Check out a wide selection of purpose-built keyword research tools that range from beginner-friendly to advanced. The usefulness of these tools varies widely, from the simple and useless to the extremely valuable.
For beginner bloggers, it is a must to learn how to do keyword research and keyword tools usage? So if anyone wants to start a new blog, this is the essential guide they should follow.
Optimize your marketing efforts, streamline workflows, reduce repetitive tasks, and maximize return on investment (ROI).
When used effectively, the best keyword research tools simplify and improve your workflow, enabling you to easily identify and target the most important keywords and provide the information you need to improve your search engine ranking. However, it is important to choose tools that offer such benefits without excessive costs and excessive requirements.
Having worked extensively with many clients using various keyword research and SEO content optimization tools, I have gained first-hand experience with both exceptional and poor opportunities.
So I understand the importance of choosing the right keyword planning tool. In making this decision, I reviewed over 70 tools that offer a free alternative to keyword research.
After extensive testing, I’ve identified four of the best free keyword research tools that have great features overall, as well as apps designed for specific use cases.
If you want to find valuable keywords, it’s important to include keyword research tools in your strategy.
In this article, we present a collection of 15 paid and free keyword tools to help you do your keyword research effectively.
Let’s get started.
Having trouble prioritizing keywords? Using these Popular Keyword Research Tools, you can identify those with the greatest business potential
When faced with many second-page rankings, it can be difficult to determine which keywords to prioritize. The key is to focus on those that offer the greatest “business potential.” Here are some guidelines to help you reach your keyword business potential.
1. Use Google Keyword Planner
Although it is primarily for advertisers, Google Keyword Planner can also be a valuable tool for SEO keyword research. It not only provides keywords but also suggests related keywords that may not contain your original seed keywords.
For example, searching for “crypto” generates ideas like “altcoin” and “safemoon coin”. Remember that Keyword Planner only provides search volumes unless you run search ads.
- Copy and paste ideas into Ahrefs’ free keyword generator for a more accurate estimate.
2. Research related keywords using seed sites: Instead of starting with a seed keyword, you can start with a seed site. By going to a specific site like bitcoin.org, you can find hyper-specific keywords that traditional keyword research tools can easily miss.
2. Use Google Search Console
Google Search Console (GSC) provides insight into how your website performs in organic search for the top 1,000 keywords.
Use the Search Results Report to get the most out of this valuable tool. One way is to identify declining keywords that need attention.
By comparing the performance of the last three months with the same period last year and sorting by the “Click Difference” table, you can determine the keywords for which you lost the most clicks.
For example, our analysis showed a decrease in the number of clicks for the query “Google keyword planner”. We recently updated and published our Google Keyword Planner guide to increasing efficiency.
Remember the power of retargeting old keywords
Don’t underestimate the potential to revive previously targeted keywords. Sometimes reviewing and optimizing your existing content can be more beneficial than just searching for new keywords.
3. Find powerful keywords with Semrush Keyword Magic Tool
Semrush Keyword Magic Tool is an exceptional tool for keyword research. Thanks to the largest keyword database on the market, it contains more than 24 billion keywords in 142 international databases.
Here’s how you can use its features.
1. Open the tool and enter a seed keyword that is a broad term related to your business.
2. Select the desired database location.
3. Click the “Apply” button.
You can get thousands or even millions of keywords in seconds.
Pro-tip. To find the best keywords using the Keyword Magic tool, we recommend checking out our in-depth keyword research guide.
Pricing: The Keyword Magic Tool is included in the Semrush SEO Toolkit. You can register for free and do up to 10 keywords per day, although the available data is limited. You can use the full potential of the tool by subscribing to one of our paid contracts. Prices start at $108.33 per month when billed annually or $129.95 per month if billed monthly. Find keywords now
Harness the power of the keyword magic tool with the largest keyword database available
4. Keyword Insight provides you with valuable information
Keyword Insight is an integral part of Semrush’s comprehensive suite of SEO keyword research tools. It provides a detailed view of all the keywords in the Semrush database while generating related keywords.
To use this tool effectively, do the following.
1. Enter the keyword(s) you want to analyze.
2. Select the country of the database.
3. If you wish, choose an advanced location.
4. Click the “Apply” button.
The tool will quickly generate a comprehensive report on your chosen keyword, consisting of three main sections.
The first part provides an overview of key metrics, including:
– Volume: average monthly number of searches in the selected database and information such as “global volume” and search volume “trend”.
– Keyword Difficulty: Rate the difficulty of a rank on a scale of 1-100. – Purpose: the purpose or motivation of the search.
Here is an example of what this section might look like:
The second section provides an overview of other relevant keywords such as “keyword variations”, “queries” and “related keywords”.
You can see all the keywords related to your main keyword in each category by clicking the “Show all “n,nnn” Keywords” button. Finally, the “SERP Analysis” section shows the top pages for the analyzed keyword.
Here is an example of an analytical SERP section:
Pricing: The Keyword Tool is available in the Semrush SEO Toolkit. When you sign up for free, you can analyze up to 10 keywords per day. If you need additional keyword analysis, consider subscribing to our Pro package for $108.33/month if billed annually or $129.95/month if billed monthly.
5. Simplify keyword management with Keyword Manager
Keyword Manager, Semrush’s powerful tool, helps you create and organize your keyword effortlessly.
Once you’ve identified relevant keywords for your site, you can use Keyword Tracker to effectively manage and track them.
For example, if you searched for keywords using the Keyword Magic Tool, you can submit your selected keywords directly to the Keyword Manager.
You can achieve this by following these steps in the Keyword Magic tool.
1. Select the boxes corresponding to the keywords on the left.
2. Click Add to Keyword.
Then give your list a name and click on the check mark. Click “Add to Item”.
keyword list” again and the list will be added.
Using the Keywords tool gives you many benefits and features. For example, you can organize your keywords into clusters.
Keyword matching is a widely accepted SEO technique that involves grouping similar keywords together based on search intent. The goal is to create your own pages for each cluster that target all of the cluster’s keywords.
This strategy optimizes your content for different variations of keywords, allowing you to rank for a wider variety of keywords and attract more traffic.
To create keywords using Keyword Manager:
1. Go to the “Clusters” tab. 2. Click the “Cluster List” button.
The tool will automatically group your keywords into different clusters as shown in the example below.
[Include an example of keywords grouped into groups like “auto insurance agents” and “auto insurance quotes”]
Clicking on a specific cluster will display all the keywords in that cluster as shown in the example below:
[Include an example of group keywords such as “auto insurers”]
When creating your content, be sure to include these keywords to improve the rankings for all of them.
Pricing: Keyword Manager is a paid tool and requires a subscription to one of Semrush’s paid plans. Prices start at $108.33 per month if billed annually and go up to $416.66 per month if billed annually, depending on the plan you choose.
Improve your SEO strategy
You can easily create keywords using Semrush’s keyword management tool
6. Publish your audience’s questions with QuestionDB
Discover valuable questions asked on popular forum sites like Reddit and Stack Exchange with QuestionDB. Basically, QuestionDB provides you with question-specific keywords.
Titled “Discover Your Audience’s Questions,” QuestionDB’s home page offers a comprehensive question database that provides specific insights into your audience’s true curiosity.
Use this valuable information to create more relevant and informative content that directly answers these questions. Start by creating a list of seed keywords related to your topic.
Next, type one of these seed keywords into QuestionDB.
For example, let’s look at some results for the initial keyword “content creation”:
Example results for the query “content creation” in QuestionDB:
[Add sample results here]
Repeat this process with other seed keywords in the list to generate even broader keywords.
Price: Free users can access about 50 results per search. The basic plan, which costs $15 per month, offers 100 searches per month and unlimited results for each search.
7. Gain insight into competitive keywords through Semrush’s organic research tool
Semrush’s organic research tool enables you to gain valuable insight into your competitors’ keyword strategies.
Getting this information without the help of a tool like Organic Research can be very difficult.
We guide you through the process:
Open the Organic Research tool, enter the competitor’s domain name, and click “Search”.
Enter your competitor’s domain name into the search bar of the organic search engine, such as “competitordomain.com”.
You will receive many information points.
Go to Top Keywords and click Show all “YYYY” Keywords. In the Top Keywords section, you can find all the keywords your competitors are using in the top 100 Google results.
If the list is large and you want more manageable results, you can use one or more filters such as positions, volume, CD, intent, and SERP functions.
You also have the option to export this information to an Excel spreadsheet. Just click the “Export” button in the upper right corner of the table, which offers formats such as Excel, CVS, and CVS-dot-dot.
This feature proves to be very useful if you are short on time and want to analyze those keywords later. Pricing: Organic Research operates on a freemium model. Signing up for free gives you 10 daily searches, but the keywords available may be limited. By choosing a paid package, you can access more comprehensive information. Pricing starts at $108.33 per month if paid annually or $129.95 per month if paid monthly.
Find competing keywords with an organic search tool.
8. Search for question-based keywords using the AlsoAsked function
AlsoAsked is an invaluable tool that aggregates questions from Google’s People Also Ask (PAA) boxes. These questions form a goldmine of query-based keywords related to your main topic.
When you visit the AlsoAsked home page, titled “Find Questions People Are Also Asking,” you’ll be greeted with a user-friendly search bar.
The tool displays all keywords in a query as a branching diagram that provides a visual representation of their relationships. Let’s look at an example of what AlsoAsked might reveal when you search for “content creation” in the US.
Example branching chart for a search for “Content Creation” in the US:
[Insert branch diagram example here]
When you search for the word “content creation,” you’ll be asked four main questions:
1. What does content creation mean? 2. How can I start creating content? 3. What are the 4 pillars of content production? 4. What does a content producer do?
Each of these questions has its own PAA results that further expand to additional branches of related questions.
Click on any branch to display a new graph of that point. The beauty of AlsoAsked is not only in suggesting topics but also in revealing the connections between those questions. This will help you structure your paper to answer the most important questions in the order in which they are presented.
In addition, you have the option to export this valuable data as a CSV file and #40; available for Lite and Pro packages and#41; or as an image for further analysis or presentations.
Pricing: While AlsoAsked offers a free keyword research tool, there are paid options available. You can do 10 searches per month with a free account. Paid plans start at $15 per month, which gives you 100 searches per month.
Also, find the questions people are asking on AlsoAskked
9. Research keyword suggestions with Keyword Surfer
Keyword Surfer is a handy keyword research tool available as a Google Chrome extension. By installing it, you can use keyword suggestions directly on search engine results pages (SERPs).
When you visit Keyword Surfer’s home page, you’ll notice the title “Chrome extension for content and keyword research” and a clear call-to-action button “Add to Chrome.” Once the tool is installed, it will display a panel on the right side of the SERP that will provide you with keyword suggestions.
The dashboard shows related keywords and their percentage overlap, which shows the number of search results shared with your original query. In addition, it provides valuable information about the search volume of these keywords.
Keyword Surfer provides keywords but also provides useful information about each search result. This includes estimated monthly traffic, page word count, exact search term frequency, and even a “TITLE CHANGED” tag if Google has changed the original title tag.
Overall, Keyword Surfer improves your search results by providing valuable information about your page rank. This allows you to find new keywords based on your search query. In terms of pricing, Keyword Surfer offers a freemium model. Their basic plan called “LITE” costs $19 per month and is billed annually.
10. Find out your competitors’ keywords with keyword research
The Keyword Gap Tool is designed to help you analyze the keyword profiles of your competitors. This allows you to identify common keywords that are shared with your competitors, as well as keywords that they rank for but you don’t, giving you new opportunities. To use this tool, open it and enter your domain name with up to four competitors. Then click the “Compare” button to start the analysis. The tool will generate a comprehensive report for you.
The Overlapping Keywords section of the report provides an overview of the relative size of each domain’s keyword profile and the extent of their overlap. This will help you better understand the competitive situation. In addition, you can analyze your current keyword profile against your competitors in the same report. Pay special attention to the Missing and Weak tabs, as they show keywords you haven’t yet targeted or keywords you can improve your performance with.
By clicking on specific keywords, you can gather additional information about them or save them in the Keyword Tool for later use.
Keyword Gap operates on a freemium model. You can make up to 10 comparisons per day for free. If you want to use other features, you have to subscribe to a paid contract that starts at $108.33 per month and is billed at $129.95 per month.
Find new keyword opportunities with the Keyword Crossover Tool.
11. Open search data with AnswerThePublic
AnswerThePublic is a valuable keyword research tool that uses automatic suggestions from search engines like Google to discover the questions people are searching for.
When you visit AnswerThePublic’s home page, you’ll notice its title: “Find What People Are Asking…” and a search bar. To illustrate, we’ll use the keyword “content creation” and focus on search data from the United States.
As you enter keywords, AnswerThePublic quickly displays all related questions in a visually appealing way, like a colorful map. Darker shades of orange represent more popular search terms.
If you like the list format, you can easily switch to displaying the data this way. These questions provide valuable insight into your audience’s interests. They allow you to create content that matches their queries and improves your chances of ranking for those keywords. In addition to questions, AnswerThePublic also provides other types of search information, such as search phrases using prepositions (eg “creating content for social media”), comparisons (eg “content creation vs. marketing”), alphabetical (eg “content creation apps” into category A), and related searches.
AnswerThePublic offers both free and paid packages. The free version allows a limited number of searches. However, their paid plans start at $5 per month, which offers 100 searches per day, which is more than enough for beginners. 11. Optimize your YouTube channel with TubeBuddy
TubeBuddy is a browser extension specifically designed to improve your YouTube channel by providing YouTube-specific keyword research tools. This allows you to effectively optimize and increase your YouTube visibility.
When you visit TubeBuddy’s home page, you will notice the headline “Explode Your YouTube Channel with AI” which talks about its powerful features. TubeBuddy’s keyword research is especially valuable for your keyword research needs. You can use the keyword by entering the keyword of interest and clicking on the “KNOW” button. In the Summary tab, you can find your keyword score on a scale of 100. This score takes into account the level of competition and the quality of optimization of the best videos.
A higher score indicates stronger competition, while a lower score indicates less competition for that keyword. Additionally, the Summary tab provides an overview of keyword interest over time on both YouTube and Google. Related video topics and tags are also featured. Switching to the Results tab provides an overview of YouTube’s results for that keyword. Here you can explore great videos and channels and get valuable competitive research.
Also, when you click to view a specific video, TubeBuddy displays a “Videolytics” panel. This dashboard includes performance data, SEO recommendations, best practices, and even video tags to help you optimize your content.
TubeBuddy offers a free account that allows you to do 25 keyword searches per day. However, they also offer several paid tiers, with the most popular option being the “Legendary” account. A “Legendary” account costs $29.99/month, billed monthly, or $23.99/month, which gives you unlimited access to TubeBuddy’s features.
12. Find keywords with the Keyword Tool
Do you need powerful keywords and trending hashtags to improve your online presence? Look beyond the Keyword! This exceptional tool uses automatic data from several search engines and platforms, including Google, Bing, YouTube, Amazon, Instagram, eBay, and Play Store.
To get started, visit the Keyword Tool page titled “Find great keywords with Google AutoFill.” Here’s how it works: select the search engine and country you want to collect data from, enter a keyword, and hit the search engine.
Once you start a search, the tool will provide you with a comprehensive list of autocomplete suggestions, questions, and prepositions for the search engine of your choice (using Google as an example in this case).
For example, let’s say you select Google search engine and global location. You get a wide selection of results tailored to your preferences.
You can simplify the keyword selection process by marking the keywords you want to target and easily export them to a convenient CSV or Excel file by clicking the export icon.
The best part is that you can start using the keyword tool right away without creating an account. The free version offers up to 750 suggestions for each keyword you search for.
Note that with a free account, you won’t be able to access valuable keyword metrics like search volume and keyword competition. You can unlock these in-depth metrics when you subscribe to our Pro Basic plan.
This plan costs $69 per month if billed annually or $89 per month if billed monthly. With a Pro Basic subscription, you get access to invaluable keyword information that can take your keyword optimization efforts to new heights.
Experience the power of the Keyword Tool today and discover the keywords and hashtags that will take your online presence to new heights!
13. Google Trends: Explore the latest search trends
Staying up to date with the latest search trends is essential to staying on top of the online world. Google Trends provides an instant visual overview of a keyword’s relative search popularity over time.
This tool also allows you to identify related boom and bust searches, which is incredibly valuable for finding trending keywords. Let’s take “ai content” for example. If you search using this keyword, you will notice a significant increase in interest recently.
Google Trends illustrates the rise in popularity
Additionally, Google Trends provides additional information in the “Related Questions” section. Here you will find new keywords like “ai content creator”, “open ai” and “chatgpt” gaining popularity.
The advantage of using Google Trends is that it allows you to discover new popular topics before your competitors. Unlike traditional keyword research tools, where trending keywords can be delayed, Google Trends gives you a head start on identifying the latest trends.
Publish more accurate ideas with Google Trends
If you want to dig deeper into a trending topic, link back to Google Trends. Let’s take “chatgpt” for example. By adding this trending topic to Google Trends, you can access more specific searches related to it.
14. Find your keyword ranking and increase your website traffic with Ahrefs webmaster tools
Have you ever wondered what keywords your website is currently ranking for? Find out easily with Ahrefs Webmaster Tools! Just open Site Explorer’s Free Keyword Report and you’ll see a comprehensive list of all the keywords for which your site is in the top 100 search results.
Excitingly, the Ahrefs blog achieved an impressive 64,120 keyword rankings using Ahrefs webmaster tools. But how can you use this information in keyword research? One strategy that I find particularly important is to identify low-hanging fruit on the second page of search results. By filtering keywords in positions 11-20 and enabling the Top Positions Only selector, you can uncover these valuable opportunities.
You might ask, why focus on ranking on the second page? Research shows that very few users click on the first page of search results. So, by improving the on-page rank of these two keywords and getting them to the first page, you can significantly increase your website traffic.
Consider the keyword “PageRank” for example. We are currently #11 for this keyword – a great example of low chance. By applying our SEO checklist to the relevant post or updating and republishing the content, we can easily secure a first-page rank for that keyword which will significantly increase traffic.
But what if you are not sure which keywords to prioritize from a large list of page two rankings?
When you find yourself in this situation, it is recommended to focus on the keywords with the highest business potential. One powerful tool to assess this potential is the Google Keyword Planner, which was originally designed for advertisers but is also useful for SEO keyword research. This allows you to find related keywords that do not contain your original keyword, opening up new opportunities. For example, if you search for “crypto” in Google Keyword Planner, it will give you keywords like “altcoin” and “safemoon coin”. In fact, out of 880 generated keyword ideas, 735 do not contain the initial word “cryptocurrency”.
While the Keyword Planner can only show search volumes instead of exact numbers (unless you’re using search ads), you can easily copy and paste ideas into Ahrefs’ free keyword generator to get a more accurate forecast of search volumes.
If you’re looking for even more relevant keywords, here’s a smart approach: instead of starting with the original keyword, start with the original website. By entering a seed site like bitcoin.org into a keyword generator, you’ll find hyper-specific keywords that traditional keyword research tools may miss.
15.ChatGPT
Now let’s talk about another useful resource – ChatGPT. While ChatGPT may not be ideal for in-depth keyword research, it can be a valuable tool for generating keywords. For example, if you ask ChatGPT for a list of Bitcoin-related terms, it will give you many suggestions. While not all of these may be suitable as seed keywords due to their generality or ambiguity, some of them can be great starting points.
16. Keyword generator tool
In addition to ChatGPT, Keyword Generator is a great tool to generate up to 150 keywords. Just enter a broad topic, select the target country, and press Search Keywords. For example, if you search for the word “bitcoin,” you will find the top 100 bitcoin-related keywords in a database of over 19 billion keywords. In addition, you will find a list of the top 50 questions people ask about Bitcoin.
Each keyword in these lists is associated with a keyword difficulty (CD) of the top ten keywords. The closer this score is to 100, the harder it is to rank for that keyword (see Section 9 for details).
If you find the keywords too broad, don’t worry! You can always put them back into the keyword to explore the topic further. For example, if the generator suggests “bitcoin mining” based on an initial search for “bitcoin” and you want to explore that particular aspect further, enter “bitcoin mining” as a new keyword and generate new ideas.
17. Ubersuggest: Unleashing the Power of Keywords for Online Success
Do you want to increase your online visibility and manage your search engines? Look no further than Ubersuggest, a keyword research tool developed by respected digital marketer and entrepreneur Neil Patel. Ubersuggest offers a wealth of knowledge and information to help individuals and businesses optimize their online strategy and rise above the competition.
At the heart of Ubersuggest is its powerful keyword planner. This nifty tool allows users to discover new keywords and gain valuable insight into their performance. By simply entering an initial keyword or domain name, you will be presented with a comprehensive list of related keyword suggestions. These recommendations are based on real search data, opening doors to discover hidden long-tail keywords and marketing opportunities.
Going deeper, Key Planner does more than just provide a list of suggestions. It provides users with important information about each keyword, including search volumes, cost per click (CPC), and the level of competition associated with each keyword. This knowledge is invaluable in determining the popularity and commercial viability of certain keywords. Additionally, historical trends are available to identify seasonal variations or changes in keyword popularity over time.
But wait, there’s more! The Ubersuggest Key Planner offers many filtering options to tailor results to your unique needs. Whether you’re looking for high-volume keywords, accurate CPC, or want to conquer low-competition niches, this feature lets you focus on keywords that closely match your goals and target audience. The tool adds to its arsenal by estimating keyword difficulty and highlighting how difficult it can be to rank for a given keyword in free search results.
Ubersuggest does not limit its coverage to a single language or geographic location. It has an impressive ability to provide keyword suggestions in multiple languages and geographies. This feature is a game changer for certain markets or companies operating internationally, allowing them to fine-tune their strategy to perfection.
But the Ubersuggest Keyword Planner isn’t just limited to keyword suggestions. It even goes further by providing an overview of the top-ranking pages for any given keyword. This valuable feature allows users to analyze their competitors’ content strategies, identify potential content gaps and discover exciting opportunities waiting to be exploited.
SERP Scan: Measures the traffic potential of a keyword
Understanding the traffic potential of a keyword is essential for effective SEO strategies. This is where SERP Checker comes in. It allows you to examine the top pages for almost any keyword, as well as valuable SEO metrics for the top three pages. This information allows you to accurately measure the traffic potential of a keyword.
For example, consider the keyword “best Bitcoin mining facility”. A standard keyword research tool like Ahrefs Keyword Generator shows an average of 500 monthly searches in the US:
However, if you enter this keyword into the SERP Checker, you will see that the top three search results receive about 1,000 to 1,8,800 monthly searches. This shows that top pages attract 2-4 times more traffic than keyword search alone.
This phenomenon is due to the fact that pages often receive traffic from several keywords, not just one. So estimating a keyword’s true traffic potential based on search volume alone can be misleading. That’s why it’s worth using SERP Checker to get a better idea of the traffic you can potentially generate by ranking for promising keywords.
In conclusion, leveraging the power of Google Trends and SERP Checker will allow you to stay on top of trending topics and accurately assess keyword potential. By staying ahead and understanding the true traffic potential of your keywords, you can improve your online presence and outperform your competition.
Do rankings get less traffic than keyword search volume? Contrary to popular belief, the potential traffic of top pages is not always greater than the number of searches for a keyword. In fact, there are cases where it can be less.
Consider, for example, the keyword “how many people own bitcoins,” which receives about 1.4,000 monthly searches in the United States. However, when we look at the top pages using SERP Checker, we find that they actually get significantly less traffic than the search suggests, even though they rank for several relevant keywords.
Several factors contribute to this phenomenon. “How many people own bitcoins” Google gives the answer right on the search results page (SERP). This way, many candidates get the information they need without clicking on any specific result.
Conclusion
It can be observed that Google answers the question directly in the SERP as shown in the example.
Another important aspect to consider is the Keyword Difficulty Score (CD). This score indicates the degree of difficulty associated with ranking in the top 10 search results. For example, “Bitcoin” has an impressive CD score of 99/100, indicating a very difficult investment scenario.
On the other hand, the CD score for “litecoin vs bitcoin” is only 9/100, which suggests that it should be relatively easier to rank high for this keyword.
However, it is important to note that CD is mainly based on backlinks and does not consider other factors such as content quality, which can also affect ranking difficulty.
Therefore, a high CD score means you probably need a significant amount of backlinks to compete effectively. Before searching for a specific keyword, it is always recommended to do a more in-depth assessment of the difficulty of ranking.
In conclusion, if you are new to SEO, using free keyword research tools is enough to find promising keywords for your website. But as your website grows and the value of your time increases, investing in paid keyword research tools will pay off.
Paid keyword tools provide more in-depth information and enable more efficient workflows, enabling you to find better keywords in less time. Ultimately, these tools will prove to be valuable assets in optimizing your website’s visibility and driving relevant traffic.