Yoast SEO vs All in One SEO: the two oldest names, measured
Yoast SEO is the lighter of the two on the server and the more complete in output: +39.0 ms and 3 queries per request against All in One SEO's +53.5 ms and 22, with a larger schema graph and a sitemap that includes images. All in One SEO is ahead on two things: it prints a meta description by default and its editor carries less weight than Yoast's.
Both are long-standing, mainstream choices, so the numbers matter more here than reputation. They come from our seven-plugin benchmark, with each plugin active alone at defaults on the same WordPress 7.1 install. We build Hydrogen SEO, which is neither of these.
The numbers
| Measured | Yoast SEO 28.4 | All in One SEO 5.0.1.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Front-end PHP time added | +39 ms | +53.5 ms |
| Peak memory added | +10.5 MB | +14.5 MB |
| Database queries added | +3 | +22 |
| Hooks registered | +187 | +100 |
<head> bytes added | +5,656 | +6,668 |
| Meta description by default | No | Yes |
| JSON-LD types printed | 12 | 8 |
| Open Graph / X tags | 10 / 5 | 6 / 3 |
| Sitemap URLs listed | 75 | 73 |
| Sitemap image entries | 40 | 0 |
lastmod coverage | 74 / 75 | 73 / 73 |
| Custom database tables | 6 | 9 |
| Autoloaded options added | +13.6 KB | +14.6 KB |
| Plugin package size | 21 MB | 24.4 MB |
| Block editor assets | 48 files, 4,160 KB | 130 files, 3,543 KB |
| After deactivation | +2.6 KB left autoloading, 6 tables remain | No reduction: 14.5 KB still autoloading |
Measured on one WordPress 7.1 install (PHP 8.2, MySQL 8.0, Twenty Twenty-Five, 40 posts), each plugin alone with default settings, against a no-plugin baseline. Bold marks the better number in each row. Full method: how we tested.
What the numbers mean
All in One SEO posted the highest cost in every cost category it entered in our benchmark, and Yoast is second or third on most of them, so this is a comparison between two heavy plugins. The server gap is still large: All in One SEO used +14.5 MB of memory against Yoast's +10.5 MB, added 22 queries against 3, grew <head> by 6,668 bytes against 5,656, and ships 24.4 MB against 21.0 MB. Yoast registers more hooks (187 against 100).
Output mostly favors Yoast. It printed 12 JSON-LD types in 3,976 bytes; All in One SEO printed 8 types in 4,544 bytes, the largest schema payload measured. Yoast's sitemap had 75 URLs and all 40 featured images; All in One SEO's free sitemap had 73 URLs and no images. All in One SEO did stamp lastmod on every URL (73 of 73, against Yoast's 74 of 75). On social tags Yoast printed 10 Open Graph and 5 X tags; All in One SEO printed 6 and 3. The exception is the meta description: Yoast prints none at defaults when nothing is typed and no template is set, while All in One SEO generates one.
The admin cuts both ways. All in One SEO's dashboard was 511 KB, about four times bare WordPress, against Yoast's 150.2 KB. But in the block editor Yoast is heavier: 48 files and 4,160 KB against All in One SEO's 130 files and 3,543 KB. Both are several times heavier than the light plugins in the test.
Cleanup favors Yoast too. Yoast creates six tables and left 2.6 KB autoloading after deactivation. All in One SEO creates nine tables and deactivation released none of its 14.6 KB of autoloaded options. What All in One SEO offers in return is approachability: guided setup, clear screens and a large product family.
Choose Yoast SEO if
- You want fewer queries (3 against 22) and a smaller dashboard.
- You want the richest schema graph and featured images in the sitemap.
- You want fuller Open Graph and X tags.
- You want less left behind if you ever deactivate it.
Choose All in One SEO if
- You want meta descriptions generated automatically without writing a template.
- You prefer a guided setup and approachable, polished screens.
- You already use other plugins from the same family.
- You want
lastmodon every sitemap URL.
Switching between them
All in One SEO includes an importer for Yoast data, and Yoast has offered an importer for All in One SEO data, so both directions are supported by the vendors themselves; check each plugin's current documentation for exactly what carries over. Test on staging, check titles and canonicals on a sample of pages, and deactivate the old plugin to avoid duplicate tags. All in One SEO keeps per-post data in its own tables, so migrate before uninstalling it. Hydrogen SEO also imports from both if you are weighing a lighter option; see switch from another SEO plugin.
Common questions
Is Yoast SEO lighter than All in One SEO?
On the server, yes: +39.0 ms, +10.5 MB and 3 queries for Yoast against +53.5 ms, +14.5 MB and 22 queries for All in One SEO. In the block editor Yoast loads more assets, 4,160 KB against 3,543 KB.
Which prints more schema?
Yoast printed 12 JSON-LD types in 3,976 bytes; All in One SEO printed 8 types in 4,544 bytes. Yoast covered more of the page in fewer bytes.
What does each leave behind after deactivation?
Yoast left 2.6 KB of autoloaded options and its six tables. All in One SEO released none of its 14.6 KB of autoloaded options and left nine tables.