Free SEO Tools 2019: The Best Options for Improving Your Website
Free SEO Tools in 2019: A Practical Guide
Search engine optimisation does not have to start with an expensive software subscription. In 2019, website owners, bloggers and marketers could use a range of free tools to research keywords, check technical issues and understand how people found their websites. Many offered useful features at no cost, although some placed limits on usage or reserved advanced data for paid plans.
This guide looks back at some of the free SEO tools available in 2019 and explains how they could be used as part of a practical optimisation routine. Tool features and prices change over time, so availability today may differ.
Google tools for search performance
Google Search Console
Google Search Console was one of the most useful free tools for understanding how a website performed in Google Search. It provided information about search queries, impressions, clicks and average positions, as well as alerts about indexing and technical problems.
Website owners could use it to check whether important pages were indexed, submit sitemaps and identify mobile usability or security issues. Search Console data was particularly valuable because it came directly from Google, although it did not show every query or explain every ranking change.
Google Analytics
Google Analytics helped website owners understand what visitors did after arriving on a site. It could show where visits came from, which pages people viewed and how they interacted with the site. Used alongside Search Console, it offered a broader picture of organic search performance: Search Console showed how people discovered a site, while Analytics helped reveal what happened after they arrived.
Google Keyword Planner
Keyword Planner was designed primarily for Google Ads, but it was also used for SEO keyword research. It suggested related search terms and estimated search volumes. Access generally required a Google Ads account, and the level of detail available could depend on the account and advertising activity.
Rather than treating volume estimates as exact figures, marketers could use them to compare topics and discover variations of a keyword. Search intent and relevance still mattered more than the numbers alone.
Google Trends
Google Trends made it possible to compare the relative popularity of search terms over time and across locations. It was useful for spotting seasonal interest, comparing different ways of describing a topic and finding subjects that were gaining attention.
PageSpeed Insights
PageSpeed Insights analysed a page and offered suggestions for improving its loading performance. In 2019, page speed was already an important consideration for user experience, particularly on mobile devices. The tool’s recommendations could help identify issues such as oversized images or resources that delayed page rendering.
Other useful free tools
Bing Webmaster Tools
Bing Webmaster Tools provided search performance data and site diagnostics for Bing. It included features such as sitemap submission, keyword information and tools for investigating crawling issues. Although Google received more attention in many SEO campaigns, Bing’s tools offered useful additional insight and were free to use.
Screaming Frog SEO Spider
Screaming Frog’s desktop crawler could scan a website and report issues such as broken links, missing page titles, duplicate metadata and redirect chains. Its free version allowed users to crawl a limited number of URLs, making it a practical option for small websites or occasional audits.
MozBar
MozBar was a browser extension that displayed SEO information while browsing search results and websites. It could help users review page elements and compare basic link metrics. Its figures were useful as indicators, but no third-party metric should be treated as a direct measure of Google rankings.
Yoast SEO
For WordPress sites, the free version of Yoast SEO helped with tasks such as editing page titles and meta descriptions, creating XML sitemaps and reviewing basic on-page optimisation. Its readability and SEO checks were useful prompts, but they were not a substitute for writing helpful, natural content for readers.
AnswerThePublic
AnswerThePublic gathered questions and related phrases associated with a topic. In 2019, it could help content creators generate ideas based on the ways people searched for information. Free access had limits, but the tool was useful for brainstorming article topics and planning sections around common questions.
How to use free SEO tools effectively
Free tools work best when they support a clear process rather than generate data for its own sake. A straightforward routine might include:
- Use keyword research tools to identify relevant topics and search phrases.
- Check Search Console for queries, indexing problems and changes in organic performance.
- Review important pages with a crawler to find technical issues and broken links.
- Use Analytics to understand whether organic visitors engage with the website.
- Improve page speed, mobile usability and content based on evidence and user needs.
It is also important to understand each tool’s limitations. Search volume estimates vary, analytics data may be incomplete, and third-party authority scores are not Google ranking factors. Comparing information from several sources can provide a more balanced view.
Are free SEO tools still useful?
Free SEO tools available in 2019 helped many website owners carry out keyword research, monitor search performance and resolve common technical problems without a large budget. They could not guarantee higher rankings, but they made it easier to identify opportunities and make informed improvements.
Some tools mentioned in this article have since changed their features, names, pricing or availability. Before relying on a particular product, check its current terms and documentation. The core approach remains the same: understand what your audience is looking for, make your site easy to access and navigate, and create useful content that answers real questions.
Top 7 Free SEO Tools of 2019: Enhance Your Website’s Performance
- Use Google Search Console to spot indexing issues and search queries.
- Check Google Analytics for organic traffic trends.
- Use Google Keyword Planner for keyword ideas and estimated search volumes.
- Explore Google Trends to compare seasonal search interest.
- Try Screaming Frog’s free version to crawl up to 500 URLs.
- Use MozBar to review basic page and link metrics.
- Treat free-tool data as estimates and compare results across tools.
Use Google Search Console to spot indexing issues and search queries.
Use Google Search Console to check whether your important pages are indexed and identify any crawling or indexing problems that could prevent them appearing in Google Search. Its performance reports also show the queries people used to find your site, along with impressions and clicks. Review this information regularly to discover relevant search terms, improve pages that receive impressions but few clicks, and investigate sudden changes in visibility.
Check Google Analytics for organic traffic trends.
Check Google Analytics for organic traffic trends to see how visitors arriving from search engines interact with your website. Compare traffic over time, note which pages attract the most organic visits, and look for sudden rises or drops that may warrant further investigation. In 2019, Analytics was a useful free way to spot patterns and assess whether your SEO efforts were bringing in visitors, though it was best used alongside Google Search Console for information about search queries and impressions.
Use Google Keyword Planner for keyword ideas and estimated search volumes.
In 2019, Google Keyword Planner was a useful free resource for discovering keyword ideas and comparing estimated search volumes. Although designed for Google Ads, it could help SEO beginners find related search terms and understand the level of interest in different topics. Treat its figures as estimates rather than exact predictions, and choose keywords that are relevant to your content and match what people are looking for.
Explore Google Trends to compare seasonal search interest.
Use Google Trends to compare how interest in a search term changes over time and spot seasonal patterns. This can help you plan content before demand rises, choose the most relevant time to publish, and compare related search phrases. Remember that Trends shows relative interest rather than exact search volumes, so use it alongside other keyword research tools.
Try Screaming Frog’s free version to crawl up to 500 URLs.
Try Screaming Frog’s free SEO Spider to crawl up to 500 URLs on a website and spot common technical issues. It can help you find broken links, missing page titles and meta descriptions, duplicate content and redirect problems. This makes it a handy option for small sites or a quick SEO check, though larger websites may need a paid licence for a full crawl.
Use MozBar to review basic page and link metrics.
In 2019, MozBar offered a quick way to review basic page and link metrics while browsing websites or search results. This browser extension could help you compare pages and get a general sense of their link profiles, making it handy for early-stage research and competitor checks. Treat its metrics as useful indicators rather than definitive measures of quality or Google rankings, and combine them with your own assessment of the page’s content and relevance.
Treat free-tool data as estimates and compare results across tools.
Treat data from free SEO tools as an estimate rather than an exact measure. Search volumes, rankings and backlink figures can vary because each tool uses different data sources and methods. Compare results across several tools, look for consistent patterns and use your judgement before deciding what to change.