Clearscope vs Frase: Premium vs Affordable Compared
Enterprise NLP accuracy versus budget-friendly content optimization. We compare features, pricing, and value to help you decide.
Quick Verdict
Clearscope delivers premium NLP accuracy and enterprise-grade features trusted by Fortune 500 companies. Frase offers exceptional value with superior content briefs at 76% lower cost. For most teams, Frase provides the best balance of features and affordability.
| Criteria | Clearscope | Frase |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Enterprise Content Teams | Budget-Conscious Teams |
| Starting Price | $189/month | $45/month (Basic) |
| Free Trial | Demo only | 5-day trial for $1 |
| G2 Rating | 4.9/5 (91 reviews) | 4.8/5 (297 reviews) |
| Key Strength | NLP accuracy & simplicity | Content briefs & value |
| Key Limitation | High price point | Less polished NLP |
What is Clearscope?
Clearscope is a premium content optimization platform founded in 2016 in Austin, Texas. It has established itself as the enterprise choice for content teams, with clients including IBM, Shopify, YouTube, and Intuit.
Clearscope differentiates through simplicity and accuracy. Its IBM Watson-powered NLP analysis provides highly reliable term recommendations, and its intuitive A++ to F letter-grade system has become a trusted standard for editorial workflows.
Key Strengths
- NLP Accuracy: IBM Watson-powered analysis considered industry-leading
- Letter Grading: Intuitive A++ to F system teams easily understand
- Clean Interface: Distraction-free editor focused on essentials
- Enterprise Features: Content Inventory, team workflows, and collaboration
Who Uses Clearscope
Clearscope is particularly popular with:
- Enterprise content teams at Fortune 500 companies
- Large publishing companies with editorial workflows
- Marketing teams prioritizing content quality
- Organizations needing reliable, simple grading
What is Frase?
Frase is an AI-powered content optimization tool founded in 2016 in Boston, USA. It has built a loyal following among freelancers, small teams, and budget-conscious content marketers who need powerful features without enterprise pricing.
Frase stands out for its content brief workflow, automatically analyzing top-ranking pages to create comprehensive outlines. Its SERP analysis extracts topics, headings, and questions, dramatically reducing research time.
Key Strengths
- Content Briefs: Best-in-class brief generation from SERP analysis
- Affordable Pricing: Full-featured plans starting at just $45/month
- Question Research: Extracts questions from search results
- Outline Builder: Drag-and-drop heading organization
Who Uses Frase
Frase is particularly popular with:
- Freelance content writers on a budget
- Small businesses starting with content marketing
- Content strategists focused on research and planning
- Teams wanting efficient brief creation workflows
Clearscope vs Frase: Feature Comparison
Both tools help create optimized content, but serve different market segments. Here's how they compare across key categories.
Content Editor & Optimization
The content editor is where you optimize your content with real-time guidance and scoring.
Clearscope's Approach
Clearscope uses an intuitive letter-grade system trusted by enterprise teams.
- A++ to F letter grade scoring
- IBM Watson-powered term analysis
- Readability integration
- Clean, distraction-free interface
Frase's Approach
Frase provides topic scoring with competitor comparison features.
- Topic Score percentage
- Term frequency tracking
- Side-by-side competitor view
- Integrated with brief workflow
Verdict: Clearscope's letter grading is more intuitive and its NLP analysis more accurate. Frase's editor is functional but less polished in comparison.
Content Briefs & Research
Content briefs help plan articles by analyzing what competitors cover.
Clearscope's Approach
Clearscope provides competitor analysis as part of its content reports.
- Competitor content sidebar view
- Keyword discovery feature
- Content Inventory tracking
- Internal linking recommendations
Frase's Approach
Frase is built around content briefs as its core feature.
- Automatic SERP analysis of top 20 results
- Outline Builder with drag-and-drop
- Question extraction from SERPs
- Topic and heading recommendations
Verdict: Frase wins decisively for content briefs. Its brief-first workflow with Outline Builder and question research is superior to Clearscope's competitor sidebar approach.
AI Writing Capabilities
Both platforms offer AI writing assistance to speed up content creation.
Clearscope's Approach
Clearscope offers AI assistance focused on enhancing human-written content.
- Draft with AI feature
- Outline suggestions
- Content expansion help
- Emphasis on human oversight
Frase's Approach
Frase offers AI tools with an optional Pro Add-on for unlimited access.
- AI paragraph and section writing
- Custom AI templates
- AI Article Wizard
- Pro Add-on for unlimited AI ($35/mo)
Verdict: Both offer similar AI writing capabilities. Frase's Pro Add-on provides unlimited AI access at $35/month extra, while Clearscope's AI is included but more limited in scope.
Enterprise & Team Features
For larger teams, workflow and collaboration features become important.
Clearscope's Extras
- Content Inventory for all content
- Team collaboration features
- Internal linking recommendations
- Content performance tracking
- Enterprise security compliance
Frase's Extras
- Answer Engine for questions
- GSC integration for rankings
- Content analytics dashboard
- Team seats on Team plan
- Custom AI templates
Verdict: Clearscope has stronger enterprise features with Content Inventory and sophisticated team workflows. Frase's team features are adequate for small teams but not as robust.
Clearscope vs Frase: Pricing Comparison
The pricing difference is dramatic—Clearscope positions as premium enterprise, while Frase targets budget-conscious users.
Clearscope Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials | $189 | 100/month |
| Business | $399 | Unlimited |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | |
Demo required. Contact for annual pricing.
Frase Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| Solo | $14.99 | 4/month |
| Basic | $45 | 30/month |
| Team | $115 | Unlimited |
| Pro Add-on | +$35 | Unlimited AI |
5-day trial for $1. Annual billing saves ~15%.
Value Analysis
The price difference is stark: Clearscope's Essentials ($189) costs 4.2x more than Frase Basic ($45). Even Frase's Team plan with unlimited documents ($115) is cheaper than Clearscope's entry tier. For most users, Frase offers exceptional value.
Consider: Clearscope's premium pricing may be justified for enterprise teams that need best-in-class NLP accuracy and sophisticated workflows. For everyone else, Frase delivers 80% of the value at 25% of the cost.
What Users Say: Clearscope vs Frase Reviews
Both tools have strong user ratings, though Clearscope has fewer total reviews due to its enterprise focus.
| Platform | Clearscope | Frase |
|---|---|---|
| G2 | 4.9/5 (91 reviews) | 4.8/5 (297 reviews) |
| Capterra | 4.9/5 (60 reviews) | 4.8/5 (334 reviews) |
| Trial Access | Demo only | 5-day trial ($1) |
What Users Love About Clearscope
- NLP accuracy: Highly trusted term recommendations
- Simplicity: Clean interface without clutter
- Letter grades: Teams understand grading instantly
“The letter grade system is perfect for our workflow. Writers aim for A+ and editors can quickly assess quality at a glance.”
What Users Love About Frase
- Content briefs: Best brief creation workflow
- Value: Excellent features at affordable price
- SERP analysis: Quick competitor insights
“Frase's content brief feature saves us hours every week. At this price point, it's an incredible value for small teams.”
Common Complaints
Clearscope
High price point limits accessibility. No self-serve trial. Fewer features than competitors at lower price points.
Frase
NLP analysis not as sophisticated as premium tools. AI writing requires extra add-on. Some report AI output needs editing.
Who Should Use Clearscope vs Frase?
The choice comes down to budget, team size, and whether enterprise features justify premium pricing.
Choose Clearscope If You...
- Work at an enterprise with budget for premium tools
- Prioritize NLP accuracy and trusted recommendations
- Need Content Inventory and enterprise workflows
- Prefer simple, intuitive letter-grade scoring
Choose Frase If You...
- Are budget-conscious (starting at just $45/month)
- Prioritize content briefs and research workflows
- Are a freelancer or small team
- Want to try before buying with a low-cost trial
Quick Decision Framework
| Your Priority | Best Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| NLP accuracy | Clearscope | IBM Watson-powered analysis |
| Content briefs | Frase | Best-in-class brief workflow |
| Budget | Frase | 76% cheaper entry price |
| Enterprise features | Clearscope | Content Inventory, workflows |
| Simplicity | Clearscope | Cleaner, distraction-free interface |
| Question research | Frase | Answer Engine feature |
Final Verdict: Clearscope vs Frase
Clearscope is the premium choice for enterprise teams who need best-in-class NLP accuracy, sophisticated workflows, and can justify the higher price. Its letter-grade system and IBM Watson integration are trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Frase offers exceptional value for everyone else. At just $45/month, it provides excellent content briefs, solid optimization scoring, and question research features. For 80% of content teams, Frase delivers everything needed at a fraction of Clearscope's cost.
The Bottom Line
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Author
Co-Founder & SEO Execution
Co-founder of PikaSEO. 11 years in corporate tech, then bootstrapped entrepreneur. Leads SEO execution and content-led growth for SaaS companies.