Frase vs Surfer SEO

Frase is the budget version of Surfer SEO. Same basic workflow: enter a keyword, get a content brief based on what is ranking, then write to spec.

The Question Mining feature pulls actual questions from "People Also Ask" boxes and Reddit threads, giving you a list of real queries to build outlines around. The built-in AI Writer drafts paragraphs that fit the brief, so you can move from research to first draft without switching tools.

Frase also handles competitor analysis (side-by-side comparison of your draft against top-ranking pages) and basic keyword research. Google Docs export and WordPress integration cover most publishing workflows for small teams.

Paid subscription with tiers scaling by content reports per month and team features. Lower tiers cap the number of saved documents.

Best for solo marketers and small content teams publishing a few SEO posts a month. If you are publishing 20+ posts and SEO is a top-three growth channel, Surfer or Clearscope offer more depth and sharper recommendations.

Surfer tells you what to write to actually rank for a keyword.

Plug in a target search term. Surfer analyzes the top 10 results on Google and gives you a content brief: target word count, specific headings to include, related keywords with frequency targets, and questions to answer. Then you write in their editor and watch the score update in real time as you cover the recommended terms.

The platform also includes keyword research, content audits for existing pages, and SERP analysis features. The Google Docs integration lets writers work in their usual environment with the brief and live scoring in a sidebar. Integrations with AI writing tools enable assisted drafting.

Paid subscription with tiers scaling by content reports per month and team seats. Higher tiers unlock more integrations and advanced workflow features.

Best for content marketing teams publishing 4+ SEO posts a month with budget for premium tooling. For smaller teams or lower content velocity, Frase covers most of the same ground at a lower price point.