Free AI SEO Content Optimizer Showdown: ChatGPT vs Writely

I’ve been testing free AI SEO content optimizers lately. The goal was simple: find a tool that helps produce search-friendly posts without a monthly fee. ChatGPT is free and flexible, but it lacks built-in SEO structure. So I tried Writely’s free tier and compared the two head-to-head to see which one actually saves time when you’re trying to rank.

The keyword placement problem

With ChatGPT, I had to manually remind it to include my target keywords. Even then, it often overstuffed them or put them in unnatural spots. Writely, on the other hand, lets you paste your primary keyword and secondary keywords into a field. It then weaves them into the draft automatically. In my test for “ai seo content optimizer free,” Writely placed the keyword in the first paragraph and one H2 without me tweaking anything. That alone saved about 10 minutes of editing per post.

But it’s not perfect. The free tier limits how long your output can be, so for a 2000-word guide I had to break it into sections. That’s a tradeoff – ChatGPT has no strict length limit, but you spend that time correcting keyword placement yourself.

Outline generation: structured vs. generic

Another observation: ChatGPT gives you a decent outline, but it tends to be generic – “What is X,” “Benefits,” “FAQs.” Writely’s outline felt more search-intent aware. For the same topic, it suggested a subtopic I hadn’t considered: “How free AI SEO content optimizers compare to paid tools.” That felt like something a real editor would add.

However, one friction point: Writely occasionally broke sections in odd ways. In one draft, it split the “Benefits” section into two H2s with overlapping content. I had to merge them manually. Small issue, but worth noting if you expect a perfect first draft.

Tone and style: helpful but stiff

I tested the tone setting in Writely. The “professional” mode made the content too formal for a blog I wanted to keep conversational. The “casual” mode was better. But the AI sometimes overcorrected – replacing “I think” with “It is believed” even in casual mode. I ended up rewording about a third of the sentences.

ChatGPT lets you describe the tone in your prompt, which gives you more control. But you have to re-specify it every time. Writely’s preset is a time-saver for repeat tasks, even if it’s not always exactly right.

SEO scoring: helpful but uncertain

Writely includes a basic SEO check – highlights missing keywords, short sections, or low word counts. I’m not fully convinced the scoring is accurate. It flagged a paragraph as “low keyword density” even though the keyword appeared twice naturally. Take it as a guideline, not gospel. For a free tool, it’s still better than nothing. ChatGPT has zero SEO analysis built in.

Realistic scenarios and verdict

If you’re writing short blog posts (under 800 words) frequently and need them to include specific keywords quickly, the free writely is a clear win. The dedicated workflow cuts out repetitive prompts. But if you’re writing long-form guides or need full control over tone every time, ChatGPT plus your own checklist might serve you better – though you’ll spend more time editing.

My recommendation: start with Writely’s free plan for posts under 1000 words where keyword placement matters. For longer pieces, consider upgrading or using ChatGPT as a brainstorming tool and then running the draft through Writely’s optimizer. That combo covers the gaps of each.