A good SEO plugin won't magically get you to the first page. A good SEO plugin gives you the technical tools to get there without slowing down your site.
1. The winner: SEOPress 🌟
For years I used Yoast, then RankMath. Now I use SEOPress on all new projects.
- Cleanliness: No intrusive ads in the WordPress dashboard.
- Price: The PRO version has an unbeatable "unlimited sites" price for agencies.
- Features: Handles everything you need (Title, Meta, Sitemap, Redirect) without useless bloat.
2. Valid alternatives
The SEO Framework
For performance purists. It is the absolute lightest plugin. Minimal interface, zero branding, just does its job. Great for developers.
Slim SEO
Zero configuration. If the client shouldn't touch anything and you want an automatic setup that follows best practices without superfluous options.
Yoast SEO / AIOSEO
The classics. They aren't "wrong", but often bring a lot of weight (code + advertising banners in the admin). AIOSEO has interesting features like IndexNow and video sitemaps in the paid version.
3. Specific plugins for advanced features
Schema & Structured Data for WP & AMP
If you need to handle complex Rich Snippets (Reviews, Events, Recipes, Courses) that go beyond the basic functions of generalist SEO plugins, this is the gold standard.
SimpleTOC
To generate the "Table of Contents" in articles. Works natively with Gutenberg, zero heavy CSS/JS. Essential for long-form article SEO.
Verdict
My advice for 2026? Install SEOPress. It is the perfect balance between power and lightness. If you are an agency, the unlimited license pays for itself with the first client.