Have you written excellent SEO-optimized content but still struggle to rank?
There is something missing from your arsenal. The use of content optimization tools would help.
Content optimization tools are available on the market that makes things easier. Among the SEO community and content writers, Frase and Surfer SEO are favorites.
Although both have happy customers, most people find it difficult to choose one.
When there is so much positive feedback and reviews, how does one decide which is the right one for your needs?
Having tried both tools, I decided to share my thoughts and outline some of their major advantages and disadvantages.
By pitting all the key features against each other, I have made a detailed comparison. Depending on what you need, there may be features you do not need or features you will definitely need.
Let's take a look.
Key Differences: Frase Vs Surfer SEO
| Frase | Surfer SEO |
|---|---|
| Basic subscription starts from $39.9 (30 posts/month) per month on an annual payment | Basic subscription starts from $49 (10 posts/month) per month on an annual payment |
| Proprietary NLP analysis across all plans | Basic plan has only a 1-month trial for NLP. |
| UI somewhat average | UI is intuitive and easy |
| Topic cluster creation is not available | Automatic Topic cluster creation |
| Keyword data, backlinks & AI writer are available as an SEO add-on for $35/per month | Keywords and backlink data available across all plans |
| Excellent Frase AI writer (part of SEO add-on) | No AI writer is available. |
| Automated content briefs | Not available |
| Manually find opportunities and keywords losing impressions | AI-powered Grow Flow connects to GSC and sends weekly content gaps |
| Does not integrate with Jasper and Semrush | Integrates with Jasper and Semrush |
| Internal link suggestions | None |
How does Content Optimization Helps in SEO?
You can rank better on Google by using content optimization tools. However, you must understand that there are no magical algorithms used by these tools that will improve your content and make it rank.
Using these tools, you can automate the analysis of SERPs that you would otherwise have to do manually.
The suggestions they make improve the coverage of the topic by suggesting appropriate keywords and terms. However, adding certain terms will not improve your ranking.
It is more about pushing you to write better and more informatively. The chances of getting SEO traffic are higher for such articles.
Furthermore, they provide suggestions for headings and subheadings that can help with SEO.
Content Brief
You can rely on Frase to help you from beginning to end in your content creation journey. This tool assists you in researching and creating content briefs from scratch.
Content briefs can be manually created with drag-and-drop or automatically generated by the software. The feature is one of the reasons I keep returning to Frase.
Frase lets you create custom templates for different kinds of articles. As a result, content briefs can be drafted faster and more effectively.
There is no automated content brief creation feature in Surfer SEO.
The outline builder allows you to create a brief similar to Frase. However, the flow of both tools is different.
Content Planning
Surfer SEO follows the same flow as other SEO tools like Semrush. The process begins with keyword research and content planning.
Start with the seed keyword. By using it, you will be able to find keywords that you can target in the content editor and move them there.
However, Frase expects you to begin by analyzing SERPs when creating documents (content briefs). The SERPs do include domain authority and backlink data (available as an add-on). However, it does not have a proper tool for keyword research.
Topic Clusters
One of the key features of Surfer SEO is topic cluster suggestions. Frase lacks it completely.
As an SEO consultant, I always recommend covering the topic from every angle. In SEO, topic clusters are crucial.
Surfer automatically creates topic clusters in the content planner. With the tool, you can get relevant information such as keywords, estimated traffic, and keyword difficulty.
This is an excellent tool to use if you aren't currently using any other topic clustering tool.
AI Writer
The Frase AI writer is an add-on that produces good output at an extra cost. There is no AI-based content generation in Surfer.
With Surfer's integration with Jasper AI, you can take advantage of a powerful writing assistant.
UI
The ease of UI/UX can be subjective. I like Surfer's speed and refinement. However, Frase has made improvements in this regard in recent months.
There is often a change in the layout of Frase's user interface, including the position of buttons and tabs. If the UI is constantly changing, it adds a bump to the experience.
Content Auditing
For on-page SEO audits, both tools provide solid data points.
The Surfer has shown better recommendations when NLP is enabled. Each tool highlights areas where the content could be improved. There can be an overuse or underuse of words or phrases as compared to SERPs.
Surfer assigns labels to NLP entities in its recommendations. By using these entities, Google will be able to understand the content better. In contrast, Frase groups articles based on clusters, long tails, and top topics rather than tagging them
Collaboration based Features
When it comes to collaboration, there are a few options. Each plan has a cap on the number of team members you can add.
Both allow you to share a link with others who are not team members. If you don't want to use the native editor, they have a WordPress plugin and Google Docs integration.
Pros and cons of Frase
Pros
- Creating high-quality content briefs for content writers
- Affordable
- Good AI writer.
Cons
- Lack of clarity on NLP entities recommendation.
- UI and document management are average.
Pros and cons of Surfer SEO
Pros
- Excellent content planner.
- Includes Keyword research tool
- Topic clusters
- Better NLP capabilities.
Cons
- Poor content brief workflow
- Expensive.
Surfer SEO vs Frase Pricing Comparison
Subscription costs play an important role in decision-making. The Frase is relatively cheaper and allows for the creation of more documents.
The cost and benefits under their business plan are very similar if you are an agency or have high usage.
If you want to use them for more than 10 websites or 70 articles, they both have customization options.
While Surfer's NLP is powerful, the basic plan only offers it for the first month as a trial. The pro plan at $99/month (annual payment) makes more sense with Surfer.
Unlike Surfer's pro plan, which only allows 30 documents, Frase allows unlimited documents.
Which Tool is Best for you?
Frase's basic plan makes more sense if you are an enthusiast blogger or don't blog often.
Depending on your workflow, you have to decide how to approach blogging or long-form content as a business.
For faster SEO-optimized articles, Frase with its AI writer is a great tool. Using topic clusters and NLP-based recommendations, Surfer SEO's content planner can aid your content generation process if you already have an AI writer or are starting a brand-new website.
- Frase at 60% Off – Check Pricing.
- Surfer SEO – Check Pricing.
- Get Free Surfer SEO Keyword Volume Chrome Plugin.
- Try for Free Frase AI Tools.