Effective keyword research is the foundation of a solid SEO strategy. It helps you discover the terms and phrases your target audience is searching for, allowing you to optimize your content accordingly. Without proper keyword research, your SEO efforts may fall short in attracting the right audience and ranking high in search results. While paid tools often offer a more comprehensive analysis, several excellent free keyword research tools provide valuable insights without breaking the bank.
In this blog, we’ll explore the 10 best free keyword research tools for SEO, their features, and how they can help you refine your search engine optimization efforts.
Tool name | Best for | Key features | Pros | Cons |
Google Keyword Planner | Broad keyword research from Google. | Search volume, keyword ideas, filtering options. | Reliable data from Google, free to use with a Google Ads account. | Limited features without running ads, less detailed for long-tail keywords. |
Ubersuggest | Beginners and intermediate users. | Keyword suggestions, SEO difficulty, SERP analysis. | Easy to use, keyword suggestions from a variety of sources. | Limited daily searches on the free version. |
Answer the Public | Content creators and marketers. | Question-based keywords, visual reports, data export. | Excellent for discovering long-tail keywords. | Limited searches per day. |
Keyword Surfer | Users want keyword insights directly in the browser. | Search volume, related keywords, CPC data. | Convenient browser extension, real-time insights. | Limited keyword data compared to paid tools. |
Soovle | Cross-platform keyword research. | Suggestions from Google, YouTube, Bing, Amazon, etc. | Cross-platform data, real-time suggestions. | Lacks deeper keyword analysis features. |
Keyword Tool | Long-tail keyword research. | Google autocomplete, multi-platform support. | Focuses on long-tail keywords, multi-platform data. | Limited data on search volume for free version. |
Google Trends | Seasonal and trend-based keyword analysis. | Trend analysis, geographic insights, keyword comparisons. | Free, great for trending topics and seasonal keywords. | Lacks keyword suggestions, not focused on search volume. |
Moz Keyword Explorer | Users seeking in-depth keyword data. | Keyword suggestions, keyword difficulty, CTR. | Comprehensive data from Moz, keyword difficulty analysis. | Limited searches per month, features restricted. |
SEMrush | Comprehensive keyword research tool. | Keyword suggestions, search volume & competition, keyword difficulty. | Offers both free and paid features, detailed analysis. | Free version has limited access to advanced features. |
WordStream’s Free Keyword Tool | Small businesses and content creators. | Keyword suggestions, search volume & competition data. | Simple interface, useful for small-scale SEO projects. | Limited functionality compared to paid tools. |
Google Keyword Planner is a free tool that allows users to research and analyze keywords directly from Google. It’s an essential tool for any SEO campaign, providing insights into keyword search volume, competition, and keyword suggestions, especially useful for those running Google Ads.
Best for: Users who need reliable, broad keyword research directly from Google.
Key features:
- Search volume data: Get average monthly search volume and competition levels.
- Keyword ideas: Provides keyword suggestions based on your business or website.
- Filtering options: Allows filtering keywords based on location, language, and more.
- Historical data: View past performance data to gauge future trends.
- Competition & Bidding info: See the competition levels and suggested bids for ads.
Pros:
- Trusted data directly from Google.
- Helps with keyword ideas based on your specific business or niche.
- Free to use with a Google Ads account.
Cons:
- Requires a Google Ads account to use, which might be an obstacle for some.
- Lacks advanced features for more in-depth analysis.
- Limited keyword suggestion database compared to other tools.
How to use:
- Sign in to Google Ads.
- Navigate to the “Tools & Settings” menu, then select “Keyword Planner.”
- Enter your seed keywords and explore related keyword suggestions.
Pricing: Free (requires a Google Ads account).
Ubersuggest is a versatile and easy-to-use keyword research tool developed by Neil Patel. It provides a range of keyword suggestions, SEO difficulty scores, and SERP analysis. It’s particularly great for beginners and intermediate users, offering a free tier with plenty of useful features.
Best for: Beginners and intermediate users looking for an easy-to-use tool.
Key features:
- Keyword suggestions: Provides a large number of related keyword suggestions.
- SEO difficulty: Measures how competitive each keyword is.
- SERP analysis: Analyzes the top search engine results for each keyword.
- Backlink data: Shows the number of backlinks for the top-ranking pages.
- Traffic data: Estimates the traffic each page could generate based on rankings.
Pros:
- Easy-to-use interface that is perfect for beginners.
- Free version offers substantial keyword data.
- Provides a wide range of SEO metrics.
Cons:
- Free version limits the number of searches you can do daily.
- Some features like historical data and backlink analysis are limited.
- Less comprehensive than premium versions.
How to use:
- Go to Ubersuggest and enter a keyword.
- Review keyword suggestions and SEO metrics.
- Explore the top-ranking pages for each keyword.
Pricing: Free with some limitations on searches per day.
Answer the Public is a unique tool that generates question-based keywords from Google’s autocomplete feature. It visualizes the keyword suggestions, making it ideal for content creators and marketers who want to focus on addressing user queries.
Best for: Content creators and marketers focusing on question-based search queries.
Key features:
- Question-based keywords: Generates keyword ideas in the form of questions.
- Visual reports: Provides a visual representation of keyword clusters.
- Data export: Allows exporting keyword ideas in CSV format.
- Prepositions & Comparisons: Offers suggestions with prepositions and comparisons (e.g., “how to” vs. “best way to”).
Pros:
- Excellent for discovering long-tail keywords and content ideas.
- Visual keyword data helps easily understand related terms.
- Great for identifying content gaps.
Cons:
- Free version limits the number of searches per day.
- Data is more suited for content creation rather than deep SEO analysis.
- Lacks specific metrics like search volume or difficulty.
How to use:
- Visit Answer the Public.
- Enter your keyword to get visualized keyword clusters.
- Export the list for further use.
Pricing: Free (limited searches per day).
Keyword Surfer is a browser extension that provides real-time keyword data directly in Google search results. It displays important metrics like search volume, related keywords, and CPC data while you browse the web, making it highly convenient for on-the-go keyword research.
Best for: Users who want keyword insights directly in their browser.
Key features:
- Search volume data: Displays search volume for keywords directly in Google search results.
- Related keywords: Shows related keyword suggestions while browsing search results.
- Cost Per Click (CPC) data: Displays estimated CPC for each keyword.
- Export to CSV: Allows exporting keyword data to CSV for further analysis.
- Keyword analysis on the fly: Provides keyword insights with no need to leave the Google search page.
Pros:
- Fast and convenient to use while browsing Google.
- Real-time data displayed directly within search results.
- Free to use with no signup required.
Cons:
- Data is limited to Google searches and doesn’t provide detailed keyword metrics.
- Lacks some advanced features of premium tools like Moz or SEMrush.
How to use:
- Install the Keyword Surfer extension on Google Chrome.
- Conduct a Google search and view keyword data directly within the search results.
Pricing: Free.
Soovle is a multi-platform keyword research tool that gives you keyword suggestions from Google, YouTube, Bing, Amazon, and other search engines. It’s great for discovering keyword ideas across multiple platforms, making it especially useful for marketers and content creators.
Best for: Users who want insights across various search engines and platforms.
Key features:
- Multiple platforms: Provides suggestions for Google, YouTube, Bing, Amazon, and more.
- Autocomplete data: Utilizes autocomplete suggestions from search engines.
- Instant keyword suggestions: Displays real-time keyword suggestions as you type.
- Keyword export: Allows exporting keyword suggestions.
Pros:
- Provides keyword ideas from multiple platforms (Google, YouTube, Amazon, etc.).
- Great for cross-platform content creation.
- Free to use.
Cons:
- Lacks detailed data like search volume or competition levels.
- Not ideal for in-depth keyword research or analysis.
How to use:
- Visit Soovle.
- Enter your keyword to get keyword suggestions across various platforms.
- Use the suggestions for content creation or keyword targeting.
Pricing: Free.
Keyword Tool is a specialized tool that generates long-tail keyword suggestions using Google’s autocomplete. The free version provides insights across multiple platforms like Google, YouTube, and Amazon, making it useful for various types of content creation.
Best for: Users looking for long-tail keywords and multi-platform research.
Key features:
- Autocomplete-based keywords: Generates keyword ideas from Google’s autocomplete.
- Multi-platform support: Generates keywords for Google, YouTube, Bing, Amazon, and more.
- Long-tail keywords: Focuses on long-tail keyword generation.
- Search volume estimates: Provides rough search volume estimates for keywords (in paid version).
Pros:
- Excellent for generating long-tail keywords.
- Supports multiple platforms for keyword data.
- Free to use, with the ability to export keyword lists.
Cons:
- No search volume or competition data available in the free version.
- Limited features without upgrading to the paid version.
How to use:
- Visit Keyword Tool.
- Enter a seed keyword.
- Review and export keyword suggestions.
Pricing: Free (with limitations on search volume data).
Google Trends is a powerful tool for understanding the popularity of search terms over time. It’s especially useful for identifying trending topics and seasonal keyword trends, but it doesn’t provide search volume or competition data.
Best for: Analyzing seasonal trends and keyword performance over time.
Key features:
- Trend analysis: Analyzes search trends over time.
- Geographic insights: Shows keyword interest by region.
- Comparisons: Allows comparing multiple keywords to see which one is more popular.
- Category filters: Helps narrow trends by specific industries or topics.
Pros:
- Free to use and very easy to navigate.
- Great for identifying trending topics and seasonal search patterns.
- Ideal for understanding regional keyword performance.
Cons:
- No detailed keyword suggestions or SEO metrics.
- Not suitable for in-depth keyword research or competition analysis.
How to use:
- Visit Google Trends.
- Enter your keyword to view trend data.
- Compare trends across different keywords and regions.
Pricing: Free.
Moz Keyword Explorer is a well-known tool in the SEO industry that provides keyword suggestions, search volume data, and keyword difficulty analysis. Moz is famous for its comprehensive data and in-depth analysis, making this tool a go-to for serious SEO campaigns.
Best for: Users seeking detailed keyword research and in-depth analysis.
Key features:
- Keyword suggestions: Provides keyword ideas based on your seed keyword.
- Search volume data: Displays estimated search volume for each keyword.
- Keyword difficulty: Offers a difficulty score to help you gauge how competitive each keyword is.
- SERP analysis: Allows you to see the top-ranking pages for each keyword.
- CTR data: Displays the click-through rate (CTR) data for each keyword.
Pros:
- In-depth keyword data and analysis, including keyword difficulty.
- Useful for both beginners and advanced users.
- Strong reputation and trusted data from Moz.
Cons:
- Free version limits searches per month (only 10).
- Some advanced features require a paid version.
- Not as much keyword suggestion data as some free tools.
How to use:
- Create a free Moz account.
- Use Moz Keyword Explorer to search for keyword suggestions.
- Analyze the search volume and competition for each keyword.
Pricing: Free (with a limited number of searches per month).
SEMrush is a comprehensive SEO tool that provides detailed keyword research, competitor analysis, and site audit features. While SEMrush is primarily a paid tool, its free version offers valuable keyword insights, making it a great option for those starting their SEO journey.
Best for: Comprehensive keyword research, competitor analysis, and website audits.
Key features:
- Keyword suggestions: Offers detailed keyword ideas and related keywords.
- Search volume & competition: Provides data on search volume, competition, and trends.
- Keyword difficulty: Displays how competitive a keyword is.
- Competitive analysis: Allows you to see what keywords your competitors are ranking for.
- Domain overview: Gives insights into the top pages and keywords for any domain.
Pros:
- Excellent for in-depth keyword analysis and competitor research.
- Provides a comprehensive view of keyword data.
- Offers a free version with a limited but useful set of features.
Cons:
- The free version is limited in terms of features and number of searches.
- Advanced tools and features are locked behind a paid subscription.
- Can be overwhelming for beginners due to the amount of data provided.
How to use:
- Sign up for a free SEMrush account.
- Enter your seed keyword in the keyword research tool.
- View keyword suggestions and metrics like competition level.
Pricing: Free (with limited features).
WordStream offers a simple and easy-to-use keyword research tool designed for small businesses and marketers. This tool helps users find relevant keywords for their websites or ads and provides search volume, competition data, and keyword suggestions.
Best for: Small businesses and content creators looking for an easy and efficient keyword research tool.
Key features:
- Keyword suggestions: Provides related keyword ideas for any given seed keyword.
- Search volume & competition: Displays estimated search volume and competition level.
- Industry-specific suggestions: Offers keyword suggestions specific to your industry or niche.
- Search trends: Shows the search trends for keywords over time.
Pros:
- Simple and intuitive interface, ideal for beginners.
- Free to use with no sign-up required.
- Keyword suggestions tailored to your industry.
Cons:
- Limited in-depth data compared to other tools.
- The free version offers fewer features than the premium version.
- Not as comprehensive as tools like SEMrush or Moz.
How to use:
- Go to WordStream’s free tool.
- Enter your seed keyword and review the suggested keywords.
- Explore competition and volume data to refine your keyword strategy.
Pricing: Free.
Final thoughts
Effective keyword research is key to a successful SEO strategy, and these 10 free tools are a great place to start or enhance your current efforts. While some tools have limited features compared to their paid counterparts, they still provide valuable insights that can help you discover the right keywords for your website.
Bonus tip: While using these tools, remember to focus on long-tail keywords and search intent. Keywords that match user intent are more likely to drive quality traffic, leading to higher conversion rates.
Author Bio
Sejal Chopra
[…] you have your seed keywords, you can expand your list using keyword research tools. Here are some popular tools you can […]