Choosing the right AI content optimization tool can feel like trying to pick the best apple in a whole orchard. It’s tough!
Two of the biggest names you’ve probably heard are MarketMuse and Outranking.io.
Both promise to help you create content that ranks higher in search results, but which delivers?
In this head-to-head matchup, we’ll discuss MarketMuse vs Outranking strengths and weaknesses so you can Choose the best for your content needs.
MarketMuse vs Outranking: Overview
We’ve spent weeks testing both MarketMuse and Outranking to give you the most accurate comparison.
We dove deep into their features, analyzed their content optimization strategies, and even used them to create our content.
This hands-on experience gives us a unique perspective to help you make the right choice.
Outrank your competitors with MarketMuse. 92% of marketers using MarketMuse see improved search rankings within 3 months.
Pricing: It has a free plan. Paid plan starts at $99/month
Key Features:
- Content Briefs
- Content Optimization
- Competitive Analysis
Dashword’s AI writing assistant helped us create 50% more content in the last quarter without sacrificing quality.
Pricing: Save 25% on yearly offers. The premium plan starts at $19/month.
Key Features:
- AI Content Writer
- SERP Analysis
- Workflow Automation
What is MarketMuse?
Ever wished you had a roadmap for creating fantastic content?
That’s MarketMuse in a nutshell. It analyzes your content and tells you exactly what to change to rank higher. Think of it as your content strategist.
It’s a bit pricey, but it’s packed with powerful features.
Outrank your competitors with MarketMuse. 92% of marketers using MarketMuse see improved search rankings within 3 months.
Key Benefits
- Dominate your niche: MarketMuse helps you create comprehensive content covering all the essential topics, making you a go-to expert.
- Outrank your competitors: See exactly what they are doing well and where they fall short. Then, create content that blows them out of the water.
- Boost your content ROI: Stop wasting time on ineffective content. MarketMuse helps you focus your efforts on what drives results.
Pricing
- Free ($0/month): Limited access to core features, ideal for exploring the platform
- Optimize ($99/month): All core applications, unlimited queries, data exports
- Research ($249/month): Everything in Standard plus content inventory, competitive analysis, and personalized reporting
- Strategy ($499/month): Tailored solutions for large organizations with specific needs
Pros
Cons
What is Outranking?
Want to write content that ranks and outsmarts your competition?
That’s where Outranking comes in. This tool goes beyond just optimizing your existing content.
It helps you create high-quality content from scratch.
Think of it as your AI-powered writing assistant and SEO strategist all rolled into one. Plus, it’s way more affordable than MarketMuse.
Want to create SEO-optimized content that ranks? Outranking io’s AI content generation tool helps you do just that. Users report a 30% average increase in organic traffic after using Outranking io.
Key Benefits
- AI Content Writer: Generate high-quality content with the help of AI.
- SEO Scoring: Get a detailed SEO score for your content.
- Content Optimization: Optimize your content for multiple keywords.
- SERP Analysis: Understand what’s working for your competitors.
- Workflow Automation: Streamline your content creation process.
Pricing
Outranking offers several pricing plans depending on your needs.
- Starter: $19/month – 4 SEO Documents, AI-assisted optimization, Content brief.
- Growth: $79/month – 15 SEO Documents, Automatic optimization, Unlimited AI & SEO Draft.
- Pro: $159/month – 30 SEO Documents, Automatic optimization, Unlimited AI & SEO Draft, Users 3.
- Custom Plan: Custom pricing- Account manager, Training, Invoicing, Customized package.
Pros
Cons
MarketMuse vs Outranking: Feature Comparison
Now, let’s dive deeper and compare the key features of MarketMuse and Outranking side-by-side.
This will help you see how these SEO tools compare and which one is best for your content optimization needs.
Content Optimization
Both MarketMuse and Outranking excel at content optimization. They analyze your content and offer suggestions to improve your search engine rankings.
However, they approach it differently.
- MarketMuse: Focuses on content score and keyword usage. It comprehensively analyzes your content’s relevance to your target keyword and suggests related keywords to include. It also analyzes your competitors’ content to identify opportunities.
- Outranking: Offers a more holistic approach. It analyzes SERP features, identifies relevant internal and external links, and suggests an optimal word count based on the top-ranking pages. It also includes an AI-powered content editor to help you write optimized content from scratch.
Keyword Research
Both platforms offer robust keyword research capabilities.
- MarketMuse: Provides in-depth keyword research tools to help you discover relevant keywords, analyze their search volume, and assess their difficulty. It connects to Google Search Console to show you which keywords are already driving traffic to your site.
- MarketMuse: Offers a content intelligence platform that helps you understand how keywords are connected and how to use them effectively in your content.
AI Writing
- MarketMuse offers some basic AI writing features, like generating content briefs and optimizing existing content. However, this is not its primary focus.
- Outranking: Excels in AI writing. It can generate entire articles, product descriptions, and other types of content with minimal input. It also offers features like content rephrasing and plagiarism detection.
SERP Analysis
Both tools provide SERP analysis to help you understand what’s working for your competitors.
- MarketMuse analyzes the content of top-ranking pages and provides insights into their keyword usage, content score, and overall content strategy.
- Outranking goes beyond content analysis. It analyzes all aspects of the SERP, including featured snippets, People Also Ask boxes and related searches. This helps you create optimized content for all types of search queries.
Content Briefs
- MarketMuse: Known for its detailed content briefs. These briefs provide a comprehensive outline for your content, including recommended keywords, word count, and headings.
- Outranking: It also offers content briefs that are not as in-depth as MarketMuse’s. However, they are still helpful for outlining your content and ensuring it covers all the essential topics.
Competitor Analysis
Both platforms offer robust competitor analysis features.
- MarketMuse: This helps you identify your top competitors and analyze their content strategies. You can see which keywords they are targeting, how their content is performing, and what you can do to outrank them.
- Outranking: Provides a more visual approach to competitor analysis. It shows you a side-by-side comparison of your content and competitors’ content, highlighting key differences in keyword usage, content score, and other factors.
On-Page Optimization
Both tools offer features to help you optimize your content for on-page SEO factors.
- MarketMuse: Recommends optimizing your meta description, title tags, and headings. It also helps you ensure your content is properly structured and formatted.
- Outranking offers similar on-page optimization features. It also provides a real-time content score that updates as you make changes to your content. This helps you see the impact of your optimization efforts in real-time.
What to Look for When Choosing a Content Optimizer?
- Your budget: MarketMuse is significantly more expensive than Outranking.
- Your content needs: Outranking is the better choice for help with AI writing. If you’re focused on in-depth content analysis and optimization, MarketMuse might be a better fit.
- Your technical skills: MarketMuse has a steeper learning curve than Outranking.
- Your content team’s size: Consider whether you need a tool that supports team collaboration.
- Integration with other tools: Check if the tool integrates with your existing content marketing stack.
- Customer support: Look for a tool with excellent customer support if you need help.
- Free trial: Use free trials to test both tools before deciding.
- Ease of use: How intuitive is the platform’s interface?
- Reporting and analytics: Does the tool provide clear and insightful reports on your content’s performance?
- Content planning features: Can you use the tool to create a content calendar and track your progress?
- Specific features: Do you need specialized features like content repurposing or plagiarism detection?
- Scalability: Can the tool grow with your business as your content needs to evolve?
Final Verdict (Our Pick)
Choosing the right content optimization software can be challenging.
MarketMuse and Outranking are powerful content optimization platforms with much to offer.
But for us, Outranking comes out on top. It’s more affordable and easier to use, especially for beginners.
Plus, its AI writing features are a game-changer. You can create high-quality content that meets the average word count in minutes.
We’ve spent weeks testing these tools, so you don’t have to.
We’ve analyzed their features, compared their pricing, and even used them to create our content.
Trust us: Outranking is the clear winner for most content creators in 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between MarketMuse and Outranking?
MarketMuse focuses on in-depth content analysis and optimization, while Outranking offers a broader range of features, including AI writing and SERP analysis.
Which tool is better for beginners?
Outranking is generally easier to use and has a more intuitive interface, making it a good choice for beginners.
Which tool is more affordable?
Outranking offers more affordable pricing plans than MarketMuse, especially for small businesses and individual content creators.
Can I use both MarketMuse and Outranking together?
While you can use both tools, it might be redundant and expensive. Choose the one that best fits your needs and budget.
Do these tools offer a free trial?
MarketMuse and Outranking offer free trials, so you can test them before committing to a paid plan.
