An AI SEO tool is software that uses artificial intelligence to improve a website’s search engine performance. It aims to automate daily SEO tasks, such as keyword research, content creation, competitor analysis, and technical audits. Beyond automation, it can also predict ranking opportunities and provide recommendations based on real-time data.
Obviously, AI SEO tools of any kind are not an extra to your work process anymore. It’s a necessity if you want to keep up with the competition.
In fact, a recent McKinsey survey says that 88% of organizations use AI in at least one business function. What’s more, 100% of industries are increasing AI usage now. An impressive proof that AI is clearly here to stay, and learning how to use it effectively is a strategic advantage.
This article is for SEO professionals, in-house teams, freelancers, and agencies who want to embrace AI for smarter strategy. You’ll get a breakdown of the best AI SEO tools and practical guidance on how to choose the ones that fit your goals.
What Is the Current State of SEO + AI
Only some time ago, all the SEO tasks, including keyword research, writing metadata, checking ranking, and building links, were performed manually. Later, dedicated software tools appeared, and these processes became automated, saving lots of time and resources for teams.
Now, we observe AI pushing SEO to an entirely new phase: not just automating tasks, but helping to understand user intent better and providing actionable insights. For instance, AI SEO services help identify opportunities for content optimization, build a smarter content strategy, speed up the research, or analyze team KPIs, such as clicks and views. As we’re almost entering the beginning of 2026, here are the key AI trends shaping SEO:
- AI-generated answers in search results. AI overviews in Google are gaining in popularity. Instead of clicking several websites, users can get answers instantly, which is definitely an advantage for a user, but is also a challenge for SEO specialists. This reduces organic traffic to websites, especially for simple informational searches, which makes marketers search for new ways to add value to their content.
- Focus on E-E-A-T. Despite the rise of AI, Google’s Search policy remains unchanged: you should emphasize expertise, experience, authoritativeness, and trust (E-E-A-T) when creating content, whether with or without AI assistance. Meaning that even if you use SEO AI tools for content creation, real authors should proofread it and add value and credibility.
- AI integration into everyday SEO workflows. AI tools are now used in almost all stages of the SEO workflow: researching topics, grouping keywords, writing drafts, optimizing pages, improving internal links, and even predicting search trends. It undoubtedly makes SEO teams more efficient. However, the results of each task still depend on human editing, strategy, and data accuracy. An AI-powered SEO tool can assist you in many ways, but the decisions are always up to you.
| “Generative AI is a double-edged sword for SEO and content. While it can speed up tasks like keyword research and content ideation, it lacks the depth, originality, and human understanding to create truly exceptional content. The key is balance. Use AI as a supportive tool, but make sure your content is original, informative, and valuable to your audience.” — says Scott Gabdullin, Search Marketing Expert & Founder of Authority Factors |
Here’s a quick comparison table of the best SEO AI tools you can choose from:
| SEO Tool | Best for | Price starts at | Free trial | G2 rate |
| SE Ranking | Full circle of SEO tasks and AI search optimization | $65 | ✅14 days | 4.8 |
| Advanced WEB Ranking | Rank tracking in thousands of search engines | $89 | ✅7 days | 4.3 |
| Rankscale.ai | AI search performance tracking | €20 | ✅ | N/A |
| Surferseo | AI on-page optimization | $79 | ❌ | 4.8 |
| Semrush | Full suite of marketing tasks | $165.17 | ✅7 days | 4.5 |
| Mangools | Tracking brand visibility in AI search engines | Free usage | Free usage | 4.7 |
| Alli AI | Automated zero-code technical optimization | $249 | ✅10 days | 3.6 |
Before diving into the selection of the best AI tools for SEO, let’s define what actually makes an AI SEO software a good one:
- Depth of feature set. Ideally, the best AI SEO software can do more than a single task. For instance, instead of just generating keywords or content, there also have to be features to support the whole SEO workflow: from keyword clustering and intent analysis to content optimization, technical audits, or competitor insights. This way, you won’t have to switch between several tools and will have a bigger picture of how your websites are doing.
- Transparency and accuracy. The best AI-driven SEO software shows where its data comes from and why it makes certain suggestions. For example, they might highlight which SERP competitors they analyzed or the type of search intent a keyword belongs to. This way, you can verify outputs instead of 100% relying on AI-generated guesses.
- Adaptability to workflows. The tool should integrate seamlessly into existing processes, rather than requiring SEO teams to change their entire workflow. That could mean integrations with Google Search Console, WordPress, various CMS platforms, or content editors.
- Good value vs. cost ratio. The price should match what the tool actually delivers. However, you should also consider the ratio between the variety of features offered and those you need. For instance, if an SEO AI tool has a rich feature set, it’ll probably be on the pricier side. However, if you don’t need all those services, it’s better to opt for a simpler yet cheaper option.
Now, let’s review what each AI tool for SEO analysis or content creation is in more detail, highlighting its advantages and disadvantages.
1. SE Ranking
SE Ranking is one of the best AI tools for SEO because it’s an all-in-one platform that combines traditional SEO tools, such as rank tracking or keyword research, and advanced AI-powered capabilities. On top of that, SE Ranking offers powerful features for AI search tracking and optimization.
Unlike standalone rank trackers or AI writers, SE Ranking gives users a full picture of how their website performs in both classic SERPs and AI-driven environments like Google AI Overviews, AI Mode, Gemini, ChatGPT, and others.
Trusted by over 1.5 million users globally, SE Ranking offers a flexible, tier-based pricing model that scales with your needs.
Key features
- AI Results Tracker: tracks your brand mentions, links, and competitors in Google AI Overviews, AI Mode, Gemini, Perplexity, and ChatGPT
- AI Writer: helps write different types of content faster with custom tones of voice, talking points, and AI recommendations
- Dynamic traffic forecasting: Calculates traffic estimates based on SERP live changes
- AI-driven Keyword Research: Identifies search intent by tracking search results for queries, analyzing SERP features they trigger, and monitoring words and phrases typical for specific search intents.
- Insights: Detects keyword cannibalization issues, pages with poor-quality content, pages with easy-to-improve positions, new competitors, and more
- Automated reporting: Streamlines the reporting process with scheduled delivery and AI-generated summaries to add context
- AI competitors research: Analyzes how AI search engines impact competitors’ domain search visibility (mentions, positions, traffic, and changes with time)
Best for
- SEO specialists
- Agencies
- Small- and mid-sized businesses
Pros and cons
| ➕Pros | ➖Cons |
| Complete SEO platform with lots of classic SEO tools and AI capabilitiesScalable pricing and add-ons allowing users to start small and upgrade specific features as neededEase of useKnowledgeable and helpful customer support | Most AI features are available only for higher-tier plans or as add-ons to the subscription |
Pricing overview
SE Ranking has a subscription-based pricing model with three available plans. Here’s how much they cost if paid annually:
- Essential: $65
- Pro: $119
- Business: $259
There’s also a range of add-ons users can buy as an extra to the subscription. For example, SE Ranking offers:
- Agency Pack with unlimited automated reporting, with AI summaries and more agency-focused features
- Content Marketing with more limits for article creation and AI Writer
- AI Search with extended prompt tracking and AI competitor research features
All the new users are welcomed with a 14-day free trial.
Use cases
SE Ranking is the go-to AI tool for SEO when you need to:
- Track how frequently your brand is mentioned or linked in AI-generated answers vs. competitors
- Generate content outlines and first drafts using AI
- Optimize for traditional and AI search engines
2. Advanced WEB Ranking
As the name suggests, Advanced WEB Ranking (AWR) is primarily focused on accurate ranking tracking across different search engines. What’s unique about this tool is that its ranking capabilities are not limited to the most popular Google or Bing. Advanced WEB Ranking can track your website’s ranking on more than 4,000 search engines across the globe: Amazon, DuckDuckGo, Naver, Baidu, Seznam, and many more.
When it comes to AI, AWR might not be as feature-rich, but it’s still among the top AI tools for website SEO because it delivers advanced forecasting and AI brand visibility checks.
Key features
- SEO forecasting for organic traffic prediction
- AI Overviews Tracker to monitor Google AI Overviews over time
- AI Brand Visibility to learn how (and if) your brand is mentioned in AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity (requires additional configuration)
Best for
- SEO agencies
- In-house teams
- Enterprises
Pros and cons
| ➕Pros | ➖Cons |
| 30-day money-back guaranteeRank tracking on thousands of search engines globallyEasy-to-understand interface | The AI-powered feature set is not that variedIt doesn’t offer all-in-one SEO capabilitiesIt’s on the pricier side when it comes to the cost vs. features offered ratio |
Pricing overview
Advanced WEB Ranking offers a 7-day free trial to all prospects. Once they expire, you have four subscription options. Here’s how much they cost if you pay annually:
- Pro: $89 per month
- Agency: $179 per month
- Enterprise: $449 per month
- Custom: from $630 per month
Each plan differs in the features offered and the number of keywords available to update across all projects.
Use cases
- Checking how your brand is positioned on the SERP and how (and if) AI chatbots mention it
- Determine which of your keywords trigger AI Overviews
- Forecasting shifts in search visibility
3. Rankscale.ai
Rankscale.ai is a specialized Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) platform designed to measure and improve brand visibility across AI-driven search engines (such as ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and Google AI Overviews).
It’s a young platform that appeared only in 2024/25, yet its functionality already allows it to be one of the best AI tools for SEO.
Key features
- Performance tracking in AI search engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and Google AI Overviews
- Competitor benchmarking
- Citation analysis
- Score of AI presence
- AI insights and further action recommendations
Best for
- Individual entrepreneurs
- Startups
- SEO agencies
- Small- and mid-sized businesses
- Enterprises
Pros and cons
| ➕Pros | ➖Cons |
| 100% focus on AI search enginesModern intuitive interfaceFree monthly page audits | Lack of classic SEO toolsCredits-based subscription plans |
Pricing overview
Rankscale.ai has a credit-based pricing model. You have three packages of credits to choose from:
- Essential: 120 credits for €20 per month
- Pro: 1200 credits for €99 per month
- Enterprise: 12000 credits for €780 per month
While this pricing approach might seem more beneficial than a subscription at first, it might become too costly if you need more credits during a month.
Rankscale.ai also has a free trial; however, it seems to be waitlist-based, and there’s no info on how many days of free use you can get.
Use cases
- Checking your brand visibility in AI search engines
- Understanding where competitors stand in AI search engines
- Getting insights on what can be improved for a better AI search engine presence
4. Surfer SEO
Surfer SEO is primarily an SEO content optimization platform. It’s also a reliable SEO AI software since it offers AI capabilities for creating and managing content.
Instead of focusing solely on tracking backlinks or technical issues, Surfer SEO AI services analyze top-ranking pages and use Natural Language Processing (NLP) to suggest how to structure, write, and optimize content for both traditional SERPs and AI-generated results.
Key features
- AI Humanizer to detect AI-generated content and humanize it
- AI Tracker to check your content and brand’s mentions in AI search engines like ChatGPT
- AI Articles to create ready-to-rank articles in a few clicks (generation capabilities differ depending on the subscription plan)
- AI Writing Assistant to improve your content
- AI Templates to streamline the content creation process
Best for
- In-house marketers
- SEO teams and agencies
- Content teams
Pros and cons
| ➕Pros | ➖Cons |
| Strong AI writing and internal link suggestionClear content score system linked to ranking improvementsIntuitive interface | No free trialLimited functionality if you want an all-in-one SEO tool |
Pricing overview
Surfer SEO offers three main subscription packages. Here’s how much they cost per month if you pay annually (which is a 20% discount from the monthly payment):
- Essential: $79
- Scale: $175
- Enterprise: from $999
Each package comes with a different set of features included. What’s more, you can purchase the AI Tracker add-on for $95 with each plan.
Unfortunately, Surfer SEO doesn’t have any free trial offers.
Use cases
- Writing or optimizing long-form content using AI and real SERP insights
- Tracking brand visibility in AI-generated answers
- Improving underperforming pages with automated content audits
5. Semrush
Semrush is a comprehensive digital marketing platform that supports SEO, content marketing, social media, paid advertising, and more. It’s also one of the best AI tools for website SEO, since its AI SEO Toolkit is designed to help brands measure and optimize visibility in AI-driven search results, such as ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, and Gemini.
Key features
- ContentShake AI to create AI-generated articles
- AI PR Toolkit to find media cited by LLMs to feature at
- AI Visibility Toolkit to track how your brand is mentioned in AI search engines, such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity
- Semrush Copilot to show you everything about your website’s SEO: from technical issues that harm rankings to traffic drop or competitor rankings
Best for
- In-house marketing teams
- Agencies
- Business owners
- Content creators and SEO writers
Pros and cons
| ➕Pros | ➖Cons |
| Article generation in 6+ languagesAI image generationComprehensive platform covering SEO, content, social, advertising, and AI visibilityHelpful customer serviceModern and intuitive interface | Expensive pricingOverwhelming feature complexity for beginnersSome AI tools come as add-ons for an extra payment |
Pricing overview
Semrush supports a subscription-based pricing approach. Here are the three options to choose from (and their monthly price if you pay annually):
- Starter: $165.17
- Pro+: $248.17
- Advanced: $455.67
There are also several add-ons you can buy as an extra to the subscription plan of your choice. The ability to add additional users to your account, for instance, will cost you $45 per month, and for the Lead Generation package, you’ll need to pay an extra $90 per month.
Use cases
- Tracking how your brand appears in AI-generated answers compared to. competitors
- Generating optimized content drafts using AI
- Auditing websites for technical issues that prevent AI visibility
6. Mangools AI Search Grader
If you’re looking for the best free AI SEO tools, Mangools AI Search Grader is your choice.
Mangools AI Search Grader is a free GEO tool that evaluates how your brand appears in multiple AI-powered search engines, such as ChatGPT, DeepSeek V3, Claude, Google Gemini, Mistral AI, and Llama 4. It complements the larger Mangools SEO suite by offering a focused dashboard that measures visibility across AI models, ranks your brand versus competitors, and computes a single “AI Search Score.”
Key features
- Visibility checking to learn how often your brand appears in AI-generated answers
- Ranking to know what positions your brand gets in the top 20 AI search results
- AI Search Score that shows your brand’s visibility and ranking performance compared to competitors
Best for
- SEO teams and individual SEO professionals
- Business owners
- Marketing teams
Pros and cons
| ➕Pros | ➖Cons |
| Free to use with access to core AI engines and prompt-based scoringSupports multiple AI models and regions for broad visibility insightSimple interface, quick setup, no complex onboarding | Limited functionalityFree usage allows analysis across only three AI models |
Pricing overview
Usage of the Mangools AI Search Grader is completely free. However, with free access, you only get analysis over three AI models: ChatGPT, Mistral Small 3.2 24B, and Meta’s Llama4 Scout. To unlock access to all eight AI models, you’ll need to create an account.
What’s more, if you need to try other classic SEO tools from Mangools (such as keyword research, rank tracking, or SERP analysis), you’ll need to proceed with the subscription that starts at $18.85 a month.
Use cases
- Checking brand visibility in AI search engines
- Understanding how your websites perform in AI search engines compared to competitors
7. Alli AI
Alli AI is an AI SEO analyzer tool that helps you quickly improve a website’s SEO without needing developers or coding. Once it’s connected to your site, you can make changes like fixing meta tags, adding internal links, improving page speed, or updating content, all from one dashboard.
It’s especially useful for agencies and teams that manage many websites and want to automate on-page SEO tasks instead of doing them manually.
Key features
- On-page SEO automation
- AI Search Visibility Engines
- Al Schema Markup Generator
- Al Internal Linking Automation
- SEO A/B Testing
Best for
- SEO agencies
- In-house SEO and content teams
- E-commerce or large-site owners
Pros and cons
| ➕Pros | ➖Cons |
| Automated zero-code website optimizationSeamless integration with CMSSimultaneous content and code optimisation | Limited functionalitySet up difficulties for less technical usersExpensive pricing |
Pricing overview
There are three subscription plans on Alli AI:
- Business: $299 per month
- Agency: $599 per month
- Enterprise: Custom
They all differ in functionality, number of team members to include, and number of websites to analyze. And if you choose to pay annually (instead of monthly), there’s a 17% discount.
If you want to first try a platform for free, there’s a 10-day free trial.
Use cases
- Make updates like titles or descriptions to lots of pages on your website at once
- Speed up slow pages across your website to help them load faster and get crawled more easily by Google
- Testing different versions of titles or internal links to see which one gets more clicks or better rankings
Integrating AI-powered SEO tools into your existing workflows might seem challenging if you don’t know where to start and what to use them for. Here are some practical steps to consider:
- Keyword research and clustering. Start by using AI tools to group keywords by search intent, find long-tail variations, and spot content gaps your competitors haven’t covered.
- Building the SEO strategy. Then, you can start planning a strategy around that data. AI tools can compare competitors, identify content gaps, and suggest formats that are more likely to rank, including comparison pages or case studies.
- Content creation. This is where SEO AI tools are most often used. You can generate briefs, outlines, headings, FAQs, and first drafts. To make content trustworthy and aligned with Google’s E-E-A-T, ensure it gets a human polish.
- Optimization and on-page improvements. To improve pages’ performance, use an AI tool for SEO analysis to detect missing internal links, suggest schema markup, check keyword placement, and flag readability or structure issues that might impact your position on SERP.
- Ongoing monitoring. After publishing content, use AI tools to track ranking changes, detect outdated content, and recommend updates based on new competitors or SERP shifts.
FAQ
Are AI SEO tools going to replace SEO specialists?
No. AI tools for SEO automate daily SEO tasks, such as research, writing, and analysis, but they can’t replace strategy, experience, or decision-making. They work best as support for SEO specialists, not as a substitute. In fact, the SEO job market remains resilient in 2025, but employers want specialists with AI expertise.
Will using AI-generated content hurt my Google ranking?
In general, no. Google still ranks content based on quality and relevance, not how it was created. But if you heavily rely on AI without appropriate human review, it might. Low-quality, AI-generated text without human editing can harm performance.
How do AI SEO tools differ from “classic” SEO tools?
AI SEO tools use NLP to understand search intent and context, generate content, and automate tasks like on-page optimization or content creation. Classic SEO tools only collect data like keywords or technical issues and rely on humans to interpret and act on it. In short, AI tools act on insights; traditional tools just show them.
How much time should I expect to save by using AI tools?
Depending on your current workflow, tasks, and the specific AI SEO tool you use. However, it might be at least five hours a week.
Final Thoughts and Recommendations
Ignoring AI is not an option anymore, so you need to learn how to make the most of it.
The right choice of the best AI SEO software depends on your goals:
- SE Ranking works best for teams that need a full SEO suite
- Advanced Web Ranking fits agencies tracking thousands of keywords
- Rankscale.ai helps brands measure AI search visibility
- Surfer SEO is ideal for content-heavy workflows
- Semrush suits large teams managing multi-channel marketing
- Mangools’ free AI Search Grader is a perfect start for smaller teams
- Alli AI’s automation services would work best for technical-heavy websites or teams with fewer tech capabilities
Choose the tool that best fits your current needs, test it, and reap the benefits. AI capabilities can provide you with insights that would take you months to come to.
