Best Frase Alternatives for SEO Content Optimization in 2026
Compare the top 7 Frase alternatives for AI-powered content briefs, optimization, and SEO writing. Honest pricing, features, and recommendations for every budget.
Quick Verdict
Best Overall Upgrade
Surfer SEO
150K+ users, 500+ signals, from $79/mo
Best for Quality
Clearscope
Most accurate grades, enterprise trusted
Best Budget Option
NeuronWriter
NLP-powered content scoring from $19/mo
Frase is a solid content briefing and optimization tool—it's fast, reasonably priced at $45/month, and good at pulling top-ranking competitor content into a structured brief. But it's not the best tool at everything it does.
Surfer SEO has deeper content scoring. Clearscope grades more accurately. NeuronWriter costs less. Search Atlas replaces Frase and several other tools in one subscription. If you've hit a wall with Frase—or you're evaluating it before committing—here are the seven best alternatives.
Content quality has never mattered more: Google's helpful content updates and the rise of AI-generated content have raised the bar for what it takes to rank. Choosing the right optimization tool directly affects your results.
What is Frase?
Frase
frase.ioFrom $45/month
AI-powered SEO content tool that helps teams research, write, and optimize content. Analyzes top-ranking pages to generate content briefs and scores your content against competitors in real time.
Strengths
- Fast content brief generation from top-ranking SERP results
- Real-time content optimization with live scoring
- Built-in AI writer for draft generation
- Affordable entry price ($45/month vs Clearscope's $189)
- Good for agencies managing multiple client briefs
- Strong integrations with Google Search Console
Limitations
- AI-generated content can feel generic without heavy editing
- No built-in keyword research tool—requires third-party data
- Content scoring less granular than Clearscope
- Slower crawling for newly published pages
- Limited backlink and technical SEO features
7 Best Frase Alternatives
The most widely-used content optimization platform, analyzing 500+ on-page signals for real-time content scoring. Used by 150,000+ customers including FedEx, Shopify, and Lenovo.
Best for: Teams wanting the most data-rich content editor
Key features:
Pros
- Most popular content optimization tool—150,000+ customers
- 500+ on-page signals analyzed per content score
- Built-in AI writer (Surfy) inside the content editor
Cons
- No free plan; pricing starts at $79/month (annual) or $99/month monthly
- Content credits can run out quickly on lower plans
- Weak standalone keyword research vs Ahrefs/Semrush
Premium content optimization platform used by major media companies. Known for the highest-quality content grades and deep semantic analysis—the gold standard for content teams at larger organizations.
Best for: Enterprise content teams prioritizing grade accuracy
Key features:
Pros
- Most accurate content grading in the category
- Trusted by enterprise media brands (HubSpot, Monday.com, Condé Nast)
- Excellent team collaboration features
Cons
- 4x more expensive than Frase ($189 vs $45/month)
- No built-in AI content generation
- No keyword research tool—needs pairing with Ahrefs/Semrush
Affordable SEO content editor with NLP-powered term suggestions, semantic analysis, and AI writing. Offers strong features at a fraction of Frase and Surfer pricing—popular with freelancers and small agencies.
Best for: Budget-conscious freelancers and small agencies
Key features:
Pros
- Lowest price in the category ($19/month on annual plan)
- Solid NLP-based content scoring at a fraction of competitor cost
- Built-in AI writing tools included at base tier
Cons
- Less accurate than Clearscope or Surfer for competitive niches
- Smaller user community and fewer integrations
- UI less polished than Surfer or Frase
AI-powered content intelligence platform focused on topical authority, content planning, and competitive gap analysis. Goes beyond single-page optimization to help teams build comprehensive content strategies.
Best for: Teams building long-term topical authority strategies
Key features:
Pros
- Best topical authority modeling in the category
- Content briefs go deeper than Frase or Surfer
- Content inventory feature audits entire site for opportunities
Cons
- More expensive than Frase ($99/month vs $45/month)
- Higher learning curve—designed for experienced SEOs
- Overkill for teams focused on single-page optimization
All-in-one AI SEO platform winner of the 2025 Global Search Awards. OTTO SEO automates up to 99% of on-page fixes while Content Genius powers AI content creation—replacing Frase and several other tools in one subscription.
Best for: Agencies wanting one tool to replace multiple SEO subscriptions
Key features:
Pros
- OTTO SEO automates on-page fixes directly on your site
- 2025 Global Search Awards Best AI Search Software winner
- Replaces keyword tools, content editors, and rank trackers in one platform
Cons
- Steep learning curve—broad feature set takes time to master
- OTTO SEO add-on costs $99/month per site beyond base plan
- Overwhelming for teams that only need content optimization
Enterprise AI content platform used by IBM, Morningstar, and Airbus. Combines brand voice training with AI writing and basic SEO mode—best for teams prioritizing content volume over deep SEO optimization.
Best for: Content teams prioritizing volume and brand consistency
Key features:
Pros
- Best brand voice training—AI writes in your exact style
- Trusted by Fortune 500 companies (IBM, Airbus, Morningstar)
- Huge template library (50+ content types)
Cons
- SEO optimization is shallow compared to Frase or Surfer
- No deep SERP analysis or competitor content scoring
- Expensive at scale—per-seat pricing adds up for large teams
SEO content platform built specifically for agencies, with unlimited briefs, client management, and white-label reporting. Combines content scoring with actionable recommendations designed for agency workflows.
Best for: SEO agencies managing multiple client content workflows
Key features:
Pros
- Built specifically for agency workflows—client management included
- Unlimited content briefs on all plans (no per-report limits)
- White-label reporting for client delivery
Cons
- $124/month starting price is more than Frase ($45) or NeuronWriter ($19)
- Less brand recognition than Surfer or Clearscope
- AI writing tools less advanced than dedicated AI writing platforms
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Frase | Surfer | Clearscope | NeuronWriter | MarketMuse | Search Atlas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI content brief generation | ||||||
| Real-time content scoring | ||||||
| Built-in AI writer | ||||||
| Keyword research tool | ||||||
| Topical authority mapping | ||||||
| SERP competitor analysis | ||||||
| Rank tracking | ||||||
| Technical SEO audit | ||||||
| LLM / AI search visibility | ||||||
| Google Search Console integration | ||||||
| White-label / agency features | ||||||
| Brand voice training | ||||||
| Free trial | ||||||
| Starting price | $45/mo | $79/mo | $189/mo | $19/mo | $99/mo | $99/mo |
Get Weekly SEO Tool Updates
Content tools change fast—pricing, features, new players. Get a weekly digest of what actually matters for your SEO and content strategy.
Which Alternative Should You Choose?
Want the most reliable content scoring?
Surfer SEO is the most battle-tested content optimization platform. With 150,000+ customers and 500+ ranking signals analyzed per page, it's the most validated tool in the category. At $79/month (annual), it's a reasonable step up from Frase's $45.
Need content grades your clients trust?
Clearscope is the gold standard for content quality grading. HubSpot, Monday.com, and Condé Nast use it. The $189/month price includes unlimited users—so if you have a team, the per-seat cost is often lower than competitors.
On a tighter budget?
NeuronWriter at $19/month gives you NLP-based content scoring, SERP analysis, and an AI writer for a fraction of Frase's price. It's less accurate in highly competitive niches, but for most content, the quality gap isn't enough to justify the price difference.
Want to consolidate your SEO stack?
Search Atlas at $99/month replaces Frase, your rank tracker, your keyword tool, and your technical audit tool in one platform. OTTO SEO automatically implements on-page fixes without manual work—something no other content tool offers.
Building a long-term content strategy?
MarketMuse is the best tool for topical authority building—it maps your entire content strategy, not just individual pages. If you want to own a topic area rather than rank for one keyword, MarketMuse's content inventory and opportunity analysis are unmatched.
Best Frase Alternatives by Use Case
For Freelance Writers & Solopreneurs
Solo writers need affordable tools that deliver accurate recommendations without a steep learning curve. Every dollar of margin matters.
Top Pick: NeuronWriter ($19/mo)
The best content optimization features per dollar. NLP scoring, SERP analysis, and AI writing tools at a price that doesn't hurt solo operator margins.
Quality Pick: Surfer SEO ($79/mo)
If you're producing content for competitive niches, Surfer's data depth is worth the $79/month. Clients value Surfer-optimized content—it's a credential that justifies higher rates.
For In-House Content Teams
In-house teams need tools that scale with headcount, integrate with existing workflows, and produce results they can report upward.
Top Pick: Clearscope ($189/mo)
Unlimited users on all plans means your whole writing team can collaborate without per-seat costs. The content grades are trusted by the biggest brands in the industry.
Strategy Pick: MarketMuse ($99/mo)
For teams building a content program, not just publishing posts, MarketMuse's topical authority mapping helps you prioritize what to write and understand the ROI of your content investment.
For SEO Agencies
Agencies need white-label capabilities, multi-client management, and tools that can justify results to clients. Cost per client matters more than raw tool price.
Top Pick: Search Atlas ($99/mo)
White-label agency features, OTTO SEO automation, and consolidation of 5-7 tools in one subscription. The 2025 Global Search Awards winner is purpose-built for agencies managing multiple clients.
Agency Specialist: Rankability ($124/mo)
Built exclusively for agency workflows—unlimited briefs, client management, and white-label reports. Less feature breadth than Search Atlas, but purpose-built for content-focused agencies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Frase used for?
Frase is an AI-powered SEO content tool that analyzes top-ranking pages for a keyword and generates content briefs, outlines, and optimized drafts. It gives you a live content score as you write, showing how well your content covers the topics and terms your competitors use.
Why look for a Frase alternative?
Common reasons include wanting more robust keyword research built-in (Frase relies on third-party data), needing higher-accuracy content grading (Clearscope is considered more precise), wanting an all-in-one platform that also handles rank tracking and technical SEO (Search Atlas), or simply needing a lower price point (NeuronWriter at $19/month).
Is Surfer SEO better than Frase?
Surfer SEO is generally considered the stronger content optimization platform—it has more users, deeper SERP analysis, and a more established feature set. However, Frase is better for content briefing workflows and typically faster for generating research-based outlines. If content scoring accuracy is your priority, Surfer wins. If you're building content briefs for writers, Frase can feel more intuitive.
Which Frase alternative is best for agencies?
Search Atlas stands out for agencies with its white-label reporting, multi-client management, and OTTO SEO automation that replaces several subscriptions. Rankability is purpose-built for agency workflows with unlimited briefs and dedicated client management. Surfer SEO also has strong agency features with shareable content reports.
Can I replace Frase with a cheaper alternative?
NeuronWriter ($19/month) is the most affordable alternative with comparable content optimization features. It's best for freelancers or solo operators who want NLP-based content scoring without agency-level features. For most small teams, Surfer SEO ($79/month) or Search Atlas ($99/month) are better upgrades than downgrades—you get meaningfully more capability.
Related Comparisons
Need Help Choosing?
Most tools offer free trials. Start with Surfer SEO for the most proven content optimization, or NeuronWriter if budget is your first filter.