I Tried 35 AI Writers and Found the Best

I Tried 35 AI Writers and Found the Best

AI SEO Writers: Are They Worth Your Money?

Introduction to AI SEO Writers

  • The speaker shares their experience of spending hundreds on testing various AI SEO writers, expressing skepticism about their value.
  • Many reviews are criticized for being superficial and not based on actual usage; the speaker aims to provide a thorough evaluation by testing over 30 different AI writers.

Testing Methodology

  • Each writer is evaluated using the same criteria, including keyword competition levels and scoring through a Content Optimizer tool.
  • The process involves scoring articles and readability tests, with personal opinions factored into the final assessments.

Evaluation Criteria

  • Articles are assessed for SEO performance using Neuron Writer without any editing to ensure fairness in results.
  • Readability is also tested using Hemingway, alongside subjective evaluations of how human-like the content reads.

Key Features of Effective AI Writers

  • Important factors include user-friendliness, ease of setup, and avoiding common AI writing pitfalls like clichéd phrases.
  • Price is considered but not heavily emphasized; significant price differences will be noted if they exist.

Desired Functionality from AI Writers

  • The ideal AI writer should conduct SER analysis to create content outlines based on top-ranking articles for better results.
  • Additional features such as image/video integration and internal/external linking capabilities are desired for comprehensive content creation.

Limitations in Testing

AI Writing Tools Review

Overview of AI Writing Tools Tested

  • The speaker discusses various AI writing tools, emphasizing the importance of testing them for effectiveness. They mention their background as a former employee of one tool, Brandwell (formerly known as Container Scale), which they consider highly effective but will not be reviewed in this video.
  • Zim Writer is highlighted as a popular choice due to its previous lifetime deal. However, the speaker expresses disappointment with their past experience and current access issues related to signing up through Gumroad.
  • The sign-up process for Zim Writer is described as confusing and problematic, particularly for users outside certain regions like Asia, leading to difficulties in payment verification.
  • On Page.ai by Traffic Research is mentioned but not tested due to its high cost of $250 per month without a free trial. The speaker notes that while it may have good reviews, the price makes it impractical for testing.
  • Long Form AI by Surg Graph cannot be accessed at all due to website errors. The speaker expresses disappointment over this issue since they were looking forward to testing the tool.

Ranking of AI Writing Tools

Last Place: Copy AI

  • Copy AI ranks last on the list; despite being well-known, it lacks SEO effectiveness and has shifted focus towards automation rather than content generation.

29th Place: Trolley AI

  • Trolley AI has not evolved much over the years and offers limited customization options. Its poor SEO scores lead the speaker to recommend against using it.

28th Place: Word Play

  • Word Play's user interface is criticized for being poorly designed. It offers a lifetime deal but fails in functionality and readability, making it unsuitable for SEO purposes.

27th Place: Human Writer

  • Human Writer requires users to input their own API key from OpenAI, which frustrates the speaker. The outdated UI and poor output quality contribute to its low ranking.

26th Place: Draft Horse

  • Draft Horse receives mixed feedback; while its founder is active in providing business tips online, the platform's confusing workflow and lackluster output do not meet expectations for SEO use.

25th Place: Jasper

Copywriting Platforms Review

Overview of Copywriting Tools

  • The initial assessment indicates that the copy produced is not optimized for SEO, lacking essential elements like a table of contents and conclusion. However, it does provide a one-click blog outline which is an improvement.
  • The platform "Yazo" has a cumbersome sign-up process that includes multiple steps and issues with Google sign-in, leading to frustration.
  • Despite performing well on the first article test, Yazo encountered persistent errors when attempting to create additional articles, rendering it unusable.

Unique Features and Limitations

Pen Friend Insights

  • "Pen Friend" offers a unique AI feature named Penny that suggests content for each section of an article but has a confusing flow for generating articles.
  • A significant drawback is the lack of an editing feature; users cannot modify their articles post-generation, which severely limits its usability for SEO purposes.

Long Shot Evaluation

  • "Long Shot" generates articles slowly and often produces outputs with word counts significantly different from user selections.
  • While it provides good templates and outlines, its overall SEO scores and readability are subpar compared to other platforms.

User Experience Challenges

Auto Blogin Feedback

  • "Auto Blogin," despite being backed by notable names in SEO, suffers from a poor user experience due to its complicated sign-up process requiring two separate registrations.
  • Users face challenges with credit systems where they must redeem codes just to generate content. This complicates onboarding significantly.

Content Sprout Critique

  • "Content Sprout" features an unusual UI starting with YouTube videos instead of direct article creation options.

Condensed Review of AI Writing Tools

Condens Sprout: A Disappointing Experience

  • The $129/month plan for Condens Sprout is deemed not worth it, with the reviewer finding better options available.
  • Despite testing only one article, the overall impression was that nothing stood out compared to competitors.

Anood: Surprising SEO Scores

  • Anood, while not specifically designed for SEO, showed surprisingly decent SEO scores during testing.
  • The product flow was praised for its effectiveness in general marketing tasks and suggesting relevant facts based on research.

Outranking: Complicated User Interface

  • Outranking's user interface was criticized as cluttered and complicated, making navigation difficult.
  • Although it scored well on a high competition article (VPN), the long wait time for generating content wasn't justified by the results.

Machine Write: Unique Content Clustering

  • Machine Write builds content clusters and interlinks articles but disappointed in SEO performance despite its unique approach.
  • The tool provides up-to-date information like keyword difficulty but failed to deliver good readability or SEO scores.

MCO: Human-Like Content with Limitations

  • MCO aims to produce human-readable content but struggles with SEO effectiveness; onboarding process is cumbersome.
  • While the content reads well, it currently lacks appeal for SEO purposes; potential exists if Google shifts focus back to human-centric writing.

Blog SEO: Smooth UI but Room for Improvement

  • Blog SEO offers a smooth user experience from keyword input to article generation but didn't meet expectations in scoring.

AI Writing Tools Review: Insights and Recommendations

Overview of Recommended Tools

  • The speaker suggests keeping an eye on Blogo, a new product that shows promise for beginners due to its ease of use. They believe it will improve over time.
  • Right Sonic is highlighted as a well-known tool used by major companies, but the speaker faced login issues with ad blockers. Once accessed, it offers various SEO options.
  • The AI writer in Right Sonic effectively follows the user's input through multiple stages, including keyword entry and SER analysis, showcasing its comprehensive capabilities.
  • Despite its strengths, Right Sonic's SEO scores did not meet expectations for such a prominent platform; the speaker notes there are better alternatives available.

Unique Features of Blaze

  • Blaze stands out with a fun user interface (UI), likened to Canva for AI writers. It excels in creating social media content rather than focusing on SEO.
  • One notable feature allows users to transform long-form blog posts into 50 different content types instantly, making it ideal for social media agencies.
  • While Blaze performs well in general content creation, it does not score highly in SEO tests; thus, it's recommended primarily for social media purposes.

Evaluation of Copy Matic and Bord

  • Copy Matic is described as simple and beginner-friendly with good quality output but lacks advanced features compared to other tools. It's solid but overshadowed by stronger competitors.
  • Bord has a clean UI reminiscent of minimalist design but falls short on customization options. It’s suitable for bulk content updates rather than individual article generation.

Insights on Byword and Copper

  • Byword offers unique language styles in its output but includes some AI buzzwords that may need refinement. It performs decently in SEO metrics yet has better alternatives available.
  • In the top 10 list, all products are recommended for both SEO and other uses due to fierce competition among them. The speaker emphasizes deeper insights into each tool's placement based on various factors beyond just scores.

Key Takeaways from CER

  • CER requires users to add their own API key which can be seen as inconvenient. However, it provides numerous customization options and local SEO features beneficial for businesses targeting specific areas.

AI Writing Tools Review

Top 10 AI Writing Tools Overview

  • The speaker discusses their top 10 AI writing tools, emphasizing personal experience and enjoyment with each tool. They recommend these tools for SEO purposes.

Hypotenuse AI: A Strong Contender

  • Hypotenuse AI is backed by Y Combinator and has pivoted to focus on e-commerce rather than solely SEO, which affects its ranking in the list.
  • Despite high SEO scores, the speaker ranks it lower due to a $230/month subscription required for full features like SER analysis, making it less accessible for individual users.
  • The tool excels in bulk updating product descriptions for platforms like Amazon but may not be ideal for those focused strictly on SEO. Overall enjoyment of the platform is noted despite its limitations.

Agility Writer: Customization and Performance

  • Agility Writer offers extensive customization options without unnecessary features, leading to a good initial SEO score on tests conducted by the speaker.
  • The speaker experienced a drop in SEO scores when toggling certain features, indicating variability in performance based on user settings. This contrasts with Hypotenuse's scoring dynamics.
  • Despite some inconsistencies, Agility Writer is recommended as a solid choice for users already utilizing this product effectively.

Phrase: Content Optimization Focus

  • Phrase functions as both an AI writer and content optimizer, appealing more to marketing teams than individual users due to its cost structure that includes additional fees for AI credits.
  • The content editor is highlighted as one of the best among competitors, providing smooth functionality and robust features such as automatic internal linking suggestions during article creation.
  • While the output quality varied across tests, there’s significant potential seen in Phrase's capabilities; thus it receives a higher ranking than indicated by its raw SEO scores alone. Overall recommendation hinges on budget considerations.

Scalene Nut: Comprehensive Suite

  • Scalene Nut combines optimization and writing capabilities with a full suite of SEO tools that scored well across various metrics while maintaining human readability in outputs.
  • The user interface (UI) can be overwhelming due to information density; however, it's beneficial for seasoned SEOs who require detailed dashboards similar to trading platforms' setups.

AI Writing Tools Review

Overview of AI Writing Tools

  • The speaker discusses the effectiveness of various AI writing tools, highlighting their user interface similarities to Agility WR and their strong SEO performance.
  • Surfer SEO is introduced as a leading content optimizer with a long-standing reputation in the SEO industry, now venturing into AI writing.

Surfer SEO's Performance

  • Initial impressions of Surfer's AI writer were negative; however, significant improvements have been made over time due to investment in resources and data science.
  • Surfer excelled in generating high-quality articles, particularly noted for its performance on competitive topics like VPN recommendations.

Junior AI: A New Contender

  • Junior AI surprised the speaker with its capabilities, ranking third overall in SEO scores among AI writers and offering a clean workflow for article generation.
  • It features an effective SEO editor that allows users to optimize content post-generation, enhancing usability.

Koala: User-Friendly Experience

  • Koala is praised for its ease of use and quick transition from keyword research to article generation, making it suitable for solo bloggers or niche site owners.
  • Despite its strengths, Koala lacks advanced features needed by agencies compared to competitors like Surfer or Phrase.

Journalist AI: Top Performer

  • Journalist AI stands out with excellent SEO scores and readability metrics. It was particularly effective at generating content around complex keywords like "learning SEO."

Keyword Generation and Auto Blogging Features

Overview of Keyword Generation

  • The process begins with seed keywords, which generate a list of related keywords along with their search volumes and difficulties. Competitors can also be added to refine results.
  • The keyword feed refreshes every 48 hours, allowing users to update seed keywords and competitors as needed.

Auto Blogging Setup

  • Users can set up auto blogging by connecting it to the generated keyword feed, specifying how often articles should be created (daily, weekly, etc.).
  • Customization options include target country, tone of voice, formality level, and the ability to upload a knowledge base for training the AI on specific content.

Content Formatting and Structure

  • Users can define article formatting preferences such as internal/external links and CTAs. Image generation options include using DALL-E or stock images.
  • The platform is highlighted as one of the best for auto blogging due to its comprehensive features that allow traffic acquisition from competitors.

Comparison of AI Writing Tools

Personal Preferences in AI Writers

  • The speaker emphasizes that while there are many strong contenders in AI writing tools, personal preference plays a significant role in choosing the right one.
  • Journalist AI is noted as a personal favorite due to its effectiveness for niche sites and SEO purposes.

Exclusive Offers and Recommendations

  • An exclusive discount for Journalist AI is mentioned; new users receive three free articles initially.
  • Other notable tools discussed include Junior AI for SEO teams, Surfer SEO for comprehensive needs, Hypotenuse for e-commerce product descriptions, and Blaze for social media writing.

Final Thoughts on AI Writing Tools

Community Engagement

  • Viewers are encouraged to share their thoughts on the video content or ask questions about specific writing tools in the comments section.

Newsletter Subscription Invitation

  • A weekly newsletter offering prompts and tips related to AI is promoted; viewers are invited to subscribe through a link provided in the description.

Exclusive Discount Announcement

Special Offer from Journalist AI

  • An exclusive 50% discount on the first month’s subscription with Journalist AI is announced. This offer includes personalized onboarding calls for new subscribers.
Video description

I spent hundreds of dollars testing and comparing over 30 different AI SEO writing tools to find out which ones really live up to the hype. Check my in-depth AI writers review: https://youtu.be/7M8GqeOELzU In my video, I walk through my entire process—starting with how I set up a fair test for each writer, using the same prompt across three different keyword difficulty levels and measuring each result with a content optimizer (Neuron Writer) as well as a readability tool (Hemingway). I also explain the specific criteria I care about most, like whether the tool can do SERP analysis, generate outlines intelligently, handle images and links, and provide a smooth editing experience. I went through each tool one by one—some of them turned out to be lackluster or way too expensive, while others really impressed me with their features and performance. I highlight my top contenders toward the end, including Koala, Junia AI, and Journalist AI. Ultimately, I reveal which platform earned my number-one spot overall (Journalist AI) and why I believe it offers the best balance of SEO scoring, human readability, ease of use, and bonus features like autoblogging and competitor keyword feeds. In the end, I emphasize there’s no single “perfect” AI writer for everyone: it depends on individual needs. Some tools are best for agencies, some excel in e-commerce, some are ideal for local SEO, and others might be great for bulk writing or social media content. Still, if I had to pick just one for my own blogging and SEO work, I found Journalist AI to be the top choice, and I even managed to secure an exclusive 50% off code for anyone who wants to try it. Throughout the video, I share plenty of details about what I liked, disliked, and discovered along the way, hoping to save others from wasting money on AI SEO tools that might not deliver as promised. Get 50% off your first month to my favourite AI SEO writer on the list (Use Code STEVEN): https://tryjournalist.com/?via=steven Sign up for the Nex Gen AI weekly newsletter here: https://nexgenai.beehiiv.com/subscribe Time stamps: 0:00 Intro to AI writers 1:14 Testing criteria for AI writers 5:19 AI writers excluded 8:52 Copy AI 9:22 Trolly AI 9:46 Wordplay 10:19 Humanwriter 10:46 Drafthorse AI 11:12 Jasper AI 11:53 Yazo 12:40 Penfriend 13:37 Longshot AI 14:09 Autoblogging AI 16:00 Content Sprout AI 17:28 Anyword 18:22 Outranking 19:00 Machined AI 20:35 Macaw AI 21:51 Blog SEO 22:53 Writesonic 23:52 Blaze AI 24:55 Copymatic 25:32 Byword 26:42 Cuppa AI SEO Writer 28:13 Hypotenuse AI 29:58 Agility Writer 31:04 Frase io 32:30 Scalenut 34:04 Surfer SEO 35:25 Junia AI 36:26 Koala Writer 37:40 Journalist AI 38:38 The best Autoblogging feature 41:53 Some thoughts 42:15 My personal favourite 42:33 Final thoughts 43:32 Get 50% off Journalist AI