Yoast vs Rank Math vs AIOSEO: a feature-by-feature comparison
By Anis Harbaoui, SEO specialist · Last reviewed 16 October 2026 · NexalSEO on GitHub
Pick Rank Math if you want a redirect tool and importers in the free plan, Yoast if you want a long-established plugin with conservative defaults, and AIOSEO if you would rather buy one broad package than build a stack. The three overlap on basics such as titles, sitemaps and schema, and split on what is free, what is paid and what a second-year renewal costs.
Disclosure
We make NexalSEO, a competing plugin. This comparison uses only what each vendor’s own pricing and feature pages state, read on 16 October 2026. We did not run lab tests, and “not stated” means the page we read did not mention it.
How do the three plugins compare on features?
| Feature | Yoast SEO | Rank Math | AIOSEO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free version | Yes | Yes | Not stated on its pricing page |
| XML sitemaps | Free and Premium | Free | Listed |
| Schema | Free and Premium | Advanced schema in paid plans (vendor says 840+ types) | Listed |
| Redirects | Premium. Free covers attachment redirects only. | Basic manager free | Pro and above |
| 404 monitoring | Not stated | Advanced version in paid plans | Not stated |
| Internal links | Blocks free, suggestions in Premium | Not stated | Link Assistant listed |
| Local SEO | Premium | Paid plans | Listed |
| WooCommerce | Separate product, 178.80 a year | Paid plans | Listed |
| AI tools | Premium | Rank Math AI, 15-day free trial | Listed, including an llms.txt generator |
| Importers | Not stated | Yoast, AIOSEO and SEOPress | Not stated |
| Paid from | 118.80 a year, excl. VAT | €7.99 a month intro, billed yearly | $49.50 first year, then $99 |
The table is wide, so scroll sideways on a phone. If you are weighing all seven plugins we cover, the full roundup adds SEOPress, The SEO Framework, Slim SEO and NexalSEO.
Where does each plugin pull ahead?
Yoast SEO
Yoast’s strength is that its free version is not a stub. By its own feature list it covers XML sitemaps, schema, readability analysis and internal linking blocks, and it ships an llms.txt feature. The catch is redirects. The free plugin only handles attachment redirects, so the redirect manager, with CSV import and export, is a Premium reason. Premium also brings internal link suggestions, local SEO features and AI generation. If you run a shop, plan for the WooCommerce add-on as a second purchase.
Rank Math
Rank Math puts more in the free plan than the other two. It lists sitemaps, a basic redirection manager, canonical URL control and importers for Yoast, AIOSEO and SEOPress. For anyone switching, those importers are the practical advantage. Paid plans add a keyword rank tracker, advanced schema, local SEO, WooCommerce SEO and advanced 404 monitoring. PRO covers unlimited personal sites, which makes it attractive for someone running several of their own projects.
AIOSEO
AIOSEO’s pricing page lists only paid plans, so the question of a free version is open until you check the WordPress plugin directory yourself. What it lists as features is broad: sitemaps, schema, a redirection manager, local SEO, WooCommerce SEO, a Link Assistant for internal link suggestions and a set of AI tools. The Redirection Manager is listed for Pro and above. If redirects matter, treat Pro as the real entry point rather than Basic.
How much do they cost?
| Plugin | Entry paid plan | Next tiers |
|---|---|---|
| Yoast SEO | Premium, 118.80 a year | WooCommerce SEO, 178.80 a year, sold separately |
| Rank Math | PRO, €7.99 a month intro, €8.99 on renewal, billed yearly | Business €24.99 a month, Agency €54.99 a month |
| AIOSEO | Basic, $49.50 first year, then $99, one site | Plus $99.50 (3 sites), Pro $199.50 (10 sites), Elite $299.50 (100 sites) |
Prices are shown the way each vendor shows them. Yoast and Rank Math list them without VAT. Always compare year two, because intro rates change. Our buying framework shows how to do that for your own shortlist.
What changes when you switch between them?
The importer is the first thing to check. Rank Math lists importers for Yoast and AIOSEO, so moving into it is the best-documented path of the three. Moving out is a different story, because the vendor pages we read do not describe export tools. Whatever you pick, back up first, keep every URL the same, and spot-check a sample of pages after the import. Redirect rules and schema settings are the pieces most likely to need a second look. Our guide to moving between plugins has the checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rank Math really free for redirects?
Its free version lists a basic redirection manager. Advanced 404 monitoring is listed under the paid plans, so check which of the two you need.
Does Yoast SEO include redirects for free?
Not in the way most people mean it. The free plugin handles attachment redirects only, and the full redirect manager is part of Premium.
Does AIOSEO have a free version?
Its pricing page lists only paid plans. A free edition may be available in the WordPress plugin directory, which we could not verify, so check the listing before you decide.
Which of the three is cheapest?
On first-year price for one site, AIOSEO Basic at $49.50 is lowest, but it renews at $99. Rank Math PRO works out to about €96 in year one, and Yoast Premium is 118.80. Compare year two before you decide.
Keep exploring
When paying pays off
Where the free tier stops being enough.
NexalSEO and Rank Math
A two-plugin comparison.
Do you need a plugin?
When a plugin is optional.
Sources: Yoast features, Yoast plans, Rank Math pricing, AIOSEO pricing and AIOSEO features, all read on 16 October 2026. Written by Anis Harbaoui, SEO specialist.