Yoast SEO – Free Activated
100% Original fileUnmodified copy of the developer's release
DeveloperYoast BV
Up to dateOriginal released Oct 13, 2026 · File last updated Oct 23, 2026
About this product
Yoast SEO Free 28.7 is the free edition of the Yoast SEO plugin for WordPress. It checks every post and page while you write and takes care of the technical side of search in the background. It suits blogs, small business sites, shops and news sites run by people who are not SEO specialists and want clear advice before they hit Publish. The plugin adds a sidebar and a meta box to the editor, and its red, orange and green scores show what to fix while the article is still a draft.
What's in the Yoast SEO Free download
Our download is the original Yoast SEO ZIP for version 28.7, the free edition as the developer publishes it. It includes the SEO, readability and inclusive language analysis for your main focus keyphrase, XML sitemaps, schema, breadcrumbs, the llms.txt file and the import tools. Yoast SEO Premium is a separate product: it adds related keyphrases, a redirect manager, internal linking suggestions, AI-generated titles and meta descriptions, IndexNow and a blocker for AI crawlers. None of those are part of the free edition.
Good to know
This version needs WordPress 6.9 or newer and PHP 7.4 or newer, and WooCommerce is not required. The first-time configuration starts with an SEO data optimization of your existing content. On a site with a lot of posts this step can take a while, and you have to wait for it to finish. Breadcrumbs don't appear on their own: place the breadcrumbs block or the shortcode on a page, or add a snippet to your theme and switch on Enable breadcrumbs for your theme under Yoast SEO, Settings, Advanced, Breadcrumbs.
How to install Yoast SEO Free
- Log in to GPLGuide, open this product and click Download under Your downloads.
- In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins, Add Plugin, Upload Plugin and choose the Yoast SEO ZIP you just downloaded.
- Click Install Now and wait until WordPress reports that the plugin was installed.
- Click Activate Plugin to switch on Yoast SEO for your site.
- The Yoast SEO welcome screen opens: click Start first-time configuration, or find it later under Yoast SEO, General, First-time configuration.
Features & capabilities
- Live SEO and readability scores in the editor, with a traffic-light rating for each check
- Google result previews for desktop and mobile that show your SEO title and meta description
- XML sitemaps that update as you publish and leave out content set to noindex
- Automatic meta tags and canonical URLs, plus title templates per content type under Settings, Content types
- Schema markup for your organization or person, and HowTo and FAQ blocks with their own schema
- An llms.txt file for AI tools, switched on under Settings, Site features, with manual page selection
- AI agents using WordPress abilities can update a post's SEO title, meta description and social texts; the focus keyphrase stays read-only
- Import and Export, a bulk editor and a robots.txt and .htaccess editor under Yoast SEO, Tools
Frequently asked questions
Is this the original file?
Yes. Every product on GPLGuide is the developer’s own release, unchanged. The license key comes already activated. If a product does ask for a key, the activation steps appear on its page once you have it.
Is it legal to use a GPL plugin or theme from GPLGuide?
Yes. WordPress plugins and themes are released under the GPL, which lets anyone use, share and change the code. The developer’s support desk and the developer’s own update service are not part of the file; those stay with the developer.
How do I install it?
Log in, open the product page and click Download under Your downloads. For a plugin go to Plugins, Add New Plugin, Upload Plugin, choose the ZIP, then Install Now and Activate. For a theme go to Appearance, Themes, Add New Theme, Upload Theme.
How do updates work?
When a newer version is listed on GPLGuide, download it from the product page and upload it over the installed copy; WordPress offers to replace the old version. Updates are manual.
Can I use it on more than one site?
Yes. The GPL lets you use it on as many of your own sites as you like.
What if the file does not work or a newer version is out?
Tell us on the Request Item page or through Support. We check the file and add the newer version when we have it.
