The local SEO tool market ranges from low-cost reporting dashboards to enterprise platforms. Here's an overview of the options for small businesses. Features and prices change often, so check each vendor's current plans.
What to Look for in a Local SEO Tool
Useful local SEO tools for small businesses generally do some mix of three things:
- Show you where you stand — rankings, scores, competitor comparison
- Tell you what to fix — specific, prioritized action items
- Handle part of the work — publishing, posting or listing management, depending on the vendor
The Main Tools Compared
BrightLocal (plans have generally started from around $39/month)
Best for: Agencies managing multiple clients, businesses that want detailed reporting
BrightLocal is one of the most established local SEO platforms, known for rank tracking, citation and listing tools, review tools and reporting, and today it also offers automation features. It is popular with agencies.
Yext (published plans have generally started from around $199/year)
Best for: Enterprise brands, franchise networks, multi-location businesses
Yext syncs your business data to a large publisher network and also offers review, page and search tools. It is generally aimed at larger and multi-location businesses; check current plans and terms.
Semrush Local (an add-on to Semrush plans)
Best for: Businesses already using Semrush for broader SEO
Semrush is a broad SEO suite with a local toolkit that includes listing management. It is a good fit for people who already use Semrush for keyword research and rank tracking.
GravyBlock ($39.99 per month)
Best for: Owner-operated local businesses that want the work decided and done for them automatically
GravyBlock is a lower-cost option that automatically decides and does a defined set of work: articles and service pages written from your own website's information and published to your connected WordPress, Webflow or Shopify site, Google Business Profile posts, automatic replies to Google reviews (Yelp and TripAdvisor reviews are monitored and flagged, since their APIs don't allow automatic replies), automatic review requests to your real customers, personalized local outreach, and citation consistency checks with drift alerts. It does not build or fix listings on hundreds of directories.
Which Tool Should You Choose?
| If you want... | Use... |
|---|---|
| Detailed reporting and you have someone to act on it | BrightLocal |
| Listing sync across a large publisher network | Yext |
| Keyword research alongside local SEO | Semrush |
| A lower-cost option that automatically decides and does content, Google posts and review replies | GravyBlock |
Bottom line: If you have an in-house marketing person or work with an agency, BrightLocal gives you the best reporting. If you're a small business owner who wants a lower-cost option that decides and does that work automatically, GravyBlock may fit. Results are not guaranteed.
Start your free GravyBlock scan and see your visibility score in 60 seconds →