R 
Rank Math
A WordPress SEO plugin with schema, redirects and an AI assistant.
KINDA
why this verdict
Downgrade — pay for the workflow, not the AI
Yoast SEO and SEOPress cover the headline feature free, so the $5/mo is now paying for the workflow around it.
- A named launch, not a vibe named, unlinked
- AI Overviews cut the organic clicks on-page SEO was optimising for. Google, May 20, 2025 — no announcement link recorded yet.
- How much of the job it covers headline only editorial call
- The headline feature, but not the workflow, data or integrations around it.
- Is there a free way to do it? yes
- 2 of 2 listed replacements have a usable free tier: Yoast SEO and SEOPress.
- What the call is worth $60/yr
- $5/mo at the entry paid tier — $60 a year per seat.
Reason composed from the fields above missing: announcement linked recorded: free replacement listed recorded: two or more escape hatches
- Threatened by
- Since
- May 20, 2025
- List price
- $5/mo
- Per year
- $60
The backstory
Rank Math does the on-page mechanics well and cheaply. The problem is upstream: when the answer appears above the results, a perfect meta description matters less than it used to. The plugin is fine — the traffic model it serves is the thing under pressure.
Escape hatches
switching could free up $60/yr Y 
Yoast SEO The older incumbent, free tier.
yoast.com open_in_new S 
SEOPress Cheaper alternative.
seopress.org open_in_new2 of 2 replacements have a usable free tier.