SEO Plugins Actually Do

Let's start with the basics, because "SEO plugin" sounds technical but the concept is straightforward.

WordPress, out of the box, doesn't give you control over how your website appears in Google search results. You can't easily tell Google what each page is about, you can't control the little description that appears under your link, and you can't add the structured data that helps your business show up in AI search results.

SEO plugins fill that gap. At the most basic level, they let you:

• Write custom titles and descriptions for each page (so Google shows what you want, not random text from your page)
• Create XML sitemaps (basically a list of all your pages that helps Google find and index your content)
• Add breadcrumbs (those "Home > Services > Web Design" links that help both users and search engines understand your site structure)
• Set up redirects when you move or delete pages (so you don't lose traffic and rankings)

That's the fundamental stuff every plugin does, even the free versions.

The advanced features are where things get interesting:

• Schema markup (structured data that tells Google and AI systems exactly what your business is, what you sell, your opening hours, reviews, etc.)
• Social media previews (controlling how your pages look when shared on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter)
• Local SEO features (if you're a local business, this is crucial)
• Content analysis (suggestions for improving your content for search engines)

The difference between free and Pro versions generally comes down to automation and AI features. Free versions make you do most things manually. Pro versions use AI to generate schema, create tables of contents automatically, suggest content improvements, and handle advanced schema types that would otherwise require a developer.

If you care about appearing in ChatGPT, Google's AI Overviews, or any AI search results in 2025, you need proper schema markup. And that's where the Pro versions earn their keep.

The Three Main Contenders

There are dozens of SEO plugins, but three dominate the WordPress ecosystem:

Yoast SEO - The industry standard. Been around since 2010, used by millions of websites. The name everyone knows.

• Free: £0
• Premium: £99/year for 1 site

All in One SEO (AIOSEO) - The challenger. Simpler than Yoast, trying to be the "easier" option.

• Free: £0
• Pro: From £49.50/year for 1 site

Rank Math - The newcomer (launched 2018) that's rapidly gaining ground. More features in the free version than competitors.

• Free: £0
• Pro: $59/year (about £47) for unlimited sites

On paper, they all do similar things. In practice, using them day-to-day feels completely different. Let me explain.

Yoast SEO: The Industry Standard (That I Find Frustrating)

Yoast is everywhere. If you've ever looked at WordPress SEO, you've heard of Yoast. It's the default choice, the "safe" option, the one every developer installs without thinking.

What it does well:

Yoast is comprehensive. Genuinely comprehensive. If there's an SEO feature you might possibly need, Yoast probably has it. They've been doing this for 15 years and it shows in the depth of features. The documentation is excellent, there's a huge community, and every WordPress developer knows how it works.

Why it's so popular:

First-mover advantage, mostly. Yoast was one of the first proper SEO plugins, and they built a massive user base. It's the safe choice for agencies and developers because clients have heard of it.

My honest take: it's complicated and cluttered.

Here's where I'm going to be blunt: Yoast feels like software designed by developers for developers, then marketed to small business owners who don't need 80% of the features.

The interface is overwhelming. When you edit a page, you're confronted with the Yoast metabox at the bottom with tabs, accordions, colour-coded indicators, readability scores, keyword density analysis, and about fifteen different settings most people will never use.

The famous "traffic light" system (red, orange, green dots telling you if your SEO is good) is misleading. I've seen perfectly good pages show red dots because they don't hit some arbitrary keyword density, and terrible pages show green because they tick all Yoast's boxes. Small business owners obsess over getting green lights when they should be focusing on actually helping their customers.

There are features buried in settings menus that you need a tutorial to find. Want to add FAQ schema? That's hidden away. Need to set up breadcrumbs? Good luck finding the right setting on the first try.

Who Yoast is actually good for:

• Established businesses with dedicated marketing teams who have time to learn the system
• Agencies managing dozens of client sites (because everyone knows Yoast, it's easier to hand over)
• Sites that need very specific integrations that only Yoast offers

Not ideal for:

• Small business owners managing their own sites who just want it to work
• Anyone who finds WordPress itself a bit intimidating
• People who want clean, simple interfaces

Yoast Premium vs Free:

The free version is genuinely useful. You get the core features: meta titles, descriptions, XML sitemaps, basic schema.

Premium (£99/year) adds: redirect manager, multiple keyword optimization, internal linking suggestions, content insights, and some advanced schema options.

Is it worth £99/year? If you're running a large site with a marketing team, probably. If you're a small business owner, probably not.

Real example:

I set up Yoast Premium for a client running a large hospitality website with 200+ pages. They had staff managing content daily, they needed the redirect manager, and they used the internal linking suggestions. For them, it made sense. But I watched the owner struggle with the interface for weeks, getting frustrated with red dots on perfectly good pages.

All in One SEO: The Middle Ground (That Doesn't Excite Me)

All in One SEO positions itself as "Yoast but easier." To be fair, it is easier. But easier doesn't always mean better.

What it does well:

The interface is cleaner than Yoast. Less cluttered, more straightforward. Setup wizard is genuinely helpful for beginners. The smart XML sitemaps work well out of the box. It does what it says on the tin without much fuss.

Why I don't particularly love it:

It works, but it doesn't excite me. That sounds stupid when we're talking about SEO plugins, but hear me out.

AIOSEO feels like it's trying to be Yoast-lite. It has most of the features but executed in a slightly less polished way. The schema options are more limited. The AI features (in the Pro version) exist but they're not as sophisticated as Rank Math's implementation.

It's fine. Perfectly fine. But "fine" doesn't feel like enough in 2025 when AI search is changing everything and proper schema implementation is crucial.

The interface:

Cleaner than Yoast, definitely. But less powerful than Rank Math. You'll figure it out faster than Yoast, but you'll hit limitations sooner than with Rank Math.

Who should use All in One SEO:

• People who want something simple that just works without bells and whistles
• Businesses that don't need advanced AI features or complex schema
• Anyone upgrading from nothing and feeling overwhelmed by choices

Free vs Pro:

Free version covers basics well. Better free version than Yoast, honestly.

Pro (from £49.50/year) adds: advanced schema, local SEO features, video/news sitemaps, smart redirects, and some AI tools.

The AI features are limited compared to Rank Math. You get some content suggestions and basic automation, but it's not the selling point.

Real example:

I installed AIOSEO for a client who ran a small information website (not lead generation, just content). They wanted something simple, weren't bothered about advanced features, and the free version did everything they needed. Perfect use case. But when another client asked about optimizing for AI search, I knew AIOSEO wasn't going to cut it.

Rank Math: My Recommendation (And Here's Why)

Right, let me be clear about my bias upfront: I prefer Rank Math. Not because they're paying me (they're not), but because after using all three extensively, this is the one I actually enjoy working with.

Why I prefer Rank Math:

The interface makes sense. It's clean, modern, and you can actually find what you need without hunting through nested menus. When you edit a page, the Rank Math metabox shows you exactly what you need without overwhelming you with options you'll never use.

But here's the real reason I switched most of my clients to Rank Math: the AI schema capabilities are genuinely impressive.

What makes Rank Math's schema implementation better:

With Yoast or AIOSEO, adding proper schema requires either manual work or paying for Pro and still doing quite a bit manually. With Rank Math Pro, the AI looks at your content and generates appropriate schema automatically.

Example: You write a blog post with an FAQ section. Rank Math Pro detects it, generates proper FAQ schema in the correct format, and you're done. No manually filling in question/answer fields, no copying and pasting, it just works. That FAQ schema is what gets you into Google's featured snippets and into AI search results when people ask those questions.

The automated table of contents feature is brilliant. It scans your headings, creates a clickable table of contents, adds the proper schema, and helps both users and AI systems understand your content structure. This matters enormously for AI visibility.

The free version is surprisingly powerful:

Unlike Yoast, Rank Math's free version is genuinely useful. You get:

• Unlimited keyword optimization (Yoast limits you to one keyword on free)
• Basic schema markup for 15+ types
• Google Search Console integration
• Redirections manager
• 404 monitor
• Local SEO features

Honestly, the free version is better than Yoast or AIOSEO's free versions. It's almost suspiciously good.

But the Pro version is where it shines for AI-era SEO:

Rank Math Pro ($59/year, about £47) adds:

• AI-powered schema generation - This is the big one. Automated FAQ schema, HowTo schema, Product schema, all generated from your content
• Content AI - Suggests improvements based on what's actually ranking, not arbitrary rules
• Advanced WooCommerce schema - If you run an online shop
• Video schema - For YouTube embeds and video content
• Local SEO Pro features - Multiple locations, opening hours schema, local business markup
• Google Trends integration - See what people are actually searching for
• Analytics - Track rankings without leaving WordPress

The automated table of contents and FAQ schema alone are worth the price if you publish regular content.

Why schema matters more than ever:

When ChatGPT or Google's AI Overview tries to answer a question, it looks for structured data to understand what your page is actually about. Proper schema markup is like giving AI systems a clear, formatted answer they can cite and reference.

I've seen client pages go from invisible in AI search results to being cited regularly after implementing proper schema with Rank Math Pro. Real example: a client offering pest control services went from zero ChatGPT mentions to appearing in 60% of relevant queries after we implemented Local Business schema and FAQ schema properly.

The learning curve:

Easier than Yoast, more powerful than AIOSEO. The setup wizard walks you through configuration in about 10 minutes. The interface makes sense. You won't need a tutorial for basic tasks.

For advanced features (like custom schema types), there's a learning curve, but the documentation is clear and the support is responsive.

Is Pro worth £47/year?

If you care about appearing in AI search results: absolutely yes.

If SEO is important to your business (it generates leads, sales, or traffic that matters): yes.

If your website is purely informational and traffic doesn't affect your business: probably stick with the free version.

The Honest Truth About "Pro" Versions

Let's talk money, because this matters.

Free versions are fine for basic SEO. If your website is:

• An informational blog with no business goals
• A portfolio site that doesn't generate leads
• A hobby project
• Something you're testing before committing

...then the free version of any of these plugins is perfectly adequate. You can write meta descriptions, create sitemaps, and handle the fundamentals.

But if you want AI SEO capabilities, you need Pro.

Here's what the Pro versions actually give you that matters in 2025:

Automated table of contents:

• Helps users navigate long content
• Adds structured data that AI systems use to understand your page structure
• Free version: you do this manually with HTML
• Pro version: automatically generated, properly formatted, with schema

Proper FAQ schema:

• Gets you into featured snippets on Google
• Gets you cited in AI responses when people ask those questions
• Free version: you can add it manually if you know how
• Pro version (Rank Math): AI detects FAQ sections and generates schema automatically

Advanced schema types:

• Product schema (for e-commerce)
• Service schema (for service businesses)
• Local Business schema with all the details (opening hours, service areas, etc.)
• Event schema (for venues and event organisers)
• Free version: basic schema only
• Pro version: comprehensive schema for your specific business type

The cost vs value calculation:

• Rank Math Pro: £47/year (unlimited sites)
• All in One SEO Pro: £49.50/year (1 site)
• Yoast Premium: £99/year (1 site)

Compare that to:

• Hiring a developer to implement schema manually: £500-1,000 one-time
• Missing out on AI search visibility: unmeasurable but potentially significant lost revenue

When you should upgrade:

✅ Your website generates leads or sales ✅ You publish regular content (blog posts, case studies, etc.) ✅ You want to appear in AI search results ✅ You're a local business competing for local searches ✅ You run an e-commerce store

When you shouldn't:

❌ Your website is purely informational with no business goals ❌ SEO isn't important to your business model ❌ You're just starting out and testing whether a website matters for you ❌ You literally cannot afford £50/year (though if that's true, SEO is probably not your priority right now)

My rule: If SEO matters to your business, pay for Pro. The automation and AI features will save you hours of work and improve your results. If SEO doesn't matter, don't bother.

COMMON MISTAKES

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The biggest mistake I see: Paying for Pro, installing it, and then never using the advanced features.

I've seen business owners pay £99/year for Yoast Premium, then only use it exactly the same way they used the free version. They never set up the redirects, never use the content insights, never configure the advanced schema.

If you're paying for Pro, actually use what you're paying for. Otherwise, you're just making software companies rich for no reason.

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Which One Should You Actually Choose?

Right, decision time. Here's my framework based on real business needs:

Choose Rank Math Pro if:

✅ You care about appearing in AI search results (ChatGPT, Gemini, AI Overviews) ✅ You want proper schema without hiring a developer ✅ You publish content regularly (blog, case studies, guides) ✅ You're willing to spend 30 minutes learning the interface (it's easier than Yoast) ✅ Budget: £50/year is acceptable ✅ You manage multiple sites (Pro covers unlimited sites)

Best for: Local businesses, content-driven businesses, e-commerce sites, anyone serious about AI-era SEO

Choose Yoast Premium if:

✅ You have a marketing team or agency managing your site ✅ You're already using Yoast and it works for your workflow ✅ You need specific integrations only Yoast offers ✅ Your business has budget and you want the "industry standard" ✅ Budget: £99/year is fine

Best for: Enterprise sites, agencies managing many clients, established businesses with dedicated marketing staff

Choose All in One SEO if:

✅ You want something simple that just works ✅ You don't need advanced AI features ✅ You're upgrading from nothing and want minimal learning curve ✅ You tried Yoast and found it too complicated ✅ Budget: £50/year range

Best for: Simple websites, informational sites, people who want "set it and forget it"

Stick with free versions if:

✅ Your website is informational only, not generating leads or sales ✅ SEO isn't a priority for your business model ✅ You're just starting out and testing the waters ✅ Budget is genuinely tight (under £50/year hurts)

Best for: Hobby sites, personal blogs, testing ideas, non-profit information sites

Quick Comparison Table

Common Mistakes People Make

Beyond the mistake I already mentioned (paying for Pro and not using it), here are the traps I see business owners fall into:

1. Installing multiple SEO plugins

Never, ever do this. I've seen websites with both Yoast and Rank Math installed "just to try both." This causes conflicts, duplicate meta tags, and will actually harm your SEO. Pick one. Stick with it.

2. Ignoring the plugin after installation

You can't just install an SEO plugin and assume it magically fixes everything. You still need to:

• Write unique meta descriptions for important pages
• Configure schema for your business type
• Set up redirects when you change URLs
• Actually use the features you're paying for

3. Obsessing over the traffic light scores

This is especially bad with Yoast. People rewrite perfectly good content to get green dots, making it worse for actual humans in the process. The "traffic lights" are guidelines, not rules. A red dot doesn't mean Google won't rank you.

4. Not filling in schema markup properly

Having the plugin isn't enough. You need to actually configure schema for your business type. Are you a local business? Set up Local Business schema with your opening hours, service area, and contact details. Selling products? Configure Product schema. Running events? Event schema.

5. Using free version then complaining features are missing

"Why can't I do X?" Because X is a Pro feature and you're using the free version. Either upgrade or accept the limitations. Don't leave 1-star reviews complaining that free software doesn't include everything.

6. Paying for Pro but not using the advanced features

I mentioned this already, but it's worth repeating. If you're paying £50-100/year, actually learn what you're paying for. Spend an hour going through the settings. Set up the advanced schema. Configure the automated features. Otherwise, save your money.

What to Do After You Install

Right, you've chosen a plugin and installed it. Now what?

Immediate actions (takes about 15 minutes):

1. Run the setup wizard - All three plugins have one. Follow it. Answer the questions honestly about your site type.
2. Configure schema for your business type - Go to schema settings and select what your business actually is (local business, online store, blog, etc.). Fill in the details: business name, logo, contact information.
3. Write proper meta descriptions for your key pages - Homepage, main service pages, about page. Don't leave these to auto-generate. Write compelling descriptions that make people want to click.
4. Enable and submit XML sitemap to Google - The plugin generates it automatically. Copy the URL and submit it in Google Search Console.
5. Set up breadcrumbs - Enable breadcrumb navigation. It helps users and search engines understand your site structure.

If you got Pro (spend another 30 minutes):

1. Set up automated FAQ schema - If you have FAQ sections, configure the plugin to detect and markup them automatically (Rank Math Pro does this brilliantly).
2. Enable automated table of contents - For blog posts and long pages, this improves user experience and adds helpful schema.
3. Configure advanced schema for your industry - Service schema, Product schema, Local Business with all details, whatever applies to your business.
4. Set up redirect monitoring - So you're alerted if pages return 404 errors.

Ongoing (don't obsess, just be consistent):

• Write unique meta descriptions for new pages you create
• Check your schema is working (Google's Rich Results Test is free)
• Don't obsess over traffic light scores
• Focus on helping your actual customers, not gaming the algorithm

The most important thing: Focus on creating genuinely helpful content for your customers. The plugin is just a tool. It helps Google and AI systems understand your content, but it can't make bad content good.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I switch plugins later without losing SEO?

Yes, absolutely. I've migrated dozens of sites between plugins. Your rankings won't disappear overnight. The main things to check after switching:

• Redirects from your old plugin need recreating (or keep old plugin installed just for redirects, disabled)
• Schema needs reconfiguring for your business type
• Meta titles/descriptions should transfer but verify them

Give it a week to settle, check Google Search Console for any errors, and you'll be fine.

Do I really need to pay for Pro?

If SEO matters to your business and you want to appear in AI search results: yes, it's worth it.

If SEO is "nice to have" but not critical: probably not, free versions are fine.

The honest answer: Pro versions save you time and give you capabilities that would cost hundreds of pounds to implement manually. For £50-100/year, it's usually worthwhile if your website generates business for you.

Will this plugin make me rank number one on Google?

No. Nothing will "make you rank number one." SEO plugins give you the tools to optimize your site properly, but they can't compensate for:

• Terrible content
• No backlinks
• Brand new website with zero authority
• Highly competitive keywords where established competitors dominate

The plugin helps Google and AI systems understand your content. You still need good content worth ranking.

Which is best for local businesses?

Rank Math Pro, hands down. The Local Business schema implementation is excellent, you can add service areas, opening hours, multiple locations (if needed), and the automated FAQ schema is brilliant for "near me" searches.

Yoast has local features too (in Premium), but Rank Math's implementation is cleaner and more comprehensive.

Can I install this myself or do I need a developer?

You can absolutely install any of these yourself. They're designed for non-technical users. The setup wizards walk you through everything.

You might want help from someone like us at Okapi & Co for:

• Initial schema configuration to make sure it's right
• Migration from another plugin
• Complex custom schema requirements
• Integration with other tools

But basic installation and setup? You can do that yourself with no coding knowledge.

What if I'm already using Yoast, should I switch to Rank Math?

If Yoast is working for you and you're happy: no, don't switch just because I prefer Rank Math.

Consider switching if:

• You're frustrated with Yoast's cluttered interface
• You want better AI schema features
• You're paying for Yoast Premium but not using most features
• You want automated FAQ and table of contents features
• You manage multiple sites (Rank Math Pro covers unlimited sites)

If you do switch, do it properly: keep Yoast active initially, set up Rank Math completely, then deactivate Yoast and test everything works.

The Bottom Line

If you've read this far, you're probably still wondering which one to choose. Here's my final recommendation:

For most UK small businesses in 2025: Rank Math Pro.

It's the best balance of power, usability, and price. The AI schema features matter for appearing in ChatGPT and AI search. The automated table of contents and FAQ schema will save you hours. The interface makes sense. And at £47/year for unlimited sites, it's excellent value.

But if you're already using Yoast and it's working, there's no urgent need to switch. And if you want something simpler and don't care about advanced features, All in One SEO is perfectly fine.

The plugin is just a tool. What matters is:

1. Having one (don't try to do WordPress SEO without a plugin)
2. Configuring it properly (spend the time to set it up right)
3. Creating good content (the plugin can't fix bad content)
4. Actually using the features you're paying for

We help clients set these up properly all the time at Okapi & Co. Not because it's complicated, but because getting schema right first time saves headaches later, and most business owners would rather spend their time running their business than learning WordPress plugins.

Need help getting your WordPress SEO set up properly? We specialise in WordPress optimisation for UK businesses, with a focus on AI-era visibility. We'll configure whichever plugin you choose, implement proper schema for your business type, and make sure you're actually visible in both Google and AI search results. No jargon, no nonsense, just working SEO that generates business.