7 Semrush SEO Writing Assistant Alternatives (Tested & Ranked)
Tested Semrush SEO Writing Assistant alternatives and ranked the best options by use case—plus pricing and who each tool is for.
Semrush SEO Writing Assistant is one of those tools you try once, and you immediately get why people keep it around.
It checks readability. It nudges you about tone. It waves a little flag when you are stuffing keywords or forgetting basic SEO hygiene. And if you are already paying for Semrush, it kind of feels like, well, why not use it.
But.
A lot of people hit the same wall I did.
You want something that is either simpler, more automated, less “plugin-ish”, or just… better at actually helping you ship content that ranks. Not just score a draft and send you back to Google Docs to fix things manually for another hour.
So I tested a bunch of alternatives and ranked the best ones depending on what you actually need: editorial help, on page SEO guidance, full content workflows, or hands off publishing.
This is the list I would give a friend.
How I tested these (quickly, but honestly)
I used the same basic process for each tool:
- Wrote or imported a draft for the same keyword topic.
- Checked what the tool suggested for SEO and readability.
- Noted how “actionable” the suggestions were. Like, do I know what to do next?
- Looked at workflow stuff: briefs, outlines, internal links, publishing, integrations.
- Paid attention to how annoying it is to use. Because that matters more than most feature checklists.
Ok. Let’s get into it.
1. SEO Software (Best hands off alternative if you want content published, not just scored)
If Semrush SEO Writing Assistant is an editor sitting on your shoulder, SEO Software is more like… the whole content team that shows up and just starts working.
It is an AI powered SEO automation platform that scans your site, builds a keyword and topic strategy, generates SEO optimized articles, and then schedules and publishes them to your CMS. WordPress, Shopify, Webflow, and there is API access too.
This is the big difference versus most “writing assistants”.
Most tools help you write.
SEO Software helps you run content marketing.
What stood out while testing
- It is built around a workflow: strategy → content calendar → article generation → rewrites → publish.
- Bulk article generation is actually practical. Not a gimmick.
- Unlimited rewrites helps when you want variations, updates, or different angles without starting over.
- Multilingual is huge (150+ languages) if you do international SEO or niche sites.
- Auto internal and external linking is baked into the system, so you are not manually hunting older posts every time.
- It can insert AI generated images and even video embeds, which sounds like fluff until you realize how long those little steps take every week.
If you are comparing it more directly with other “optimize while you write” tools, you can skim this: SEO Software vs Surfer SEO. Different philosophies, honestly.
When I would pick it
- You are tired of content tools that give you homework.
- You want consistent publishing without hiring an agency.
- You care about scaling content production and internal linking across the whole site.
If you want to see the platform itself, start here: SEO Software. And if you are more the hands on editor type, their AI SEO Editor is worth poking around too.
2. Surfer SEO (Best for live on page guidance while writing)
Surfer is probably the most common answer when someone asks for a Semrush SEO Writing Assistant alternative. And yeah, that makes sense.
It is built around the idea of correlating top ranking pages and turning that into a checklist you can actually follow while writing.
In testing, Surfer is good at:
- Suggesting terms to include (without being too spammy if you do it right).
- Giving structure guidance: headings, word count ranges, missing subtopics.
- Showing competitors and their outlines, which is useful even if you do not copy anything.
The good
The content editor is fast. The recommendations are clear. It feels like a practical tool, not a “score chasing” toy.
The not so good
Surfer can push people into writing content that feels samey. Like it is optimized for the algorithm first, human second. You can avoid that, but you have to be intentional.
When I would pick it
- You want a writing assistant that behaves like an SEO checklist.
- You write in Google Docs or an editor and want live feedback.
If you want a deeper comparison from the angle of automation and publishing, again, this one is relevant: SEO Software vs Surfer SEO.
3. Clearscope (Best for clean, editorial friendly optimization)
Clearscope is calmer than Surfer. That is the vibe.
It is not trying to overwhelm you with 120 suggestions and a rainbow chart. It focuses on making content more comprehensive and more aligned with search intent, with a UI that editors actually like using.
In my testing:
- Keyword and term suggestions felt more curated.
- It was easier to maintain a natural voice.
- It works well when you already have a good draft and want to tighten it for SEO.
What to know
Pricing is not “cheap tool for solopreneurs” territory. It is more of a professional content team tool.
When I would pick it
- You have writers and editors, and you want a tool that fits that workflow.
- You care about quality and readability as much as SEO coverage.
4. Frase (Best for briefs, outlines, and faster first drafts)
Frase is the tool I open when I am still figuring out what the article should even include.
It shines earlier in the process, not just during optimization.
In testing, Frase was strong at:
- SERP driven research summaries.
- Building outlines based on competitors.
- Generating an initial draft you can shape, then optimize.
The tradeoff
Its optimization is good, but I would not call it the most sophisticated compared to Surfer or Clearscope. The value is speed and research assistance.
When I would pick it
- You write a lot of informational content and want to cut research time.
- You want brief + outline + draft in one place.
5. MarketMuse (Best for content strategy depth, not just single article scoring)
MarketMuse is heavier. It is not a lightweight assistant.
If Semrush SEO Writing Assistant is about improving a document, MarketMuse is more about improving a whole content inventory and finding gaps, opportunities, and topic clusters.
While testing, what stood out was:
- Strong topic modeling and content gap insights.
- More strategic recommendations than “add these 12 terms”.
The reality
It can feel like too much if you just want to optimize a blog post and move on. There is a learning curve, and the pricing reflects the strategic focus.
When I would pick it
- You have an established site with lots of content.
- You want to build topical authority intentionally, not just publish randomly.
6. Jasper (Best if your main need is writing, not SEO scoring)
Jasper is not really an SEO writing assistant in the same sense as Semrush SWA. It is primarily an AI writing platform, and it is good at that.
If your problem is “I need content output and I will handle optimization elsewhere”, Jasper can work.
In testing:
- The writing is generally polished and consistent.
- Brand voice and templates help if you do marketing content.
- It is useful for rewrites, intros, ad copy, email, all that stuff.
But here is the thing
For pure on page SEO guidance, Jasper is not the first tool I would reach for. You end up pairing it with Surfer, Semrush, or another optimizer anyway.
If you are deciding between automation oriented content publishing vs a writing platform, this comparison is worth a look: SEO Software vs Jasper.
When I would pick it
- You need a writing engine for lots of formats, not just SEO blog posts.
- You already have an SEO workflow and want Jasper inside it.
7. Yoast SEO (Best “good enough” free-ish alternative inside WordPress)
Yoast is not fancy, but it is everywhere for a reason.
If you publish on WordPress and want basic readability checks, keyword usage reminders, meta title and description help, and a general “is this acceptable” nudge, Yoast still does the job.
In testing:
- It is straightforward.
- It catches obvious issues.
- It is not trying to be a full content optimizer.
The limit
Yoast does not give you the deeper SERP driven guidance that Surfer, Clearscope, or Frase do. It also will not build your strategy, write, and publish for you.
When I would pick it
- You are on WordPress and want basic guardrails.
- You are not ready to pay for an SEO content platform yet.
This is the part most list posts skip, but it matters.
If you want hands-off content production and publishing
Pick SEO Software. That is the whole point of it. You are not just optimizing drafts, you are building an engine. Start at the homepage: SEO Software.
If you are focused on improving existing pages too, these two are useful:
If you want live SEO guidance while writing
Pick Surfer SEO.
If you want a cleaner, editor-friendly optimization tool
Pick Clearscope.
If you want briefs and outlines faster than you can do them manually
Pick Frase.
If you want strategy and topic authority mapping
Pick MarketMuse.
If you want an AI writer that can handle lots of marketing formats
Pick Jasper.
If you want a basic WordPress assistant that is “fine”
Pick Yoast.
One more thing. Semrush SWA alternatives are not all the same category
This sounds obvious, but I think it trips people up.
Semrush SEO Writing Assistant is a document-level helper.
A lot of the tools above are:
- content optimizers (Surfer, Clearscope)
- research and brief tools (Frase)
- strategy platforms (MarketMuse)
- writing platforms (Jasper)
- CMS guardrails (Yoast)
- full automation systems (SEO Software)
So when you are comparing, compare the workflow, not the feature list.
Because you can absolutely end up paying for three tools that do one job in pieces.
And if you are trying to simplify instead of expand your stack, it is worth looking at a platform that combines the steps. This overview on AI writing tools is a solid supporting read too: AI writing tools guide.
Additionally, considering the use of AI SEO tools for content optimization could significantly enhance your content production process by leveraging advanced technology for better results.
Let’s wrap it up
If you like Semrush SEO Writing Assistant but you want more, you basically have two paths.
You either go deeper into optimization (Surfer, Clearscope). Or you go wider into workflow and automation (SEO Software). Everything else fits somewhere in between.
If your end goal is organic growth without living inside editors and checklists all day, I would start with SEO Software and see how far the automation takes you. Especially if you are publishing regularly and want a content calendar that actually fills itself, then posts to your site without you babysitting it.
That is the real upgrade. Not a higher content score. Actual content shipped.