Yoast to Rank Math migration: switch without losing rankings
The 8 steps we follow, from backup to Search Console, based on moving our own sites from Yoast to Rank Math.
Short answer: back up, install Rank Math, import from Yoast in the setup wizard, check a few posts, then deactivate Yoast and submit Rank Math’s sitemap. Titles, descriptions, focus keywords and redirections come across, so rankings stay put.
How to switch from Yoast to Rank Math
Allow about 30 minutes for a typical blog.
Back up your site
Take a full backup, including the database, before changing SEO plugins.
Note your current numbers
Save your top pages and queries from Search Console so you can compare after.
Install Rank Math
Add the free plugin from Plugins, Add New.
Run the setup wizard and import
Rank Math detects Yoast and offers to import settings, post titles and descriptions, focus keywords and redirections.
Check a few posts
Open 3 to 5 important posts and confirm titles, descriptions and canonical URLs match.
Deactivate Yoast
Only after the check.
Check sitemaps and schema
Open /sitemap_index.xml and test a post in Google’s Rich Results Test.
Submit the new sitemap
Add /sitemap_index.xml in Search Console and watch rankings for 2 to 4 weeks.
What moves across, and what to check
Imported by Rank Math
- Plugin settings
- SEO titles and meta descriptions
- Focus keywords
- Redirections
Check by hand
- Custom schema you added in Yoast
- Breadcrumb settings in your theme
- Sitemap URL in Search Console and robots.txt
- Any code that relies on Yoast functions
Why we switched
From our Rank Math review.
Yoast felt limited for free
Redirects and extra keywords needed Premium, priced per site.
Rank Math included more
Up to 5 focus keywords, a redirect manager and a 404 monitor free.
It has held up for five years
We now run it on 5+ sites with no front-end CSS or JS.
Yoast to Rank Math: FAQ
Will I lose rankings switching from Yoast to Rank Math?
Not if titles, descriptions and URLs stay the same. Rank Math imports them from Yoast, and we did not see ranking drops when we switched five years ago.
What does Rank Math import from Yoast?
Settings, post and term titles and descriptions, focus keywords, and redirections, through its import tool under Status & Tools.
Should I delete Yoast after switching?
Deactivate it first, check the site for a week, then delete it.
Can I run Yoast and Rank Math together?
No. Two SEO plugins output duplicate meta tags and schema.
Is Rank Math free?
Yes. Everything in this guide works with the free version.
About this page
Pritam Sonone
Founder of Digital Pritam. WordPress developer and designer, WordCamp Kolhapur 2025 speaker. Builds WordPress sites for clients.
How we checked
- Steps based on our own switch from Yoast to Rank Math in 2020, used since on 5+ sites
- Import features from Rank Math’s own documentation
- Checked against Rank Math free 1.0.280 on digitalpritam.in
Sources: Rank Math import and export · Google Rich Results Test
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Pritam Sonone
Pritam is a full-time blogger, YouTuber, author, and public speaker. He founded and leads Digital Pritam. With over 14 years of blogging expertise, he has assisted numerous aspiring bloggers in achieving their dreams of creating successful blogs.
