RankMath vs Yoast SEO: Which WordPress SEO Plugin is Better?

Is Your WordPress SEO Holding You Back?

Imagine this: You’ve spent hours (maybe days) crafting the perfect blog post. You hit publish, expecting a flood of traffic. But weeks go by, and... crickets.

Sounds familiar?

You’re not alone. Over 90% of web pages get zero traffic from Google. And most of the time, it’s not because your content

isn’t good—it’s because your SEO game is weak!

That’s where SEO plugins like RankMath and Yoast SEO come in. But which one is actually better?

Let’s settle this debate once and for all.

What You Will Learn

• Key differences between RankMath and Yoast SEO

• Which plugin offers better features for free?

• Which one gives you the best SEO results?

• My personal recommendation after using both

Table of Contents

1. Overview: RankMath vs Yoast SEO

2. Features Comparison

3. Ease of Use

4. Pricing: Which Gives More Value?

5. Performance and Speed

6. SEO Results: Which One Ranks Better?

7. Final Verdict

8. FAQs

   
   

Who Should Read This?

• WordPress bloggers struggling with SEO

• Business owners looking to improve their Google rankings

• Digital marketers comparing SEO tools

• Anyone who wants more organic traffic without hiring an expert

Overview: RankMath vs Yoast SEO

Both RankMath and Yoast SEO help you optimize your content for Google. But they take different approaches.

• Yoast SEO has been around since 2010 and is the most popular SEO plugin, with over 5 million active installations.

• RankMath, launched in 2018, is the fast-rising competitor, offering more advanced features for free.

But popularity isn’t everything. Let’s dive deeper.

Features Comparison

Which plugin gives you more tools to dominate Google rankings?

RankMath comes loaded with advanced features for free, including:

• AI-powered content analysis

• Schema markup (rich snippets)

• Keyword rank tracking

• Internal linking suggestions

• Advanced redirections

Yoast SEO, on the other hand, locks most of these behind a paywall. The free version covers:

• SEO analysis

• Readability check

• XML sitemaps

So if you’re on a budget, RankMath gives you more firepower without spending a dime.

Ease of Use

A good SEO plugin should be easy to use, even if you’re not an expert.

• Yoast SEO is beginner-friendly, with a simple traffic light system (Green = Good SEO, Red = Needs Improvement).

• RankMath has a modern interface and a setup wizard that guides you step by step.

If you prefer a plug-and-play experience, go with Yoast. But if you love tweaking settings, RankMath wins.

Pricing: Which Gives More Value?

Let’s talk money.

Plugin	Free Version	Paid Version (Yearly)
Yoast SEO	Limited	Starts at $99
RankMath	Feature-packed	Starts at $59

RankMath gives more features for free, and even its Pro version is cheaper than Yoast.

Performance and Speed

Speed is an SEO ranking factor. If an SEO plugin slows down your site, it’s doing more harm than good.

• Yoast SEO adds extra code that can slow things down.

• RankMath is lightweight and faster.

If you want better performance, RankMath takes the win here.

SEO Results: Which One Ranks Better?

At the end of the day, results matter. Which plugin actually helps you rank higher?

• Many users report better rankings with RankMath, thanks to its AI-driven optimization.

• Yoast SEO still works well, but it’s not as advanced.

So if your goal is faster rankings and more traffic, RankMath is the better choice.

Final Verdict

If you want more SEO features for free, faster site performance, and better rankings, RankMath is the clear winner.

But if you prefer a simpler, beginner-friendly tool, Yoast SEO is still solid.

My advice? If you’re serious about SEO, switch to RankMath.

FAQs

Which SEO plugin is better for beginners?

Yoast SEO is easier to use, but RankMath has a setup wizard that makes it beginner-friendly too.

Is RankMath free?

Yes! The free version has tons of advanced features that Yoast charges for.

Can I switch from Yoast to RankMath?

Yes! RankMath has an import tool that lets you move everything in minutes.

Does RankMath slow down websites?

No, it’s actually lighter and faster than Yoast SEO.

Which SEO plugin helps you rank higher?

RankMath gives you more optimization tools, so it generally performs better.

Conclusion

Both Yoast SEO and RankMath are great, but RankMath gives you more power for free.

If you’re serious about ranking higher and growing your traffic, make the switch today.

So, which SEO plugin do you prefer? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

Simon Taki Zaku

Founder, CEO, IbiFoundry Limited

For the IbiFoundry.com.ng E-magazine.