Rank Math Free Vs Pro: My Honest Take on Which One You Should Choose
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By Shrey Kajaria
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If you are confused between Rank Math Free vs Pro and don’t know which is the best for your website, you’re at the right place.
Yes, it seems like a common confusion as I was also confused between Rank Math Free vs Pro versions some time ago, but after using both versions, I learned which one is better for my website.
If you’ve been trying to get your WordPress site to rank higher on Google, you’ve probably encountered Rank Math SEO.
It’s one of those plugins that promises to help you optimize your site for search engines without needing to be an SEO wizard.
But here’s the thing, Rank Math has both a free version and a pro version and if you’re anything like me, you’re probably wondering, “Is the pro version worth it?”
Well, I’ve spent some time digging into both, and I’m here to share what I’ve found. So, let’s break it down, and by the end of this article, you should have a pretty good idea of which version is the best fit for your website between Rank Math Free vs Pro.
If you don’t know what is Rank Math SEO plugin here’s a brief overview of it.
Rank Math SEO is a powerful WordPress plugin designed to help you optimize your website for search engines. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced SEO professional, Rank Math offers a user-friendly interface with features that make it easier to improve your site’s visibility in search results.
Overall, Rank Math SEO is an excellent choice for anyone looking to boost their website’s search engine rankings and easy-to-use tool.
First, let’s talk about the Rank Math SEO free version.
What’s in Rank Math SEO Free Version?
Let’s start with the free version, honestly, it is pretty impressive for something that doesn’t cost a penny. When I first installed it, I was surprised by how much it offers right out of the box. Here are the top features of the free version
Rank Math Free Version Features:
Easy Setup Wizard: Rank Math completely helps you through the setup process. It asks you a few simple questions and done, you’re set up with the right SEO settings for your site. This is a huge win if you’re a beginner and don’t have any single coding knowledge.
On-page SEO Analysis: Every time you write a post or page, Rank Math analyzes it and gives you suggestions on how to improve your SEO. It’s like having a mini SEO expert assisting you. For example, it’ll tell you if your keyword density is too low if your meta description needs work, or what changes you need to make to improve your on-page SEO.
XML Sitemap: This might sound technical, but it’s a map that helps search engines like Google find all the important pages on your site. The free version automatically creates and updates this for you, which is super handy, not even this the plugin can also create an HTML sitemap for your visitors.
Rich Snippets Integration: If you want your posts to stand out in search results with things like star ratings or FAQs, Rank Math’s got you covered. You can easily add rich snippets to your content, making it look way more professional and attractive on search engine results pages.
Basic Keyword Optimization: You can optimize your content for one keyword, which is great for targeting specific search terms, this may help you to rank for that specific keyword on SERPs.
404 Monitor: Ever wonder how many broken links are on your site? The free version of Rank Math includes a 404 monitor that tracks all the broken links so you can fix them. This feature can prevent visitors from landing on error pages, which improves their experience on your site.
Redirections: Redirecting broken or outdated URLs to new pages is important for maintaining your site’s SEO health. The free version includes a simple redirection manager that makes it easy to set up 301 or 302 redirects and much more.
SEO Analyzer Tool: This is a built-in tool that analyzes your whole site and provides a score based on many SEO factors. It’s not super detailed, but it’s a good way to get a quick overview of how well your site is doing in terms of SEO.
Content AI: This feature is pretty neat. It provides suggestions for improving your content based on AI analysis. While it’s not as advanced as some paid tools, it’s a nice bonus in the free version.
Pros and Cons of Rank Math Free Version
Here are some Pros and Cons of the Rank Math SEO plugin’s free version:
PROS
It’s Free: If you’re on a budget, you can’t beat the price.
User-Friendly: Even if you’re new to SEO, and don’t know much technical or coding stuff, the interface is straightforward and easy to use.
Covers the Basics: For a free tool, it does a lot. Perfect for small websites or personal blogs like mine.
Multiple Integrations: The free version integrates with various tools like Google Search Console, which makes it easier to track your site’s performance.
CONS
Limited Advanced Features: The free version doesn’t include some of the more powerful tools that you might need as your site grows.
Basic Keyword Tracking: You’re limited to optimizing for one keyword per page. If you want to target multiple keywords, you’ll need to upgrade to Pro.
Reporting: The insights you get are pretty basic. If you’re looking for in-depth reports, you might find it a bit lacking.
Limited Schema Options: While you can add rich snippets, the free version doesn’t offer the advanced schema options available in the Pro version.
So this was about the Rank Math Free version, now let’s move on to the Pro version.
What’s in Rank Math SEO Pro Version? Is it Worth It?
Now, let’s talk about the Pro version, which is Rank Math Pro. I decided to give it a shot to see if the extra features were worth the money.
Spoiler alert: If you’re serious about SEO, the Pro version has some pretty cool tools that can take your site to the next level.
Rank Math Pro Version Features:
Advanced Keyword Optimization: Unlike the free version, the Pro one lets you optimize for multiple keywords on the same page. This is a game-changer if you’re trying to rank for more than one search term.
Local SEO Support: If you run a business that serves a specific area, this feature helps you get found by local customers. It’s got everything from Google My Business integration to local keyword optimization.
WooCommerce SEO: For those of you running an online store, the Pro version includes specialized tools to help your products rank better.
Automated Image SEO: The plugin automatically adds alt and title tags to your images, which is something I always forget to do. This can help your images show up in Google Image search results and drive some traffic from there too.
Custom Schema Generator: You can create custom schema markups, which help search engines understand what your content is about. This can improve how your site appears in search results, which will increase the chances of people clicking on it.
SEO Performance Reports: Here’s where it gets really interesting. The Pro version provides detailed reports on how well your site is doing in terms of SEO. You can see which keywords are driving traffic, how your rankings are changing, and more. This kind of insight is invaluable if you’re serious about growing your site.
Google Analytics Integration: The Pro version integrates seamlessly with Google Analytics, offering you insights right from your WordPress dashboard. You can track your traffic, and monitor user behavior without leaving your site.
Client Management: If you manage multiple sites or work with clients, the Pro version includes tools that make it easier to switch between accounts and manage SEO for multiple websites.
Advanced Rich Snippets: You can create complex schemas, like “How-To” or “Recipe” snippets, which can make your content stand out even more in search results.
Automatic Video SEO: If you’re into video content, this feature is a big deal. Rank Math Pro can automatically add video schema to your posts, which can help your videos rank better on Google.
Rank Tracker: This feature lets you track the rankings of your keywords over time. You can see how your site is performing for different search terms, which helps you adjust your SEO strategy as needed.
Priority Support: This is something I didn’t think I’d need, but having access to priority support is a nice perk. If you run into any issues, you get help faster than with the free version.
Content AI (Pro): The Pro version of Content AI is way more advanced. It gives you detailed suggestions on how to optimize your content based on current search trends and user behavior.
Pros and Cons of Rank Math Pro Version
Here are some Pros and Cons of the Rank Math SEO plugin’s Pro version:
PROS
Featured Pack SEO Tool: You get everything you need to manage SEO for a large or complex site.
Saves Time: With all the automation, you can spend less time worrying about SEO and more time creating content.
In-Depth Reports: The detailed insights help you make data-driven decisions to improve your site’s performance.
Improves Traffic and Rankings: The advanced features are designed to give your site a benefit in competitive markets.
Customization: You have more control over how you apply SEO on your site, which can be important for more complex projects.
CONS
It Costs Money: This might be a dealbreaker if you’re on a tight budget. But if you can swing it, the features are worth the investment.
Might Be Overkill for Small Sites: If you’re running a small blog or personal site, the extra features might be more than you need.
Learning Curve: While it’s user-friendly, the Pro version has a lot of features that might take some time to learn. But they have in-depth tutorials on their website and YouTube channel.
Side-by-Side Comparison of Rank Math Pro vs Free Version
Features
FREE Version
PRO Version
On-page SEO
Great for basic SEO tasks
Advanced options for multiple keywords
Keyword Optimization
Single keyword
Multiple keywords
Reporting and Analytics
Basic insights
Detailed performance reports
Automation
Limited
Extensive automation
Support and Updates
Basic support
Premium support and frequent updates
Integrations
Basic integrations (e.g., Google Search Console)
Advanced integrations (e.g., Google Analytics, WooCommerce)
Local SEO
Basic
Full local SEO support, including Google My Business integration
Schema Markup
Basic Rich Snippets
Advanced Schema Generator with custom options
404 Monitor and Redirections
Basic tracking
Advanced tracking with custom redirection rules
Image SEO
Manual
Automated image SEO, including alt and title tags
Video SEO
Not included
Automatic Video SEO with schema markup
Client Management
Not included
Tools for managing multiple sites or client accounts
Content AI
Basic suggestions
Advanced AI-driven content optimization
Priority Support
Standard support
Priority support with faster response times
Free or Pro: Which One to Choose for Your Site?
Alright, so after discussing the details of both the Free and Pro versions of Rank Math, you might be wondering which one is the right fit for you. Here’s my take on it:
When to Choose Rank Math FREE Version:
Choose the Rank Math’s FREE version if:
You’re Just Starting: If you’re new to SEO or running a small and simple blog, the free version offers more than enough to get you started. It’s user-friendly, covers the basics, and will help you improve your SEO and rankings without overwhelming you with features.
You’re on a Tight Budget: The free version is perfect if you don’t want to spend money but still want a solid SEO tool. It’s one of the most feature-rich free SEO plugins out there compared to its big competitors like Yoast SEO or AIO SEO.
You Don’t Need Advanced Features: If your site is small or you’re not dealing with a lot of content, you just need to post blogs on your blog, then Free one is enough for you.
You’re Serious About SEO: If you’re running a larger site, an e-commerce store, or a site that competes in a crowded market, the advanced features of the PRO version can give you significant help.
You Manage Multiple Sites: The Pro version’s client management tools are a lifesaver if you’re juggling several websites. It’s a real-time-saver and makes managing SEO across your multiple sites easy.
You Want to Automate SEO Tasks: The PRO version’s automation features, like automated image SEO and video schema, can save you a lot of time. Plus, the advanced schema options can help your content stand out on the search results page.
You Need Detailed Reports: If you’re the type of person who loves diving into data like me, the Pro version’s performance reports will give you the insights you need to make informed decisions about your SEO and Keyword Research strategies.
You Want Priority Support: If you can’t afford to wait for support when something goes wrong, the priority support offered in the PRO version is a big plus.
Wrapping up things, whether you choose the FREE or PRO version of Rank Math SEO, it all depends on your website’s needs and goals.
The FREE version is an excellent choice if you’re just starting or running a small site. It’s got everything you need to optimize your content and improve your search engine rankings without spending a dime.
On the other hand, if you’re serious about growing your site, driving more traffic, and competing in a tough market, the PRO version offers powerful tools that can help you get there.
The advanced features, detailed reports, and automation options are worth the investment if you’re looking to take your SEO to the next level.
As for me, I started with the free version and was pretty happy with it. But as my site grew and I wanted to optimize for multiple keywords and get more detailed insights, I found the pro version to be a worthwhile upgrade.
Whether or not you’ll feel the same way, depends on where you are in your SEO journey and what you’re hoping to achieve.
In the end, both versions of Rank Math SEO are solid tools that can help you improve your site’s performance. It’s just a matter of figuring out which one suits your needs best.
And hey, if you’re still on the fence, you can always start with the free version and upgrade later if you feel like you need the extra features.
Happy optimizing!
Rank Math SEO Plugin
Pricing: $6.99/ mo, billed annually
4.8
★★★★★
Rank Math SEO is a powerful WordPress plugin designed to help you optimize your website for search engines. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced SEO professional, Rank Math offers a user-friendly interface with features that make it easier to improve your site’s visibility in search results.
⭐ Helping Bloggers in boosting their website & earnings with my awesome growth strategies since 2021. Digital Marketer | Content Creator | SEO Expert | Founder of Blogging Raptor & RaptorKit.
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