All in One SEO vs Yoast vs Rank Math: Which to Choose?

All in One SEO vs Yoast: for most small business websites, either will do the job well, and so will Rank Math. All three free versions handle the basics: page titles and meta descriptions, XML sitemaps, schema markup and a content checklist. The differences are in the interface, which extras are free, and what the paid versions cost. Pick the one you find easiest, set it up properly, and use only one.

An SEO plugin doesn’t do SEO for you. It gives you the controls. What you write, and how you structure your pages, still decides how you rank.

What is Yoast SEO, and how does it work?

Yoast SEO is a WordPress plugin that adds SEO settings to every page and post. Below the editor you get a box where you set the page’s SEO title, meta description and focus keyphrase, plus two checklists: an SEO analysis (is the keyphrase in the title, the first paragraph, the headings?) and a readability analysis (sentence length, paragraph length, subheadings). In the background it creates an XML sitemap, adds structured data that tells Google who you are, and lets you hide pages from search results.

All in One SEO (AIOSEO, once called All in One SEO Pack) and Rank Math work the same way: settings per page, a scoring checklist and site-wide technical settings.

Yoast SEO vs All in One SEO: feature comparison

Here is how the free versions compare at the time of writing (November 2026). Plugins change often, so check each plugin’s own site before you decide.

Older comparisons of Yoast vs All in One SEO Pack (and of All in One SEO Pack Pro vs Yoast) refer to the plugin’s former name and paid version. The plugin has been rebuilt since, so reviews from before about 2020 are out of date.

Which is better, All in One SEO or Yoast?

Neither is better for every site. Yoast SEO vs All in One SEO comes down to how you like to work:

• Choose Yoast if you want plain-English guidance as you write. Its readability check is useful for people who don’t write for a living.
• Choose All in One SEO if you like a guided set-up and a single dashboard score, or you’re already using other tools from the same company.

We first compared All in One SEO Pack vs Yoast years ago and preferred Yoast for its tidier interface and its page-by-page content analysis. Yoast is still the plugin we set up most often on the WordPress sites we look after, but either is a sound choice.

Rank Math vs Yoast SEO: which is better?

Rank Math vs Yoast is a closer contest than it used to be. Rank Math’s free version includes features Yoast keeps for Premium, such as several focus keywords per page and a redirect manager, so on paper it gives you more for nothing. Yoast is simpler and less cluttered, which many business owners prefer.

People searching for Rank Math SEO vs Yoast often want to know whether to switch. If your current plugin is set up and working, switching rarely improves rankings on its own. Both plugins offer import tools if you do decide to change.

Should you use Yoast SEO?

Yes, if you run a WordPress website and want an easy way to control how your pages appear in Google. It’s free, well supported and simple to learn. Don’t install it alongside All in One SEO or Rank Math: two SEO plugins create duplicate tags and conflicting settings.

How do you use Yoast SEO?

1. Install and activate Yoast SEO from the WordPress plugin directory, then run the set-up wizard.
2. Tell it whether your site is for a business or a person, and add your business name and logo.
3. On each page or post, write an SEO title (under 60 characters) and a meta description (around 150 characters).
4. Add a focus keyphrase and work through the SEO and readability checks, using judgement rather than chasing a green light.
5. Submit the XML sitemap Yoast creates to Google Search Console.

For more, see our guide to the Yoast SEO plugin and our SEO checklist for blog posts.

Frequently asked questions

Does Yoast SEO really work?

Yes, as a tool. Yoast makes it easy to set titles, descriptions, sitemaps and structured data correctly, which Google needs. It can’t make a page rank by itself: a green score only means you’ve ticked its checklist. Useful content, a fast site and links from other websites still do the heavy lifting.

How much is Yoast SEO Premium?

Yoast’s own Yoast SEO Premium page lists it at US$118.80 a year (excluding VAT) for one site, as of November 2026. Premium adds extras such as more keyphrases, a redirect manager, internal linking suggestions and AI help with titles and descriptions. The free version is enough for most small businesses.

How much does All in One SEO cost?

All in One SEO has a free version and paid plans. Its pricing page lists the Basic plan at US$49.50 for the first year, renewing at US$99 a year, as of November 2026. Prices change often, so check before you buy.

Is Rank Math free?

Yes. Rank Math has a free version in the WordPress plugin directory, and paid PRO plans with extra features. Its free version is generous, which is why many people compare it with Yoast Premium rather than Yoast’s free version.

Can I use two SEO plugins at once?

No. Running two SEO plugins usually means duplicate title tags, two sitemaps and settings that fight each other. Pick one, remove the other, and use the plugin’s import tool to bring your existing titles and descriptions across.

The short version

All in One SEO, Yoast and Rank Math all do the SEO basics well. Choose the one you find easiest, install only one, and spend your time on the content. If you’d like it set up properly, our WordPress SEO team can configure the plugin and the rest of your site’s SEO, and our SEO plans cover the ongoing work.