shouldiuse.io

VERDICT

Should I use Yoast?

Yoast helps you with your website's search engine optimization, with our internationally loved software and our online SEO courses. - yoast.com

Worth it. WordPress site owners should install the free plugin — it's the default for a reason, with 10M+ installs. Think twice before paying for Premium; reviewers are split at $99–129/year.

Confidence

Medium. Based on ~40 public sources: G2/Trustpilot/Reddit reviews, CVE databases, and official Yoast pages.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support qualityNo support evidence found
  • Security posture

Pricing

$0

Free

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes
Premium$99–$129/yr

Best for

  • WordPress blogs and content sites
  • SEO beginners wanting guidance
  • WooCommerce and Shopify stores
  • Non-technical site owners

Not for

  • Non-WordPress, non-Shopify platforms
  • Teams needing rank tracking or backlink audits — pair with a suite
  • Performance-obsessed developers; bloat complaints exist
  • Buyers assuming Premium is required — free covers basics

Gotchas - check before you buy

medium

Premium listed at $99/yr and $129/yr on different sites — verify current price

medium

Extras like Local SEO are separate paid add-ons

medium

Huge install base means any new CVE becomes a mass-patching scramble

low

Free version nudges upgrades; users report confusing upsell prompts

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Free plugin covers core on-page SEO; 10M+ installs
  • Praised as user-friendly by G2 reviewers
  • Long-term fans: 'Still my go-to after years of use'
  • Official Shopify app merchants call a must-have
  • Runs a security program; patches reached 13M sites fast

Cons

  • Premium titled 'Not Worth $99/Year' by prominent reviewer
  • Some reviewers say it's overrated
  • Developers report the plugin is bloated
  • Rivals like Rank Math seen as offering more
  • History of XSS vulnerabilities across versions

Sources & method

Analyzed 9/20/2026 - 12 sources - Recurring CVEs (mostly XSS) from 2016–2026, all patched; vendor runs a security program.

official x3review x7security x1news x1
  • CVE-2026-3427 — stored XSS, Stored cross-site scripting in the Yoast SEO WordPress plugin, listed March 2026.
  • CVE-2024-4041 — reflected XSS, Reflected XSS flaw in the plugin, tracked in SentinelOne's database.
  • CVE-2025-14481 — 10M+ installs affected, Vulnerability hit the plugin's massive install base; community flagged patching urgency.
  • CVE-2026-10821 — Premium plugin, Paid Premium plugin vulnerability; security alert issued September 2026.

Key stats

  • Value for money: 3/5

    Rating

  • $0

    Starting price

  • 12

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 3/5. Free tier strong; Premium value disputed
  • Ease of use: 5/5. G2 reviewers praise user-friendliness
  • Feature depth: 4/5. Deep on-page SEO; Rank Math reportedly more
  • Support quality. No support evidence found
  • Security posture: 2/5. Repeated XSS CVEs, though patches ship fast
  • 10M+ Active installs Free WordPress plugin
  • $99–$129/yr Premium price Varies by source and year
  • 204 G2 reviews "Yoast delivers an excellent..."
  • Yes Free tier Full free plugin on WordPress.org

Pricing

Free

$0

  • Real-time SEO guidance
  • Schema and XML sitemaps

Premium

$99–$129/yr

  • Internal linking suggestions
  • Redirects manager
  • Built-in AI assistance

Security

Recurring CVEs (mostly XSS) from 2016–2026, all patched; vendor runs a security program.

  • CVE-2026-3427 — stored XSSStored cross-site scripting in the Yoast SEO WordPress plugin, listed March 2026.10
  • CVE-2024-4041 — reflected XSSReflected XSS flaw in the plugin, tracked in SentinelOne's database.
  • CVE-2025-14481 — 10M+ installs affectedVulnerability hit the plugin's massive install base; community flagged patching urgency.
  • CVE-2026-10821 — Premium pluginPaid Premium plugin vulnerability; security alert issued September 2026.

Alternatives

Compare Yoast with each alternative.

  • Rank Math

    Freemium rival reviewers say offers more features

  • All in One SEO

    Longtime competitor with strong review ratings

  • SEOPress

    Cheaper, lighter WordPress SEO option

    Yoast vs SEOPress

  • The SEO Framework

    Lightweight pick for performance-focused sites

Companies that use it

  • Small Business Trends
Full analysis

Based on ~40 public sources: G2/Trustpilot/Reddit reviews, CVE databases, and official Yoast pages.

Free Yoast is the WordPress SEO default and worth it; Premium at $99–129/yr is contested — pay only for redirects.

Methodology

Based on ~40 public sources: G2/Trustpilot/Reddit reviews, CVE databases, and official Yoast pages.

Sources

  1. Yoast SEO – Advanced SEO with real-time guidance and built-in AIwordpress.org
    official
  2. How much does Yoast SEO cost?yoast.com
    official
  3. Yoast SEO pricing: Free vs $129/yr Premium (2026)thatmarketingbuddy.com
    review
  4. An Honest Review Of Yoast SEO Premium (Not Worth $99/Year)onlinemediamasters.com
    review
  5. Is Yoast SEO Premium worth paying for? [2026]productiveblogging.com
    review
  6. Yoast Reviews — G2g2.com
    review
  7. Yoast SEO customer reviews — Trustpilottrustpilot.com
    review
  8. Is Yoast SEO Premium worth it? — r/Wordpressreddit.com
    review
  9. Rank Math vs. Yoast SEO — Zapierzapier.com
    review
  10. CVE-2026-3427: Yoast SEO WordPress Plugin XSSsentinelone.com
    security
  11. Yoast SEO vulnerability patched across 13M siteslinkedin.com
    news
  12. Yoast security programyoast.com
    official

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