Are you trying to decide between Rank Math Free and Pro for your website’s SEO needs?
You’re in the right place. Rank Math is one of the most popular WordPress SEO plugins, known for its powerful features and flexibility across all types of websites.
After years of using Yoast SEO, I switched to Rank Math—and the impact was immediate. My rankings began to climb, and my keywords made their way to Google’s first page.
In this comprehensive comparison of Rank Math Free vs. Pro, I’ll break down the features, pricing, and pros & cons of each version to help you choose the best fit for your site. I’ll also share why Rank Math Pro might be the better choice to boost your SEO efforts.
Without further delay let’s get started.
What is Rank Math?
| Feature | Description |
| 📦 Product | Rank Math SEO Plugin |
| ✅ Type | WordPress SEO plugin |
| 👍 Rating | 5 out of 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 📖 Features | On-page SEO, Lightweight, Sitemap Creation, Rank Math Analytics, Rich Snippets, 40+ AI Features, etc. |
| 💰 Pricing | Free! Paid plans start from $83.88/year |
| ⏰ Free Trial | No! 30 days a money-back policy for paid plans |
| 🆚 Alternatives | Yoast SEO & AIO SEO |
| 🔗 Website | Rankmath.com |
Launched in 2018, Rank Math is a WordPress SEO plugin designed to help websites rank higher on search engines with ease.
With built-in optimization suggestions based on established best practices, Rank Math enables users of all levels to enhance their content’s SEO seamlessly.
This freemium plugin offers both free and paid versions, each packed with features to suit different website needs and SEO goals.
The free version of Rank Math is available for download directly from the WordPress plugin repository. For those looking for advanced SEO tools and features, a premium version is also available for purchase, offering even more ways to enhance your site’s performance.
Rank Math in Action: Optimizing Your On-Page SEO
Rank Math takes a comprehensive approach to on-page SEO, analyzing your target keyword and guiding you through the changes needed to improve your content’s ranking potential.
Once you enter a target keyword for your blog post, Rank Math provides best-practice suggestions to help you achieve an optimal SEO score. The higher your score, the better your chances of ranking higher in search results.
Rank Math calculates SEO scores based on four key categories:
- Basic SEO: Offers foundational tips to optimize your content around your focus keyword.
- Additional SEO: Provides advanced, actionable recommendations to further enhance content performance.
- Title Readability: Suggest ways to make your title more engaging and improve Click-Through Rate (CTR).
- Content Readability: Evaluate readability to enhance user experience and boost your content’s score.
These are just a few of the steps Rank Math takes to optimize your posts for on-page SEO. Both the free and paid versions include a range of other helpful features to strengthen your site’s SEO performance.
How To Install Rank Math Plugin?
Installing Rank Math is as simple as installing any other plugin on WordPress. Here’s how:
- Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Plugins > Add New.
- In the search box at the top right, type “Rank Math.”
- Once it appears in the results, click Install Now and then Activate.
Your Rank Math plugin is now ready to help you boost your site’s SEO!
After clicking Install, wait for the plugin to finish downloading, then click Activate.
Once activated, Rank Math will guide you through a step-by-step setup wizard. This configuration process helps you optimize SEO settings tailored to your website, making it easy to set up effective SEO for WordPress right from the start.
Rank Math Free vs Pro Comparison
The free version of Rank Math is excellent for beginners, providing essential features to get you started with SEO. However, it lacks some advanced functionalities that can significantly enhance your website’s ranking potential.
If you’re serious about improving your website’s visibility in search results, upgrading to the Rank Math Pro plugin is worth considering. Here are several compelling reasons to choose Rank Math Pro:
| Key Features | Rank Math Free | Rank Math Pro |
| Price | Zero | $83.88+Tax |
| Usage | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| 1 Click Import From Yoast SEO |  | |
| Advanced SEO Analysis Tool | | |
| SEO Analysis Score | | |
| Powerful Post Optimization | | |
| Optimize Unlimited Keywords | | |
| Internal Linking Suggestions | | |
| Advanced Redirection | | |
| Advanced 404 Monitor | | |
| Role Manager | | |
| 193 Local Business Types | | |
| Social Media Optimization | | |
| Search Engine Verification Tools | | |
| SEO Breadcrumbs | | |
| Keyword Rank Tracker |  | |
| Advanced Google Analytics 4 Integration | | |
| Content AI Credits | | |
| Track Google Index Status | Limited report | |
| Advanced Schema Generator | | |
| SEO Performance Email Reports | | |
| Import Schema From Any Website | | |
| Google Trends Integration | | |
| Google News & Video SEO Sitemap | | |
| Image & WooCommerce SEO PRO | | |
| Local SEO PRO With Multi Locations | | |
| Podcast Module | | |
| Automatic Video Detection for Video Schema | | |
| Google Data Fetch Frequency | | |
| Check Ranking Keywords for Each Post | | |
| Position History for Keywords & Posts | | |
| Custom Schema Builder | | |
| Watermarked Social Media Images | | |
| 24/7 Support | | |
| Links | Download Now | Purchase Now |
The comparison table above provides a clear overview of the differences between Rank Math Free and Pro, helping you understand what features are included in each version.
However, I recognize that you may want a more detailed breakdown of the features before making your decision.
In the following sections, I’ll outline all the essential features of the Rank Math plugin, highlighting what you get with both the free and pro versions. This comprehensive look will help you make an informed choice that best suits your SEO needs.
Rank Math Free Features
The Rank Math free version offers a wealth of valuable features at no cost, setting it apart from many other SEO plugins. This extensive functionality is a key reason why Rank Math has become the fastest-growing SEO plugin since its launch in 2018.
In this section of my Rank Math Free vs. Pro comparison, we’ll dive deeper into the features available in the free version. You’ll discover how these tools can help you effectively optimize your website for search engines, even without upgrading to the pro version.
Modern and Simple User Interface
Rank Math features a clean and intuitive interface that makes it easy to create SEO-friendly posts.
The user interface prominently displays essential information about your posts alongside the content, ensuring you have all the necessary tools at your fingertips.
Additionally, the Rank Math dashboard maintains a straightforward layout, allowing you to enable key settings effortlessly while also providing visibility into premium features.
404 Monitor
With this feature enabled, Rank Math tracks all 404 error pages that could negatively impact your user experience. It offers two modes: Simple and Advanced. The advanced mode captures detailed information, including the error page, referring page, time of the error, and user agent.
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF)
Rank Math SEO supports Advanced Custom Fields (ACF), making it easier to analyze content created with ACF. You can enable this feature if your theme is compatible with ACF.
Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP)
To utilize AMP on your website, install the AMP plugin for seamless integration with Rank Math. AMP is designed for fast-loading pages on mobile devices, and Rank Math automatically adds the necessary meta tags to all AMP pages.
Analytics
Rank Math allows you to connect your Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and Google AdSense accounts directly within your WordPress dashboard. This integration enables you to view analytics, search console data, and AdSense reports without leaving your site. Note that some Google AdSense and Analytics features may require a paid account.
bbPress
For WordPress users looking to add forums to their site, the bbPress plugin is a great choice. Rank Math allows you to add appropriate meta tags to bbPress forum posts, categories, profiles, and other elements, enhancing your site’s SEO if it’s built around a forum.
BuddyPress
BuddyPress makes it easy to create community websites with features like member profiles, activity streams, and user groups. By activating the BuddyPress module in Rank Math, you can optimize every forum page with relevant meta tags for improved search engine visibility.
Image SEO
Image SEO is crucial for driving traffic through visuals. Rank Math’s Image SEO feature automatically adds alt and title attributes to images that are missing these attributes. Simply enable the options to add missing ALT attributes and TITLE attributes.
Link Counter
Rank Math allows you to monitor the number of internal and external links within your posts. This feature also displays the link count on the Posts List Page.
Local SEO & Knowledge Graph
Rank Math enhances your local SEO efforts, increasing your website’s visibility. By inputting your company’s information into Rank Math, it automatically adds the relevant metadata, boosting your site’s ranking potential.
Redirections
Easily redirect non-existent pages using a 301 or 302 status code, along with various additional response codes that can help improve your site’s ranking.
Schema (Structured Data)
Schema Markup helps both search engines and users understand your website better. Adding structured data to your articles is a straightforward process with Rank Math, which supports various schema types. You can also set a default category in the settings, while the pro version offers even more schema types and features.
Role Manager
Rank Math’s Role Manager feature allows you to assign different permissions to various user roles within WordPress. You can customize access to features based on your preferences at any time.
SEO Analyzer
The SEO Analyzer feature evaluates your website and its content through 28+ different tests. The post-SEO analyzer focuses on optimizing individual posts, while the SEO structure analyzer helps improve your overall website structure. The pro version also allows you to analyze your competitors.
Sitemap
Sitemaps are essential for helping search engines understand, locate, and index your website. Rank Math generates a comprehensive sitemap, including news and video sitemaps, which can expedite the indexing process for your content.
Google Web Stories
Google Web Stories are an excellent way to drive significant traffic to your website. Rank Math’s web stories feature ensures that any story created with the Web Stories WordPress plugin is SEO-ready, automatically adding the necessary schema and meta tags.
WooCommerce
If you run an online store or eCommerce website, Rank Math is a powerful friend. It simplifies search engine optimization by enabling you to include essential information and Product Schema for your WooCommerce pages.
With integrations for Google Search Console, internal link building, and product-rich snippets, Rank Math makes optimizing your eCommerce site easier than ever.
Rank Math Pro Features
The pro version of Rank Math unlocks a host of advanced features that can significantly enhance your SEO efforts. While the free version is sufficient for beginners, upgrading to Pro may be essential if you’re aiming for higher rankings.
In addition to all the features available in the free version, Rank Math Pro includes:
- Content AI
- Most Advanced Schema Generator
- Advanced Google Analytics 4 Integration with Rank Math Analytics
- Google News Sitemap
- Video SEO Sitemap
- Google Trends Integration
- Google AdSense Integration
- Competitor SEO Analyzer
- Podcast Module
To access these premium features, simply enable the toggle within the Rank Math Pro plugin.
Content AI
As AI content writing tools like Jasper AI and Surfer SEO gain popularity, Rank Math has introduced Content AI. This feature provides you with over 40+ AI-driven tools directly from your WordPress dashboard, streamlining your content creation and optimization process.
With Content AI, you can effortlessly create blog posts, generate ideas, and optimize your content for search engines, making the writing process smoother and more efficient. This feature not only streamlines your workflow but also enhances your overall SEO strategy.
Here are all the 40+ AI tools that Content AI offers:
| Content-Length Estimator | Content AI Tools | Content AI Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Content Ideas Generator | Headline Suggestions | Keyword Suggestions |
| Content Briefs | Meta Description Generator | Readability Checker |
| Content Optimization | Content Length Estimator | Plagiarism Checker |
| Content Improvement Suggestions | Topic Research | Image Suggestions |
| Social Media Post Ideas | Call-to-Action Recommendations | Internal Linking Suggestions |
| Content Tone Adjustments | FAQ Generation | Listicle Ideas |
| Product Descriptions | Schema Markup Suggestions | SEO Audit Tools |
| Competitor Content Analysis | Audience Targeting Insights | Content Update Reminders |
| Content Performance Tracking | Voice Search Optimization | Multilingual Content Support |
| Content Gap Analysis | Content Format Suggestions | Video Content Ideas |
| Podcast Episode Planning | Email Newsletter Content Ideas | Event Promotion Ideas |
| Ad Copy Generation | Content Collaboration Tools | User Engagement Tips |
| Content Lifecycle Management | SEO Metrics Tracking | Content Analytics Dashboard |
Advanced Google Analytics 4 Integration with Rank Math Analytics
The Advanced Google Analytics 4 is a smarter iteration of traditional Analytics, utilizing powerful machine learning algorithms to reveal key trends and insights from your analytics data.
With Rank Math Pro’s support for Google Analytics 4 integration, you can effectively track your content’s performance in search. The Rank Math analytics dashboard provides a wealth of statistics about your website, including:
- Site Analytics
- SEO Performance
- Ranking Keywords
- Google Index Status
- And much more
This comprehensive analytics dashboard offers a clear overview of your website’s performance, allowing you to make informed decisions to improve your SEO strategy.
To take full advantage of the Rank Math Analytics feature, you’ll need to connect your website to Google Analytics 4. This integration allows you to leverage the powerful insights provided by Google’s advanced analytics tools, enabling you to monitor your website’s performance and optimize your content strategy effectively.
Follow these steps to connect your website to Google Analytics 4:
- Create a Google Analytics Account: If you don’t have an account yet, sign up at Google Analytics.
- Set Up a Property: In your Google Analytics account, create a new property for your website. Choose Google Analytics 4 as the property type.
- Get the Measurement ID: After creating the property, you’ll receive a Measurement ID (usually starting with “G-“). Make note of this ID.
- Connect to Rank Math:
- Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to the Rank Math settings.
- Find the Analytics tab, and enter the Measurement ID in the appropriate field.
- Save your changes.
- Verify the Connection: After connecting, you can check the Rank Math analytics dashboard to ensure that data is being pulled from Google Analytics.
By completing these steps, you’ll be able to access detailed analytics data directly from your Rank Math dashboard, allowing you to enhance your SEO efforts and track your website’s performance effectively.
Google News Sitemap
News websites can attract millions of visitors from Google, and with Rank Math’s News Sitemap feature, you can join the ranks of high-traffic sites as well. This feature is designed specifically for websites approved by Google News, helping you drive more traffic by ensuring your latest articles are indexed quickly.
To use the News Sitemap feature on your Google News-approved website, follow these steps:
- Enable the News Sitemap:
- Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Rank Math > Sitemap Settings.
- Select News Sitemap and enable it.
- Configure Your Settings:
- Enter your Publication Name as registered with Google News.
- Adjust any additional settings to match your publication needs, such as article inclusion rules and timeframes.
Once set up, Rank Math will automatically generate and update your News Sitemap, helping your latest content reach audiences faster through Google News.
Video Sitemap
With Rank Math Pro, you can use the Video Sitemap feature if your website includes video content. A video sitemap helps Google and other search engines easily locate your videos, providing detailed information about their placement so they can be indexed more effectively.
Rank Math streamlines this process by automatically scanning each post or page for video content as you publish. If video content is detected, Rank Math adds that post, page, or custom post type to the Video Sitemap, ensuring maximum visibility.
To enable this feature:
- Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Rank Math > Sitemap Settings.
- Find and enable the Video Sitemap option.
Once activated, Rank Math will automatically keep your video sitemap updated, helping your video content reach a wider audience through improved indexing.
Google Adsense Integration
With Rank Math Pro, you can view your AdSense earnings report directly on your WordPress dashboard without needing to open your AdSense account. This convenient feature shows real-time AdSense earnings along with historical performance data, allowing you to track your revenue alongside SEO metrics seamlessly.
To activate this feature:
- Connect Your AdSense Account:
- In your WordPress dashboard, go to Rank Math > General Settings > Analytics.
- Link your AdSense account by following the prompts.
- Receive SEO Performance Reports:
- Once connected, you’ll also start receiving periodic SEO performance reports via email, keeping you informed of both traffic and revenue trends.
This integration enables a unified view of your website’s financial and search performance metrics, streamlining your optimization efforts.
Competitor SEO Analyzer
The SEO Analyzer in Rank Math performs a comprehensive SEO analysis of your website, providing actionable insights to help you identify and resolve any SEO issues before they impact your site’s performance. With a detailed report offered for free, you gain clear recommendations to optimize your site effectively.
However, with Rank Math Pro, you also gain access to the Competitor SEO Analyzer, allowing you to analyze competitor websites and uncover insights to improve your competitive edge. This feature helps you:
- Evaluate Competitors’ Strengths & Weaknesses: Identify areas where competitors excel and spot potential gaps in their strategies.
- Discover New Keywords & Opportunities: Find high-impact keywords and topics your competitors are targeting to boost your SEO approach.
With these insights, Rank Math Pro empowers you to enhance your SEO strategy and stay ahead in search rankings.
Podcast Module
The Podcast Module in Rank Math Pro provides everything you need to launch and manage a podcast right from your WordPress website. With Rank Math’s built-in Podcast RSS Feed Generator, you can automatically create a feed that’s compatible with major platforms like Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other popular podcast apps.
In addition to seamless RSS feed creation, Rank Math also includes Podcast Schema. This schema ensures that your podcast is optimized for search engines, increasing the likelihood that Google displays your episodes as rich results, helping you reach a wider audience and enhance discoverability.
With Rank Math Pro’s podcasting features, you can easily manage your podcast’s visibility, ensuring it ranks well and reaches your target audience.
Pricing Plans of Rank Math SEO Plugin:
Rank Math offers a seamless experience with no drawbacks, making it a powerful SEO plugin choice. If you’re reading this, chances are you’re considering purchasing Rank Math Pro.
Rank Math provides three flexible plans to fit various needs and budgets:
- Rank Math Pro – Ideal for individual site owners looking for advanced SEO features.
- Rank Math Business – Perfect for businesses and agencies managing multiple websites.
- Rank Math Agency – Tailored for large-scale agencies that handle multiple clients and need premium support.
Each plan offers unique features to suit different goals, so you can find the one that best aligns with your SEO requirements and budget.
Here’s a breakdown of each plan’s pricing and features:
Rank Math Pros & Cons
Rank Math is a powerful SEO plugin with numerous advantages, particularly for those looking to leverage advanced SEO features affordably. However, users seeking a lightweight plugin or those new to SEO may find it more complex than simpler alternatives.
Pros
Free Lifetime Access: Enjoy Rank Math’s essential features at no cost, forever.
Extensive Free Features: Offers numerous high-value tools in its free version.
Beginner-Friendly UI: Simple and intuitive interface, perfect for all skill levels.
Lightweight for Speed: Optimized for performance, keeping your site fast.
Detailed Analytics: Rank Math Analytics provides in-depth insights for SEO progress tracking.
Affordable Pro Plans: More budget-friendly than most other SEO plugins.
Content AI Integration: Includes 40+ AI tools directly within WordPress to streamline content creation.
Competitor Analysis: Insights into competitors’ strategies with actionable improvement suggestions.
Keyword Tracking: Monitor the top 5 performing keywords to refine content strategy.
Theme Compatibility: Works seamlessly with all WordPress themes.
Automatic ALT Tagging: Ensures all images have ALT attributes for better SEO.
24/7 Support: Access to premium support and a dedicated user forum for guidance and troubleshooting.
Cons
Limited Migration Options: Once you’ve set up Rank Math, switching to another SEO plugin can be challenging, as most do not support direct settings imports from Rank Math.
Feature Overload: Rank Math provides an extensive array of tools, which can lead to some features going unused, especially for users with simpler SEO needs.
Deciding Between Rank Math Free and Pro: Which One is Right for You?
At this point in our Rank Math Free vs. Pro tutorial, you should have a clear understanding of both the free and premium versions of the plugin. Now, let’s delve into which option may be the best fit for you.
When to Stick with Rank Math Free
You might find the Rank Math Free plugin sufficient if you:
Are just starting a new blog to learn the basics of blogging.
Are you a beginner blogger or affiliate marketer looking to enhance your skills without overwhelming features?
When to Upgrade to Rank Math Pro
Consider purchasing the Rank Math Pro plugin if you:
- Aim to drive more traffic from search engines to your website.
- Seek advanced AI tools similar to those offered by Jasper AI and Surfer SEO.
- Need access to the most sophisticated schema options and essential modules.
- Want detailed analytics reports to gain insights into your website’s performance?
- Plan to create a Google News site or incorporate video content.
- Wish to boost your website traffic using Image SEO, Video SEO, or WooCommerce SEO Pro features?
- Are interested in integrating Google Trends into your website for enhanced content strategy?
- Have decided to launch a podcast website and want optimized features for it.
By evaluating your needs and goals, you can confidently choose between Rank Math Free and Rank Math Pro to maximize your website’s SEO potential.
FAQs on Rank Math Free vs Pro
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding Rank Math Free vs Pro that can help clarify common queries:
FAQs on Rank Math Free vs Pro
What are the main differences between Rank Math Free and Rank Math Pro?
Rank Math Free offers basic SEO features suitable for beginners, while Rank Math Pro includes advanced features like AI tools, competitor analysis, and detailed analytics reporting.
Is Rank Math Free sufficient for beginners?
Yes, Rank Math Free provides essential tools and features that are typically enough for new bloggers and those just starting in SEO.
What advanced features are included in Rank Math Pro?
Rank Math Pro includes advanced schema options, Content AI tools, video sitemaps, Google News sitemaps, competitor SEO analysis, and more in-depth analytics.
Can I switch from Rank Math Free to Pro without losing my settings?
Yes, upgrading from Rank Math Free to Pro maintains your settings, and you can access additional features without starting from scratch.
Do I need Rank Math Pro if I am running an eCommerce site?
If you want advanced eCommerce features like WooCommerce SEO, rich snippets, and enhanced analytics, then Rank Math Pro is recommended.
Is there a trial period for Rank Math Pro?
Rank Math Pro includes advanced schema options, Content AI tools, video sitemaps, Google News sitemaps, competitor SEO analysis, and more in-depth analytics.
How does Rank Math’s pricing compare to other SEO plugins?
Rank Math Pro is typically more affordable than many other premium SEO plugins, offering a wide range of features for a competitive price.
Will I receive support if I choose the free version?
While you can access the support forum, premium support is available only to Rank Math Pro users.
Can I use both versions simultaneously?
No, you can only use one version of Rank Math at a time. If you upgrade to Pro, the free version will be automatically deactivated.
Is Rank Math compatible with all WordPress themes??
Yes, Rank Math is designed to work seamlessly with all types of WordPress themes, ensuring compatibility and performance.
