Are you just getting started with an SEO campaign for your website? Need help putting together a list of keywords to target?

You’ll find 17 free keyword research tools and their best features in this infographic.

Here are some of the tools that make the list:

• Google
• Ubersuggest
• AnswerThePublic
• Wordtracker
• Moz

Check out the infographic for more.

Keyword research tool infographic

The best free keyword research tools

Keyword research is a fundamental aspect of any successful digital marketing strategy. Whether you’re running a blog, an e-commerce website, or managing a pay-per-click advertising campaign, understanding which keywords your target audience is searching for can make a significant difference in your online visibility and traffic.

While there are many premium keyword research tools available, not everyone has the budget for them. Luckily, there are several free keyword research tools that can help you identify valuable keywords to optimize your content and improve your search engine rankings.

In this blog post, we’ll explore 17 of the best free keyword research tools and their standout features to help you make informed decisions about which tools to use for your SEO efforts.

 

Google Keyword Planner

Google Keyword Planner is one of the most popular and widely used keyword research tools, and it’s completely free. It’s part of Google Ads and is designed to help advertisers find the right keywords for their campaigns. Here are some of its best features:

• Keyword Suggestions: Get keyword ideas based on a seed keyword or a URL.
• Search Volume: Find out how often a keyword is searched for on Google.
• Keyword Difficulty: Assess the competition level for a keyword.
• Bid Estimates: Get estimates for keyword bid costs.

 

Google Trends

Google Trends is another free tool from Google that provides valuable insights into keyword popularity over time. It’s especially useful for identifying seasonal trends and staying up to date with the latest search trends. Key features include:

• Trending Keywords: Discover what topics are currently trending.
• Regional Data: Analyse keyword popularity by region.
• Related Queries: See related search terms and queries.
• Historical Data: Examine keyword trends over the years.

 

Ubersuggest

Ubersuggest is an all-in-one SEO tool that offers a free keyword research feature. It provides keyword suggestions, search volume data, and competition analysis. Some of its best features include:

• Keyword Ideas: Generate keyword ideas from a seed keyword.
• Content Ideas: Find popular blog post ideas related to your keywords.
• Keyword Difficulty: Analyse the competition for specific keywords.
• Backlink Data: Get insights into the backlinks of top-ranking pages.

 

AnswerThePublic

AnswerThePublic is a unique keyword research tool that focuses on user questions and long-tail keywords. It visualizes keyword data in a creative and informative way. Key features include:

• Question-Based Keywords: Discover questions people ask related to your topic.
• Prepositions: Find keyword suggestions with prepositions (e.g., “for,” “with”).
• Alphabetical Listings: Explore keywords alphabetically.
• Comparison Keywords: Identify keywords with comparison terms (e.g., “vs,” “or”).

 

Keyword Surfer

Keyword Surfer is a Chrome extension that integrates with Google search results, providing keyword insights directly in your browser. It’s an excellent tool for quick keyword research while browsing. Features include:

• Search Volume: See search volume data for keywords in Google search results.
• Keyword Suggestions: Get keyword ideas while typing your query.
• Keyword Metrics: Access data on backlinks, traffic, and more for top-ranking pages.

 

Soovle

Soovle is a unique keyword research tool that aggregates keyword suggestions from various search engines and websites. It can help you discover keywords that you might not find using other tools. Key features include:

• Multiple Search Engines: Get keyword suggestions from Google, Bing, YouTube, Amazon, and more.
• User-Friendly Interface: Easily switch between different search engines.
• Real-Time Suggestions: See keyword ideas as you type.

 

KeywordTool.io

KeywordTool.io is a free keyword research tool that offers keyword suggestions for Google, Bing, YouTube, Amazon, and other platforms. It’s user-friendly and provides valuable insights for various content types. Notable features include:

• Platform-Specific Keywords: Find keywords tailored to specific platforms.
• Questions and Prepositions: Discover question-based and preposition-based keywords.
• Export Data: Download keyword lists in CSV format.

 

Moz Keyword Explorer (Free Version)

Moz Keyword Explorer is a powerful SEO tool known for its accuracy in providing keyword difficulty scores. While it offers a paid version, it also has a free version with limited features. Key features include:

• Keyword Difficulty: Assess the competition level for keywords.
• SERP Analysis: Analyse search engine results pages for specific keywords.
• Keyword Metrics: Get search volume, click-through rate (CTR), and more.

 

WordStream’s Free Keyword Tool

WordStream’s Free Keyword Tool is designed to help businesses improve their online advertising campaigns. It provides keyword suggestions and allows users to export their keyword lists easily. Features include:

• Keyword Suggestions: Generate keyword ideas based on industry and niche.
• Negative Keywords: Identify keywords to exclude from your campaigns.
• Keyword Grouping: Organize keywords into relevant groups.

 

Keywords Everywhere

Keywords Everywhere is a browser extension that provides keyword data directly within Google search results, Google Trends, and other websites. It offers search volume, cost per click (CPC), and competition data. Key features include:

• Search Volume: See search volume data for keywords in Google search.
• CPC Data: Find out the cost per click for keywords in Google Ads.
• Related Keywords: Access related keyword suggestions.

 

Seed Keywords

Seed Keywords is a unique tool that allows you to create custom scenarios and gather keyword ideas from your target audience. It’s particularly useful for brainstorming and understanding how people search for specific topics. Notable features include:

• Custom Scenarios: Create hypothetical search scenarios.
• User-Generated Keywords: Collect keyword suggestions from participants.
• Keyword Voting: Evaluate the popularity of suggested keywords.

 

Bulk Keyword Generator

Bulk Keyword Generator is a straightforward tool that generates keyword ideas in bulk. It’s suitable for those who need a quick list of keywords for their projects. Key features include:

• Bulk Keyword Generation: Generate a large number of keyword ideas at once.
• Keyword Filtering: Filter keywords based on word count and other criteria.
• Export Options: Download keyword lists for further analysis.

 

Keyword In

Keyword In is a simple yet effective keyword research tool that helps you find long-tail keywords related to your seed keyword. It’s ideal for content creators looking to target specific niches. Features include:

• Long-Tail Keywords: Discover longer and more specific keyword variations.
• Keyword Suggestions: Get keyword ideas based on your seed keyword.
• Competitor Keywords: Find keywords used by your competitors.

 

SE Ranking Keyword Suggestion Tool

SE Ranking offers a free keyword suggestion tool that provides keyword ideas and search volume data. While it’s part of a broader SEO platform, you can use it as a standalone tool for keyword research. Notable features include:

• Keyword Ideas: Generate keyword suggestions for your niche.
• Search Volume Data: Get insights into keyword popularity.
• Keyword Filtering: Refine your keyword list based on criteria.

 

Serpstat (Free Version)

Serpstat is a comprehensive SEO tool that offers a free version with limited functionality. It includes a keyword research feature that provides keyword suggestions, search volume data, and more. Key features include:

• Keyword Suggestions: Discover relevant keywords for your content.
• Search Volume Data: Get insights into keyword popularity.
• Competitor Analysis: Analyse competitors’ keyword strategies.

 

SEOquake

SEOquake is a browser extension that provides various SEO metrics for websites, including keyword data. It’s a handy tool for competitive analysis and on-page SEO optimization. Features include:

• Keyword Density: Analyse the keyword density of a webpage.
• Internal and External Links: View the number of links on a page.
• Keyword Highlighting: Highlight keywords on a webpage for easy analysis.

ScrapeBox (Limited Free Version)

ScrapeBox is primarily known as a web scraping tool, but it also offers some keyword research features in its limited free version. It’s a more advanced tool for experienced users. Key features include:

• Keyword Harvesting: Collect keywords from search engines and websites.
• Competition Analysis: Analyse the competition for specific keywords.
• Keyword Filtering: Refine your keyword list based on criteria.

 

Conclusion

Keyword research is a critical step in optimizing your online content for search engines and attracting organic traffic. While there are many premium keyword research tools available, the 17 free tools mentioned in this blog post offer valuable features and insights without the need for a hefty budget.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced SEO professional, these tools can help you identify the right keywords to target and improve your website’s visibility in search engine results.

Before choosing a tool, consider your specific needs, such as keyword volume data, competition analysis, or content ideation. Experiment with different tools to find the ones that align with your goals and preferences.

Remember that while these free keyword research tools are valuable, they may have limitations compared to their paid counterparts. Nevertheless, they can be powerful assets in your SEO toolkit, helping you drive organic traffic and achieve your online marketing objectives.