Yoast SEO suits most WordPress site owners who want a widely used, steady plugin: it runs on 10+ million sites, rates 4.8 out of 5, manages llms.txt in the free version, and its Premium tier adds more schema, an AI crawler blocker and 24/7 support. Rank Math suits people who want more built-in tools from one plugin, such as keyword rank tracking on its PRO plans, Content AI and a broken link checker, and it runs on 4+ million sites with the same 4.8 rating. Both have a free version, so test both on a staging copy.
These are the two WordPress SEO plugins people ask me about most, and they've grown closer in features than their fans admit. For this comparison I read both plugin listings on WordPress.org, Yoast's Premium page and Rank Math's plans page.
Yoast and Rank Math in numbers
| Yoast SEO | Rank Math | |
|---|---|---|
| Active installations | 10+ million | 4+ million |
| WordPress.org rating | 4.8 out of 5 | Also 4.8 out of 5 |
| Version listed | 28.7 | 1.0.280 |
| AI tools | Inside Premium, no separate AI subscription | Content AI and AI Link Genius |
| AI crawlers and llms.txt | llms.txt management; bot blocker in Premium | Not covered on the pages I read |
| Many sites | Custom quote for multiple sites | Agency plan for 500 client websites |
| Support | 24/7 with Premium | Not covered on the pages I read |
What the plugin listings tell you that sales pages don't
I always read an SEO plugin's WordPress.org listing before its sales page, because the listing follows a standard format. Yoast SEO shows version 28.7, 10+ million active installations and a 4.8 rating. Rank Math shows version 1.0.280, 4+ million installations and the same 4.8 rating. Rank Math's listing also has an external services section, and it names the service provider as ONE.COM INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED. It explains that connecting your Rank Math account sends your site URL, username and API key to its API for registration and licence checks, which is normal for a connected plugin but worth knowing before you click connect.
Where Yoast leads
Yoast's newer features are aimed at AI search. The free plugin can manage your llms.txt file, with manual control over which pages are included. Premium outputs more schema types, including E-E-A-T signals that help AI systems understand who you are, adds schema aggregation for NLWeb, and includes a bot blocker that controls which AI crawlers, such as GPTBot and CCBot, can use your content for training. Yoast's AI tools sit inside the editor you already use, there's no separate AI subscription with Premium, and you get 24/7 support.
Yoast also sells beyond WordPress, with Yoast SEO for Shopify and a Google Docs add-on, which helps if your writers draft outside WordPress or you run a store on Shopify as well.
Where Rank Math leads
Rank Math packs more tools into one install. Its PRO plans add keyword rank tracking, up to 50,000 keywords on the Agency plan, which also supports 500 client websites. It offers Content AI, AI Link Genius, a Broken Link Checker that finds broken internal and external links so you can fix 404 errors, automated keyword linking and a schema generator where you can build reusable templates from pre-built types. There's also a 15-day trial of Rank Math AI, so you can see whether the AI tools earn their place.
Choose your SEO plugin with these questions
- Do you want one plugin to handle rank tracking too, or do you use a separate tool?
- Will you control which AI crawlers can train on your content?
- Do you need 24/7 support from the plugin maker?
- How many client sites will you run it on?
- Who else on your team edits SEO settings?
If you're setting up a new site, read my list of SEO plugins to install first on a new WordPress site, and if you'd like to see what an llms.txt file looks like before a plugin writes one, try my free llms.txt generator.
My advice on Yoast or Rank Math
If you want the plugin most WordPress sites run, with clear AI crawler controls and round-the-clock support on Premium, choose Yoast. If you're a hands-on marketer or agency who wants rank tracking, link tools and Content AI inside WordPress, Rank Math gives you more in one place. Don't run both at once: pick one, export your settings, and switch only after you've tested on a staging copy of your site.
Do you make SEO tools or WordPress plugins? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place in comparisons like this one.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Rank Math free?
Yes, there's a free Rank Math plugin on WordPress.org, and PRO plans add features such as rank tracking and Content AI.
Is Yoast SEO free?
Yes. The free Yoast SEO plugin manages on-site SEO, and Yoast SEO Premium adds AI tools, more schema and 24/7 support.
How many sites use Yoast and Rank Math?
WordPress.org lists 10+ million active installations for Yoast SEO and 4+ million for Rank Math.
Who runs Rank Math's API services?
Rank Math's WordPress.org listing names the service provider as ONE.COM INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED.
Can Yoast block AI crawlers?
Yoast SEO Premium includes a bot blocker to control which AI crawlers, including GPTBot and CCBot, can use your content for training.
Does Yoast manage llms.txt?
Yes. Yoast SEO lists llms.txt management, with manual control over which pages are included.
