# Surfer: what it does, who it is for and alternatives > Surfer: Optimizes articles to rank in search with content scores, outlines and an AI writer. Source: https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/tool/surfer · Updated 2026-10-20 · Free from Stepthrough (https://learn.ynteractive.com) Updated October 20, 2026 · By [Robert Breen](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/about) Optimizes articles to rank in search with content scores, outlines and an AI writer. [Marketing & social](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/marketing-social) · Paid Official site: [surferseo.com](https://surferseo.com) ## What Surfer does Surfer's Content Editor shows a live score and guidelines for keywords, headings and length as you write, based on top Google pages and AI answers for your topic. It also tracks how your brand shows up in ChatGPT and other AI tools and audits older pages for fixes. You can work inside Surfer, in Google Docs through a Chrome extension, or in WordPress through its plugin. ## Who Surfer is for - Content marketers - SEO specialists - Marketing managers - Copywriters ## Key features - Content Editor with a live Content Score, outline builder and AI writing help - AI Visibility Tracker for brand mentions in ChatGPT and other AI tools - Content Audit that lists fixes for underperforming pages - Internal linking and plagiarism check before publishing - Google Docs extension, WordPress plugin and an MCP connection ## Privacy and data Lists ISO 27001 certification for its parent company Positive and says its privacy policy follows the GDPR. Source: [Surfer’s own page](https://surferseo.com/privacy-policy/). Before you put client data in, check your company’s AI rules and the plan’s data settings. ## Learn Surfer free on Stepthrough - Guide: [Semrush alternatives](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/alternatives/semrush) ## Alternatives to Surfer Other AI marketing and social media tools in the directory. - [**Buffer**](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/tool/buffer) Free plan Schedule posts to every major social network, with an AI assistant for ideas and rewrites. Simple analytics. - [**SocialBee**](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/tool/socialbee) Free trial Plan a week of social posts in one sitting with content categories, AI captions and evergreen recycling. - [**Manychat**](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/tool/manychat) Free plan Manychat automates Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp DMs, so comments and messages turn into leads and bookings. It has a free plan. It fits small businesses and creators who get the same questions in direct messages again and again. - [**Olum**](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/tool/olum) Paid Checks which buyer questions ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Bing and Google's AI answers reply to without naming your business, then drafts fixes such as content and FAQ schema for you to approve. - [**Hootsuite**](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/tool/hootsuite) Free trial Social media management for teams: scheduling, inbox, listening and AI-written captions. - [**Later**](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/tool/later) Free trial Visual social scheduling for Instagram, TikTok and more, with AI captions and link-in-bio pages. [All 40 AI marketing and social media tools](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/marketing-social) ## Frequently asked questions **What is Surfer?** Optimizes articles to rank in search with content scores, outlines and an AI writer. Surfer's Content Editor shows a live score and guidelines for keywords, headings and length as you write, based on top Google pages and AI answers for your topic. It also tracks how your brand shows up in ChatGPT and other AI tools and audits older pages for fixes. You can work inside Surfer, in Google Docs through a Chrome extension, or in WordPress through its plugin. **Who is Surfer for?** Surfer fits content marketers, SEO specialists, marketing managers and copywriters, and other office teams with the same job to do. **Is Surfer free?** Surfer is a paid tool. Plans change often, so check the official pricing page before you commit. **What are some alternatives to Surfer?** Other AI marketing and social media tools include Buffer, SocialBee, Manychat, Olum and Hootsuite. **Is Surfer safe for work data?** Lists ISO 27001 certification for its parent company Positive and says its privacy policy follows the GDPR. Check your own company’s rules, and use a business plan with training turned off for client data. ## “Listed on Stepthrough” badge Add this badge to the Surfer website, press page or docs. It links to this page, so your visitors can see the listing. Copy the HTML ```text Listed on Stepthrough ``` Checked against Surfer’s official site on October 20, 2026: [source 1](https://surferseo.com), [source 2](https://surferseo.com/content-editor/), [source 3](https://surferseo.com/privacy-policy/). Spotted something out of date? Email [rbreen@ynteractive.com](mailto:rbreen@ynteractive.com). Listings are free; [submit your AI tool](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/submit). [The full AI tools directory](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools) · [Marketing & social](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/marketing-social) · [Tool comparisons](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/compare)