SEO Resources with Honest Verdicts
Every tool, guide, and community I've encountered in 20 years of SEO. Not affiliate reviews. Real opinions on what works, what's overrated, and what to skip.
My Actual Stack
The tools I use daily. Not sponsored, not affiliate links. Just what works.
Best backlink database, solid keyword research. The one tool I'd keep if I could only have one.
The industry standard crawler. Ugly interface, unmatched functionality. Free up to 500 URLs.
Free and essential. The only source of truth for how Google sees your site. Non-negotiable.
Free heatmaps and session recordings. Better than paying for Hotjar. Surprisingly good.
Worth it for content teams. Overkill for solo operators. Best-in-class but expensive.
Best for content strategy, analysis, and writing assistance. More nuanced than ChatGPT for SEO.
Browse by Category
26 categories: keyword research, site audit, rank tracking, backlinks, and more.
Blogs, YouTube channels, courses, newsletters, and guides.
DevTools, validators, Core Web Vitals, performance testing.
Documentation, testing tools, APIs, Search Console.
Reddit, Slack, paid communities for SEO professionals.
GA4, Clarity, heatmaps, privacy-focused alternatives.
AI assistants, content tools, and content detectors.
Hreflang generators, translation, regional search engines.
Merchant Center, product feeds, shopping optimization.
Botify, BrightEdge, Conductor for large sites.
DataForSEO, SerpApi, build custom SEO tools.
Full directory of SEO tools across 26 categories.
Why This Exists
Most SEO tool lists are affiliate plays. "Best SEO Tools 2025" articles that recommend whatever pays the highest commission. Every tool is "great" and "highly recommended."
This is different. I've been doing SEO for 20 years. I've used most of these tools. I have opinions. Some tools are essential. Some are overrated. Some are outright wastes of money.
Every resource here gets an honest verdict. USE IT means I actually recommend it. SITUATIONAL means it depends on your needs. SKIP IT means save your money.
No affiliate links. No sponsored placements. Just 20 years of opinions distilled into one resource library.