Best Free SEO Content Grader Tools (Ranked for 2026)

If you publish blog posts, landing pages, or product pages, you’ve probably wondered:

“Is this page actually good enough to rank, or am I guessing?”

We reviewed 7 popular content graders used by bloggers, marketers, and teams. Here are the best options for 2026, ranked by actionable fixes, speed, and what you can actually do for free (most tools hide the useful parts behind trials).

Get an A–F SEO grade in minutes

Want the fastest path from draft to fixes?

Paste your content, add a target keyword, and get an A–F grade with clear next edits.

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Quick verdict

If you want a free SEO content grader that gives specific edits you can apply immediately, start with WordCount AI.

If you publish inside WordPress and want a simple checklist, Yoast or Rank Math can help.

If clarity is your only concern, Hemingway is still a solid free tool.

Quick Comparison

Tool Best For Free Tier Key Feature SEO Depth
WordCount AI Fast A–F grades + fixes ✅ Generous Clarity + on-page in one scan ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Yoast SEO WordPress basics ✅ Yes In-editor checklist ⭐⭐⭐
Rank Math WordPress alternative ✅ Yes Structured on-page checks ⭐⭐⭐
Hemingway Readability only ✅ Yes Sentence clarity ⭐⭐
Grammarly Grammar + tone ⭐ Limited Writing polish ⭐⭐
Surfer/Clearscope Agency teams ❌ Trial only SERP analysis ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

👉 Grade your first page in 60 seconds (no signup) →

What a good SEO content grader should check

A useful grader should do more than output a number. At minimum, it should help you evaluate:

  1. Readability and clarity
    Sentence length, scannability, and how easy the page is to read.

  2. Structure
    Clear H1 and H2s, logical section flow, and usable formatting.

  3. Keyword usage
    Basic placement, overuse signals, and topical relevance.

  4. Topic coverage
    Whether important subtopics are missing compared to search intent.

  5. On-page signals
    Titles, headings, intent match, and internal linking cues.

A score without guidance is noise. A short list of edits you can apply in one pass is the real value.

How we ranked these tools

We evaluated each tool using five criteria:

  1. Free usefulness – can you do real work without paying?
  2. Actionability – does it tell you what to change next?
  3. Clarity checks – readability, long sentences, flow
  4. SEO checks – keywords, structure, coverage
  5. Speed and workflow – how quickly you get to a better page

The 7 best free SEO content grader tools

1) WordCount AI (Best overall for fast, actionable fixes)

WordCount AI is built for people who want to improve content quickly without learning a complex SEO platform.

  • A–F grading with clear fix priorities
  • Readability and clarity signals, including long sentence detection
  • Keyword usage and topical coverage guidance
  • Clean workflow designed around editing, not dashboards

Try it here: WordCount AI SEO Analysis

2) Yoast SEO (Best simple option inside WordPress)

Yoast is widely used because it sits directly in the WordPress editor.

Best for: WordPress publishers who want basic structure and checklist feedback.

Limits: simplified grading and limited insight into topic coverage.

3) Rank Math (Strong WordPress alternative)

Rank Math offers a similar in-editor experience with a more detailed checklist feel.

Best for: WordPress users who want structured reminders while publishing.

Limits: focuses on basics rather than deeper content improvement.

Ready to see how your content grades?
👉 Run a free A–F analysis on WordCount AI (paste your page, get fixes in 30 seconds)

4) Semrush SEO Writing Assistant (Best if you already use Semrush)

Useful if you already rely on Semrush for keyword research and tracking.

Best for: teams already working inside the Semrush ecosystem.

Limits: less useful as a standalone free grader.

5) Hemingway App (Best free readability checker)

Hemingway is not an SEO tool, but it’s excellent for tightening copy.

Best for: writers who want simpler sentences and cleaner flow.

Limits: no keyword or on-page SEO checks.

6) Grammarly (Best grammar and clarity layer)

Grammarly works well as a first pass before SEO grading.

Best for: cleaning grammar and tone before optimization.

Related: Grammarly vs WordCount AI

Ready to see how your content grades?
👉 Run a free A–F analysis on WordCount AI (paste your page, get fixes in 30 seconds)

7) Surfer SEO and Clearscope (Best for SERP-heavy workflows)

Both tools are powerful but rarely free beyond limited access.

Best for: agencies and teams writing at scale with dedicated SEO budgets.

If you want faster, simpler fixes, WordCount AI’s free analysis is usually the better starting point.

How to check your content quality with WordCount AI

  1. Open the SEO Analysis page.
  2. Paste your draft.
  3. Add your target keyword.
  4. Run the analysis.
  5. Fix the top issues first, then re-run once to confirm improvement.

You can upgrade later if you need exports or saved history. The free plan is enough to validate quality.

Start Grading Your Content Now

Most "free" SEO graders give you a vague score, then push you into a trial before you can fix anything.

WordCount AI is different:

  • Paste any URL or draft text
  • Get an A–F grade in under 60 seconds
  • See exactly what to fix (headings, clarity, keyword gaps)
  • No credit card, no trial limits on core features

👉 Grade your first page for free

Want to see how it compares to enterprise tools? Read WordCount AI vs Clearscope & Surfer SEO