SEO & Content9 min read4 Jun 2021

Seven Best Clearscope Alternatives For Optimizing Content And Boosting Rankings

Seven Best Clearscope Alternatives For Optimizing Content And Boosting Rankings

As they say, content is king, and the need for writing high-quality, optimized content is greater than ever. But content optimization these days is very different from what it used to be a few years back. It's no longer about stuffing keywords in your posts to increase visibility. Sure, keywords are critical, but they are not the only factor that gets your content ranked on SERPs. Search engines have changed their algorithms over time and care more about content quality than keywords. That's where content optimization tools come in. Content marketers are always on the lookout for different content optimization tools to improve boosting rankings. Fortunately, the improvement in AI-driven technology in recent years has been massive. SEO specialists are constantly refining the content optimization process, minimizing human involvement and depending more on robotics and AI.

Clearscope is a leading content optimization tool that streamlines everything in the world of content and SEO. This AI-fueled tool is used by many big brands, including YouTube and Shopify, to increase conversions and bring better results.

What Is Clearscope?

Clearscope, as mentioned above, is an AI-powered content optimization tool that enables marketers to write optimized content for better rankings in search results. It is ideal for both beginners and seasoned sellers because it is easy to use.

Pros

There are many reasons to include a tool like Clearscope in your content optimization strategy. It comes with a content grade system that lets you evaluate how well your content performs for your given keywords. It also allows you to repurpose old posts using a feature-rich editor, and WordPress integration is a breeze: install the plugin and you're good to go. Clearscope is also an ideal solution for teams. Last but not least, you can generate SEO report templates using this tool to assess how your team members are benefiting from it.

Cons

The biggest downside of Clearscope is that its keyword suggestions are limited. Compared with dedicated SEO platforms like SEMrush and Ahrefs, you only get basic keyword data. There is no feature for building your backlink strategy either: the tool provides information, but not actual support for turning ideas into reality. There is also no website SEO audit option, and the feedback for web pages doesn't come close to what other popular SEO platforms deliver.

How Does It Work?

What sets Clearscope apart from other AI content optimization tools is how easy it is to use. Anyone with basic computer knowledge can start without assistance. The process begins with basic keyword research. Enter the topic you want to write about; Clearscope provides basic keyword stats, including search volume and CPC. Choose a topic with high search volume and low competition, then type in relevant Terms and Questions to determine what your content should include to rank better.

Next, write your first draft. You'll see keyword suggestions on the right along with essential metrics such as word count and readability. Then use built-in integrations to upload your content directly to an ecommerce platform.

Why Look For An Alternative?

Sure, Clearscope is a wonderful tool. Then why on earth do we have to find alternatives? The answer is pretty simple: it's expensive. Also, if you think you can depend on this tool for all your content optimization needs, that's not the case. The software cannot create content briefs for your writers, so you'd need someone to create content outlines and share them with your team.

Are There Any FREE Clearscope Alternatives?

Fortunately, there are much cheaper Clearscope alternatives available that drive better results without costing a fortune. But understand this: there is no truly FREE alternative to Clearscope to date. You get what you pay for, right? The bottom line is that no best-in-class alternative is free, though some content optimization tools come with free trial offers that don't require credit card details.

Here are the seven best Clearscope alternatives we have found, along with their best features and pricing plans.

Seven Best Clearscope Alternatives For Optimizing Content And Boosting Rankings

1. Topic

Creating comprehensive content briefs is a tedious process. Topic is the popular content optimization tool that streamlines keyword research and speeds up your writing by improving content outlines. It picks out associated keywords, headlines, and other relevant information to help curate highly targeted content fit for your audience's needs.

Topic also comes with a built-in headline builder and many other optimization features, using data from the top 30 search engine results to make suggestions. Pricing depends on the number of content briefs you need per month: standard pricing starts at $50 per month for 5 briefs and can go up to $300 for 50 outlines.

2. Dashword

In terms of features, Dashword is more or less the same as Clearscope. This tool is primarily a content editor that comes with several keyword research features. There is a report tab that allows you to analyze competitor content. Dashword is available at a flat price of $99 per month, covering unlimited reports. You can also grab a free plan if your requirements are limited: it generates 5 reports per month.

Dashword lands with a user-friendly, uncluttered interface and allows you to target keywords based on geographical locations. It is an ideal solution for businesses just starting out with their content optimization plans.

3. GrowthBar

If you're looking for an all-in-one content optimization and SEO tool, GrowthBar can be your safest bid. It is ideal for marketers and content strategists who want to save time creating detailed content outlines. GrowthBar helps you create content faster and generate a content brief by entering high-performing keywords. You can create a blog content outline within minutes, which isn't possible with Clearscope for everyday content needs. You can use GrowthBar free for 5 days, and standard monthly plans start from $29 per month.

4. MarketMuse

MarketMuse is a perfect alternative to Clearscope: the difference is better features and more reasonable pricing. If you're serious about creating competitive content, this tool is for you. While MarketMuse won't tell you much about grade score and tone, it is the best choice if your goal is adding keywords to your content. You can access a detailed keyword table plus a section highlighting suggested usage for each keyword, and your goal is to raise the content score shown at the top, since improving it helps your content rank better.

The pro version is available at $499 per month. Because MarketMuse comes with a hefty price tag, it is usually preferred by large, established enterprises.

5. SEMrush

SEMrush is one of the most popular and widely used SEO tools. The platform is robust, but it isn't for you if you're not already familiar with basic SEO principles. SEMrush comes with a huge keyword database and plenty of user-friendly features for your marketing and content optimization journey. The platform has also introduced a powerful optimization feature called SEMrush Content Assistant, with a WordPress plugin and Google Docs editor for seamless integration, plus real-time analysis and keyword research as part of a standard subscription. Content Assistant is not available individually: you have to buy a complete package starting from $120 per month.

6. SimilarContent

There is no such thing as "publish and pray" when it comes to content creation and optimization. SimilarContent is one of the best Clearscope alternatives, enabling content writers and marketers to improve boosting rankings. With the SimilarContent tool, you can analyze and optimize your content using a live editor. SimilarContent comes with a myriad of features, including a readability checker, headline analyzer, and keyword recommendations. Pricing packages start from $9.90 per month, which includes 10 daily difficulty reviews and 2 projects, plus all the competitive insights and keyword lists you need to optimize your content.

7. Content Harmony

Content Harmony is another useful, feature-rich content optimization tool that helps marketers create comprehensive content outlines. It generates detailed reports you can share with your team and provides a list of recommended keywords to use throughout your content. "Authoritative Sources" is another excellent feature that automatically extracts referenced sources when writing about any specific subject. The standard package costs $99 per month, including 12 content outlines, 50 reports, and unlimited projects.

Bonus Tools

ArticleInsights

It takes a great deal of effort to create fully SEO-optimized content, but the entire process becomes a breeze with the ArticleInsights tool. ArticleInsights provides up to 25 keyword recommendations for each content piece. The advanced keyword tool will help you outperform your competitors and get your content ranked higher on search results. If you're a small business with a tight budget, the free plan comes with 5 searches per month and a confined analysis history. Paid plans are reasonable too: a Starter plan costs $12 per month, while the premium package starts at $24 per month.

Frase

Frase is another Clearscope alternative that sorts through search results to identify the most relevant content for your niche. You can write directly in the Frase editor, just like Google Docs, and the tool displays smart insights while you type. There are three pricing plans: a basic plan at $44.99 per month, a Growth plan at $99.99 per month, and the premium Answer Engine plan at $199.99 per month.

ClickFlow

ClickFlow comes with the same editor as Clearscope. This tool is perfect for targeting the technical aspects of ecommerce SEO. Our favorite ClickFlow feature is A/B testing, which allows you to test a single content piece for conversions. The Starter package is available at $109 per month, and you can request a customized pricing plan if your site has more than 10k traffic volume per month. Your content-tool checklist:

  • Match the tool to your workflow: briefs, editor, or full SEO suite
  • Compare keyword depth against dedicated platforms like SEMrush
  • Check integrations: WordPress, Google Docs, and your store
  • Start with free trials before committing to monthly plans
  • Track content grades and rankings to prove ROI

Debutify builds conversion-focused Shopify themes used by hundreds of brands, because great marketing deserves a storefront built to convert.

Ricky Hayes

Author

Ricky Hayes

Ricky Hayes is the CEO at Debutify. He is a passionate entrepreneur running multiple businesses, marketing agencies, and mentoring programs.