Many new AI tools for SEO appear frequently, often with promises of significant ranking improvements or content automation. However, a common challenge is that some tools may produce generic, robotic text that requires substantial rewriting.
This article aims to provide a practical breakdown of tools that have been tested on various projects. The goal is to identify AI that can effectively assist in creating quality content at scale. For instance, this post was planned and drafted using platforms like the eesel AI blog writer.
What are AI powered SEO tools?
AI powered SEO tools are software applications that use artificial intelligence to assist with or automate various SEO tasks. This includes everything from keyword research and content creation to on-page optimization and technical audits.
Beyond traditional SEO, the focus is shifting toward Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). This means optimizing content to appear in AI-generated search results, such as Google's AI Overviews or answers from ChatGPT. The best new tools are being built for this purpose, aiming to get content cited directly by these AI engines. The infographic below illustrates this evolution from traditional search to modern AI-driven answers.
The goal of these tools is not to replace SEO professionals but to enhance their efficiency. These tools provide better data and free up time to focus on high-level strategy that AI cannot handle.
How the tools for this list were chosen
To ensure this list was useful, the selection criteria were as follows:
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Real-world testing: Each tool was used for actual projects to evaluate its performance under real-world demands.
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Specific use cases: The focus was on tools that excel at a particular function, as specialized tools often provide better results for their intended purpose.
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Usable output: Selected tools needed to provide actionable outputs, such as publish-ready drafts, concrete optimization tips, or clear data.
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Value for money: The price of each tool was evaluated against its features and the potential time savings it offers.
Comparison of the top AI powered SEO tools
For a quick overview, the following table breaks down the top picks, offering a simple comparison before a more detailed analysis.
| Tool | Best For | Key AI Feature | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| eesel AI blog writer | Generating complete, publish-ready blog posts | Automatic asset generation (images, charts, Reddit quotes) | Free to try, then $99/mo for 50 blogs |
| Surfer SEO | On-page content optimization | Real-time Content Score with SERP analysis | $79/month (billed annually) |
| Semrush | All-in-one SEO with integrated AI | AI Visibility Toolkit & ContentShake AI | $165.17/month (billed annually) |
| Rankscale.ai | Tracking visibility in AI search engines | Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) tracking | $20/month for 120 credits |
| Frase | Creating content briefs with GEO focus | Dual SEO + GEO optimization score | $38/month (billed annually) |
The 5 best AI powered SEO tools
The following is a closer look at the tools selected for this list. Each serves a unique role in a modern SEO strategy.
1. eesel AI blog writer
The eesel AI blog writer is designed to generate complete, structured blog posts from a single keyword. It’s designed not just to rank on Google but also to get cited by AI answer engines.
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Pros and Cons: A key benefit is its ability to create a publish-ready article, complete with AI-generated images, infographics, relevant YouTube video embeds, and Reddit quotes for social proof. This feature can save significant time on asset creation. A potential drawback is its specialized focus on blog content. Users needing an all-in-one suite for technical audits or backlink analysis would need to pair it with another tool.
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Pricing: You can try it out completely free to see the quality for yourself. The paid "Early Bird" plan is available for $99 per month for 50 full blog posts.
2. Surfer SEO
Surfer SEO is a widely used tool for on-page content optimization. It is suitable for refining existing content or providing writers a data-backed roadmap. Its key feature is the AI-powered Content Editor, which analyzes the top-ranking pages for your keyword and provides real-time suggestions on terms to include, article structure, and ideal word count. It also has an AI Content Humanizer to help make AI-generated text sound less robotic.
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Pros and Cons: The tool provides data-driven, real-time feedback, which helps ensure comprehensive topic coverage. Integrations with Google Docs and WordPress facilitate a smooth workflow. A consideration is to avoid over-optimizing based solely on the "Content Score," which could lead to content that feels unnatural.
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Pricing: The Essential plan starts at $79/month with annual payment.
3. Semrush
Semrush is a comprehensive SEO platform that has integrated various AI features. It is a solid choice for teams that want one tool to handle almost everything, from keyword research and site audits to AI-powered content creation and tracking your visibility in AI search results.
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Pros and Cons: The primary advantage of Semrush is its comprehensive scope, allowing users to manage an entire SEO strategy within one platform. Its AI Visibility Toolkit and ContentShake AI are notable features for tracking mentions and boosting content. On the other hand, the platform's extensive features can present a steep learning curve for new users. Additionally, its AI writer does not automatically generate rich media assets like some specialized tools.
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Pricing: The Semrush One Starter plan is $199/month, or $165.17/month with annual billing.
4. Rankscale.ai
Rankscale.ai is a tool focused on Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). As more people get answers from AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Perplexity, knowing if your brand is appearing there is becoming essential. Rankscale is built for exactly that, letting you monitor your brand's Visibility Score, the sentiment of mentions, and your total citations across ten different AI platforms.
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Pros and Cons: Its primary strength is the specific data it provides on AI citations for a user's brand and competitors. This information can be difficult to obtain otherwise. A consideration is its narrow focus; it is a monitoring platform and does not include features for content creation or traditional SEO tasks.
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Pricing: Rankscale uses a flexible, credit-based system. The Essentials plan starts at $20/month, which gives you 120 credits.
5. Frase
Frase is designed to improve efficiency for content managers by quickly generating detailed content briefs. It analyzes top search results to create outlines for writers. Frase offers a dual optimization approach, providing separate scores for traditional SEO and for GEO, helping you structure your content to be more easily cited by AI platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude.
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Pros and Cons: Frase can significantly reduce the time spent on research and outlining, as its AI-generated briefs provide a solid foundation for writers. However, its strategic insights may be less comprehensive than a full suite like Semrush, and some users find its keyword data less extensive than other tools.
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Pricing: Frase offers a free trial to get started. After that, the Starter plan begins at $45/month, or $38/month if you pay annually.
Pro tips for using AI powered SEO tools in your workflow
Using these tools effectively requires a strategic approach. Here are a few tips for getting the most out of AI in an SEO workflow.
- Pro TipAI is the copilot, not the pilot: Let AI handle the heavy lifting, such as research, drafting, and outlining. The final 20%, which includes unique insights, strategic angles, and the final polish, should come from a human expert.
- Pro TipInject your own experience (E-E-A-T): An AI cannot share personal stories, case studies, or a unique perspective. Always weave these elements into AI-generated drafts to build trust and make your content memorable.
- Pro TipFact-check everything: AI can sometimes produce inaccurate information or pull from outdated sources. Always double-check any stats, product details, or important facts before publishing.
- Pro TipFocus on the workflow, not just the tool: The most significant gains occur when these tools are integrated into a repeatable process. For example, you could use Frase to generate a brief, use the eesel AI blog writer for a first draft, run it through Surfer for final optimization, and then use Rankscale to track its visibility in AI search over time.
Integrating AI powered SEO tools into your SEO strategy
Using AI in SEO can provide a competitive edge. It is beneficial to build a toolkit of specialized platforms that solve specific problems rather than searching for a single, all-encompassing solution.
Whether the need is for a comprehensive platform like Semrush, a content optimizer like Surfer, or a visibility tracker like Rankscale, there are tools available to improve workflows and results.
To see some of these tools in action and discover other free alternatives, the video below offers a practical walkthrough of how to leverage AI for your SEO tasks.
This video explains seven free AI powered SEO tools that can be used to improve rankings in 2025.
For those looking to scale high-quality content creation, the eesel AI blog writer is one option. It is designed to handle the process from a keyword to a complete post with rich media. A free trial is available to test its capabilities.
Frequently asked questions
The main benefits are saving time on research and content creation, getting data-driven insights to optimize your content, and scaling content production without hiring a large team. They help you create better content, faster.
No. They are best viewed as a copilot. They handle the repetitive, data-heavy tasks, but you still need a human for strategy, creativity, and adding unique personal experience (E-E-A-T) to the content. The final polish and insight is what makes content truly great.
Some free tools or free trials, like the one offered by eesel AI, are great for testing the waters and seeing the quality of the output. However, for consistent, high-quality results and advanced features, you'll likely need to invest in a paid plan from a reputable provider.
Start by identifying your biggest bottleneck. Is it writing first drafts? Optimizing existing pages? Tracking new metrics like GEO? Choose a tool that excels at solving that specific problem. This post compares five great options based on their specific strengths.
Google's stance is that they reward high-quality content, regardless of how it's produced. As long as you're using AI to create helpful, original, and people-first content (and not just spammy, low-quality articles), you won't be penalized. The key is to use AI as a tool to enhance your content, not just to churn it out.
GEO stands for Generative Engine Optimization. It's about optimizing your content to be cited and featured in AI-generated search results, like Google's AI Overviews. The best modern AI powered SEO tools, like Rankscale.ai and Frase, are now including features to help you track and improve your GEO visibility.
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Article by
Kenneth Pangan
Writer and marketer for over ten years, Kenneth Pangan splits his time between history, politics, and art with plenty of interruptions from his dogs demanding attention.
