Dokeo vs Surfer SEO
Surfer SEO helps you write.
Dokeo decides if it ships
Writers who want real-time keyword and structure suggestions inside their editor.
Content teams, solo operators, and GTM engineers who need an automated ship / no-ship gate - regardless of who wrote the draft.
Surfer helps you write. Dokeo decides if it ships.
Per Dokeo's own scoring methodology [S1], the gate is deterministic: the same draft returns the same verdict every time, which is what makes it safe to block a CI pipeline on.
- SEO, AEO, and GEO checks run in a single pass, across all 17 supported content types [S2].
- Every FAIL names the specific check that failed and why - no black-box review.
- 100 free scans a month, no credit card, same gate as production.
Sources: [S1] Dokeo scoring methodology, /docs/checks. [S2] Dokeo pricing, /pricing. Current as of 2026.
Different jobs
Surfer is a writing tool - you write inside it and it tells you which keywords to add. Dokeo is a quality gate - you finish writing (anywhere, any tool) and submit the finished piece for a five-severity verdict.
| Feature | Surfer SEO | Dokeo |
|---|---|---|
| Primary job | Suggest keywords while you write | Pre-publish quality gate |
| Output | Live suggestions | 5-severity verdict + inline issues |
| Runs against | Content you write inside Surfer | Any text, any source |
| Internal corpus / cannibalization | ✗ | ✓ |
| AEO + GEO checks | Partial | ✓ |
Pricing
Surfer starts at $49/mo for limited features. Dokeo starts at $0 for 100 scans/mo and $79/mo for the Growth tier (1,000 interactive + 5,000 CI scans/mo, 2x rollover, AI rewrites). For teams shipping at volume, Dokeo's credit model is more predictable.
| Feature | Surfer SEO | Dokeo |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | ✗ | ✓ (100 interactive scans / month) |
| Entry price | $49/mo (limited) | $79/mo (1,000 interactive + 5,000 CI) |
| Carry-forward | ✗ | ✓ (2x rollover) |
| Per-scan pricing | ✗ | 1 credit = 1 scan, no surprises |
When to use which
Use Surfer when you want help drafting a post and want live keyword suggestions. Use Dokeo when you want a quality gate that runs on every piece, regardless of how it was written. Many teams use both: Surfer to draft, Dokeo to gate.
| Feature | Surfer SEO | Dokeo |
|---|---|---|
| Live writing assistance | ✓ | ✗ |
| Post-write quality gate | ✗ | ✓ |
| Works with AI output | Partial | ✓ |
| AI-citation readiness | Partial | ✓ (AEO + GEO checks) |
FAQ
Can I use Surfer and Dokeo together?
Yes. Many teams draft inside Surfer, then submit the finished piece to Dokeo for the final pre-publish check. The two tools solve different problems.
Is Dokeo a Surfer competitor?
Partially. We're both content tools, but Surfer is an editor and Dokeo is a gate. We overlap on the 'quality' axis; we differ on the 'where in the workflow' axis.
Does Dokeo do keyword research like Surfer?
No. Dokeo assumes you already know what you want to write. If you need keyword research, use Surfer or a dedicated keyword tool; then use Dokeo to score the draft.
Does Dokeo work with content written in Surfer?
Yes. Export your Surfer draft and paste it into Dokeo, or call the Dokeo API with the same content.
Ready to pass the gate?
100 free scans every month. No credit card. Cancel anytime.