I’ve always had sort of a complicated relationship with content optimization tools.
On the one hand, I want to rank on page one and there is no better guide for what it takes to rank than the sites that are already there.
So, that’s a pro for content optimizers like Surfer.
But on the other hand, I feel like if everyone is using a tool like this then all of page one is going to look pretty much the same.
So, that’s the con for tools like this.
But at the end of the day, I still gotta rank sites and so I use content optimizer tools to make the same H2s and H3s as every other damn site on page one.
Though with the recent chatter about Google search becoming AI-focused, none of us may even need these tools in the near future!
But for now, I am using a content optimizer.
I started with Surfer, but it’s not currently part of my toolbox.
In fact, I’ve found two options that I think are better – especially since Surfer’s pricing is increasing substantially.
**And as always, I’m an affiliate marketer and this post contains affiliate links, meaning I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my link.
Scalenut is the best Surfer SEO alternative
Based on my own testing, I think that out of all the options out there that Scalenut is your best bet if you want something other than SurferSEO.
I want to take a moment to note that I’m only using Scalenut for it’s Content Optimizer feature.
It does lots of things, including functioning as an AI-content creation tool.
As of right now, I ONLY recommend Scalenut for content optimization…and maybe content briefs.
And don’t even think about using it for AI-content creation because the results are TERRIBLE.
Honestly, it feels like GPT-3 might be what’s being used there, but I have no idea.
June 14, 2023 Update: Scalenut had an update/refresh that made their AI content writer better!
Anyways, I love it for optimizing content.
Why I think Scalenut is better than Surfer:
- It’s cheaper
- Limits are higher – you can optimize more articles for the money.
What I don’t like about Scalenut:
- no refunds, no money back guarantee
And in case you’re wondering how it compares on a one-on-one analysis, I find that the results you get are pretty much the same.
As fas as pricing, there are three plans you can choose from, but honestly the cheapest plan is not worth it cause you get ZERO content optimizations with it.
- Growth plan lets you optimize 30 articles/mo for $79/mo (or $40/mo if there is a sale)
- Pro plan lets you optimize 75 articles/mo (often increased to 150/mo if there is sale when you buy) for $149/mo (or $75/mo if there is a sale)
I do want to point out that getting Scalenut while it’s on sale gets you the best value for the money (and a higher content optimization limit on the Pro plan).
The Pro plan is what I’m currently on with Scalenut.
Where Surfer wins here is that if you want to start an article in the tool and finish it wholly within the tool, then it’s super easy – this process is not as easy/user-friendly in Scalenut.
Frase is also a good Surfer SEO alternative
The only other tool that I would even consider using for content optimization is Frase.
Like Scalenut, Frase is a tool with more to offer than just content optimization.
I’ll let you evaluate if you need it for more than optimizing articles because I’ve only used it for that.
The basics of how Frase works for content optimization is honestly pretty similar to both Scalenut and Surfer.
I think Frase has a bit of a cleaner look compared to Scalenut though…and they have a 5-day money back guarantee.
Why I think Frase is better than Surfer:
- It’s cheaper
- Limits are higher – you can optimize more articles for the money.
As fas as pricing, there are three plans you can choose from, but honestly the cheapest plan is not worth it cause you only get 4 monthly content optimizations with it.
- Basic plan lets you optimize 30 articles/mo for $44.49/mo (or $38.25 if paid annually)
- Team plan lets you optimize UNLIMITED articles/mo for $114.99/mo (or $97.75 if paid annually)
In terms of ease of use, I do think that Frase is closer to Surfer than Scalenut – but I’m using Scalenut because I got it for $75/mo with 150 monthly content optimizations.
I also want to point out that the way you use Frase to optimize content is essentially identical to Surfer, whereas Scalenut is slightly different.
Which should you use?
Honestly, the pricing for these two tools is pretty similar and I’ve only chosen Scalenut over Frase because I got it on sale.
If I hadn’t gotten the sale price with 150 monthly content optimizations, then I would be using Frase.
The good news is that it’s super easy for you test out each of these!
- Scalenut has a free trial (use code FOREVER20 to save 20% after the free trial!)
- Frase lets you try it for 5 days for just $1.00 (and if you use my link you automatically get a 60% discount off your first paid month!)
My suggestion is to test out both of these (the free trial and the 5 days for $1) to see which you prefer, or if you even like either of them.
Hey, I’m Shawna. I make a living working from my laptop in places like London, Sydney, Dubai, Rome, Oslo, Bangkok, Las Vegas, Barcelona, and Amsterdam. I share how I do some of that on this website.