Best On-Page SEO Tools 2023

updated on
January 24, 2023
Terry Williams
Disclaimer: A few of the links you'll stumble upon here are my affiliate buddies. Meaning, if you decide to join their premium crew, I might get a little thank-you bonus – without any extra penny from your pocket! Just know, I only give shout-outs to tools and products I truly believe in and have used.

My Top Ranked On-Page SEO Tools

On-page SEO refers to optimizing elements within a website's direct control to improve search rankings. Also called on-site SEO, it involves fine-tuning a site's internal pages, content, technical foundations, and metadata to elevate organic visibility.

Essentially, on-page SEO aims to help search engines better understand and index your pages through improvements "on the page" itself. This increases the likelihood of ranking for targeted keywords.

Common on-page SEO activities include:

- Optimizing page titles and meta descriptions
- Enhancing content with keywords and semantics
- Improving site speed and performance
- Structuring pages and navigation for crawlability
- Adding schema markup for rich results
- Fixing technical errors and accessibility issues
- Robust on-page SEO tools provide guidance and diagnostics to optimize these crucial elements. 

The best solutions combine auditing capabilities for identifying problems with insights and recommendations to execute page-level enhancements.

In this guide, we'll explore the top on-page SEO software platforms available to implement impactful optimizations yourself. With the right toolkit, you can tackle the accessible levers that directly influence organic rankings and traffic. Let's dive in!

#1 Product Recommendation

Surfer logo

Surfer SEO

A comprehensive on-page SEO platform with a proven track record.
Price
Features
Accuracy
try it today

#2 Product Recommendation

On-Page logo

On-Page.ai

Discover your most profitable keywords using powerful artificial intelligence.
Price
Features
Accuracy
try it today

#3 Product Recommendation

Semrush logo

Semrush

An all-in-one SEO software with a top-notch on-page toolkit.
Price
Features
Accuracy
try it today

#1 Product Recommendation

Surfer logo

Surfer SEO

Price
Features
Accuracy
read full surfer seo review

#1 Product Recommendation

Surfer SEO is hands down ones of the best on-page seo tools on the market right now. It's an on-page optimization tool that compares your site to those of your highest-ranking competitors. Accessible yet powerful, it's a game-changer for research, content generation, and analysis alike.

Features

Surfer SEO analyzes page content against more than 500 on-page SEO factor and is based around 5 core toolsets: Keyword research; content planning and editing; SERP analysis; SEO audits; and growth management. Its powerful content editor provides data-driven suggestions for content creation that include keywords to incorporate (along with their optimal density), plus recommendations for ideal length and number of headings, paragraphs, and images.

Pros

  • Unique, in-depth features and data
  • Outstanding content planner and editor
  • Extensive SERP and competitor analysis
  • High-level software suitable for SEO professionals
  • Intuitive interface
  • Affordable pricing

Cons

  • Keyword research tool is relatively basic
  • SERP Analyzer doesn't have the option to filter for specific ranking factors
  • Can have a steep learning curve for beginners

#2 Product Recommendation

On-Page logo

On-Page.io

Price
Features
Accuracy
Read the On-Page AI Review

On-Page.ai offers a whole new approach to on-page SEO. Cutting-edge artificial intelligence engineered by an SEO industry mastermind is a winning combination.

Features

On-Page.ai uses Google's own AI technology to go one step beyond matching the competition to actually outranking them. Core features of On-Page.ai include its superior website crawler, content creation software, real-time tracking capabilities, link relevancy analysis and recommendations, Topical Keyword Tool (which helps to verify that the keywords you're focusing on will build authority and relevance), Highly Related Terms tool (which identifies potent keywords you may want to target), and much more.

Pros

  • Proven technology combined with a cutting-edge SEO approach
  • High-level SEO tools designed for professionals
  • Provides learning and education opportunities

Cons

  • Not beginner friendly
  • Must provide your email address to access fundamental product information
  • Software is expensive
  • No free trial (though On-Page.ai does offer 30 days risk-free, if you're not satisfied with its product)

#3 Product Recommendation

Semrush logo

On-Page.io

Price
Features
Accuracy
read full semrush review

An industry giant, Semrush provides a comprehensive SEO toolkit under one umbrella. Its on-page SEO features are user-friendly, effective, and strategically integrated within a big-picture context.

Features

Semrush is fully loaded with just about every type of SEO feature you can imagine. Its On-Page SEO Checker includes ideas for improving strategy, backlinks, technical SEO, user experience, SERP features, semantics, content, and more. You can zero in on one specific page or use the checker to analyze your entire website as a whole. Once you've identified the next steps you want to take, you can turn to other tools within the Semrush suite to help you achieve your goals.

Pros

  • Reputable platform with a proven track record
  • Connects on-page optimization with other SEO strategies (nothing exists in isolation)
  • Strong auditing, analytics, and reporting
  • Scalable for any size of business

Cons

  • Steep learning curve
  • Cluttered user interface
  • Only covers Google data

Other tools we found useful

Math Rank Logo

Rank Math

A newer SEO WordPress plugin with a reputation for being comprehensive and user-friendly.
Read More
Page Optimizer pro

PageOptimizer Pro

A data-driven on-page SEO tool designed for marketers.
Read More
Link Whisper

Link Whisper

An AI-powered internal linking tool for improving your on-page SEO.
Read More
ahrefs logo wide

Ahrefs

An all-in-one SEO software toolkit with comprehensive on-page optimization features.
READ MORE
moz logo

Moz

An all-in-one SEO toolset that offers some free on-page tools.
read more
Google Search Console

Google Search Console

Free Google service that helps you improve and monitor your on-page SEO.
READ MORE
Math Rank Logo

Rank Math

Known as the "Swiss Army Knife of SEO tools for WordPress", Rank Math is a comprehensive content optimization platform with an intuitive and user-friendly interface.

Features

Rank Math is known for its plethora of features, many of which are connected to on-page optimization. I can't list them all right here and now, but some of the biggies are: Straightforward post and page SEO tools, Google Search Console integration, in-depth keyword tracking, media optimization, automatic schema markup detection, 301 and 302 redirects, and much more.

Pros

  • Robust free version
  • User-friendly for beginners and pros alike
  • Impressive quantity of features and options
  • Can be used on an unlimited number of sites

Cons

  • No dedicated on-page SEO analytics tool (though on-page analytics are included in many tools)
Page Optimizer pro

PageOptimizer Pro

Backed by hundreds of tests on the Google Algorithm, PageOptimizer Pro focuses on quickly and thoroughly optimizing your web content for Google.

Features

Like Surfer SEO, PageOptimizer Pro is an on-page SEO tool with an emphasis on content optimization. Some of its standout features include: The fact that it supports 61 different languages and provides exact keyword and schema recommendations, a target word count, an advanced content editor, automatic competitor search, and more. PageOptimizer Pro also integrates with both WordPress and Google Docs and gives you the option to download reports.

Pros

  • Research-backed optimization tool that’s excellent for content teams
  • Unlimited reports
  • Excellent value

Cons

  • Clunky user interface
  • Page optimization scores are not reliably accurate
Link Whisper

Link Whisper

Link Whisper aims to streamline the process of internal link building—a major SEO factor. In my opinion, it's the best-dedicated software of its kind.

Features

Link Whisper is the most niche software in this article, but I've included it because internal linking is a critical but too often neglected aspect of on-page SEO. Link Whisper's features include: Auto-linking (supports bulk link building), the Link Changer (automatically changes old URLs to new ones for all internal links on your site), and the reporting dashboard (which provides reports on links, orphaned posts, errors, domains, and clicks).

Pros

  • Extremely user-friendly
  • In a league of its own when it comes to automated internal link building
  • Updates multiple posts at once

Cons

  • Link building suggestions are not always relevant or accurate
  • Interface can be glitchy at times
ahrefs logo wide

Ahrefs

Ahrefs is an SEO industry software giant known for excellence in many areas, including on-page SEO. Its superior analytics and reporting features can help you accurately keep tabs on your on-page SEO progress.

Features

Like Semrush, Ahrefs is a fully loaded SEO tool platform with a long list of features that relate to on-page optimization. Some of the most important ones include: Its Site Explorer; Keywords Explorer (which reports on keyword difficulty, volume, potential traffic, and global volume, as well as provides keyword ideas); Site Audit; and Content Explorer (which helps you generate authoritative and optimized content on any topic). Ahrefs also integrates directly with WordPress.

Pros

  • Intuitive and well-organized user experience
  • Impressive data reserves
  • Wealth of features—and more evolving all the time

Cons

  • Doesn’t offer a free trial
  • No mobile app
  • Rank tracking updates are limited to specific intervals
moz logo

Moz

Moz is an all-in-one SEO software program known for having one of the largest backlink databases in the world. It also offers a robust suite of on-page SEO tools, some of which can be accessed free of charge.
Read Our Moz Review

Features

Moz is yet another comprehensive SEO platform with a solid offering of on-page optimization features. In addition to more standard features such as a keyword explorer, rank tracker, site crawler, link explorer, and analytics, Moz also has a dedicated suite of on-page optimization tools. Your website receives a score for page optimization and step-by-step instructions for how to further improve it.

Pros

  • Offers some free on-page optimization tools
  • Metrics are highly accurate
  • Dedicated on-page SEO recommendations

Cons

  • Complex user experience
  • Targets U.S. markets (not as strong for foreign markets)
  • Expensive pricing (targets large enterprises)
Google Search Console

Google Search Console

Google Search Console is a free service from Google that measures and monitors your site's search traffic and overall performance. Data from Google Search Console should be factored into any on-page SEO campaign.

Features

Google Search Console's features are intended to help you understand how Google views your website. Its features revolve around confirming that your site is crawlable, indexing new or updated content, and communicating traffic data (broken down by search queries, click through rates, and more).

Pros

  • Unbeatable data
  • Clean and simple user interface
  • Completely free

Cons

  • Can have a steep learning curve
  • Not a major focus on content optimization

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is On-Page SEO

On-page SEO (also known as on-site SEO or on-page optimization) is the process of optimizing the visible and internal elements of your website to improve its organic traffic and search engine rankings. The major facets of on-page SEO include, but aren’t limited to:

  • Original, high-quality content
    • keyword optimization
    • no duplicate content
    • building relevance and authority
  • HTML elements
    • Meta descriptions
    • Page titles
    • Headers
    • Image Alt-text
    • Structured markup
    • Headers
  • Site Architecture
    • Internal links
    • Mobile responsiveness
    • URLs
    • Site speed

On-page SEO has a major impact on website rank and must comprise a substantial facet of any comprehensive SEO strategy.

Note: Off-page SEO encompasses SEO actions and elements that take place beyond the scope of your website itself. It commonly includes backlink building, social media management, and efforts to encourage branded searches.

What Are the Different Types of On-Page Optimization Tools?

It's one thing to read a list of all the different features on-page optimization software has to offer, but it's entirely different to experience their actual function and benefits. While each and every software offers unique features and user experiences, on-page optimization is broadly based around three main types of tool sets. In this section, I'm going to try to give you a more practical sense of the main functions they encompass and what you can expect when employing them:

Keyword Research Tools

In layperson's terms, keyword research tools help you identify relevant keywords and phrases that people are actually searching for on Google (or other search engines) and narrow them down to a list of target keywords that you believe your site can rank competitively for.

Some common categories of keyword research tools include the following (though their names may vary from software to software):

  • Keyword Ideas Tools - These types of tools help you generate lists of potential keywords your site could rank for.
  • Keyword Analysis Tools - This category of tools takes a deep dive into one keyword at a time and tells you about its difficulty, volume, and other specific metrics.
  • Competitive Keyword Analysis - These tools research the keywords your competitors are ranking for and provide insights into how you might out-rank them.

For more specifics, check out my recent review of the Best Keyword Research Tools.

Content Optimization Tools

Content optimization tools focus on taking the target keywords you've identified for your site and building high-quality, authoritative content around them. These types of tools will help you optimize your content based on the content of your highest ranking competitors.

Content optimization tools provide you with topic ideas and guidelines—such as how long your content pieces should be and sometimes even how many headings, paragraphs, and images they should include. Some may also provide recommendations for keyword optimization and readability while others may boast AI writing assistance and analysis.

The best content optimization tools provide you with timely content recommendations based on up-to-the-minute trends and data.

On-Page Analysis

This category of tools assesses your website's performance based on HTML elements and site architecture. Some technical SEO factors also come into play.

On-page analysis tools commonly look at headers, title tags, meta descriptions, image optimization, structured data, internal links, URLs, mobile responsiveness, site speed, and more. Some on-page analysis tools can be automated (at least in part), while others require you to act on each individual finding yourself.

For clarity's sake, it's worth noting that some of the software products recommended in this article encompass all three categories of tools (keyword research, content optimization, and on-page analysis), while others are primarily centered around just one. Semrush, Ahrefs, Rank Math, and Moz are all-in-one tools while Surfer SEO and PageOptimizer Pro are heavily weighted toward the content optimization end of the spectrum. Link Whisper is a niche internal link building tool and Google Search Console is more focused on technical SEO.

When selecting an on-page SEO tool, be sure to understand its scope and make certain that it will meet your specific optimization needs.

Tips for Using On-Page SEO Tools Effectively

Investing in an on-page SEO tool already puts you miles ahead of those who don’t, but here are a few pro tips to maximize the benefits you'll ultimately get out of it. These tips are based on my years of experience in the SEO industry:

  • Use multiple tools to get a well-rounded view of your on-page SEO. I know this may not be feasible if you're just starting out, but it's amazing how the strengths of different on-page tools can reveal different aspects of your site and areas for improvement. A multi-tool approach ensures that nothing slips through the cracks.
  • Integrate on-page SEO tools into your workflow. It's all well and good to purchase software, but if you don't make a conscious effort to incorporate it into your daily habits, then your investment will largely go to waste.
  • Use the data from on-page seo tools to inform your content creation and optimization efforts. Data analysis and content optimization are two sides of the exact same coin, so don't ever make the mistake of viewing them as separate entities.

What Are the Top 5 On-Page SEO Factors?

I've already mentioned many of the major components of on-page SEO, but below, I’ll flesh out the top 5 in a little more detail:

1. Title Tags

A title tag is a piece of a web page's HTML code that specifies its title. Among other locations, title tags can be found in browser bars, in SERPs, and on social media posts. It’s crucial to your overall SEO strategy not to ignore title tags because they definitely have an impact on rankings!

2. Meta Descriptions

Meta descriptions are short summaries of web page content. They’re found beneath the page title in search engine results pages (though they don't appear within your page's actual content) and don't typically exceed 160 characters. Best practice is to include keyword(s), brand name, and location(s) in meta descriptions when possible.

3. Heading Structure

Headings help search engines (and real people, too) scan and interpret content. HTML header tags range from H1 to H6, with H1 denoting the highest level of importance (such as the title of a written piece). Heading structure improves the quality of written content (and thus the user experience) by providing cues for scanning and information gathering. Be sure to break up your content with effective headings.

4. Content Quality, Relevance, and E-E-A-T

There is simply no replacement for relevant, high-quality content. And Google knows it. Increase organic traffic to your site with content your audience is dying to read, and you'll be acing the SEO game in no time. In the digital marketing world, E-E-A-T stands for experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness. These are legitimately the qualities Google is assessing in every piece of content you produce (straight from the Google Search Quality Rater Guidelines).

5. URL Structure

Structuring your URLs to be clean, organized, and consistent is an important but often ignored aspect of on-page SEO. At a basic level, SEO-friendly URL structure involves practices like using all lowercase letters, putting hyphens between words, avoiding special characters, including keywords, eliminating duplicates, and above all, trying to clearly communicate what a user might expect to find on the page in question. 

What Are the Top 5 On-Page SEO Factors?

Gradual momentum over 3-6 months is normal as search engines recrawl and reindex pages. Patience and persistence pay off.

Conclusion

To conclude, on-page SEO encompasses many critical elements and must be factored into any overarching SEO strategy in a substantial way. Big or small, no business will organically attract more visitors to its website or boost its search engine rankings without dedicated attention to on-page SEO. There are a lot of on-page aspects to keep in mind, but fortunately also a wide selection of on-page SEO tools to keep your endeavors calm, cool, and collected.

In this article, I've shared my top three on-page SEO tool picks as well as several more that also shine in their own rights. Before making a final decision on which tool to invest in, be sure to thoroughly assess your site's current on-page situation, your future SEO goals, your budget, and the time you have to dedicate to on-page SEO. If you have further questions or would like customized SEO guidance for your business, reach out to me at SerpFocus—any time.

#1 Product Recommendation: Surfer SEO

Surfer SEO is my #1 top pick for on-page SEO tools. In fact, I'm currently writing this CTA using Surfer! For outstanding on-page and content optimization, you won't find a dedicated platform with more to offer than Surfer SEO. Try Surfer SEO today!
Surfer logo

RankMath

Price
Features
Accuracy
sign up

From The Author

Terry Williams

With over 10 years optimizing sites, I've boosted search visibility for brands through customized strategies. Currently, I develop effective SEO solutions for a top agency, immersed in the latest trends and innovations. Read my full bio.
Reviews of the Top SEO Tools by Industry Professionals
© 2024 SERP Focus
115 W 30th St #92802, New York, NY 10001, USA