Frase vs Surfer SEO 2026: Content Optimization Tool Comparison

Frase and Surfer SEO are the two leading AI content optimization tools that help articles rank on Google. Both analyze top-ranking pages and provide optimization recommendations, but they approach the workflow differently. Frase emphasizes research and AI writing. Surfer SEO focuses on real-time content scoring and NLP-driven optimization.

Frase vs Surfer SEO: Quick Comparison

Feature	Frase	Surfer SEO
Best For	Research + writing workflow	Content optimization scoring
Starting Price	$15/month (Solo)	$99/month (Essential)
AI Writing	Built-in AI writer	Surfer AI (add-on)
Content Brief	Yes (automated from SERP)	Yes (with outline builder)
Content Score	Topic score (0-100)	Content score (0-100)
SERP Analysis	Top 20 results analyzed	Top 10-50 results analyzed
NLP Terms	Yes (important terms list)	Yes (advanced NLP analysis)
Keyword Research	Basic (included)	Keyword Surfer extension
Content Audit	Yes (with recommendations)	Yes (Audit tool)
WordPress Plugin	No	Yes
Google Docs Add-on	Yes	Yes

Content Optimization

Frase Content Optimization

Frase analyzes the top 20 search results for your target keyword and extracts key topics, questions, headings, and statistics. It presents this as a content brief that guides your writing. As you write, Frase scores your content based on topic coverage compared to top-ranking pages.

Frase’s optimization is topic-focused: it identifies which subjects and subtopics appear across top results and checks whether your content covers them adequately.

Surfer SEO Content Optimization

Surfer SEO’s Content Editor provides a real-time content score (0-100) based on NLP analysis of top-ranking pages. It identifies specific terms and phrases to include, suggests optimal word count, heading count, paragraph count, and image count based on what is currently ranking.

Surfer’s NLP analysis is more granular than Frase’s. It identifies semantically related terms that Google expects in high-ranking content and shows exact usage counts. The guidelines update in real-time as you write, showing your score change with each addition.

AI Writing Capabilities

Frase AI Writing

Frase includes a built-in AI writer at no additional cost. It generates content based on your brief, target keyword, and the SERP data it has analyzed. The AI writes directly in the optimization editor, so content is scored as it is generated. For teams that want research, writing, and optimization in one tool, Frase offers the most integrated workflow.

Surfer AI Writing

Surfer AI is an add-on that generates complete articles optimized for your target keyword. It produces articles that score 70-85 on the Content Score out of the box. Articles cost credits ($29 for a one-time pack of articles or included in higher plans). The output quality is solid for informational content but requires editing for brand voice and unique insights.

Research and Briefing

Frase Research

Frase’s research panel is its strongest feature. It displays all top-ranking content in a side panel, letting you browse competitor articles without opening multiple tabs. It extracts questions from People Also Ask, Reddit, Quora, and related searches. The automated content brief saves hours of manual research.

Surfer SEO Research

Surfer’s Outline Builder creates content briefs with suggested headings, unique angle recommendations, and competitor structure analysis. The SERP Analyzer tool provides deeper competitive analysis: word count distributions, heading patterns, and keyword density across top results.

Pricing Breakdown

Frase Pricing (2026)

• Solo: $15/month — 4 articles/month, AI writer, SERP analysis
• Basic: $45/month — 30 articles/month, team features
• Team: $115/month — unlimited articles, 3 users, analytics
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Surfer SEO Pricing (2026)

• Essential: $99/month — 30 articles/month, Content Editor, Audit
• Scale: $219/month — 100 articles/month, Surfer AI credits
• Scale AI: $329/month — 100 articles + AI generation credits
• Enterprise: Custom pricing — unlimited articles, API, white label

Frase is significantly cheaper at every tier. The Solo plan at $15/month is the most affordable entry point for any serious content optimization tool. Surfer’s Essential at $99/month costs 6.6x more but provides more articles per month and deeper NLP analysis.

Who Should Use Which?

Choose Frase If You:

• Want the most affordable content optimization tool
• Need research, writing, and optimization in one place
• Produce fewer than 30 articles per month
• Value detailed content briefs and competitor research
• Are a solo content creator or small team

Choose Surfer SEO If You:

• Prioritize NLP-driven optimization with precise term recommendations
• Produce high volumes of content (30+ articles/month)
• Want WordPress and Google Docs integration
• Need content auditing for existing pages
• Work with a content team that needs standardized scoring

Verdict

Frase offers the best value for solo creators and small teams who need an all-in-one research and optimization tool at an affordable price point. Its research capabilities are best-in-class.

Surfer SEO offers the best optimization for teams that prioritize data-driven content scoring and produce content at scale. Its NLP analysis is the most detailed available and produces consistently high-scoring content.

For budget-conscious teams, Frase at $15/month delivers 80% of Surfer’s optimization value at 15% of the cost. For teams where ranking is the top priority and budget allows, Surfer’s deeper analysis produces a measurable advantage.

See also: Surfer SEO alternatives and best AI writing tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do these tools guarantee Google rankings?

No tool guarantees rankings. Both increase the probability of ranking by ensuring your content covers topics and terms that Google associates with high-ranking pages. Content quality, backlinks, domain authority, and technical SEO also matter significantly.

Can I use both Frase and Surfer SEO?

Some content teams use Frase for research and briefing, then Surfer for final optimization scoring. This workflow is effective but expensive. For most teams, choosing one tool is sufficient.

Which produces better AI-written content?

Surfer AI generally produces better-optimized content out of the box (higher content scores). Frase’s AI writer produces more natural-sounding content. Both require human editing for quality publishing.

How do they compare to Clearscope?

Clearscope is another competitor at $170/month. It offers excellent content grading but fewer features than either Frase or Surfer. For most use cases, Frase (budget) or Surfer (premium) provides better value than Clearscope.