SEOptimer's free audit is a sales funnel. Ours is the actual product.
SEOptimer pulls you in with a free instant audit, then asks you to subscribe at $19–$59/month for white-label client reports. SEOGrade.ai's free audit is the same product paying customers use, and the paid tiers are one-time, not monthly.
The Honest Comparison
SEOGrade.ai vs. SEOptimer — feature by feature.
| Feature | SEOGrade.ai | SEOptimer |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free audit. $149–$997 one-time for paid reports. | Free trial. $19–$59/month for full reports + white-label. |
| Categories audited | 9 (including AI Citability, GEO, pSEO, Local) | 5 (SEO, Usability, Performance, Social, Security) |
| AI Citability + GEO | Yes — first-class category | Not covered |
| Fix instructions | CMS-specific, copy-paste code (Full Blueprint) | Generic recommendations |
| Real technical data | Real Core Web Vitals, schema validation, robots.txt parsing | On-page checks, mobile preview, basic Lighthouse |
| White-label / agency reports | Full Blueprint $349 — branded PDF, no monthly fee | $59/month (DIY plan) for white-label |
| Best for | Owners and consultants who want a clear diagnosis with the exact fix | Agencies that want a steady stream of branded client reports |
Choose SEOptimer if…
- You're an agency running 50+ client audits per month and need an unlimited monthly plan.
- You want lead-generation widgets to embed on your agency site.
- Monthly billing fits your accounting better than one-time charges.
Choose SEOGrade.ai if…
- You want the audit categories that actually matter in 2026 — AI Citability, GEO, and pSEO included.
- You'd rather pay $149 once than $228+/year forever.
- You want a CMS-specific fix you can copy-paste, not a generic 'add a meta description.'
- You're auditing your own site or a small batch of client sites — not 50 a month.
Same surface, different depth.
SEOptimer is a great agency-prospecting funnel. The free audit is fast, branded, and embeds nicely on a consultant's site. What it's not is a deep diagnosis — five categories, generic recommendations, and the actual fixes live behind a $19+/month paywall.
SEOGrade.ai inverts the model: the free audit runs all nine categories (including the AI-era ones SEOptimer doesn't touch), and the paid reports are one-time purchases that ship the exact CMS-specific fix for every finding. No monthly fee. No subscription you forget to cancel.
Pricing Comparison
| Feature | SEOptimer | SEOGrade.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Limited free audit | Full 9-category audit |
| Entry tier | $19/month ($228/year) | $149 one-time |
| Pro tier | $59/month ($708/year) | $349 one-time |
| Top tier | $179/month ($2,148/year) | $997 one-time |
| Categories audited | 5 | 9 |
| AI Citability covered | No | Yes |
| Subscription required | Yes (cancel anytime) | No (one-time) |
If you're an agency running constant client audits and want lead-generation widgets, SEOptimer's monthly model makes sense — you'll use it daily. If you're auditing your own site or running occasional client diagnostics, $149 once beats $228+/year forever.
Either way, SEOGrade adds the four 2026-specific categories (AI Citability, GEO, pSEO, Local SEO) that SEOptimer doesn't cover.
Related comparisons: Other audit tools: vs Woorank · vs Sitechecker · vs Neil Patel SEO Analyzer. Or run the free SEOGrade audit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SEOptimer free?
Does SEOptimer cover AI search?
Can I white-label SEOGrade reports for clients?
Which has better fix instructions?
What's the guarantee?
Grade your site against the 2026 surface — free.
9 categories. 60 seconds. No signup. Then decide if you want the fixes.