This site runs on Rank Math, and I have used it through a large content cleanup: rewriting old posts, merging duplicates, retiring others with redirects and 410s, and checking what the plugin outputs after every change. This review is based on that work plus the plugin’s own listings, not on a feature checklist alone. The first version of this post, from 2023, called Rank Math “undoubtedly the best” and made several comparison claims that were wrong; this version replaces it.
Disclosure: links to Rank Math in this post are affiliate links. If you buy a paid plan through them I may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It did not change the verdict below.
Quick Verdict
- Pick Rank Math if you want the most features in a free WordPress SEO plugin, especially a redirect manager, 404 monitor and Search Console data without paying.
- Pick Yoast SEO if you prefer the most widely used option with a simpler, more opinionated setup, and you are happy to pay for Premium if you need redirects.
- Pick All in One SEO if you like its interface and want Search Console integration in the free version, but check which modules are Pro first.
- Whichever you pick, remember the plugin only handles part of SEO. It cannot fix slow pages, thin content or a weak site structure.
Rank Math vs Yoast SEO vs All in One SEO (Free Versions)
The table below comes from each plugin’s WordPress.org listing and pricing pages, checked in October 2026. The original version of this post said Yoast had no schema options and that All in One SEO had no Google Analytics or 404 handling; those claims were inaccurate or out of date.
| Rank Math (free) | Yoast SEO (free) | All in One SEO (free) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active installs (WordPress.org) | 4+ million | 10+ million | 2+ million |
| XML sitemaps | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Schema markup | Yes, 16+ types | Yes; Premium adds more types | Yes |
| Redirect manager | Yes | Premium only | Pro only |
| 404 monitor | Yes | No | Part of the Pro redirection manager |
| Google Search Console data in WordPress | Yes | Through Google’s Site Kit plugin | Yes |
| Focus keywords per post | 5 by default, more via a filter | 1; Premium allows up to 5 | See plan details |
| Local SEO | Yes | Separate Premium add-on | Pro only |
| Breadcrumbs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AI writing tools | Content AI, credit-based | Premium only | See plan details |
Sources: the Rank Math, Yoast SEO and All in One SEO plugin pages, and Yoast’s Premium page. All in One SEO’s own listing is not fully consistent about which modules are Pro, so check its site before you choose based on one feature.
Pricing
| Plan | Price (billed annually) | For |
|---|---|---|
| Rank Math Free | €0 | Most single sites |
| Rank Math PRO | €7.99/month first year, €8.99 on renewal | Unlimited personal sites, 500 tracked keywords |
| Rank Math Business | €24.99/month, €27.99 on renewal | Up to 100 client and personal sites |
| Rank Math Agency | €54.99/month, €64.99 on renewal | Up to 500 client sites |
| Yoast SEO Premium | $118.80/year per site | Redirects, multiple keyphrases, AI tools, internal linking suggestions |
Prices exclude VAT and come from the Rank Math pricing page and Yoast’s product page in October 2026. The main things PRO adds over free are daily Search Console data with longer retention, keyword rank tracking and client-site licensing, so many single-site owners never need it.
What I Actually Use on This Site
Redirections, including bulk CSV import
During the cleanup I retired dozens of outdated posts. Rank Math’s redirection module took a CSV with source, match type, destination and type columns, so I could prepare 301s for merged posts and 410s for removed ones in a spreadsheet and import them in one go. I check each one afterwards with curl -I; for example, a merged post’s old URL returns a single 301 to its replacement. Having this in the free plugin is the biggest practical advantage over Yoast, where the redirect manager is Premium.
Sitemaps
Rank Math generates a sitemap index with separate post, page and category sitemaps and lists it in robots.txt. One problem I found while auditing: after many posts were rewritten, the sitemaps still showed their old lastmod dates, which suggests cached sitemap output. Google only trusts lastmod when it is accurate, so after large edits it is worth clearing the plugin’s sitemap cache and then rechecking the dates. I describe the full audit in the technical SEO checklist.
Schema and the FAQ block
Rank Math outputs Article, Organization, WebSite and Person markup automatically, and its FAQ block adds FAQPage markup that matches the visible questions. One thing to know in 2026: Google no longer shows FAQ rich results in Search, after first restricting them to government and health sites in 2023. FAQ sections are still useful for readers, but do not add them expecting extra space in Google’s results.
Search Console data
The Analytics module pulls Search Console clicks, impressions and positions into the WordPress dashboard. It is convenient for a quick look, but Search Console itself is better for real analysis, since the free plugin fetches data every three days and keeps 90 days of it.
Where Rank Math Falls Short
- The content score is a checklist, not a ranking prediction. A green 90+ score means the post ticks Rank Math’s boxes, such as keyword in the first paragraph. It does not mean the post answers the query better than competitors. Follow its suggestions only where they make the post better for readers.
- Its SEO data is awkward to edit from outside WordPress. Custom titles and descriptions are stored in Rank Math’s own post meta, which the standard WordPress REST API does not expose by default. When I updated posts through the API, the content changed but custom meta descriptions had to be edited by hand in the editor. That matters if you automate publishing.
- Many modules, many settings. The setup wizard helps, but it is easy to switch on modules you do not need. Disable what you do not use; fewer modules means less to misconfigure.
- Upsells. The free plugin shows PRO and Content AI prompts in places.
None of these are reasons to avoid it; they are things to know before relying on it.
Setting It Up Sensibly
- Install Rank Math from the WordPress plugin directory and run the setup wizard. If you are moving from Yoast or All in One SEO, use its importer and check a few posts afterwards.
- Connect Google Search Console in the Analytics step.
- In Sitemap settings, include only post types and taxonomies you want indexed, and confirm the sitemap URL loads. Submit it in Search Console.
- Set titles and meta templates per post type, then override them only where it helps.
- Turn on Redirections and the 404 Monitor. Review the 404 log occasionally and redirect only URLs with a genuine replacement; let the rest return 404 or 410.
- Turn off modules you do not need.
- Check the output: view the page source for the title, description, canonical and JSON-LD, and run the Rich Results Test on a few templates.
Conclusion
Rank Math is the strongest free WordPress SEO plugin for most sites: it gives away redirects, a 404 monitor, Search Console data and broad schema support that competitors charge for. It is not magic, its content score should be taken with a pinch of salt, and its sitemaps are worth checking after big changes. Yoast remains a good choice if you prefer its simplicity and will pay for Premium, and All in One SEO is worth a look if its interface suits you. If you want to try Rank Math, start with Rank Math‘s free version; you can decide on PRO later.
FAQs
Is Rank Math better than Yoast SEO?
For free users, Rank Math includes more: a redirect manager, a 404 monitor, Search Console data and up to five focus keywords per post. Yoast is more widely used and simpler, but its redirect manager and multiple keyphrases are Premium features.
Is Rank Math free?
Yes. The free version on WordPress.org covers most single sites. Paid plans add keyword tracking, more frequent and longer-kept Search Console data, client-site licensing and other extras.
Can I switch from Yoast to Rank Math without losing my SEO data?
Rank Math has an importer for Yoast and All in One SEO data such as titles, descriptions and focus keywords. Back up first and spot-check a few posts afterwards.
Does Rank Math improve rankings by itself?
No plugin does. Rank Math outputs metadata, schema, sitemaps and redirects correctly, which removes technical obstacles. Rankings still depend on content, relevance and links.
Do FAQ blocks still get rich results in Google?
No. Google stopped showing FAQ rich results in 2026, after limiting them to government and health sites in 2023. FAQ sections can still help readers.
Should I use the Rank Math 404 monitor?
It is useful for finding broken links. Redirect a missing URL only when there is a relevant replacement; otherwise let it return a real 404 or 410 rather than redirecting it to the homepage.
