Yoast SEO Free vs Yoast SEO Premium (Pro): Full Review, Features, and Which Is Best for Your Website?
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is one of the most important factors for building a successful website. Among all WordPress SEO plugins, Yoast SEO remains one of the most popular and trusted tools globally. However, many website owners often ask: Is Yoast SEO Free enough, or is Yoast SEO Premium (Pro) worth paying for?
In this detailed review, we’ll compare Yoast SEO Free vs Yoast SEO Pro, covering features, pricing, advantages, disadvantages, and which version is best for your needs.
What Is Yoast SEO?
Yoast SEO is a WordPress plugin designed to help website owners optimize their content for search engines like Google and Bing. It provides tools for:
- On-page SEO optimization
- Readability analysis
- Technical SEO improvements
- XML sitemaps
- Meta title and description control
Yoast SEO comes in two versions:
- Yoast SEO Free
- Yoast SEO Premium (Pro)
Yoast SEO Free: Features and Benefits
Yoast SEO Free is widely used and offers solid SEO tools for beginners and small websites.
Key Features of Yoast SEO Free
- Focus keyword optimization (1 keyword only)
- SEO title & meta description editor
- Readability analysis
- XML sitemap generation
- Canonical URL management
- Basic schema (structured data)
- Breadcrumbs support
- Robots.txt and .htaccess editor
Pros of Yoast SEO Free
- Completely free
- Easy to use for beginners
- Improves on-page SEO
- Helps write SEO-friendly content
- Trusted by millions of websites
Cons of Yoast SEO Free
- Only one focus keyword allowed
- No internal linking suggestions
- No redirect manager
- Limited social media previews
- No priority support
Yoast SEO Premium (Pro): Features and Benefits
Yoast SEO Premium is designed for professional bloggers, businesses, and content creators who want advanced SEO control.
Key Features of Yoast SEO Premium
- Optimize for multiple focus keywords
- Automatic internal linking suggestions
- Redirect manager (301, 302, 410)
- Content insights tool
- Orphaned content detection
- Social media previews (Facebook & Twitter)
- 24/7 premium support
- No ads inside the dashboard
Pros of Yoast SEO Premium
- Advanced SEO optimization
- Saves time with automatic suggestions
- Helps fix broken links easily
- Better content structure
- Ideal for large websites and blogs
Cons of Yoast SEO Premium
- Paid subscription required
- Can be expensive for beginners
Yoast SEO Free vs Pro: Feature
| Comparison Table | ||
|---|---|---|
| Feature | Yoast Free | Yoast Pro |
| Focus Keywords | 1 | Multiple |
| Readability Analysis | Yes | Yes |
| Internal Linking | No | Yes |
| Redirect Manager | No | Yes |
| Social Media Preview | Limit | Full |
| Orphaned Content Tool | No | Yes |
| Premium Support | No | Yes |
| Price | Free | Paid |
Yoast SEO Pricing (Premium)
Yoast SEO Premium costs around $99 per year for a single website. The price includes:
- 1 year of updates
- 1 year of premium support
- Access to all premium SEO tools
- Discounts are often available for multiple websites.
Which Should You Choose: Yoast SEO Free or Pro?
Choose Yoast SEO Free if:
- You are a beginner
- You run a small blog or personal website
- You want basic SEO optimization
- You have a limited budget
Choose Yoast SEO Premium (Pro) if:
- You manage a business or professional website
- You publish content regularly
- You want faster SEO growth
- You care about internal linking and redirects
- You want expert support
Is Yoast SEO Worth It in 2025?
Yes, Yoast SEO is still worth using in 2025, especially for WordPress websites. While the free version is powerful, Yoast SEO Premium offers advanced tools that can significantly improve content performance, rankings, and user experience.
Final Verdict
Yoast SEO Free is perfect for beginners and small blogs, while Yoast SEO Premium (Pro) is ideal for serious content creators, businesses, and monetized websites.
