As they say, content is the king. The need for writing high-quality and optimized content is more than ever in 2021.
But content optimization these days is very different from what it used to be a few years back. It's no more about stuffing keywords in your posts to increase visibility.
Sure, keywords are critical. But it is not the only factor that can get your content ranked better on SERPs. Search engines have also changed their algorithm over time, and they care more about the quality of content 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 the space of AI-driven technology in recent years has been massive.
SEO specialists with software development skills are constantly trying to improve the content optimization process. And they're doing it by trying to minimize human involvement and depending more on robotics and AI to achieve their goals.
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 their 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.
This tool is ideal for both beginners and seasoned sellers as it is easy to use.
Pros
There are many reasons why you should include a tool like Clearscope in your content optimization strategy.
Clearscope comes with a content grade system that allows you to evaluate how well your content performs for your given keywords.
It also allows you to repurpose your old posts using a feature-rich editor. Integration with WordPress is also a breeze. All you need to do is install an easy-to-use plugin, and you're good to go.
Clearscope is also an ideal content optimization solution for you if you're a team. Last but not least, you can also generate SEO report templates using this tool to assess how your other team members are benefiting from it.
Cons
The biggest downside of using Clearscope is that the keyword suggestions you get from it are limited.
Especially if you compare it with other dedicated SEO platforms like SEMrush and Ahrefs, you'll come to know that you only get basic keyword data with Clearscope.
There is no feature that you can use to build your backlink strategy either. Sure, the tool provides you with all the necessary information. But you won't get actual support from software to turn your ideas into a living reality.
There is no option to conduct a website SEO audit, and the feedback you get for web pages doesn't come close to what you get with other popular SEO platforms.
How Does It Work?
What sets Clearscope apart from other AI content optimization tools is it is very easy to use. Anyone with basic computer knowledge can start using this software without any assistance.
The process begins with basic keyword research. Enter the topic you want to write about to conduct keyword research. At this point, Clearscope will provide you with basic keyword stats, including search volume, CPC, etc.
Choose a topic that comes with high search volume and low competition. Type in relevant Terms and Questions to determine what you should include in your content to help it rank better on search results.
It's time to write your first draft. You'll see keyword suggestions on the right along with some other essential metrics, such as word count, readability, and more.
Now, 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 to this tool?
The answer to this question is pretty simple - it's expensive. Also, if you think you can depend on this tool for all your content optimization needs, then that's also not the case for sure.
The software cannot create content briefs for your writers.
So, you'd need someone to create content outlines and share them with your writers.
Are There Any FREE Clearscope Alternatives?
Fortunately, there are much cheaper Clearscope alternatives available in the market that drive better results without costing you a fortune.
But it is crucial for you to understand that there is no FREE alternative to Clearscope available to date. You get what you pay for, right?
So, the bottom line is there is no best Clearscope alternative that you can buy for free. Some content optimization tools, however, come with a free trial offer that allows you to use an app without providing your 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 the usual keyword research process and speeds up your writing by improving content outlines.
The tool 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 content optimization features, making this software a perfect alternative to Clearscope. To make suggestions, this tool uses data from the top 30 search engine results.
As far as pricing is concerned, it depends on the number of content briefs you need per month. The standard pricing starts at $50/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 the competitor's content. Dashword is available at the flat price of $99/mo. This price covers unlimited reports.
You can also grab a free plan if your requirements are limited. With a free plan, you can generate 5 reports per month.
Dashword lands with a user-friendly and uncluttered interface. It also allows you to target keywords based on geographical locations.
This tool is an ideal solution for businesses that are just starting out with their content optimization plans.
3. GrowthBar
If you're looking for an all-in-one content optimization and SEO tool, then GrowthBar can be your safest bid.
This tool is ideal for marketers and content strategists who want to save their precious time creating detailed content outlines.
GrowthBar allows you to create content faster and with perfection. This tool also allows you to generate a content brief by entering high-performing keywords.
With GrowthBar, you can create a content outline for your blogs within minutes, which isn't possible if you use Clearscope for your everyday content needs.
You can use GrowthBar for free for 5-days. Their standard monthly plan starts from $29/mo.
4. MarketMuse
MarketMuse is a perfect alternative to Clearscope. The only difference is it comes with better features and reasonable pricing. If you're serious about creating competitive content, this tool is for you.
While MarketMuse won't tell much about grade score and tone, it is the best choice if your goal is to add keywords to your content.
With MarketMuse, you can access a detailed table of keywords along with a section highlighting the suggested usage of each keyword.
Your goal is to increase your content score that you can see on the top, as improving it will help your content rank better on SERPs.
The pro version is available at $499/month. Because MarketMuse comes with a hefty price tag, it is usually preferred by large and established enterprises.
5. SEMrush
SEMrush is one of the most popular and widely used SEO tools. This platform is robust, but it is not for you if you're not already familiar with basic SEO principles.
SEMrush comes with a huge database of keywords and plenty of user-friendly features that you might need throughout your marketing and content optimization journey.
The platform has also introduced a powerful content optimization feature called SEMrush Content Assistant. There's a WordPress plugin and Google Docs editor that allows for seamless integration.
Also, you can benefit from real-time analysis and keyword research features that come as part and parcel of a standard subscription.
SEMrush Content Assistant is not available for individual buying, meaning you have to buy a complete package starting from $120/mo.
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 that enables 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, keyword recommendations, and more.
The pricing packages start from $9.90/mo. The package includes 10 daily difficulty reviews and 2 projects. SimilarContent provides you with all the competitive insights and a list of keywords to improve and optimize your content.
7. Content Harmony
Content Harmony is another useful and feature-rich content optimization tool that helps marketers create comprehensive content outlines.
This tool generates detailed reports that marketers can share with their teams to improve and optimize content.
It also provides you with a list of recommended keywords to use throughout your content for perfect optimization.
'Authoritative Sources' is another excellent feature that automatically extracts referenced sources when writing about any specific subject.
The standard package costs $99/mo. This price includes 12 content outlines, 50 reports, and unlimited projects.
Bonus Tools
ArticleInsights
It takes a great deal of effort to create 100% SEO-optimized content. But the entire content optimization process will become a breeze when you do it 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, you can have their free plan that comes with 5 searches per month and a confined analysis history. Their paid plans are also very reasonable. A Starter plan costs $12/mo, while the premium/advanced package starts at $24/mo.
Frase
Frase is another Clearscope alternative that sorts through search results to identify the most relevant content for your niche.
You can write your content directly to the Frase editor, just like Google Docs. The tool also displays smart insights while you're typing your content.
There are three pricing plans available. A basic Plan comes with a price tag of $44.99/mo. A Growth Plan is priced at $99.99/mo, while the premium Answer Engine Plan will cost you $199.99/mo.
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 your single content piece for conversions.
The Starter Package is available at $109/mo. You can also request a customized pricing plan if your site has more than 10k traffic volume per month.
