99 Essential Online Marketing Tools You Can't Do Without

Digital marketers are expected to be incredibly versatile. Their ability to master numerous software tools often goes unnoticed, yet online marketing demands proficiency in a vast array of tools, surpassing even the versatility of a Swiss army knife.

Online marketing tools

To assist marketers in maximizing efficiency and productivity, we have curated a comprehensive list of the top 99 online marketing tools, catering to both small and large businesses. This extensive compilation encompasses virtually every tool necessary to excel in nearly every facet of digital marketing, spanning PPC, SEO, social media, content marketing, email marketing, and more. While some tools serve highly specific purposes, others offer robust and diverse functionalities. Certain tools are available for free, while others require a subscription. You can explore the complete list or navigate directly to the section corresponding to your primary online marketing strategy:

  • Online Marketing Tools for PPC
  • Online Marketing Tools for SEO
  • Online Marketing Tools for Social Media
  • Online Marketing Tools for Content Marketing
  • Online Marketing Tools for Analytics and Conversion Rate Optimization

PPC Tools

1. Google Ads Editor

For those managing extensive or multiple campaigns within Google Ads (previously known as AdWords) regularly, Google Ads Editor is indispensable.

Online marketing tools AdWords Editor

The latest interface redesign enhances the user experience within Google Ads Editor significantly. This new suite offers virtually every tool a PPC marketer requires for bulk editing, making it an essential asset. Cost: FREE

2. Keyword Planner

Google’s Keyword Planner is another crucial resource. While a Google Ads account is necessary to utilize it, Keyword Planner’s utility extends beyond PPC, enabling the identification of a diverse range of keywords and associated data valuable for Google Ads campaigns, content marketing, and SEO. Cost: FREE

3. Bing Ads Editor

With the increasing popularity of Bing Ads as a PPC platform, the Bing Ads Editor becomes your comprehensive companion for managing Bing Ads campaigns effectively. Cost: FREE

4. Google Ads Scripts

The power and versatility of Google Ads Scripts have been discovered by many PPC marketers, simplifying the automation of tasks that would otherwise consume valuable time. If you haven’t already, it’s worth considering! Cost: FREE

5. Google Ads Performance Grader

Offered by nexus-security, the Google Ads Performance Grader conducts a comprehensive PPC audit of your Google Ads account in 60 seconds or less, free of charge. Identify areas of strength, pinpoint improvement opportunities, and maximize your Google Ads ROI.

Online marketing tools nexus-security AdWords Performance Grader

Cost: FREE

6. Bing Ads Intelligence

While Bing Ads aims to provide an experience similar to Google Ads to facilitate advertiser transition or complementary campaigns, Bing’s reporting functionality stands out. The Bing Ads Intelligence suite offers exceptional reporting capabilities. If you’re serious about Bing Ads, exploring Bing Ads Intelligence is highly recommended. Cost: FREE

7. Bing Ads Grader

Want to assess your Bing Ads account’s performance, similar to nexus-security’s AdWords Performance Grader? The nexus-security Bing Ads Performance Grader analyzes your Bing Ads account’s effectiveness, providing actionable advice on enhancing its performance. Cost: FREE

8. PPC Keyword Wrapper

SEO Book’s Keyword Wrapper offers substantial value to PPC marketers. Enter one or more keywords, then “wrap” them into groups based on match types like broad, phrase, or exact—or all three! Cost: FREE

Data on search trends can be invaluable for PPC marketers, allowing for campaign adjustments aligned with seasonal demand. Google Trends is a leading free resource for such information. Cost: FREE

10. Phrase Builder

Need numerous related keyword ideas rapidly? Phrase Builder is a valuable tool for quickly generating lists of related keywords based on specific criteria, especially useful for compiling extensive keyword lists. Cost: FREE

11. Analysis Toolpak for Excel

Although Excel’s core functionalities are widely used, the Analysis Toolpak for Excel introduces numerous features beneficial to PPC marketers seeking to maximize their Excel workflows. Learn how to install it here, followed by check out what it can do here. Cost: FREE

12. Soovle

Similar to Google Suggest but with more extensive data, Soovle displays instant autocomplete suggestions from Google and other sites like Wikipedia, Amazon, and YouTube. This is quite useful, but note that Google plans to restrict access to its autocomplete API, potentially limiting Soovle’s functionality to other search engines in the future. Cost: FREE

13. Convertable

One of the biggest challenges in lead generation campaigns is acquiring sufficient lead information for qualification. Convertable simplifies this process by offering more extensive data than traditional forms. This includes browser details, operating system, traffic source, keywords entered, and more, as shown below:

Online marketing tools Convertable

Cost: FREE

14. UberSuggest

UberSuggest is a popular third-party tool for PPC marketers, functioning similarly to other suggestion-based tools but with robust foreign language support and additional features. However, its availability might be affected when Google restricts access to its autocomplete API. For now, it’s worth exploring. Cost: FREE

15. SplitTester

Calculating the click-through rate (CTR) of two different ads is simple. However, predicting their long-term performance without extensive A/B testing is challenging. Perry Marshall’s SplitTester allows for numerical CTR data input to predict the ongoing performance of two ads, effectively estimating statistical significance when time constraints prevent full A/B testing. Cost: FREE

16. nexus-security Facebook Ads Performance Grader

Are you leveraging the full potential of Facebook Ads? Our complimentary Facebook Ads Performance Grader conducts an instant account audit to highlight areas of wasted spend and recommend improvements in targeting, campaign types, and other account fundamentals. Give it a try!

Cost: FREE

17. Keyword Competitor

Gaining insights from competitors can give your campaigns a head start. Keyword Competitor lets you see your competitors’ keywords and their performance. Unfortunately, this tool seems to be unavailable now! Cost: 30-day free trial; plans starting at $29/month

18. iSpionage

Continuing the theme of competitive intelligence, consider trying iSpionage. This convenient tool unveils the strategies of other businesses in your niche, enabling informed decisions for your campaigns.

Online marketing tools iSpionage

Cost: Plans starting at $59/month

19. SEMrush

Comprehensive competitive analysis is always beneficial, and the SEMrush tool suite is among the best. Search for detailed keyword data by domain or keyword, gaining insights into your competitors’ activities. Cost: Plans starting at $69.95/month

20. SpyFu

SpyFu is another excellent competitive analysis tool with unique features like downloading competitor keyword CSV files and reporting export functionality. Its user-friendly interface presents crucial information clearly and concisely.

Online marketing tools Spyfu

21. KeywordSpy

KeywordSpy provides valuable data like ad copy insights, keyword combinations, Google Ads spend data for entire websites, and more. This makes it another excellent keyword research tool to gain an edge over the competition. Cost: Plans starting at $79/month

22. WhatRunsWhere

WhatRunsWhere is a powerful tool providing extensive data on display advertising campaigns. Covering 150,000 display advertisers across 90+ ad networks in 15 countries, WhatRunsWhere is essential for companies aiming to excel in display advertising. Cost: Plans starting at $175/month

23. The Search Monitor

Among the competitive intelligence tools discussed, The Search Monitor is particularly valuable. It allows PPC marketers to examine data from sponsored listings and PLAs across nine ad networks and 1,200 industry verticals. It also offers extensive geotargeting and custom audience functionalities, making it worth exploring. Cost: Plans starting at $249/month

24. AdGooroo

The value of benchmark performance data is repeatedly emphasized, and that’s where AdGooroo excels. Besides ad spend estimate modeling and other tools, AdGooroo provides snapshots of specific brands within your vertical—valuable if you’re adjusting your PPC strategy.

Online marketing tools Adgooroo

Cost: Call for a demo and pricing

25. Typo Generator

Targeting exact match types in your campaigns? Try Typo Generator. While Google Ads offers variation matching, this tool benefits PPC marketers seeking hyper-specific control. Cost: FREE

26. Keyword Niche Finder

This free Google Ads tool from nexus-security, the Keyword Niche Finder, identifies keyword niches (pre-organized keyword groups), helpful when structuring campaigns. It’s also beneficial for SEO. Cost: FREE RELATED: 10 Free Google Ads Tools You Didn’t Know About (But Should)

SEO Tools

27. Google Suggest

For keyword and content ideas, Google Suggest is indispensable. While often overlooked, Google’s autocomplete functionality, enhanced by modifiers and other techniques, offers hidden depths for generating ideas.

Online marketing tools Google Suggest

Cost: FREE

28. Ahrefs

Ahrefs is a must-have tool for SEOs. This tool offers a range of features every SEO will find valuable, including link profile data and content referral insights. It’s essential for any SEO toolkit.

Online marketing tools Ahrefs

Cost: Freemium plan for beginners; pro plans start at $79/month

29. Majestic

With an abundance of backlink data, Majestic remains a go-to resource for numerous SEOs. This powerful tool offers its own API for working with your own datasets. Cost: Plans start at $49.99/month

30. Compete

Curious about the actual traffic popular blogs receive? Compete offers estimated traffic data based on multiple metrics, and you can plot results against primary and secondary metrics for customized reports. Cost: Offers some free tools; pro plans start at $249/month

31. DeepCrawl

Site migrations can be stressful for SEOs. DeepCrawl enables you to test the impact of changes in a secure environment before implementation on a live server, among other valuable features. DeepCrawl allows for redirect checks, hreflang tag validation, canonicalized page review, and more. Cost: Plans start at $80/month

32. Anchor Text Over Optimization Tool

This tool does precisely what its name suggests. The Anchor Text Over Optimization Tool identifies over-optimized anchor text links (which Google may perceive as unnatural) on external websites and submits change requests directly to webmasters. Utilize this tool if you’re concerned about Google penalties. Cost: FREE

33. SEO Title Tag 3.0

Optimizing title tags is now simpler than ever. The SEO Title Tag 3.0 plugin allows for effortless title tag optimization within minutes. Cost: FREE

34. Domain Hunter Plus

This free Chrome plugin allows you to identify broken links without leaving your browser. Domain Hunter Plus can crawl numerous links on a single page, offers error status codes for easy identification, and allows for .csv format result exports. Cost: FREE

35. Keyword Map

For SEOs creating keyword maps for website architecture, Wordtracker’s Keyword Map is a convenient resource. Cost: Plans start at $27/month

36. MozLocal

Moz is an essential resource for SEOs, and since acquiring GetListed in 2012, it’s no surprise that Moz excels in local SEO tools. MozLocal enhances the search engine ranking of local businesses, maximizing visibility for smaller websites.

Online marketing tools Moz Local

Cost: $84/year

37. Google SERP Snippet Optimization Tool

Despite its simple appearance, this Google SERP Snippet Optimization Tool proves quite useful. It allows for quick and easy SERP snippet and URL mockups to visualize your content in search engine results. It also offers display options like bold text, dates, and rich snippets. Cost: FREE

38. Internet Marketing Ninjas SEO Tools

Our colleagues at Internet Marketing Ninjas provide several free SEO tools to assist with technical SEO tasks. Available tools include a broken link checker, an image and link analyzer, an on-page optimization tool, and a Greasemonkey add-on for identifying URLs within search results. Cost: FREE

39. Linkstant

Need immediate insight into the origin of your new links without waiting for search engine reports or Analytics logs? Check out Linkstant (combining “links” and “instant”), a link-checking tool offering real-time results. Cost: Plans start at $7/month

40. MozCast

Staying abreast of Google algorithm updates can be challenging, which is why MozCast makes it effortless and engaging. MozCast compares Google algorithm updates to weather patterns, providing at-a-glance updates on algorithm fluctuations over the past day or week.

Online marketing tools MozCast

Cost: FREE

41. Rank Checker for Firefox

This tool does precisely as its name suggests. Rank Checker for Firefox is a free, open-source Mozilla browser add-on, allowing for quick ranking checks without sharing data with third parties. Cost: FREE

42. Schema Creator

Schema implementation can greatly benefit your website, but it can be challenging for beginners. Raven’s Schema Creator simplifies this process, allowing you to generate schema microdata for your website within minutes. Cost: FREE

43. Seer SEO Toolbox

For those new to SEO or seeking a simplified suite of tools for technical SEO, consider Seer Interactive’s SEO Toolbox. Designed with marketers in mind, this “toolbox” consolidates SEO data from multiple sources. Cost: FREE and open source

44. SEO Tools for Excel

Similar to their PPC counterparts, SEOs often incorporate Excel into their workflows. Enhance its functionality with SEO Tools for Excel! This software introduces various SEO-specific features to Excel, streamlining SEO tasks. Cost: FREE with newsletter signup

45. SEOgadget Tools

Much like SEO Tools for Excel, SEOgadget Tools extends Excel’s capabilities, making it a more valuable resource for SEOs. Cost: FREE

46. Similar Page Checker

Excessive duplicate content on your website is detrimental to search engine ranking. Similar Page Checker is a free web-based tool that compares your pages to others, highlighting similarities that could negatively impact your Google ranking. Cost: FREE

47. URI Valet

Need to verify your server headers? Use URI Valet, a free tool for checking server headers based on various parameters, including protocol and user agent. Cost: FREE

This classic tool, Xenu’s Link Sleuth, effectively identifies broken links on your website and generates a comprehensive list of indexed pages. Cost: FREE

49. MozBar

Yet another excellent free tool from Moz, the MozBar browser extension facilitates various SEO tasks directly within your browser. This includes keyword ranking analysis, schema validation, and SEO metric reporting.

Online marketing tools Mozbar

Cost: FREE

50. The Alexa Toolbar for Chrome

Alexa is a trusted source for web metrics, and with the Alexa Toolbar for Chrome, you can access at-a-glance information about the websites you visit, including traffic rankings, inbound links, and user reviews. Cost: FREE

51. Mozscape API

Sometimes, directly working with raw data is essential. If that’s your approach to SEO, you’re likely already using the Mozscape API. If not, it’s time to explore its capabilities. Cost: Limited free plan, paid plans start at $50/month

52. Open Site Explorer

When it comes to SEO tools, Moz consistently delivers. Open Site Explorer is invaluable for SEOs and digital marketers in general. If you haven’t used it, you’re missing out! Cost: FREE

53. Screaming Frog SEO Spider

Offering an in-depth SEO audit encompassing over 30 metrics, Screaming Frog’s SEO Spider tool is one of the most comprehensive technical SEO analysis tools available. Cost: FREE

Social Media Tools

54. Hootsuite

Hootsuite is among the most recognized and widely used social media management platforms. Its comprehensive features encompass everything needed for effective social media management, contributing to its popularity. Cost: Free for limited use; pro plans start at $9.99/month

55. TweetDeck

For those focused primarily on Twitter, TweetDeck will quickly become an invaluable asset. Bypass the limitations of the Twitter.com interface and access the functionality Twitter should have offered natively with TweetDeck.

Online marketing tools Tweetdeck

Cost: FREE

56. Buffer

While other social media tools offer scheduling features, Buffer stands out for its simplicity and elegant platform for managing social media accounts. Their blog is also top-notch! Cost: Free for limited use; pro plans start at $10/month

57. IFTTT

IFTTT (short for “If This, Then That”), while not strictly a social media tool, connects your frequently used apps and creates logic-driven workflows for automating routine tasks. It’s a creative way to generate social media updates and offers numerous other applications. Cost: FREE

58. BuzzSumo

BuzzSumo is an exceptional tool with applications across multiple categories. Discover which content is being shared across different networks and by whom.
Cost: Plans start at $99/month

59. SocialOomph

The social media management platform SocialOomph offers a diverse range of features, including post scheduling, keyword tracking, draft management, multi-account connectivity, and mentions/retweet monitoring. While I haven’t personally used it, it comes highly recommended by many digital marketers. Cost: Free for limited use; pro plans start at $6.97 per two-week period

60. Tweepi

Tweepi simplifies Twitter account management, enabling you to see who’s not following you back (and unfollow them in bulk), clean up your follower list, and even compel unwanted accounts to unfollow you. Cost: Free for limited use; pro plans start at $7.49/month

61. Save Publishing

Save Publishing is a useful tool for quickly identifying 140-character passages within web pages, streamlining the process of finding and tweeting quotes and key takeaways from your content and other sources.

Online marketing tools Save Publishing

Cost: FREE

62. SocialFlow

While SocialFlow doesn’t manage your accounts or simplify everyday social media tasks, it analyzes vast amounts of data to pinpoint optimal publishing times on social media, maximizing your content’s visibility and engagement. Cost: Plans start at $99/month

63. LikeAlyzer

Don’t be put off by the unconventional name—LikeAlyzer is a valuable resource. It evaluates your Facebook page’s effectiveness, offering insights into areas for improvement regarding engagement with your followers and fans. Cost: FREE

64. Sprout Social

Sprout Social streamlines social media management. It offers agency-specific tools and functionalities for handling social customer service, a crucial aspect of online presence management.

Online marketing tools Sprout Social

Cost: Plans start at $59/month

65. Social Bro

While I haven’t personally used this platform, SocialBro appears to offer helpful Twitter management features, despite its unfortunate name. Free plans are available if you’re interested in trying it out. Cost: Free for limited use; pro plans start at $13.95/month

66. Crowdbooster

Crowdbooster, a social media analytics platform, provides visually appealing reporting features, export functionality, and the expected scheduling and general management functions of a social media tool. Cost: Plans start at $9/month

67. Happy Cyborg

Imagine entrusting your Twitter account to a machine. This isn’t science fiction but a reality thanks to Happy Cyborg, a fun tool currently in beta. Happy Cyborg takes the reins of your Twitter handle, emulating your behavior based on common responses to Twitter interactions. While not recommended for corporate accounts, it could be ideal for busy entrepreneurs who find themselves tweeting similar content frequently. Cost: FREE

68. Openr

Openr is an innovative tool that allows you to incorporate a call to action into any social media post. This leverages the broad reach of social media, making it even simpler for your audience to take desired actions. Cost: Plans start at $39/month

69. Bitly

Twitter wouldn’t be the same without Bitly. The original link shortening tool remains incredibly useful as a standalone resource, even after Twitter integrated Bit.ly functionality into TweetDeck. Cost: FREE

70. Mediatoolkit

Monitoring online conversations about your brand is crucial for effective brand management, and Mediatoolkit simplifies this process. Cost: Plans start at $29/month

71. Everypost

Besides the expected scheduling and publishing features, Everypost excels with its impressive content curation capabilities. Curate content from virtually any source and publish it across your social media accounts with ease.

Online marketing tools EveryPost

Cost: Free for limited use; pro plans start at $9.99/month

72. Discover.ly

This Chrome extension, Discover.ly, allows you to explore connections with influential social media users. It provides additional information about individuals, including connections between previously unconnected accounts (e.g., linking someone’s Facebook or LinkedIn profiles from their Gmail account). This helps in forging stronger relationships with influential users in your industry. Cost: FREE

Content Marketing Tools

73. Prezi

Let’s face it, most slideshow presentations are dull. However, Prezi helps you create presentations that people will genuinely want to watch. Cost: $59/year

74. Powtoon

Powtoon enables you to incorporate animated elements into your slideshows quickly and effortlessly, adding a touch of polish that most PowerPoint presentations lack. Cost: Free for limited use; pro plans start at $59/month

75. Blog Topic Generator

Struggling for blog post ideas? Try HubSpot’s Blog Topic Generator, which does exactly what its name implies. Cost: FREE

76. Content Idea Generator

Similar to HubSpot’s Blog Topic Generator, Portent’s Content Idea Generator assists in generating content ideas for new projects by simply inputting a general topic. Cost: FREE

77. Trello

Trello is a lifesaver for large or distributed content teams collaborating on a shared editorial calendar. It streamlines the editorial workflow by organizing tasks into user-friendly boards. Definitely worth checking out!

Online marketing tools Trello

Cost: Free for limited use; pro plans start at $8.33/month

78. Feedly

The demise of Google Reader was mourned by many marketers, but Feedly proves to be just as good, if not better. Stay informed about daily news and must-read content with this impressive RSS app. Cost: Free for personal use; pro plans start at $5.41/month

79. CoSchedule

In addition to its scheduling and editorial calendar functionalities, CoSchedule offers helpful free content tools like its Headline Analyzer, making it worth considering for smaller teams. Cost: Plans start at $15/month

80. After the Deadline

Not all content teams have the resources for a dedicated copyeditor, which makes After the Deadline incredibly valuable. This free Chrome plugin checks grammar, spelling, and other essential aspects of your writing before you hit that “Publish” button. Cost: FREE

81. Polar

Incorporating interactive elements like online polls can enhance your content’s engagement factor. Polar makes adding polls to your content incredibly easy, and its intuitive interface requires no advanced coding knowledge. Cost: FREE

82. SlideShare

For marketers frequently giving conference presentations or webinars, SlideShare is an essential platform. Create captivating slide decks and effortlessly share them with your audience on SlideShare. Cost: FREE

83. PlaceIt

Wish you could integrate product screenshots into stock images but lack Photoshop expertise? Now you can with PlaceIt, a user-friendly tool for customizing images with your branding and product shots. It also offers impressive video integration capabilities.

Online marketing tools Placeit

Cost: FREE

84. Canva

Canva empowers you to create visually appealing graphics for social media posts and content projects using an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. Upload your own assets for free or access Canva’s library of visuals for a small fee. Cost: Free for limited use; pro plans start at $12.95/month

85. Share As Image

Share As Image is an incredibly handy tool for content marketers, enabling you to add text to any image on the web. This facilitates the quick and easy sharing of visual content on social media. Remember to obtain permission before using images found online in your campaigns. Cost: Free for limited use; pro plans start at $8/month

86. Piktochart

Creating visually appealing infographics no longer requires expensive graphic designers. Piktochart is an excellent free tool that allows you to start designing infographics, presentations, and more in minutes. Bookmark this one! Cost: FREE

87. Tableau Public

Integrating data visualization into your content is almost guaranteed to increase engagement and enhance the clarity of complex topics. Tableau Public is an incredibly powerful and completely free data visualization tool for creating stunning interactive visuals.

Online marketing tools Tableau Public

Cost: FREE

88. The Readability Test Tool

Achieving the right style and tone is crucial for your content. To check if your latest piece is overly verbose, try The Readability Test Tool. It evaluates web pages based on the Flesch Kincaid Reading Scale. Cost: FREE

89. Quora

While it might not seem like a traditional content marketing tool, Quora can be a goldmine for crowdsourced answers to your questions. Many content marketers leverage Quora to find quotes, explain intricate topics, and enhance their content’s accessibility. Cost: FREE

90. OmmWriter

Do you dread drafting in Word? Need a distraction-free writing environment for blogging? Give OmmWriter a shot. This minimalist writing tool removes everything between you and your writing, allowing you to focus on creating that crucial first draft.

Online marketing tools Ommwriter

Cost: FREE

91. Evernote

Personally, I prefer the “hundreds of bookmarks organized into folders” approach to research. But if that sounds overwhelming, consider Evernote. This robust free app allows you to save practically anything you find online to a personalized folder system that syncs across your devices. Cost: FREE

Analytics and Optimization Tools

92. Google Analytics

Google Analytics, the undisputed leader in analytics tools, provides everything you need to track campaign effectiveness and monitor website performance. Despite its complexity, Google Analytics remains surprisingly user-friendly. Cost: FREE (with premium plans available)

93. CrazyEgg

Heatmaps offer invaluable insights into how visitors interact with your website, and CrazyEgg excels in this domain.

Online marketing tools CrazyEgg heatmap

A heatmap visually representing audience eye movement and points of interest on a web page. Cost: Plans start at $9/month

94. ClickTale

ClickTale allows you to review video recordings of actual website visitor sessions. This reveals their mouse movements, clicks, and most importantly, where you’re losing their interest. Cost: Plans start at $99/month

95. SubjectLine

Concerned that your email subject lines aren’t compelling enough? Test their effectiveness with SubjectLine. For instance, I entered the subject line “Want to get more out of your PPC campaigns?” and received the score and analysis below:

Online marketing tools SubjectLine

Cost: FREE

96. MixPanel

MixPanel is a powerful analytics tool for working with large datasets without any SQL coding knowledge. Its clean and intuitive interface makes advanced analytics more accessible than ever. Cost: Free for limited use; pro plans start at $150/month

97. Formisimo

While traditional analytics tools are valuable, they struggle to pinpoint why visitors abandon web forms and checkouts. That’s where Formisimo proves its worth for digital marketers. Discover precisely how visitors are interacting (or not) with your web forms. Cost: Plans start at $50/month

98. Visual Website Optimizer

Visual Website Optimizer (or VWO) is an exceptionally user-friendly A/B testing and optimization tool. Dive right in and start testing almost instantly. Cost: Plans start at $49/month

99. FiveSecondTest

While comprehensive A/B tests are valuable, sometimes a user’s initial gut reaction to your webpage provides surprising insights. That’s the concept behind FiveSecondTest, a testing platform revealing what people see (and miss) within the first five seconds of visiting your page. Cost: Based on a credit system

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