Rank Math SEO vs Yoast SEO (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org SEO Plugins top 10: Rank Math SEO at #2 and Yoast SEO at #1. Yoast SEO leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Rank Math SEO
Rank Math SEO – AI SEO Tools to Dominate SEO Rankings
Grow your organic traffic and AI visibility with powerful SEO tools, XML sitemaps, Schema automation, and built-in AI SEO, all in one place.
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 5 measures we track.
Yoast SEO ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #2 in SEO Plugins.
Yoast SEO has more users: 10 million+ active installs against 4 million+.
Both are rated 4.8 out of 5 (7,498 and 27,819 reviews).
Yoast SEO has more reviews behind its score: 27,819 against 7,498.
Yoast SEO was updated more recently, on September 1, 2026; Rank Math SEO on August 31, 2026.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Rank Math SEO
Rank Math SEO does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
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 shipping releases most recently.
Rank Math SEO vs Yoast SEO side by side
| Rank Math SEO | Yoast SEO | |
|---|---|---|
| SEO Plugins ranking | #2 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 7,498 | 27,819 |
| Active installs | 4 million+ | 10 million+ |
| Total downloads | 195,088,787 | 996,319,208 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 31, 2026 | Sep 1, 2026 |
| First published | Nov 19, 2018 | Oct 11, 2010 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free + paid version |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Rank Math SEO 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 Rank Math SEO nor Yoast SEO can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the SEO Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Rank Math SEO vs Yoast SEO: common questions
Is Rank Math SEO better than Yoast SEO?
Yoast SEO leads on 4 of the 5 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 #2 in SEO Plugins.
Which has more users, Rank Math SEO or Yoast SEO?
Yoast SEO ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #2 in SEO Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Rank Math SEO or Yoast SEO?
Yoast SEO has more users: 10 million+ active installs against 4 million+.
Are Rank Math SEO and Yoast SEO free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Rank Math SEO 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 Rank Math SEO and Yoast SEO
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