5 reasons why you shouldn't buy the best SEO tools right now

But they also tend to be expensive. For example, Ahrefs can easily cost $399 dollars a month, MOZ $179 and Semrush $199.

Don't get me wrong, I'm also a fan of the best SEO tools on the market, but in certain cases it's better not to make that investment right now.

And in this article, I give you 5 of those particular cases.

1. You don't have enough SEO knowledge yet

If you've just been doing SEO for a month, at this point you know too little to fully utilize the potential of the best SEO tools like Moz, Semrush, Ahrefs and SEO Powersuite.

Right now, there is simply too much free information that you can take in first. Go through all the SEO blogs first, watch YouTube videos, take training courses and most importantly:

Get started. Optimize your website, write copy and pick up link building.

2. You don't have enough time for it at the moment

Entrepreneurs are busy. Often so busy that, for example, writing one blog a month or one Facebook post a week already falls by the wayside.

If this is the case, there is no point in purchasing an SEO tool. After all, buying and setting up an SEO tool does nothing for your organic findability.

Getting started with the improvements, taking opportunities and capitalizing on all the features does do something for your findability. If you have less than 1 or 2 hours per month to work with the tool, I would not purchase it.

3. Your website / SEO is not up to it yet

You just created or had your own website created and you haven't thought about SEO yet. Then this moment is too early to purchase an advanced SEO program.

You must first make the necessary SEO meters. For example, start working on keywords and improve your website in all areas of search engine optimization.

Once you're a few months along, your SEO is at a higher level and you're serious about going for it, I recommend purchasing a tool.

4. The best SEO tools are expensive! There are cheaper alternatives

Here's my favorite reason why you don't have to buy the best SEO tools! If you're serious about SEO, you can't ignore a MOZ, Semrush or Ahrefs.

But if you're in the middle of the process of buying your first tool, you don't have to buy the Mercedes among SEO tools right away. You can also go for a Volkswagen or a Peugeot first.

There are many of these Volkswagens and Peugeots on the market, but if I could recommend one it would be Mangools.

In addition, don't forget that there are a huge number of free programs on the market, which together may be able to tackle your challenge or problem as well.

5. You outsource most of your SEO. And your SEO agency already has the tools

You enjoy keeping track of your website and its positions in search results, but you already work with an SEO specialist or online marketing agency?

Then ask yourself carefully who is going to pick up all the changes and whether tools are already being used. If your SEO specialist is already using Semrush and picking up all the improvements himself, then it is unnecessary for you to do the same.

Then suggest receiving weekly reports from Semrush so you can still follow along.

The chances that you are going to get access will be slim, since most agencies often have all of their clients' websites in the same account.

Tip: Purchase an SEO tool together and share the cost

SEO tools are not so keen on it, but of course you can share a license together with someone. That way you can easily reduce the cost by 50%.

Make sure you are logged in at the same time. This differs per program and per plan.

Is it the case that you can't be logged in at the same time? Then agree that one can only work with it in the morning and the other in the afternoon.

Also read:

• SEO Powersuite Review: Experiences with the all-in-one tool
• 10 tools that are better than the Google Keyword Planner [Free & paid]
• KWFinder Review: Officially my favorite keyword tool!

This article was written on August 13, 2019 and updated on April 21, 2023.