Updated February 2026 · User acquisition / SEO/AEO/GEO
SEO Mode is a solid user acquisition tool, but that price tag hits different when you're bootstrapping. We dug through 12 alternatives that deliver real results without the enterprise invoice. Some are free. Some are dirt cheap. All of them are worth your time.
| Tool | Starting Price | Free Tier | Best For | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SEO Mode(original) | $225/month | Startups | Niche | View | |
| $29/month |
| SMBs |
| Essential |
| Free | Enterprise | Best-value |
| $199/month | SMBs | Essential |
| $49/month | Startups | Best-value |
| $49/month | Startups | Best-value |
| Free | Startups | Niche |
| $134/month | Startups | Best-value |
| $35/month | Startups | Best-value |
| $59/month | Startups | Niche |
| $15/month | Startups | Best-value |
| $49/month | Startups | Best-value |
| $83/month | SMBs | Best-value |
Ahrefs is a comprehensive AI-powered marketing platform for optimizing search visibility and content performance.
AirOps enhances content strategy, creation, and performance for brands.
Semrush provides comprehensive digital marketing tools, enabling businesses to enhance their online presence and drive growth.
Apollo.io streamlines sales processes with AI-powered tools for lead generation, data enrichment, and automated outreach.
Beehiiv is a powerful newsletter platform that enables creators and businesses to effectively grow their audience through targeted email marketing and community engagement.
BetaList is a platform that showcases upcoming internet startups, giving users the opportunity to discover and gain early access to innovative new products.
Clay empowers GTM teams with AI-driven insights and automated workflows for seamless market engagement.
Extrovert helps you efficiently engage with prospects and customers on LinkedIn by suggesting tailored comments and direct messages based on your established strategies.
Extruct AI provides AI-driven company intelligence, enabling users to build niche lead lists and enhance CRM data with ease.
Ghost is a powerful publishing platform that seamlessly integrates email newsletters and paid subscription features for creators and businesses.
Hunter is a powerful tool designed to locate email addresses and facilitate cold email outreach to potential leads.
AI-driven social media management for marketing teams.
Best for, key strength, setup effort, and ideal customer profile — for every SEO Mode alternative we tested.
| Tool | Best for | Strength | Setup effort | Ideal ICP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI-powered content creation | Industry standard with the widest ecosystem | Low | SMBs and growing startups | |
| AI-powered content creation | AirOps enhances content strategy, creation, and performance for brands | Low | Enterprise teams needing compliance + support | |
| Small-to-medium teams | Industry standard with the widest ecosystem | Low | SMBs and growing startups | |
| Early-stage startups | Strong features at a fraction of enterprise pricing | Low | Bootstrapped founders + indie hackers | |
| Email campaigns + automation | Strong features at a fraction of enterprise pricing | Low | Bootstrapped founders + indie hackers | |
| Early-stage startups | Specialized tool that does one thing exceptionally well | Low | Solo founders, SMBs, and early teams | |
| Workflow automation | Strong features at a fraction of enterprise pricing | Low | Bootstrapped founders + indie hackers | |
| Early-stage startups | Strong features at a fraction of enterprise pricing | High | Bootstrapped founders + indie hackers |
Real screenshots — no stock photos, no marketing fluff. Here's what you're actually signing up for.
SEO Mode is a niche user acquisition tool built for startups, starting at $225/month. Automate directory submissions to boost SEO and domain authority effortlessly.
At that price point, you're paying for enterprise-grade features that many startups don't need yet. The user acquisition market has matured — there are 12 legitimate alternatives that deliver 80-90% of the value at a fraction of the cost.
Not all user acquisition tools are created equal. Before switching from SEO Mode, here's what to evaluate:
Based on our testing, here are the standout alternatives to SEO Mode in 2026:
Ahrefs ($29/month, free tier available) — Industry standard with the widest ecosystem. Industry standard with the widest ecosystem. Best for ai-powered content creation. See SEO Mode vs Ahrefs →
AirOps (Free, free tier available) — AirOps enhances content strategy, creation, and performance for brands. Our best-value pick — strong feature set at a price that won't kill your runway. Best for ai-powered content creation. See SEO Mode vs AirOps →
Semrush ($199/month) — Industry standard with the widest ecosystem. Industry standard with the widest ecosystem. Best for small-to-medium teams. See SEO Mode vs Semrush →
Apollo.io ($49/month, free tier available) — Strong features at a fraction of enterprise pricing. Our best-value pick — strong feature set at a price that won't kill your runway. Best for early-stage startups. See SEO Mode vs Apollo.io →
Beehiiv ($49/month, free tier available) — Strong features at a fraction of enterprise pricing. Our best-value pick — strong feature set at a price that won't kill your runway. Best for email campaigns + automation. See SEO Mode vs Beehiiv →
8 of the 12 alternatives to SEO Mode offer free tiers that are genuinely usable — not 14-day trials dressed up as "free plans." Here's who stands out:
Ahrefs — free tier with paid plans from $29/month. Industry standard with the widest ecosystem.
AirOps — free tier with paid plans from Free. AirOps enhances content strategy, creation, and performance for brands.
Apollo.io — free tier with paid plans from $49/month. Strong features at a fraction of enterprise pricing.
For pre-revenue startups and solo founders, these free alternatives let you build a working user acquisition setup without spending a cent. Upgrade when revenue justifies the cost — not before.
Switching user acquisition tools isn't free — there's migration time, learning curves, and potential data loss. Here's when a switch makes sense:
If you do switch, most user acquisition tools offer export features. Plan for 1-2 weeks of migration and a parallel run period where you use both tools simultaneously.
The user acquisition tool market in 2026 is competitive enough that no single tool has a monopoly on value. SEO Mode is a niche option for startups, but the 12 alternatives on this page prove there are strong options at every price point and for every use case.
If budget matters, AirOps and Apollo.io deliver excellent value. If you're not ready to pay, Ahrefs and AirOps offer genuinely usable free tiers. Check the comparison table above, test 2-3 tools, and pick the one that fits your workflow — not the one with the best marketing page.
The best free alternatives to SEO Mode include Ahrefs, AirOps, Apollo.io. These aren't limited trials — they offer genuinely usable free tiers that startups and small teams can run on long-term. Check the comparison table above for specific free tier limits.
AirOps starts at Free, making it one of the most affordable user acquisition tools available. For comparison, SEO Mode starts at $225/month. Both prices are based on monthly billing — we always check the real monthly price, not the discounted annual number.
SEO Mode is a niche tool in the user acquisition space, best suited for startups. At $225/month, it's an investment — make sure you'll actually use the features that justify the price over cheaper alternatives listed above.
Most user acquisition tools offer import features or migration guides. Start by exporting your data from SEO Mode, then check your chosen alternative's documentation for import instructions. Many tools on this list also offer free onboarding support to help you switch.
We track 12 vetted alternatives to SEO Mode in the user acquisition category. This isn't an exhaustive list of every tool that exists — we only include tools we've actually reviewed with verified pricing. We add new tools regularly as we discover and test them.
Still not sure? Explore more user acquisition tools or compare them head-to-head.