Texas businesses don’t have to spend big to compete online. With the right free SEO tools—and a smart plan—you can earn higher rankings, more local traffic, and better leads. As a Texas-based web development and digital marketing company, ProdigyCode helps SMBs across Austin, Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, and everywhere in between use free and low-cost SEO software to win the local search game.
Below, you’ll find our curated list of the best free SEO tools, how to combine them, and when it makes sense to bring in a local agency partner. We’ve tailored the advice for Texas search trends, competitive markets, and industry realities.
What Free SEO Can and Can’t Do
Free SEO tools can handle 80% of what most Texas small and mid-sized businesses need to build momentum: keyword research, on-page optimization, technical SEO basics, link and content analysis, and rank tracking snapshots. What they often lack is scale (e.g., unlimited reports), advanced competitive intelligence, and automation.
Best Free SEO Tools (by Job-to-Be-Done)
1) Set Up and Measure Performance
- Google Search Console (GSC) — Essential. See queries, impressions, average position, index coverage, and core web vitals. Great for “how to do keyword research for free” directly from your own data.
- Google Analytics 4 (GA4) — Track traffic sources, engagement, and conversions. Connect to GSC for SEO visibility.
- Bing Webmaster Tools — Extra coverage for Microsoft Search and Edge users in Texas. Useful for technical diagnostics.
2) Keyword Research (Find Opportunities and Search Intent)
- Google Keyword Planner — Free with a Google Ads account. Discover volumes, alternative keywords, and niche ideas. Works well for “keyword niche finder” tasks.
- Google Trends — Compare demand seasonality in Texas regions and cities (e.g., Austin vs. Houston). Find “how to keyword search” spikes.
- Search Console → Performance — A built-in free keyword research tool for your site: harvest queries, filter by pages, and spot quick wins.
- Ahrefs Free Keyword Generator — Good for “best keyword tracker” ideas, long-tails, and questions.
- AnswerThePublic (limited free) — Find questions and “automatic keywords” from autosuggest queries.
- Keyword Surfer (Chrome Extension) — Volumes and related terms right on Google SERPs.
When volume and intent look good, validate competitiveness with a dedicated keyword difficulty tool.
3) Competitive Research (Find Competitors’ Keywords Free)
- Ahrefs Free Webmaster Tools — Backlink and technical insights for your verified site; use Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker to see some competitor links.
- Moz Link Explorer (free tier) — Check domain authority signals and sample backlinks.
- Google SERPs + “site:” operator — Practical, fast way to identify a competitor’s ranking pages and topics.
4) On-Page SEO and Content Optimization
- SEO Minion (Chrome Extension) — Quick on-page audits, H1/H2 checks, and highlighting internal links.
- Detailed SEO Extension — Fast look at titles, meta descriptions, canonical tags, headings, and schema.
- SERP Snippet Preview (various free tools) — Craft compelling titles and meta descriptions before publishing.
5) Technical SEO and Site Performance
- PageSpeed Insights — Measure Core Web Vitals; prioritize site speed optimization.
- Lighthouse (via Chrome DevTools) — Performance, accessibility, and SEO audits.
- Screaming Frog SEO Spider (Free up to 500 URLs) — Crawl your site for broken links, duplicate content, and redirects.
- Rich Results Test — Validate schema markup (structured data) for enhanced search results.
- Robots.txt & URL Inspection (GSC) — Diagnose crawl and indexing issues.
6) Local SEO Essentials
- Google Business Profile (GBP) — Manage listings, categories, posts, and reviews. Critical for Texas “near me” searches.
- Bing Places — Capture Microsoft ecosystem users and voice assistants.
- Whitespark Review Link Generator (free tool) — Simplify asking customers for reviews on GBP.
7) Rank Tracking and Reporting
- Google Search Console — Use the Queries report for trendlines of your target terms.
- Search Analytics for Sheets (GSC add-on) — Pull query data automatically for free SEO report tool workflows.
- WhatsMySerp / SERP Robot (free checkers) — Spot-check rankings for “best SEO tool for keyword ranking reports” needs.
8) Backlinks and Site Explorer
- Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker — A practical free site explorer for sampling backlinks.
- OpenLinkProfiler — Another free look at link data to inform outreach and competitive gaps.
Benefits for Texas SMBs
- Local visibility: Reach buyers in Houston, DFW, Austin, and beyond with targeted local SEO.
- Faster wins: Free tools reveal quick on-page fixes, internal linking opportunities, and content gaps.
- Better user experience: Use Core Web Vitals and accessibility checks to improve conversions.
- Smarter content strategy: Keyword research tools uncover customer questions and intent across Texas metros.
- Cost control: Start free, then add paid tools only where ROI is clear (e.g., deeper backlink analysis).
Step-by-Step Free SEO Process
- Baseline: Verify GSC and GA4. Connect your sitemap.xml; fix glaring index or mobile issues.
- Keyword mapping: Use GSC queries + Keyword Planner to assign a primary keyword and alternative keywords to each page.
- On-page tune-up: Improve title tags, meta descriptions, H1/H2s, internal linking, and media alt text. Prioritize user experience and conversion optimization.
- Content creation: Publish helpful, localized pages and blog articles that answer “People Also Ask” queries. Add schema markup where relevant.
- Local SEO: Optimize Google Business Profile categories, services, Q&A, and posts. Encourage and respond to reviews.
- Technical fixes: Run PageSpeed Insights/Lighthouse. Address cumulative layout shift, image compression, caching, and mobile-first indexing issues.
- Monitor: Track performance via GSC, GA4, and a free keyword tracker. Iterate monthly.
Texas mini-examples
- Dallas home services: A contractor used GSC to identify “emergency” queries and created a 24/7 service page. Impressions and calls rose as local rankings improved.
- Austin wellness clinic: Implemented GBP updates, fresh posts, and reviews. Combined with on-page content around Austin neighborhoods, the clinic expanded its map pack visibility.
How ProdigyCode Helps (Web + SEO)
Free tools are powerful, but results improve faster when your website and SEO strategy work together. ProdigyCode offers:
- WordPress development with responsive design, WCAG-oriented accessibility, and performance-first builds.
- Technical SEO audits: crawl diagnostics, Core Web Vitals, structured data, sitemaps, robots.txt, and internal linking.
- Local SEO: Google Business Profile optimization, citation management, and localized content planning.
- Content strategy: SEO keyword research, blog strategy, landing pages, and conversion-focused copy.
- Analytics: GA4 + GSC dashboards, goal tracking, heatmaps, and reporting.
We build to U.S. standards such as Google Search Essentials, WCAG 2.2 accessibility guidelines, and FTC advertising guidance.
Pricing Factors to Plan For
- Website size and complexity: Custom features, integrations, and eCommerce add scope.
- Content requirements: Research-heavy niches or multi-location content takes more effort.
- Technical depth: Migrations, complex schemas, and speed enhancements add time.
- Local competitiveness: Dense markets (e.g., Dallas legal, Houston medical) may need more link and content investment.
- Reporting needs: Custom dashboards and analytics pipelines can affect cost.
We’ll propose a phased plan: start with free SEO tools, ship the high-ROI fixes, and scale as results prove out. Ready to talk? Contact ProdigyCode.
Need results on a tight budget? See practical plays for the best cheap SEO in Texas.
Custom Website vs Template Website (Comparison)
| Aspect | Custom Website | Template Website |
|---|---|---|
| Performance & Core Web Vitals | Optimized build, lean assets, better scores | Often heavier; needs extra optimization |
| SEO Architecture | Tailored URL structure, internal linking, schema | Generic; limited control over technical details |
| Brand & UX | Custom user experience aligned to conversions | Pre-set layouts; limited differentiation |
| Scalability | Engineered for features and growth | May require a rebuild as needs grow |
| Time & Cost | Higher upfront; better long-term ROI | Lower upfront; possible trade-offs later |
Actionable SEO Checklist (Free Tools Edition)
- Install and verify GSC + GA4. Submit your sitemap.
- Use PageSpeed Insights and Lighthouse; fix largest issues first (images, caching, CLS).
- Create a keyword map per page using GSC queries + Keyword Planner. Add alternative keywords naturally.
- Update titles, meta descriptions, H1/H2s, and internal links (SEO Minion helps).
- Publish a localized service page and a FAQ post targeting “People also ask” questions.
- Optimize your Google Business Profile: categories, services, photos, posts, Q&A; request reviews.
- Validate schema markup with Rich Results Test.
- Check backlinks via Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker; note outreach opportunities.
- Track rankings via GSC + a free tracker (WhatsMySerp). Log results in Google Sheets.
- Review monthly; address technical SEO, content gaps, and conversion paths.
FAQ
What are the best free SEO tools for small businesses in Texas?
Start with Google Search Console and GA4 for measurement, Google Keyword Planner and Google Trends for SEO keyword research, Ahrefs Free Keyword Generator for ideas, PageSpeed Insights and Lighthouse for technical SEO audits, SEO Minion or Detailed SEO Extension for on-page checks, Google Business Profile for local SEO, and a free rank checker like WhatsMySerp for snapshots.
How do I find competitors’ keywords for free?
Combine SERP reviews with tools: use the “site:competitor.com” search to list indexed pages, check top pages and headings with a free SEO analysis tool (browser extensions), and sample backlinks/keywords via Ahrefs Free tools or Moz Link Explorer. In Google Search, review People Also Ask and related searches to expand the competitive keyword set.
How can I track keyword rankings for free?
Use Google Search Console’s Queries and Pages reports for trends and average positions. For spot checks, use a free SERP checker like WhatsMySerp or SERP Robot. For lightweight reports, connect GSC to Google Sheets with the Search Analytics for Sheets add-on and create a simple SEO keyword analysis report.
How do I check the SEO keywords on my own website?
Use Google Search Console to see the queries each page appears for. On-page, run a browser SEO extension (e.g., Detailed SEO, SEO Minion) to audit titles, headings, and internal anchors. If you want to “get keywords from website” or “view keywords of a website,” combine GSC data with your page’s H1/H2s and internal links to see how you’re signaling relevance. Avoid relying on the old “meta keywords” tag—it’s deprecated.
When should I move from free SEO tools to paid software or an agency?
Upgrade when you need scale (larger sites), deeper competitive research, or consistent content production—and when the opportunity cost of DIY grows. If you’re in a competitive Texas niche (legal, medical, multi-location home services), a structured strategy and technical expertise from an agency like ProdigyCode can accelerate results.