Frase is a content research and optimisation tool. It analyses search results, builds briefs, and helps writers shape content around what already ranks. For research and brief driven workflows it does a solid job. Whether it is the right tool for you depends on how much of the rest of the pipeline you want it to handle.

Why look for a Frase alternative

Frase concentrates on research, briefs, and optimisation. That focus is useful, but it leaves the writing, image creation, and publishing to other tools. Some teams want SEO scoring inside the same place they plan and draft. Others now need GEO, which is visibility in AI generated answers, on top of classic search. And the more separate tools you run, the more your costs and context switching grow. Frase remains a capable research tool. The alternatives are worth a look when you want a single tool to carry more of the work.

The best Frase alternatives

1. Austen

Austen is the strongest all-in-one alternative because it joins research with creation, optimisation, and publishing. It learns your brand from your URL, runs research, builds structured plans, and writes full articles that follow Google E-E-A-T guidance. It scores each piece for both SEO and GEO, so you tune for search and AI answers in one flow. It also creates on-brand images, repurposes a piece into social posts, email, video scripts, and over 30 languages, publishes to WordPress or a webhook, and tracks results through Search Console. Campaigns, teams, review links, and a calendar are included. If you only want research briefs to hand to writers elsewhere, a focused research tool may be a closer fit, but Austen closes the gap between research and a published article. Start free with 5 articles and no card. Paid plans are Author at $145/mo, Pro at $395/mo, and Team at $995/mo.

2. Surfer SEO

Surfer SEO is a well known on page optimisation tool that grades drafts against top ranking pages. It is a fair comparison for Frase, since both shape content around the SERP. Surfer leans into the grading and optimisation step. Check current pricing, as plans and limits change.

3. Clearscope

Clearscope is a focused optimisation tool valued for clean term reports and a simple grading flow. Teams that want a quality first, no clutter optimiser often choose it. It centres on optimisation rather than full creation or publishing, so it tends to sit alongside other tools. Review current pricing on their site.

4. MarketMuse

MarketMuse focuses on content strategy and topic planning, including clusters and topical authority, not just single page optimisation. It suits teams thinking at a portfolio level. Its depth may be more than a small team needs. Look at current pricing and tiers before committing.

5. A general AI assistant

A general assistant is a flexible option for outlining, drafting, and quick research summaries, usually at a low per seat cost. It works if you already own your SEO and publishing process. The trade off is no built in SERP analysis, brand memory, content scoring, or publishing, so you build the surrounding workflow yourself.

How to choose

Start with how much of the pipeline you want in one tool. If you only need research and briefs to hand off, a focused tool like Frase or a strict optimiser is reasonable. If you want research, writing, SEO, GEO, and publishing together, choose a platform that scores inside the writing flow so your work does not scatter across apps. Treat GEO as a real priority now, since more discovery happens through AI answers. Then run a real article through your whole process before deciding, because the work itself is the only honest test. Watch how much manual cleanup each draft needs, since time spent fixing output is a real cost that rarely shows up on a pricing page. And check whether the tool fits the way your team already works, because a tool nobody adopts is no help at all.

Common questions

Is Frase mainly a research tool?

It is strongest at research, briefs, and optimisation. It can support writing too, but teams that want full creation, scoring, and publishing in one place often look for a broader platform.

How does Austen compare to Frase?

Austen covers the full pipeline rather than just research. It handles brand learning, research, planning, long form writing, SEO and GEO scoring, images, repurposing, and publishing in one tool, which reduces the number of separate apps you maintain.

Can I try a Frase alternative for free?

Yes. Austen offers a free start with 5 articles and no card, so you can research, write, and optimise a real piece before paying.

Want research and writing in one place? Start free with Austen, write 5 articles with no card, and see how it works for you.