The SEO Framework vs Yoast SEO (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org SEO Plugins top 10: The SEO Framework at #6 and Yoast SEO at #1. Yoast SEO leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
The SEO Framework
The SEO Framework – Fast, Automated, Effortless.
The fastest feature-complete SEO plugin for professional WordPress websites. Secure, fast, unbranded, and automated SEO. Do less; get better results.
Yoast SEO
Yoast SEO – Advanced SEO with real-time guidance and built-in AI
Real-time SEO guidance, schema, and AI built in. Help search engines and AI systems understand your content. All AI tools included, no hidden fees.
Who leads on what
Yoast SEO leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track.
Yoast SEO ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #6 in SEO Plugins.
Yoast SEO has more users: 10 million+ active installs against 200,000+.
The SEO Framework is rated higher: 4.9 out of 5 from 380 reviews, against 4.8 from 27,820 reviews.
Yoast SEO has more reviews behind its score: 27,820 against 380.
The SEO Framework was updated more recently, on October 14, 2026; Yoast SEO on October 13, 2026.
Yoast SEO was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 11,172,379 times against 119,088.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
The SEO Framework
Pick The SEO Framework if the review score matters most to you or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Yoast SEO
Pick Yoast SEO if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one being installed faster right now.
The SEO Framework vs Yoast SEO side by side
| The SEO Framework | Yoast SEO | |
|---|---|---|
| SEO Plugins ranking | #6 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.9 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 380 | 27,820 |
| Active installs | 200,000+ | 10 million+ |
| Total downloads | 4,888,181 | 1,013,216,912 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 119,088 | 11,172,379 |
| Last updated | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 |
| First published | May 29, 2015 | Oct 11, 2010 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4.0 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free + paid version |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
The SEO Framework ratings
Yoast SEO ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither The SEO Framework nor Yoast SEO can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the SEO Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
The SEO Framework vs Yoast SEO: common questions
Is The SEO Framework better than Yoast SEO?
Yoast SEO leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Yoast SEO ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #6 in SEO Plugins.
Which has more users, The SEO Framework or Yoast SEO?
Yoast SEO ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #6 in SEO Plugins.
Which is rated higher, The SEO Framework or Yoast SEO?
Yoast SEO has more users: 10 million+ active installs against 200,000+.
Are The SEO Framework and Yoast SEO free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. The SEO Framework may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Yoast SEO is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist.
Alternatives to The SEO Framework and Yoast SEO
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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