8 must-have SEO tools every marketer should use in 2025 by Editorial Link

An illustration of SEO concepts including a lightbulb, target, and puzzle pieces.

With AI already running the show in search, using SEO tools to automate repetitive tasks isn’t about saving time – it’s just the new normal. Ironically, in 2025, the only thing that feels outdated is not using them.

If finding SEO software tools is a no-brainer at this point, what about choosing the best ones? 

Good news: we’ve already cut through the fluff and curated a list of the best SEO software that’s built to deliver in 2025.

1. Semrush 

Semrush homepage, an AI-powered marketing platform for SEO and other toolkits.

It’s no surprise Semrush lands at the top of just about every “best SEO tools” list. Semrush is one of the most versatile platforms, offering everything from in-depth competitive analysis and keyword research to on-page SEO and visibility tracking. 

Benefits of using Semrush 

👉 Competitive SEO research 

Analyze your rankings with tools like Domain Overview, Authority Score, Organic Search, Backlinks, and Traffic Share, and more so you always know how you stack up against competitors.

Semrush dashboard showing domain overview with authority score, traffic, and backlinks.

👉 Keyword research tools 

Browse a massive keyword database to seek high-volume, low-competition terms, or spot the keywords others are targeting, all with Keyword Overview and the Keyword Strategy Builder.

👉 On-page and tech SEO tools 

With tools like Site Audit, identify and fix SEO problems, then refine your site’s performance and see how your rankings will respond. 

After fixing SEO bottlenecks, check how you measure up against your competitors with the On-Page SEO Checker just for finding fresh improvement areas.

Target audience

Semrush is a top choice for SEO consultants and agencies managing multiple clients, content pros focused on better search optimization, and businesses of all kinds aiming for solid SEO footing. 

2. Rankability

Rankability homepage: "Optimize for Google, ChatGPT & The Future of Search."

Rankability, co-founded by digital-marketing authority Nathan Gotch, is a content SEO tool that helps you see how well your content could rank in Google, pinpoints why your pages might be slipping, and runs on-page audits to deliver helpful recommendations for leveling up your visibility.

Benefits of using rankability 

👉 Keyword finder

Perfect for tracking high-impact keywords, trending topics, and your audience’s FAQ – plus AI-powered search insights to create content that ranks and converts.

Rankability keyword research tool showing results for "seo tools."

👉 AI writer 

Create content tailored to your keywords, location, product, or service. Customize tone and audience, then refine your optimized draft with AI-powered assistance.

👉 Content optimizer 

Instantly check how well your content covers key topics with clear, score-based feedback. Edit, rewrite, and enhance clarity, grammar, tone, or simplicity. 

👉 LLMs.txt generator (Free)

Makes it easy to create valid llms.txt files so language models can better understand your site using clear, structured markdown.

Target audience

Rankability is ideal SEO software for bloggers, niche site owners, small businesses, marketing agencies, and startups seeking effective content strategies and optimization guidance.

3. Yoast SEO 

Yoast SEO Premium page promoting its WordPress SEO plugin.

Yoast SEO, launched in 2010, has earned its place among the top SEO tools – specifically as the world’s leading WordPress plugin for driving website rankings, even for users with little to no technical know-how.

With smart recommendations and real-time feedback, Yoast SEO helps you quickly pinpoint SEO gaps – everything from visibility and UX issues to content optimization and beyond. 

Benefits of using Yoast SEO

👉 SEO content control 

The plugin continuously analyzes your content for SEO-friendliness and readability. It instantly flags issues and offers tips to help you improve on the spot.

👉 XML sitemaps

Yoast SEO also auto-generates these to help Google crawl and index your top content, which is especially useful if your internal linking isn’t doing the job efficiently.

👉 Meta titles/descriptions editing 

You can easily customize your meta titles and descriptions, giving you full control over how your content appears in search results.

Yoast SEO interface showing fields for SEO title, slug, and meta description.

👉 Keyword optimization 

Get smart insights on keyword difficulty, search volume, intent, and density so you can optimize content faster and rank with confidence.

Target audience

Best SEO software for site owners, bloggers, and newbie Shopify sellers. Also, perfect for anyone without a tech background, from freelancers to solopreneurs growing their own or client sites on WordPress.

4. Keyword.com (AI Rank Tracker)

Keyword.com AI Rank Tracking for brand visibility in AI search results.

Keyword.com is a full-fledged SEO platform focusing on optimizing brands’ online presence and leveling up search rankings through a wide range of built-in features. 

Its AI Rank Tracker is exactly what today’s SEO pros expect from the best SEO tools of 2025. It lets you monitor brand mentions and visibility across generative AI platforms like Google AI Overviews, Gemini, ChatGPT, and more.

Benefits of using AI Rank Tracker by keyword 

👉 AI visibility performance metrics 

See how often your brand appears in AI search results, view ranking changes over time, and optimize your visibility where it counts most. 

👉 Opportunity explorer

Conduct comprehensive competitor analysis and benchmarking to spot gaps and capitalize on new opportunities.

👉 Citation analysis

View the full range of sources AI relies on for your brand’s profile. Keep tabs on citation frequency to understand which sources drive your brand’s AI search visibility. 

👉 Brand sentiment analysis

Understand how AI shapes perceptions of your brand, the tone it uses, and take control of your brand’s narrative.

Target audience

SEO tools like AI Rank Tracker are invaluable for everyone – from independent SEO freelancers and agencies to in-house teams looking for better analytics and LLM visibility. 

5. Surfer SEO

Surfer SEO landing page: "Boost visibility in Google, ChatGPT, and beyond."

Loved by 150+ content creators, SEOs, agencies, and marketing teams, Surfer SEO is the ultimate SEO software tool for content optimization. Surfer SEO is equally effective for Google and AI-powered search. 

Benefits of using Surfer SEO 

👉 Content audit 

All it takes is your domain. This feature scans all your existing content and reveals exactly how you’re doing in SEO, no guesswork involved.

Surfer SEO dashboard displaying content scores and ranking opportunities.

If any content needs extra optimization, it’ll be flagged with a Best Opportunities icon. Just click it to see what needs improvement and make quick updates.

👉 Content editor 

Here, you can fine-tune your selected content to meet top SEO standards, factoring in 500+ ranking signals and using trending keyword suggestions powered by Surfer SEO.

👉 Topical map 

A network of smart search filters helps you generate fresh content ideas based on what’s trending in your industry, driven by real-time keyword suggestions.

Target audience

SEO tools like Surfer are essential for marketing agencies, in-house teams, businesses of all sizes, freelancers, writers, and ecommerce entrepreneurs looking to create user-first content that ranks organically with smart, data-driven SEO.

6. Morningscore

Morningscore homepage offering a free trial for an all-in-one SEO tool.

Morningscore is an all-in-one SEO tool designed to make SEO transparent, actionable, and fun. With its gamified approach, doing SEO is more like a game that you will level up in rather than just work and numbers.

Benefits of using Morningscore 

👉 Track SEO performance with a gamified, intuitive interface

👉 Discover and prioritize keyword opportunities (daily keyword updates)

👉 Perform fast and easy website health audits

👉 Build effective SEO strategies with mission-based tasks

👉 Automatic SEO reporting – drag-and-drop widget-based report creation

💡 Best of all, Morningscore is one of those SEO software tools that uses AI to turn automation into real traffic gains with advanced features like: 

⚙ ChatGPT Tracker: See exactly when and where your site is being mentioned in ChatGPT, and take control of your visibility in AI search. 

Morningscore's ChatGPT rank & citation tracker for brand mentions.

⚙ Automated on-page SEO: Let “Rank AI” WordPress plugin auto-fix technical and on-page SEO issues to keep your site fully optimized and rank better. 

Target audience

Morningscore is one of the best SEO software options for anyone looking for a simplified approach to SEO with long-lasting impact – whether you’re a total beginner or a seasoned pro. It’s a great fit for solopreneurs, small teams, and full-scale agencies alike. 

7. Screaming Frog SEO Spider

Screaming Frog SEO Spider website, a leading website crawler for SEO audits.

The Screaming Frog SEO Spider is an industry-leading website crawler that is powerful and flexible. It allows you to diagnose SEO issues and identify opportunities across your website. 

The tool gathers key onsite data while allowing you to analyze the results in real-time so you can make informed SEO decisions.

Benefits of using Screaming Frog SEO Spider 

👉 Direct API integration 

Allows you to connect with LLMs such as OpenAI and Gemini as you crawl. 

👉 N-grams analysis

Helps identify gaps in keywords and internal link opportunities. 

👉 Crawl segmentation

Lets you segment a crawl by different page templates or types.

Target audience

Screaming Frog SEO Spider works great with businesses of all sizes, SEO pros, website operators, and developers tackling technical issues, and content marketers optimizing on-page elements. 

8. Localo

Localo homepage, a local SEO tool simplifying Google rules for businesses.

Localo is an SEO platform particularly created to simplify and automate local SEO and marketing for small businesses, agencies, and freelancers. With smart algorithms and actionable insights, it turns the complex local SEO grind into an automated routine. 

Benefits of using Localo

👉 Local SEO optimization hub

Manage your entire local SEO – from competitor tracking to review management and content suggestions – all from one convenient spot.

👉 Free visibility tools

Use the Local Rank Checker to see exactly where your business shows up. 

Localo's free Local Rank Checker for Google Business Profile visibility.

Also, the Local Business Schema Generator lets you create visibility-boosting code at no cost.

👉 AI-powered toolkit

Receive AI-suggested weekly tasks to ramp up your local visibility, track Google rankings, and run thorough SEO audits.

👉 Brand management features

Build powerful citations, publish local content, create a more professional website, and monitor your growth – all in one place.

Target audience

Localo is one of the best SEO tools for you if you’re a small business owner, local SEO agency, affiliate, or freelancer managing several clients at once. 

Choose your SEO tool

The debate over the best SEO tools is a marathon, not a sprint. 

With the landscape evolving fast and AI playing a bigger role, next year’s favorites might look completely different. 

For now, explore, enjoy, and make the most of the options we’ve overviewed today.