Clearscope vs Surfer
Surfer uniquely has 2 features.
| Clearscope | Surfer | |
|---|---|---|
| Company | ||
| Founded | 2016 | 2017 |
| HQ | San Francisco, USA | Wrocław, Poland |
| AI model | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| User base | Thousands (exact number not publicly stated) | 150,000+ |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Chrome Extension, WordPress, Google Docs |
| Languages | English only | Multiple (used across Southeast Asia and multiple markets per scrape) |
| Pricing | ||
| Pricing model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | No | Yes — free account available (Start for Free) |
| Starting price | $129/mo (Essentials) | $59/mo, Discovery |
| Enterprise | Custom | $999/mo+ (tailored/custom) |
| Refund policy | No minimum contract; cancel anytime; no explicit refund policy stated | — |
| All plans | Essentials$129/moBusiness$399/moEnterpriseCustom | Discovery$59/moStandard$119/moPro$219/moPeace of Mind$359/moEnterpriseCustom |
| Positioning | ||
| Best for | Content teams and SEO professionals at growth-stage to enterprise companies seeking AI-powered content optimization and search visibility | Marketers, SEO specialists, agencies, and content teams wanting data-driven content optimization and AI search visibility |
| Differentiator | Clearscope combines best-in-class content optimization with AI chatbot prompt tracking (ChatGPT, Gemini) and brand visibility monitoring across both traditional search and generative AI platforms, making it uniquely positioned for GEO + SEO workflows. | Surfer is the only closed-loop AI Visibility OS that combines content scoring, real-time optimization, and multi-LLM brand mention tracking (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI, Gemini) in one unified workflow. |
| Competitors | Surfer SEO, MarketMuse, Semrush, Frase, NeuronWriter | Clearscope, MarketMuse, Semrush, Ahrefs, Frase, NeuronWriter |
| Features | ||
| AI Copywriting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Backlink Analysis | ✕ | ✕ |
| Content Brief | ✓ | ✓ |
| Content Editor | ✓ | ✓ |
| GSC Integration | — | ✓ |
| Keyword Clustering | ✓ | ✓ |
| Keyword Research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Long Form Writing | ✓ | ✓ |
| On Page SEO | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rank Tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| SERP Analysis | ✓ | ✓ |
| Topic Clusters | ✓ | ✓ |
| Integrations | ||
| API Access | — | ✓ |
| Chrome Extension | ✓ | ✓ |
| CMS | Google Docs, WordPress | WordPress, Google Docs, Contentful (listed on Pro+) |
| Google Docs | ✓ | ✓ |
| Key Integrations | Google Docs, WordPress, Chrome Extension | WordPress, Google Docs, Contentful, Chrome Extension, Surfer API |
| Wordpress | ✓ | ✓ |

