Yoast Quick Overview
Yoast SEO is a widely used WordPress plugin that enhances website visibility on search engines like Google. Known for its ease of use, Yoast offers features for content analysis, SEO scoring, readability checks, and technical optimization. It is available in both free and premium versions, catering to users from beginners to advanced SEO experts.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- User-friendly Setup: Yoast SEO offers an easy installation process with a guided wizard that simplifies the setup for users.
- Detailed SEO and Readability Analysis: Provides comprehensive feedback and suggestions, even in the free version.
- Regular Updates and Transparency: Frequent updates ensure plugin security and feature improvements.
- Extensive Knowledge Base: A robust collection of troubleshooting resources and developer documentation.
- 30-day Money-Back Guarantee: The premium version comes with a risk-free trial period.
Cons
- Performance Issues: It tends to use more memory and slightly slows down page load times compared to competitors like Rank Math.
- Limited Advanced Features in Premium Version: The premium version’s added features might not justify the high price tag when compared to alternatives.
- Separate Plugins for Additional Features: Customizing the plugin requires purchasing extra plugins for specific functions, adding extra costs.
- Lack of Real-Time Chat Support: Absence of live chat support, which would enhance the user experience.
- Questionable Value of Premium Version: The premium version lacks enough additional features to justify its higher price compared to some competitors.
Ease of Use
The installation process for both the free and premium versions of Yoast SEO is intuitive and easy.
The free version remains installed even after upgrading to the pro version, which could be confusing for some users.
Though the setup wizard is easy for beginners, more advanced users might prefer deeper control over their SEO settings right from the start.
Installation Process
follow these steps:
- Free Version:
- Go to the plugin repository on WordPress.
- Search for Yoast SEO, install, and activate it.
- The setup wizard automatically starts after activation.
- Premium Version:
- Purchase the plugin, download it from your Yoast account, and upload it via the WordPress plugin manager.
- After installation, connect your subscription through the plugin settings.
Setup Wizard
Yoast’s setup wizard, triggered after activating the plugin, helps users configure their site’s SEO foundation. The wizard includes options for configuring site details, social media profiles, and privacy settings.
Plugin Settings
Yoast SEO allows users to configure settings like search appearance, SEO titles, meta descriptions, social media appearance, breadcrumbs, and more. The plugin’s layout is straightforward, making it easy for users to navigate settings.
Features
- Post and Page Optimization (Free):
The SEO and readability analysis tools are available in the free version, making it suitable for beginners. You can optimize titles, descriptions, and focus keyphrases. - Built-in Tools (Free):
Yoast offers useful tools like importing and exporting settings, file editing, and bulk editing posts. These features are more beneficial to advanced users. - Redirects (Premium):
The premium version includes a simple redirect tool, which allows you to set up different redirect types with ease.
Reliability
Yoast SEO regularly updates its plugin, ensuring security and improvements. However, its performance in memory usage and page speed could be better compared to competitors like Rank Math.
Performance
Yoast SEO’s memory usage and page load times are acceptable, but Rank Math performs better overall. Yoast’s free version uses 132.57 KB of memory, which is higher than Rank Math’s 22.53 KB.
Updates and Performance
It releases updates 2-3 times per month, improving the plugin’s functionality. The free version receives fewer updates than the premium version, but Yoast consistently enhances both.
Support
Yoast provides a knowledge base, FAQs, and a contact form for support. The absence of live chat support is a drawback, though the company is active in the WordPress forums and offers reliable customer service.
Customer Service
The customer support page links to the FAQ, help center, WordPress forum, and contact options. The response time on the forums may vary, but Yoast generally offers helpful support.
Knowledge Base
Yoast’s knowledge base is comprehensive, with clear articles and developer documentation. The articles are easy to follow, with annotated images and potential troubleshooting tips.
Pricing
It offers both free and premium versions. The premium version costs $99/year, with additional functionalities like the redirects tool, AI-optimized SEO titles, and content insights. It also sells other plugins separately, such as Local SEO, Video SEO, and WooCommerce SEO, which can make the pricing higher than competitors like Rank Math.
Cost Breakdown
- Free Version: Offers essential SEO tools like post and page optimization, readability checks, and schema options.
- Premium Version: Includes additional features like keyword optimization for multiple keywords, redirect management, and more.
- The premium version is priced at $99/year. However, Yoast also offers bundles for $229/year, including all their extra plugins.
Refund Policy
It provides a 30-day money-back guarantee for the premium version. If you’re not satisfied with the product within 30 days, you can get a full refund.
Final Thoughts
Yoast SEO is a reliable plugin for basic SEO needs, with the free version offering sufficient features for most users. However, the premium version may not offer enough additional features to justify its high cost. If you only need basic SEO optimization, the free version will likely be enough. For more advanced features, consider whether the premium version’s offerings align with your SEO strategy.
