If you’re a freelancer trying to grow your business online, you need tools that help your website show up on search engines like Google. In 2025, many SEO tools are both powerful and budget-friendly. This article lists the top 10 affordable SEO tools for freelancers to use, making it easier to rank higher, get more clients, and track performance without spending too much money. Most of the digital marketing freelancers uses these tools to rank on the top of the list.
Contents
Why Freelancers Need SEO Tools
Freelancers often wear many hats. You may be writing blog posts, building websites, or managing social media. But without SEO (Search Engine Optimization), your hard work might never be seen.
As explained by Reshmi Banerjee, SEO tools help you to:
- Find the best keywords to target
- Understand your competitors
- Optimize your content
- Track rankings and traffic
- Improve your website performance
And the good news? You don’t need to spend a fortune.
Let’s look at the best affordable SEO tools for freelancers to use in 2025.
10 best affordable SEO tools for freelancers to use
Below is the list of top 10 affordable SEO tools for freelancers to use in 2025.
1. Ubersuggest
What it does: Ubersuggest is an all-in-one SEO tool created by Neil Patel. It helps with keyword research, content ideas, backlink data, and site audits.
Why it’s great for freelancers:
- Easy to use
- Free plan available with decent features
- Paid plan starts at just $12/month
Key features:
- Keyword suggestions
- Traffic analyzer
- SEO site audit
- Backlink checker
Best for: Beginners who want a full suite of SEO tools without the high price.
2. Mangools (KWFinder)
What it does: Mangools offers a group of SEO tools. The most popular one is KWFinder, which is great for finding low-competition keywords.
Why it’s great for freelancers:
- Simple and user-friendly design
- Accurate keyword difficulty scores
- Good value for the price
Pricing: Starts at $29.90/month
Key features:
- Keyword research
- SERP analysis
- Backlink monitoring
- Rank tracking
Best for: Content writers and bloggers.
3. SE Ranking
What it does: SE Ranking is a full-featured SEO platform that combines keyword tracking, competitor research, and website audit tools.
Why it’s great for freelancers:
- Affordable and scalable plans
- White-label reports (great for client work)
- Accurate rank tracking
Pricing: Starts at $18.60/month
Key features:
- Rank tracking
- Keyword suggestion tool
- Website audit
- Competitive analysis
Best for: Freelancers who manage multiple client websites.
4. Surfer SEO
What it does: Surfer SEO helps optimize your content using data-driven guidelines. It’s focused on on-page SEO.
Why it’s great for freelancers:
- Integrates with Google Docs
- AI-powered content editor
- Helps boost content rankings
Pricing: Starts at $29/month
Key features:
- Content editor
- SERP analyzer
- Audit tool
- Keyword surfer Chrome extension
Best for: Writers focused on ranking their articles.
5. AnswerThePublic
What it does: AnswerThePublic visualizes search questions and topics that people ask online. It pulls real search data from Google.
Why it’s great for freelancers:
- Great for idea generation
- Helps understand user intent
- Free plan available
Pricing: Pro plan starts at $9/month
Key features:
- Keyword visualization
- Search listening alerts
- Topic clusters
Best for: Bloggers, copywriters, and YouTubers.
6. Screaming Frog SEO Spider
What it does: Screaming Frog is a website crawler. It checks for broken links, SEO issues, duplicate content, and more.
Why it’s great for freelancers:
- In-depth technical audits
- Free version available for small sites
Pricing: $259/year (which breaks down to about $22/month)
Key features:
- Site crawling
- Page speed insights
- Redirect checker
- Meta data analysis
Best for: Web developers and technical SEO freelancers.
7. Google Search Console
Website: https://search.google.com/search-console/about
What it does: This free tool from Google helps track your website’s performance in search results.
Why it’s great for freelancers:
- 100% free
- Direct insights from Google
- Helps fix indexing issues
Key features:
- Performance reports
- URL inspection
- Mobile usability data
- Security issue alerts
Best for: Every freelancer with a website.
8. SERanking Keyword Rank Tracker
Website: https://seranking.com/position-tracking.html
What it does: A lightweight tool focused on keyword ranking and position tracking.
Why it’s great for freelancers:
- Helps track progress over time
- Great for client reporting
Pricing: Starts as low as $4/month for limited tracking
Key features:
- Real-time rank tracking
- Regional and mobile tracking
- Report generation
Best for: Freelancers offering SEO services.
9. Moz Pro (Lite Plan)
What it does: Moz Pro is a well-known SEO platform. The Lite Plan offers keyword tracking, site audits, and backlink analysis.
Why it’s great for freelancers:
- Trusted industry name
- Easy-to-understand interface
- Lite plan gives essential features
Pricing: Starts at $14/month for the Lite plan (limited features)
Key features:
- Keyword explorer
- Site audits
- Link explorer
Best for: Freelancers who need a strong brand reputation behind their tools.
10. LowFruits.io
What it does: LowFruits helps you find keywords that are easy to rank for by identifying weak competition in Google.
Why it’s great for freelancers:
- Pay-as-you-go model
- Great for small budgets
- Unique “weak spots” finder
Pricing: Starts at $25 for 2,000 credits (no subscription needed)
Key features:
- Easy-win keyword finder
- SERP strength checker
- Competitor analysis
Best for: Niche website builders and affiliate marketers.
These are some of the best affordable SEO tools for freelancers to use in 2025.
How to Choose the Right SEO Tool
When picking the best affordable SEO tools for freelancers to use, think about your needs:
- Are you writing content? Try Surfer SEO or AnswerThePublic.
- Need keyword ideas? Use KWFinder or Ubersuggest.
- Doing audits? Go for Screaming Frog or SE Ranking.
- On a tight budget? Google Search Console is free and powerful.
Always test tools using free trials or demos. What works for one freelancer may not suit another.
FAQs
What are the best affordable SEO tools for freelancers to use?
Ubersuggest is a great starting point. It’s simple, affordable, and offers all the basic features you need. And there are others like Google Search Console, Surfer SEO, MOZ Pro etc. are some of the affordable SEO tools for freelancers to use in 2025.
Are there any free SEO tools for freelancers?
Yes. Google Search Console, AnswerThePublic (limited), and Ubersuggest’s free plan are good options.
Can I use SEO tools without any technical knowledge?
Absolutely. Many tools like Mangools and Surfer SEO are designed to be beginner-friendly.
How much should a freelancer spend on SEO tools?
You can start for free or spend as little as $10/month. As your business grows, consider investing more.
Is it worth paying for SEO tools?
Yes, especially if you work with clients or rely on search traffic. Paid tools give deeper insights and save time.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars each month to do great SEO. There are lots of affordable SEO tools for freelancers to use in 2025. The tools listed here prove that freelancers in 2025 can compete with big companies using smart, affordable tools. Whether you’re a writer, marketer, designer, or consultant, there’s an SEO tool that fits your workflow and budget.
Start with free tools, then invest slowly as your freelance income grows. The right SEO tool can help you get more traffic, more leads, and more freedom to do what you love. For more tips, check out content by Reshmi Banerjee.