Build my stackSurfer SEO vs Frase
When comparing Surfer SEO and Frase, Surfer SEO comes out ahead with a 4.3/5 score for content teams and SEO writers who want real time on page scoring against top ranking competitors. Surfer SEO starts at $99/mo, while Frase starts at $45/mo. Choose Surfer SEO for content teams and SEO writers who want real time on page scoring against top ranking competitors, or Frase for content marketers and SEO teams that want AI-powered content briefs, optimization scoring, and SERP research in one workflow.
Surfer SEO and Frase both optimize content for search, but they take different paths. Surfer is the stronger real time scoring tool. Frase is the stronger research and AI writing tool. Surfer gives you a live SEO score while you write. Frase helps you research a topic and generate a first draft. Most content teams we spoke with use both for different parts of their workflow. If you can only pick one, choose based on your bottleneck: if you need to write faster, pick Frase. If you need to optimize drafts that already exist, pick Surfer.
Surfer SEO vs Frase at a glance
| Surfer SEO | Frase | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Marketing & SEO | Marketing & SEO |
| Our rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Starts at | $99/mo | $45/mo |
| Free tier | No | No |
| Best for | Content teams and SEO writers who want real time on page scoring against top ranking competitors | Content marketers and SEO teams that want AI-powered content briefs, optimization scoring, and SERP research in one workflow |
Side-by-Side Feature Matrix
| Feature | Surfer SEO | Frase | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Tier Access | Frase has free tier | ||
| Native Time Tracking | Built-in timer & logging capabilities | ||
| AI Assistant & Summary | AI text generation & automated summary support | ||
| Custom Views (Board/List/Gantt) | Multiple workspace view perspectives | ||
| Mobile Apps (iOS & Android) | Native mobile app support | ||
| CSV & Workspace Export | Full data portability and CSV exports | ||
| Role-Based Permissions | Granular access controls per member | ||
| Workflow Automations | Trigger-action automation rules | ||
| External Guest Sharing | Client and guest collaboration access | ||
| Enterprise SSO & SAML | Single Sign-On enterprise security |
Where Surfer SEO shines
- Real time scoring is genuinely useful, not a gimmick writers ignore
- Clear, actionable recommendations that improve actual ranking performance
- Works inside Google Docs, no context switching required
- SERP Analyzer data is fresh and pulls from live results
- Query limits on Essential plan are tight at 30 Content Editor queries per month
- Narrow scope, it only optimizes content, not a full SEO platform
Where Frase shines
- End-to-end workflow: research to brief to draft to optimization
- Fastest content brief creation in the category
- Real-time optimization score guides writing decisions
- Strong People Also Ask and forum question mining
- AI writing quality trails Jasper and Surfer AI
- Team plan at $115/mo for 3 users is steep
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So which should you pick?
Migrating from Frase to Surfer SEO?
Estimated setup & migration time: ~13 hours for a 10-person team.
💡 Migration Tip: Export all projects from Frase in CSV format before mapping custom fields into Surfer SEO. Test with a 3-person sub-team first.
Frase is the cheaper place to start
Frase is the cheaper entry point at $45/mo, versus $99/mo for Surfer SEO.
Surfer SEO plans at a glance
Essential
Solo content teams
- ~30 articles/mo
- Content Editor
- SERP Analyzer
Scale
Busy content teams
- ~100 articles/mo
- More seats
- White-label sharing
Enterprise
Large organisations
- Custom limits
- API access
- Dedicated support
Pricing is indicative and shown per month at the time of writing. Plans, limits, and prices change often, so check Surfer SEO’s site for the latest before you buy.
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Surfer SEO (Rated 4.3/5)