When you are looking for optimizing WordPress websites for search engines, the Yoast SEO plugin is often the first tool that comes to mind. With over 5 million active installations, it is often the go-to solution for on-page SEO for more than a decade. But is Yoast still worth it in 2025, especially with alternatives like Rank Math and All in One SEO gaining ground?
This comprehensive review explores the key features, pros, cons, and overall price of the yoast seo features, letting you decide whether it's the right choice to your website.
What Is Yoast SEO?
Yoast SEO can be a WordPress plugin made to help users optimize their content and website structure for better internet search engine visibility. Launched really by Joost de Valk, Yoast SEO has become one of the very trusted and traditionally used SEO tools inside WordPress ecosystem.
It offers both a no cost version plus a premium version, with added features like internal linking suggestions, redirect management, and advanced content insights.
Key Features of Yoast SEO
✅ Real-Time Content Analysis
Yoast evaluates your posts for:
Keyword usage
Readability
Meta titles and descriptions
Header structure and paragraph length
Use of images and internal links
You obtain a traffic light system (green = good, orange = okay, red = needs work) which makes optimizing pages simple and visual.
✅ XML Sitemap Generation
Yoast automatically creates a sitemap that search engines like yahoo can use to crawl your website more efficiently. No need for additional plugins.
✅ Meta Titles and Descriptions Control
Edit and customize titles and descriptions for each and every page and post. It also includes snippet previews to determine how your posts will look inside the SERPs.
✅ Canonical URLs
Helps prevent duplicate content issues with the help of canonical tags for your pages automatically.
✅ Schema.org Markup
Yoast adds structured data to your pages, enhancing the chances of enhanced search features like rich snippets.
✅ Breadcrumbs Navigation
Enhance UX and SEO by enabling breadcrumb navigation on your site, this appears in Google search engine results.
✅ Premium Features (Paid Version)
Redirect manager
Internal linking suggestions
Orphaned content detection
Multiple focus keywords
Social previews for Facebook and Twitter
24/7 support
Pros of Yoast SEO
✅ Beginner-friendly interface with visual indicators
✅ Detailed content and SEO suggestions
✅ Constant updates and active development
✅ Trusted brand with extensive documentation
✅ Free version is powerful enough for many users
✅ Excellent for on-page SEO optimization
Cons of Yoast SEO
❌ Can feel bloated for minimalist setups
❌ Premium version is pretty expensive (~$99/year/site)
❌ Limited keyword tracking in comparison with newer plugins
❌ May slow down performance on large sites or even configured well
❌ Some features require technical knowledge to use properly
Pricing (2025)
Free Version: Available on WordPress.org with essential SEO features
Yoast SEO Premium: $99/year per site
Add-ons designed for:
News SEO
Local SEO
Video SEO
WooCommerce SEO
Who Should Use Yoast SEO?
Yoast is ideal for:
Bloggers and content creators which optimize posts for organic search
Small businesses who need simple, actionable SEO guidance
WordPress users looking for a proven and reliable SEO plugin
Agencies and freelancers managing client sites with clear SEO structures
Yoast remains to be the most trusted, but Rank Math offers more in its free version and is gaining popularity due to the lightweight design and modern features.
Yoast SEO remains to be one of the best WordPress SEO plugins in 2025, specifically for beginners and web owners who want a straightforward way to grow their on-page SEO. Its powerful free version, reliable team, and deep documentation turn it into a safe and smart choice.