10 Best Content Optimization Tools - Findings after Hands-On Test Results

Table of contents

If you're reading this, you already know how important effective SEO is for driving organic traffic.

Yet, juggling keyword research, on-page and off-page SEO optimization, and crafting high-quality content can become overwhelming.

That's where content optimization tools come in handy.

These tools act like an SEO assistant, helping your content shine in search results through detailed analysis and comparison.

But with so many content optimization platforms available in the market, choosing the right one can be a challenge.

To help you cut through the noise, we tested some of the top content optimization tools so you can find the perfect match for your goals and budget.

Table Of Contents

Our picks for the best content optimization tools on the market

  • Writesonic: Best for AI article writing and SEO tools
  • Clearscope: Best for improving keyword density for blogs
  • MarketMuse: Best for automating content audits
  • Frase: Best for research-driven SEO content creation
  • Scalenut: Best for AI-driven content optimization
  • Outranking: Best for people-first SEO content creation
  • Dashword: Best for creating detailed content briefs
  • RankIQ: Best for niche content optimization
  • Letterdrop: Best for content collaboration and workflow management
  • Copywritely: Best for ensuring content quality and SEO compliance

How Writesonic assesses content optimization tools

When it came to evaluating the best content optimization solutions in the market, we didn’t just skim the surface–we dove deep.

At Writesonic, we live and breathe content and SEO, so we know exactly what makes a tool exceptional.

With content optimization ingrained into every aspect of our work, our standards are sky-high, ensuring we only recommend tools that truly enhance your content creation and SEO efforts.

Here's what we focused on during our testing:

  • Ease of use and usability
  • Ability to edit content
  • Content grading features
  • Use of AI for content optimization
  • Integrations
  • Pricing and customer reviews

We put each tool through its paces with hands-on testing, thorough research, and in-depth analysis.

As creators and users of Writesonic, a top-tier content and SEO tool, we have high expectations.

We believe that a content optimization tool needs to have an interface that's easy for anyone to use, robust content editing features, and intelligent AI-driven suggestions to be truly effective.

Plus, we made sure they could seamlessly integrate with existing content workflows and popular CMS platforms.

Our goal is to share our findings with you, so you can make informed decisions and take your content marketing strategies to the next level.

10 best SEO content optimization tools for marketers: Our picks!

Okay, let’s cut to the chase now.

In case you’re in a rush and just want a quick glance at the best content optimization software and its specs, here’s a short breakdown:


Best for 

Standout feature

Pricing

Writesonic

AI article writing and SEO content tools for marketing

AI article writer and SEO grader

Offers a freemium model. Starts from $12/month

Clearscope

Improving keyword density for content

High-quality research and keyword suggestions

Starts from $189/month

MarketMuse

Content audit automation

Personalized metrics and website content analysis 

7-day free trial. Starts from $149 /month

Frase

Research-driven SEO content creation

Fast research-based AI content

Free trial. Starts from $15/month

Scalenut

AI-driven content optimization

SEO-optimized keyword planning and topic research

7-day free trial. Starts from $39/month

Outranking

People-first SEO content creation

Personalized writing based on brand guides

Starts from $19/month

Dashword

Real-time SEO content optimization

Competitor content analysis and optimization suggestions

Starts from $99/month

RankIQ

Bloggers and niche sites

Hand-picked keyword library for SERP ranking

Starts from $49/month

Letterdrop

Boosting content marketing metrics for teams

Streamlined content workflow and collaboration

Starts from $499/month

Copywritely

Improving content readability for SEO

SEO checks and readability suggestions

Starts from $29/month

Now, let’s dig a little deeper into what each tool offers so you can effectively determine which one is right for you.

1. Writesonic

Writesonic On-Page SEO Checker - Content Optimization Tools
Writesonic On-page SEO checker

Whether you're looking for a way to automate your content creation process, or need a quick fix for fine-tuning SEO, Writesonic brings everything you need into one powerful platform.

With the AI Article Writer feature, you can craft blogs (up to 5000 words) that are conversational, engaging, and tailored to connect with your audience in just under two minutes!

A few other highlights of Writesonic’s AI Article Writer include:

  • Real-time and fact-checked data on topics
  • Automated internal linking
  • Competitor semantic analysis
  • Brand voice and style customization
  • In-depth web research
  • Auto-generated FAQs

Writesonic can even help you quickly craft sales emails, landing page content, and ad copies, making it an all-in-one tool for marketers.

The best part is the SEO and content optimization checker, which offers:

  • Detailed metrics on keyword competitiveness and search volume
  • Instant SEO-grader
  • Real-time Google data integration

And it doesn’t just end here!

You’ll be surprised at how much more the platform’s AI content optimization tools offer. Users can generate articles in 30+ languages, customize the AI model’s brand voice, or revamp existing content.

Pros:

  • User-friendly interface for both beginners and seasoned marketers
  • Comprehensive suite of content creation tools
  • Strong AI capabilities for SEO and content optimization
  • Integrates with tools like Zapier and Google Search Console

Cons:

  • Premium features may be costly for smaller businesses

Pricing: Writesonic offers different price plans depending on whether you’re an individual user or want to use it as a team. Individuals can start with a free version, while premium plans range from $12/month and $79/month for teams.

Customer reviews and ratings: With a 4.8/5 rating on Capterra, Writesonic is highly rated for its user-friendly interface and powerful AI capabilities. The comprehensive suite of content creation tools, integration options and quality of AI-generated content are some of the most loved aspects.

You might also like: How to Use Writesonic SEO Checker and Optimizer: Insider Tips From the Makers

2. Clearscope

Clearscope - Content Optimization Tools
Clearscope - Content optimization tool

Clearscope takes the guesswork out of on-page SEO by helping you produce content that's highly relevant to your target audience.

The platform uses scoring metrics like content score, word count, and readability to enhance SEO content optimization.

With an extremely straightforward interface, Clearscope simplifies the process of creating well-researched content through competitor analysis.

The platform highlights key phrases, suggests relevant themes and questions, and shows how top-ranking pages are structured so you know exactly what needs to be enhanced.

Pros:

  • Easy-to-use interface
  • Detailed keyword and topic insights
  • Effective content grading system
  • Integrates with Google Docs and WordPress

Cons:

  • Limited features compared to other SEO content software
  • Higher pricing may be a barrier for small teams
  • Does not come equipped with AI-powered tools or automation

Pricing: Clearscope has pretty straightforward pricing plans which starts at $189/month for the Essentials plan. This plan includes basic features and a limited number of content reports. Their enterprise plan offers custom solutions where the pricing can vary.

Customer reviews and ratings: Clearscope receives high praise for its ease of use and effectiveness in improving content quality. Users rate it 4.9/5 on Capterra, highlighting the valuable keyword and topic insights it provides. But some users find the pricing to be on the higher side.

3. MarketMuse

MarketMuse - Keyword dashboard for SEO content optimization

MarketMuse is the perfect SEO text optimizer for automating a website content audit.

This tool takes a holistic, topic-focused approach to content optimization, making it perfect for content marketers and SEO specialists who want to revamp their content.

MarketMuse uses advanced AI to deliver personalized metrics and competitor analysis, helping you craft high-quality, well-researched content.

With the Topic Navigator, SERP X-Ray, and Heatmap features, you can easily identify content gaps and ensure comprehensive coverage.

The platform’s AI-driven insights go beyond traditional keyword tools through topic modeling technology so your content covers all relevant aspects to rank for SERP.

This approach helps you target not just keywords, but the entire topic ecosystem, leading to better rankings and more organic traffic.

Pros:

  • Advanced AI for deep content analysis
  • Comprehensive topic modeling
  • Provides competitor insights

Cons:

  • Can be expensive for small teams or individual users
  • Steep learning curve due to its advanced features

Pricing: MarketMuse offers a 7-day free trial. Their pricing plans start from $149/month and teams can also opt for a custom plan with varied pricing.

Customer reviews and ratings: Boasting a 4.6/5 rating on Capterra, users highlight MarketMuse’s advanced AI capabilities and the depth of its content analysis through personalized insights and competitor analysis. Some users mention the high price and initial learning curve as potential drawbacks.

Read more: 13 Best Free Keyword Research Tools for 2024

4. Frase

Frase - SEO optimization tool for blogs

Frase is a tool designed for research-driven SEO content creation.

Like Clearscope, this tool seamlessly integrates research, outlining, writing, and SEO optimization into one place.

Frase's standout features include SERP analysis, which helps you understand what competitors are doing right, and AI-generated content briefs that guide you on what to include in your articles.

The platform’s advanced text editor offers topic modeling, ensuring your content is thorough and SEO-friendly.

Frase can automatically generate content suggestions and questions based on top-ranking pages, making your content more relevant and engaging.

Pros:

  • Combines research and writing in one platform
  • AI-generated content briefs and outlines
  • Real-time content suggestions and question generation
  • Integrates with WordPress and Google Docs

Cons:

  • Steep learning curve
  • Limited SEO features

Pricing: Frase's pricing starts at $15/month for the Solo plan and goes up to $115/month for teams. Users can also opt for a free trial for all three plans–Solo, Basic and Team. Frase also offers add-ons for additional functionalities.

Customer reviews and ratings: Frase is rated 4.8/5 on Capterra, with users praising its combination of research and writing tools. The AI-generated content briefs and real-time suggestions are highlighted as standout features.

5. Scalenut

Content optimization platform: Scalenut

Scalenut is another AI content optimization platform that comes packed with tools to speed up your SEO audit process.

The AI Writer can whip up a first draft in under five minutes, perfect for overcoming writer’s block.

With the SERP-based topic clusters, you can build interconnected content around specific themes, boosting your site's authority and driving more traffic.

You also get real-time insights into keyword performance and competitor trends, which means you can make smart, data-driven decisions.

We especially love the Cruise Mode feature, which simplifies everything by letting you brainstorm, write, and edit all in one place.

Pros:

  • Includes NLP terms and grading for better SEO
  • Offers valuable data on keywords and competitors
  • Analyzes website traffic, SERP shifts, and historic trends

Cons:

  • Can be overwhelming for first-time users due to the extensive features

Pricing: Scalenut offers pricing plans starting at $39/month for the Essential plan and goes up to $74/month for the Pro plan. Users can also opt for a customized plan with custom pricing. Each plan also offers a 7-day free trial.

Customer reviews and ratings: Scalenut holds a 4.8/5 rating on Capterra and has positive feedback for its comprehensive AI-driven content optimization features.

6. Outranking

SEO content optimization tool: Outranking

Outranking leverages AI to generate high-quality content quickly and efficiently.

One of the platform’s standout features is keyword clustering, which allows you to analyze and group up to 100K keywords based on SERP data, helping you target the most effective ones.

When it comes to content optimization, Outranking offers suggestions for improving keyword usage and readability to boost SEO performance.

The tool lets you easily plan and manage your content calendar, and its internal linking feature automatically suggests relevant links to enhance your site's SEO.

Pros:

  • Easy to use and intuitive interface
  • Offers comprehensive SEO tools
  • Integrates with Google Docs, WordPress, and more

Cons:

  • No free trial
  • Pricier compared to other tools

Pricing: Outranking's pricing starts at $19/month for the Starter plan which includes 4 SEO documents. Larger teams can opt for the SEO Wizard plan for $159/month.

Customer reviews and ratings: Outranking holds a 4.5 out of 5 rating on G2. Users appreciate its user-friendly interface and effective AI-driven features, particularly for keyword clustering and internal linking. Some users find the lack of a free trial as a drawback.

Also read: Top 15 Content Marketing Tools to Boost Your Brand's Online Presence

7. Dashword

Dashword - Content optimization platform

Dashword completely automates the steps involved in creating SEO optimized content from start to finish.

Right from providing article briefs to keyword optimization and content monitoring, Dashboard will have you covered.

The interface is super user-friendly, making it easy for anyone to jump in and start improving their content for search engines.

As you type away your content, Dashboard will automatically suggest keywords, frequently asked questions, and tips for better readability.

The best part is, this platform monitors your content after publishing and notifies you about its performance and if it needs to be updated.

You’ll also receive automated keyword reports if you want a data-driven approach to your content marketing strategy.

Pros:

  • Easy-to-use interface
  • Comprehensive keyword and content optimization features
  • Detailed content scoring and improvement suggestions

Cons:

Pricing: Dashboard offers two pricing point options–a Startup plan for $99/month and a Business plan for $349/month. Users can generate their first report for free using the free trial.

Customer reviews and ratings: With a 4.3/5 rating on G2, users rave about Dashword's ease of use, straightforward interface and practical optimization tips. The tool’s limited pricing plans and features are seen as a drawback from many users.

8. RankIQ

RankIQ - Keyword research library for content optimization

RankIQ is specifically designed to help you create blog posts that Google loves.

With the platform’s AI-powered keyword library and smart content optimizer, RankIQ makes it easy to produce SEO-friendly content.

The keyword library is curated just for blog content, offering high-value keywords to drive traffic.

RankIQ provides detailed analysis of keyword competitiveness, helping you pick the best opportunities to rank. Plus, you can get clear, actionable recommendations to optimize your blog.

The easy-to-understand reports make it simple to see how to enhance your content.

RankIQ also assigns a score to your content based on various SEO factors, making it easy to see where you stand.

Pros:

  • Tailored for bloggers and content marketers
  • AI-powered keyword suggestions and optimization
  • Detailed insights into keyword competitiveness

Cons:

  • May lack some advanced features for comprehensive SEO needs
  • No free trial

Pricing: Pricing starts at $49/month, with more advanced plans for those who need extra features.

Customer reviews and ratings: With a 4.9/5 rating on Capterra, RankIQ is highly praised for its focus on blogging and content marketing. Users love its effectiveness in improving search rankings and its easy-to-use interface.

9. Letterdrop

Content optimization tools for SEO: Letterdrop

Letterdrop is like having a personal assistant for your content marketing team.

The tool combines content planning, creation, and optimization into one seamless process, perfect for busy marketers.

With Letterdrop, you can plan and schedule your content easily, keeping your strategy organized and on track. The platform offers AI-driven keyword suggestions and optimization tips, ensuring your content ranks well on search engines.

You can also track and analyze your content’s performance in real time, making data-driven decisions a breeze.

Letterdrop shines with team collaboration features.

Plus, the tool helps you create detailed content briefs and outlines, so your content is always well-structured and comprehensive.

Pros:

  • Integrates content planning, creation, and optimization
  • AI-driven insights and recommendations
  • Great collaboration features for teams

Cons:

  • Steeper learning curve for new users
  • Premium features may be costly for smaller businesses

Pricing: Letterdrop offers three different pricing models, targetted for different use cases. The Social Selling plan starts from $499/month, and the SEO and Sales Enablement and Call Insights plan start from $995/month and $799/month respectively.

Customer reviews and ratings: With a 4.9/5 rating on G2, Letterdrop is loved for its all-in-one approach to content marketing, but users find the price point much higher than other tools in the market.

10. Copywritely

Copywritely for SEO content optimization

Copywritely uses AI technology to analyze your content and provide actionable suggestions to improve your keyword usage, readability, and overall quality.

The keyword clustering feature lets you analyze and group up to 100K keywords based on SERP data, allowing you to target the most relevant terms for your content.

The tool offers detailed recommendations to enhance your content’s structure and flow, making it engaging and informative.

The internal linking suggestions feature helps boost your site’s SEO by recommending relevant links. Plus, the competitor analysis feature offers insights into your competitors' strategies, helping you stay ahead.

Pros:

  • Easy to use and intuitive interface
  • Comprehensive SEO tools
  • Integrates with Google Docs, WordPress, and more
  • Offers keyword stuffing and readability suggestions

Cons:

  • Pricing model may not be suitable for individual creators or small businesses
  • Limited functionalities as compared to other content SEO tools

Pricing: Copywritely doesn’t have any fixed pricing plans offering a different set of features. Instead, users can choose how many pages per month they want to check for content quality and search optimization. The pricing starts at $29/month for 50 pages.

Customer reviews and ratings: With a 4.1/5 rating on Capterra, users find Copywritely easy to use and appreciate the depth of its keyword analysis capabilities. But many customers highlight the limited features and complex pricing as a drawback.

Read more: Small Business SEO: Tips to Increase Traffic and Revenue

How do content optimization solutions improve SEO and overall content performance?

Optimizing your content for your SEO strategy isn’t just about throwing in keywords here and there.

It's about making your content valuable, engaging, and easy to find for both users and search engines.

Here’s a closer look at how an SEO content platform can elevate your overall content performance:

Optimizes for better keyword integration

Tools like Writesonic and Clearscope go beyond basic keyword insertion.

They provide insights into keyword intent and relevance, helping you target terms that can drive significant traffic.

These tools analyze competitors and identify keyword gaps, ensuring your content aligns with what users are searching for.

Enhances readability and engagement

Content optimization tools analyze the readability of your text and suggest improvements for language simplicity, sentence structure, and format.

These improvements make your blog more engaging, reduce bounce rates, and help increase the time spent on your site.

Better engagement often leads to higher rankings and more organic traffic.

Effective internal linking

Internal linking is a crucial SEO tactic that these tools help automate.

Content optimization tools identify the best internal links to include in your blogs, enhancing user navigation and distributing link equity across your site.

This helps search engines understand the structure of your site and the importance of individual pages, boosting the overall SEO value.

Provides a comprehensive content analysis

Optimization tools provide an in-depth analysis of your content’s performance by offering insights into engagement metrics, readability scores, and SEO effectiveness.

These tools help you identify areas for improvement and refine your content strategy by comparing your blogs to competitors' content.

Saves time & Automates repetitive tasks

Routine tasks associated with content optimization, such as keyword research, content planning, and performance tracking, can become cumbersome.

With a content optimizer tool, you can save a massive amount of time and ensure that your content is up to the mark without requiring constant manual effort.

You might also like: 25 Free AI Content Generators to Boost Your Content Creation

How to choose the right free content optimization tool

Now that you’ve got a better idea of the best content optimization tools available, how do you choose the best one?

Here are some specific factors to consider:

  1. Features and use cases: Identify what you need the most. Are you specifically looking for keyword optimization or want an entire SEO revamp? Some tools may offer a wide range of tools you may not even need. So, choose your platform wisely.
  2. Ease of use and integrations: Ensure that your tool of choice is user-friendly and integrates seamlessly with your existing platforms, like your existing CMS. This will help you incorporate it into your workflow without any hassle.
  3. Customer support and training: Opt for tools that offer robust customer support and extensive training resources. This could include tutorials, webinars, or a responsive customer service team to help you get the most out of the tool.
  4. Pricing and limitations: While free tools are attractive, they often have usage limits. Evaluate these constraints and consider if upgrading to a premium version is worthwhile for your needs.
  5. Evaluate user reviews: Look at user reviews and industry feedback. A strong community can provide valuable insights and tips, ensuring you make an informed choice. Software review sites like Capterra and G2 are great places to check what people think about different tools.

Writesonic’s verdict: The best content optimization tool for you!

As a team of dedicated content creators and SEO enthusiasts, we know what it takes to make an exceptional tool.

We've tried and tested numerous options, and Writesonic stands out as the best content optimization tool available.

And it’s not just us! See what existing users have to say about our content optimization tool–

“Writesonic has addressed our productivity challenges with long-form content. Now, we produce 100s of articles exceeding 2000 words, easily tailored to our audience's needs, saving hours on each publication.” –Krystian Zygalo (CEO, 0101marketing)
Writesonic - Customer testimonial about AI Article Writer

With features like AI Article Writer and an extensive suite of writing and SEO tools, users can skip juggling between different platforms for their content needs.

Our user-friendly interface is designed for both beginners and seasoned marketers, with seamless integrations with Zapier and Google Docs for an enhanced content workflow.

Plus we’ve got flexible pricing plans for all kinds of content needs!

If you're ready to elevate your content game and achieve remarkable results, Writesonic is the tool to make that happen.

Don't just take our word for it—experience the difference for yourself.

Frequently asked questions

What is a content optimization tool?

A content optimization tool analyzes keyword usage, readability, and SEO elements to help you improve your blog’s quality and search engine performance.

These tools give you actionable tips to make your content more appealing to both search engines and readers, ensuring it stands out in the crowded digital space.

What is content optimization in SEO, and what are its key elements?

Content optimization in SEO means refining your content to boost its search engine visibility and engagement.

It involves using relevant keywords naturally, optimizing meta tags, headers, and internal links, ensuring easy readability, and structuring content with headings and subheadings.

The goal is to create compelling, valuable content that resonates with your audience and improves your search rankings.

Why optimize content?

Optimized content ranks higher in search results, attracts more traffic, and improves user engagement. It also leads to higher conversion rates, making your content more effective and impactful.

Finally, well-optimized content often leads to higher conversion rates, providing a better return on investment for your content marketing efforts.

What specific features should I look for in a content optimization tool?

When choosing a content optimization tool, look for keyword research and integration features to find and use relevant keywords effectively. Ensure it offers comprehensive SEO optimization for meta tags, headers, and internal linking.

Good customer support and training resources are crucial, and seamless integration with platforms like WordPress and Google Docs ensures smooth workflow.

How to optimize content for SEO?

To optimize content for SEO, start by doing thorough keyword research to find relevant terms your audience is searching for. Incorporate keywords naturally into your content, including in headings and meta descriptions.

The content should be well-structured with clear headings, subheadings, and bullet points.

Use internal and external links to improve credibility and navigation. Finally, optimize images with alt text and make sure your content is mobile-friendly and fast-loading.

Saloni Kohli

Saloni Kohli, Content Writing @ Writesonic. A content marketing expert with a passion for storytelling and a flair for crafting engaging SEO-driven content. Turning ideas into impactful strategies.

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