Frase Review: Why This AI Content Tool Falls Short of Its SEO Promises

I’ll be honest – I really wanted Frase to work. After spending way too much on other SEO tools that promised the moon, I figured this one might finally be different. Three months and $240 later, here’s what I actually discovered.

So I’ve been playing around with Frase for the past few months, and man, what a rollercoaster that’s been. While the research side is genuinely solid, the content generation side? Let’s just say I’ve spent more time fixing AI mistakes than I would’ve spent writing original content from scratch.

Here’s my completely honest breakdown of whether this tool deserves a spot in your content toolkit (spoiler alert: probably not).

Table of Contents

• TL;DR: Key Takeaways

• Criteria Evaluation Table

• What is Frase?

• Alternatives to Frase

• FAQ

• Final Thoughts

TL;DR: Key Takeaways

• Frase’s content generation sounds natural at first glance but requires so much editing you might as well write from scratch

• The research tools are actually solid – competitor analysis and content briefs save real time

• You’re looking at $80/month realistically for full functionality (the basic plan is basically useless)

• My manual content consistently outranked the AI-generated stuff by a wide margin

• Super easy to learn, but doesn’t play nice with other tools in your workflow

• Best for research and ideation – treat the content generation like a rough first draft at best

This comprehensive Frase evaluation reveals the gap between what they promise and what you actually get, helping you decide if Frase is worth your hard-earned cash.

Criteria Evaluation Table

Criteria	Rating	Notes
Content Quality & Accuracy	3/5	Sounds human-ish but logic gaps and unfinished thoughts everywhere
SEO Optimization Capabilities	3.5/5	Solid SERP analysis, but keyword suggestions can get weird and irrelevant
Research & Analysis Features	4/5	This is where it shines – saves hours of manual competitor research
Ease of Use & Learning Curve	4/5	Actually intuitive – no PhD required to figure it out
Pricing & Value	2/5	Ouch – premium pricing for a tool that still makes you do most of the work
Integration & Workflow	3/5	Works fine alone but doesn’t play well with other tools
Performance & Results	2.5/5	My manually written content consistently outperformed the AI stuff

What is Frase?

What Frase is Best Known For

So here’s the deal with Frase – it’s basically that friend who’s really good at research but terrible at actually writing the paper. The whole platform is built around this idea of analyzing what’s already ranking on Google and then helping you create content that supposedly competes.

I’ve got to give them credit where it’s due – the research side is actually pretty slick. Instead of me sitting there for hours clicking through the top 20 results for “best CRM software” or whatever, Frase does all that grunt work and spits out a nice little summary. It’s like having an intern who never gets tired of reading competitor articles.

But here’s where my experience got weird. The tool kept promising it would help me write better content, not just research it. And honestly? That’s where everything went sideways.

The content generation feels like it was trained on every generic blog post from 2019. You know those articles that say absolutely nothing in 2,000 words? Yeah, that’s what Frase loves to create. I’d feed it a perfectly good outline about email marketing best practices, and it would give me back something that sounded like it was written by someone who’d never actually sent an email in their life.

Features

Alright, let’s break down what you actually get for your money. The research tools are genuinely helpful – I’m not just saying that to be nice. When I’m stuck trying to figure out what angle to take on a topic, Frase pulls all those “People Also Ask” questions from Google and shows me what everyone else is covering. It’s like having a crystal ball for content gaps.

The optimization stuff is where things get interesting. There’s this scoring system that basically tells you how your content stacks up against the competition. It’ll say things like “Hey, you should probably mention ‘automation’ 12 more times” or “Your competitors are all talking about integrations, maybe you should too.” Sometimes it’s spot-on, other times it feels like keyword stuffing advice from 2012.

Now, the content generation… deep breath… this is where I started questioning my life choices. The AI can write in 8 languages, which sounds impressive until you realize it’s producing mediocre content in 8 different ways. I tested it in Spanish (my second language), and let me tell you, it was even more obvious that the AI had no clue what it was actually saying.

Pros

The Interface Actually Makes Sense

I’ll give Frase this – I didn’t need to watch a bunch of YouTube tutorials to figure out how to use it. Everything’s pretty much where you’d expect it to be. My VA picked it up in about 10 minutes, which is saying something because she usually needs a manual for everything.

The Competitor Research is Legit

This is honestly where Frase shines. I was working on a piece about project management tools, and instead of spending my entire afternoon clicking through Asana vs. Monday.com articles, Frase gave me a breakdown of what everyone was covering. Found some angles I never would have thought of.

Content Briefs Save Real Time

When I’m planning content for clients, these briefs are actually clutch. Instead of me sitting there with 15 browser tabs open, trying to figure out what to include, Frase hands me a roadmap. Not perfect, but way better than starting from zero.

Good for Breaking Writer’s Block

You know those days when you’re staring at a blank document and your brain feels like mush? Frase’s topic suggestions actually help kick-start the creative process. It’s like having someone throw ideas at the wall until something sticks.

Cons

The Pricing Makes Me Want to Cry

Okay, let’s talk about this because it genuinely bothers me. $45 a month for 10,000 AI characters? That’s maybe 1,500 words if you’re lucky. I write longer emails than that. And if you want unlimited AI writing (which, spoiler alert, you do), tack on another $35. So now we’re at $80/month for a tool that still makes me rewrite everything anyway.

The AI Writing is… Rough

I’m trying to be diplomatic here, but the content quality is just not there. I had one article where the AI literally wrote “This is important because it helps with things that are important.” I wish I was making that up. And don’t get me started on the half-finished sentences and random tangents.

Picture this: I’m working on an article about email marketing, and Frase spits out a paragraph that literally ends mid-sentence. Not even kidding – it just stops at “This approach helps businesses achieve…” and that’s it. Radio silence.

My Manual Content Always Wins

Here’s the kicker – I ran a little experiment. I published some Frase-generated content (heavily edited, obviously) alongside articles I wrote myself. Three months later? My manually written stuff was consistently ranking higher and getting more traffic. Kind of defeats the whole purpose, doesn’t it?

Doesn’t Play Nice with Other Tools

I use a whole ecosystem of SEO and content tools, and Frase just doesn’t integrate well with any of them. It’s like that person at a party who only talks about themselves and doesn’t really listen to anyone else.

My Real Experience with Each Area

Content Quality: Honestly, It’s Frustrating (3/5)

The content sounds human-ish at first glance, but spend five minutes with it and you’ll spot the problems. It’s like AI-generated content that’s trying really hard to pass the Turing test but keeps failing in weird ways. I found myself rewriting entire sections because the logic just didn’t flow.

In my typical workflow, I’d spend about 2 hours writing a 1,500-word article from scratch. With Frase, I was spending 3+ hours – 30 minutes on the brief (which was actually pretty solid), and then 2.5+ hours fixing what the AI barfed out.

SEO Features: Pretty Solid, Actually (3.5/5)

The SERP analysis is genuinely helpful, and the keyword suggestions usually make sense. Sometimes it gets a little keyword-happy and suggests stuff that’s obviously irrelevant, but overall, this part works. I actually got excited when I saw the competitor analysis feature. Finally! Something that would save me from manually checking 20+ top-ranking articles. And you know what? This part actually delivered.

Research Tools: This is Where It Shines (4/5)

Honestly, if Frase just focused on being a research tool, I’d probably recommend it. The competitor analysis saves me hours, and the content briefs are actually useful. This is the feature that keeps me from completely writing off the platform.

Learning Curve: Super Easy (4/5)

My biggest complaint about most SEO tools is that they require a PhD to figure out. Frase is refreshingly simple. You can literally start using it effectively within your first hour.

Value for Money: Ouch (2/5)

This is where Frase loses me completely. The pricing feels disconnected from reality, especially when you factor in how much editing you still need to do. I’ve paid less for tools that delivered way more value.

Workflow Integration: Meh (3/5)

It works fine on its own, but trying to incorporate it into my existing workflow was like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Doable, but annoying.

Actual Results: This is the Big One (2.5/5)

At the end of the day, this is what matters, right? And unfortunately, this is where Frase falls short. The content just doesn’t perform as well as stuff I write myself, which kind of makes the whole thing pointless.

What Other People Are Actually Saying

I spent way too much time reading reviews and forum posts about Frase, and honestly, most people seem to have the same experience I did. The research features get love, but the content generation gets roasted pretty consistently.

On Reddit, there’s this ongoing thread where people keep asking if Frase is worth it, and the responses are always the same: “Great for research, terrible for actual writing.” One person summed it up perfectly: “It’s like hiring a really good researcher who can’t write to save their life.”

The ProductHunt reviews tell a similar story. Lots of 3-star ratings from people who appreciate the research but get frustrated with everything else. One verified buyer wrote, “I wanted to love this tool, but I spend more time fixing the AI’s mistakes than I would just writing the content myself.”

Over on G2, the pattern continues. Marketing agencies seem to like it for the research capabilities, but content creators are less enthusiastic. A freelance writer left a review saying, “The briefs are solid gold, but the actual writing is fool’s gold – looks promising from a distance but worthless up close.”

What really caught my attention were the Trustpilot reviews complaining about customer service and billing issues. Several people mentioned having trouble canceling subscriptions, which is always a red flag for me. If a company makes it hard to leave, that tells you something about their confidence in their product.

The Money Talk

Let’s get real about what this actually costs. The $14.99 “Solo” plan is basically useless – 4 articles per month? Come on. That’s like offering someone a gym membership but only letting them use the treadmill on Tuesdays.

The $44.99 Basic plan sounds reasonable until you realize you only get 10,000 AI characters. I tested this, and that’s barely enough for one decent blog post. So you’re essentially paying $45 for one article per month, plus research tools.

To get any real value, you need that Pro Add-On, which brings your total to $80/month. At that point, I started doing some math. For $80/month, I could hire a decent freelance writer for 2-3 articles, or invest in better SEO tools that actually integrate with my workflow.

The Team plan at $115/month makes sense for agencies, I guess, but for individual creators or small businesses? It’s a tough sell when the output still needs so much manual work.

Where to Actually Find This Thing

You can sign up at frase.io. They do offer some free tools to test the waters, which I’d definitely recommend before committing to anything. Try the blog intro generator and see if the quality meets your standards. Spoiler alert: it probably won’t, but at least you’ll know what you’re getting into.

Better Alternatives That Actually Work

Surfer SEO – The One I Actually Use

I switched to Surfer after getting frustrated with Frase, and honestly, it’s night and day. The content editor gives you real-time feedback as you write, and the optimization suggestions actually make sense. It’s more expensive, but the results speak for themselves. Check out Surfer SEO if you want something that actually helps your content rank.

Clearscope – Clean and Effective

Clearscope doesn’t try to do everything – it just focuses on content optimization and does it really well. The interface is cleaner than Frase, and the keyword recommendations are more accurate

Clearscope doesn’t try to do everything – it just focuses on content optimization and does it really well. The interface is cleaner than Frase, and the keyword recommendations are more accurate. It’s at Clearscope if you want to see what focused execution looks like.

MarketMuse – For the Big Players

MarketMuse is pricey, but if you’re serious about content strategy, it’s worth considering. The topic modeling is way more sophisticated than what Frase offers. You can find them at MarketMuse, but be prepared to open your wallet.

Or Just Skip the Tools Altogether

Here’s a thought – maybe the problem isn’t finding the right tool, but trying to automate something that still requires human expertise. Instead of wrestling with software that promises the world but delivers mediocrity, why not work with people who actually know what they’re doing?

We’ve helped businesses get real results without the tool juggling act. No monthly subscriptions, no character limits, no AI-generated fluff that needs to be completely rewritten. Just strategy and execution that actually moves the needle. Hit us up if you’re tired of tools that overpromise and underdeliver.

FAQ – The Stuff People Actually Want to Know

Should small businesses even bother with Frase?

Honestly? Probably not. I mean, if you’ve got money burning a hole in your pocket and you love doing research, maybe. But for most small businesses, that $80/month could be way better spent on actual content creation or other marketing activities that deliver clearer ROI.

Think about it – you’re paying premium prices for a tool that still requires you to do most of the work. It’s like buying an expensive kitchen gadget that still makes you cook the meal yourself, but now you have to clean an extra appliance.

Frase vs ChatGPT – which one’s less disappointing?

ChatGPT, hands down. At least ChatGPT is honest about what it is – a general AI that can write decent content if you prompt it well. Frase pretends to be this SEO-optimized content machine but delivers ChatGPT-level writing at 10x the price.

If you’re going the AI route, just use ChatGPT Plus for $20/month and pair it with a dedicated SEO tool. You’ll get better content and save money.

Can it actually help improve content that’s already published?

The optimization features can point out gaps in your existing content, which is useful. But here’s the thing – most of the suggestions are pretty obvious if you know basic SEO. “Add more keywords,” “make it longer,” “cover these topics too.” You could probably figure that out yourself by looking at what’s ranking.

The content scoring feature can highlight areas where your existing content falls short compared to top-ranking competitors. You’ll see suggestions for additional topics to cover, keywords to include, and structural improvements. However, many users report that the recommendations lack specificity and context. The tool might suggest adding certain keywords without considering whether they fit naturally into your content or align with your brand voice.

For businesses struggling with content optimization tools, understanding the best AI search engine optimization tools can help you make more informed decisions about which platforms actually deliver results.

What about technical or niche content?

Oh boy, this is where Frase really falls apart. The AI has no domain expertise, so it just regurgitates generic information. I tested it on some technical SaaS content, and it was painfully obvious that the AI had no clue what it was talking about. Stick to human experts for anything that requires actual knowledge.

Using Frase for content creation is like hiring a research assistant who gives you amazing notes but then writes your final report in broken English. The research? Gold. The execution? Yikes.

My Final Honest Take

Look, I really wanted Frase to work. The promise of automated SEO content that actually ranks? Sign me up. But after three months of testing, editing, and comparing results, I’ve got to call it like I see it.

Frase is a decent research tool masquerading as a complete content solution. The SERP analysis genuinely saves time, and the content briefs are helpful for planning. But the moment you hit that “generate content” button, you’re in for a world of editing pain.

At $80/month for full functionality, you’re paying SaaS prices for what amounts to a research assistant with writing problems. I’ve seen better content come out of free AI tools, and I’ve definitely seen better results from just hiring actual writers.

Maybe I’m old school, but I still believe content should, you know, make sense. Call me crazy.

If you’re dead set on trying it, use the free tools first. Generate a few sample articles and see if you’re willing to spend hours fixing what the AI produces. My guess? You’ll realize pretty quickly that your time is worth more than that.

Look, I’m not trying to trash Frase just for fun. If you’re drowning in research and need help with content briefs, it might be worth the $45/month for that alone. But if you’re hoping it’ll replace your content writer? Save your money and buy yourself something nice instead.

The bottom line: Frase isn’t the content creation shortcut it promises to be. Save your money, invest in real content strategy, and stop looking for magic bullets that don’t exist.