5 Free SEO Tools I Use to Boost Web Site Traffic in 2025
By
Tony Vlachakis
(Web Strategist)
Last updated:
As a content creator running a small web strategy and SEO agency, I’ve tested many SEO tools to get my site noticed without breaking the bank. Here are my top five free SEO tools for 2025 that can help move the needle for web page rankings and traffic. Incorporate these tools into your workflow to level up your marketing and technical SEO. I’ve included personal tips to help you get started.
1. Google Search Console
- Why it’s my go-to: Google Search Console is like having a direct line to Google’s brain. It tells me exactly how my site’s performing in search results, from which keywords are driving clicks to pages Google can’t crawl properly. I recently caught a 404 error page in Google Search Console mobile. It was an issue of my own doing because I wrongfully tagged the canonical URL on a content page about Semantic Markup, Accessibility, and SEO that was affecting its rankings. And I fixed it in about 5 minutes thanks to this tool.
- What it does: Tracks impressions, clicks, and keyword positions, plus flags technical issues like broken links or slow-loading pages. It’s also great for checking "Core Web Vitals" to ensure your site loads quickly for users.
- How I use it: After verifying my site (just a quick DNS tweak), I dive into the Performance report to spot rising keywords and optimize pages around them.
- Pro tip: Check the Coverage report weekly to catch indexing errors early. I found a sitemap glitch that was hiding a few of my pages from Google.
Note: Free with a Google account and site verification (DNS or other methods).
URL: https://search.google.com/search-console
2. Google Analytics 4
- Why it’s a lifesaver: GA4 is my window into how visitors actually use my site. It shows me where my traffic’s coming from and what’s keeping people engaged (or making them bounce). I learned my 'Internet Marketing' page was losing visitors, so I updated it by rearranging the content structure. GA4 is my website analytics lifesaver!
- What it does: Tracks user behavior, traffic sources, and conversions with detailed reports. It’s perfect for seeing which blog posts or landing pages are converting visitors into subscribers or buyers.
- How I use it: I’m setting up event tracking to monitor clicks on my affiliate links. This helps me realize what I need to optimize to provide rich content.
- Pro tip: Use the Realtime report to test new content. When I publish a new landing page, I share it on social and can watch how visitors interact within minutes. This method is like instant feedback for tweaking headings or CTAs.
Note: Free to use with a Google account; setup involves adding a tracking code to your site.
URL: https://analytics.google.com
3. Google Keyword Planner
- Why it’s a must-have: As someone who’s not a keyword expert, Google Keyword Planner makes it simple to find terms my audience is searching for. I can discover search terms that have high volume but low competition, which leads to ideas for posts I can write that rank well on Google’s first page.
- What it does: Pulls keyword suggestions, search volume, and competition data straight from Google. It’s built for ads but works like a charm for SEO content planning.
- How I use it: I plug in a broad term like ‘SEO Consulting’ and filter for long-tail keywords with decent volume (100-1,000 searches/month). Then, I create content clusters around them to target niche topics.
- Pro tip: Pair it with Google Trends to spot seasonal spikes. I found ‘SEO Consulting’ is trending for 2025 compared to the last five years. So, I updated an old SEO Guide I wrote over a decade ago titled 'An Introduction to Search Engine Optimization'. I'm also prepping additional SEO content for this year to capture traffic on this uptrend.
Note: Requires a Google Ads account, but no ad spend is needed for keyword research.
URL: https://ads.google.com/home/tools/keyword-planner/
4. Screaming Frog SEO Spider (Free Version)
- Why it’s my secret weapon: Screaming Frog feels like hiring an SEO detective for free. It crawled my site and found broken links on a couple of my landing pages that I didn’t even know were affecting my rankings. Fixing them should give my site a SEO boost.
- What it does: Crawls up to 500 URLs to spot technical issues like missing meta descriptions, duplicate content, or slow redirects. It’s a one-stop shop for keeping your site’s SEO health in check.
- How I use it: I run a crawl monthly to catch errors early. Last month, it flagged duplicate H1 tags on my category pages.
- Pro tip: Export the ‘Internal’ tab to CSV and sort by ‘Word Count’ to find thin content. I beefed up a 200-word product page to 500+ words.
Note: Download required.
URL: https://www.screamingfrog.co.uk/seo-spider/
5. (Bonus) Serpstat Free Tools
- Why it’s a hidden gem: Serpstat has free tools that are like a mini SEO suite. You can access basic features without an account, making it perfect for quick checks.
- What it does: Offers keyword difficulty, search volume, and basic competitor analysis for up to 10 queries daily. It also shows SERP features like featured snippets you can target. The free tools are great for quick keyword checks and competitor insights without needing a signup, though some advanced features may require a free trial or account.
- How I use it: I recently added Serpstat to my free SEO toolkit after testing its free page. It’s great for finding related keywords to sprinkle into my landing pages. For example, I found ‘SEO audit tools’ as a low-competition keyword to target.
- Pro tip: Use the ‘Top Pages’ feature to see what’s driving traffic to competitors’ sites and steal their best ideas for your content.
Note: Advanced features may require a free trial signup.
URL: https://serpstat.com/page/free-seo-tools/
Summary
The first four SEO tools have been my go-to in trying to grow my site’s traffic without spending a dime. They’re easy to use, don’t require signups, and deliver results if you put in the work. Try them out!