The 4 Best Free Keyword Research Tools

Keyword research is an essential part of SEO. It helps you find the right words and phrases to target in your content. Many paid tools offer advanced features, but several free options provide excellent insights without any cost. In this guide, we will explore four of the best free keyword research tools that can help you improve your website’s search rankings.

1. Google Keyword Planner

Google Keyword Planner is a free tool offered by Google Ads. It is primarily designed for advertisers but works well for SEO keyword research. The tool provides keyword ideas, search volume, and competition data.

Features:

• Discover new keyword ideas based on your industry.
• See search volume and competition levels.
• Get forecasts for keyword performance.
• Filter keywords by location, language, and search network.

How to Use:

1. Sign in to Google Ads (you don’t need to run a campaign).
2. Select “Discover new keywords.”
3. Enter a seed keyword or website URL.
4. Review the keyword suggestions and data.

Google Keyword Planner is useful for finding keywords directly from Google’s database. However, it does not provide detailed SEO metrics like keyword difficulty or click-through rates.

2. Ubersuggest

Ubersuggest is a user-friendly keyword research tool created by Neil Patel. It provides keyword suggestions, search volume, and competition analysis for free.

Features:

• Generate keyword ideas from a seed keyword.
• View search volume, competition, and CPC (cost per click).
• Analyze the top-ranking pages for any keyword.
• Get content ideas based on keyword trends.

How to Use:

1. Visit Ubersuggest.
2. Enter a keyword or domain name.
3. Click “Search.”
4. Browse through the keyword suggestions and metrics.

The free version allows limited daily searches but provides valuable insights for bloggers, marketers, and website owners.

3. AnswerThePublic

AnswerThePublic helps you find keywords based on real user queries. It generates a visual map of keyword variations in the form of questions, prepositions, and comparisons.

Features:

• Discover long-tail keywords in a visual format.
• Get keyword ideas grouped into categories.
• Download keyword data in CSV format.
• Explore related search queries from Google and Bing.

How to Use:

1. Go to AnswerThePublic.
2. Enter a topic or keyword.
3. Click “Search.”
4. Explore the keyword variations and user questions.

This tool is great for content ideas and understanding user intent. However, free searches are limited per day.

4. Keyword Surfer

Keyword Surfer is a free Chrome extension that provides keyword research data directly in Google search results. It shows search volume, keyword suggestions, and content insights without requiring an account.

Features:

• View search volume directly on Google’s search page.
• Get keyword suggestions with search volume and similarity scores.
• Analyze the word count and backlink data of top-ranking pages.
• Check estimated traffic for competing websites.

How to Use:

1. Install the Keyword Surfer Chrome extension.
2. Search for a keyword on Google.
3. View keyword data on the right-hand panel.
4. Explore related keywords and competition analysis.

Keyword Surfer is ideal for quick keyword research without leaving Google’s search page.

Which Free Keyword Research Tool Should You Use?

Each tool has its strengths. Google Keyword Planner is best for finding high-volume keywords. Ubersuggest offers detailed SEO insights. AnswerThePublic is great for content ideas. Keyword Surfer provides instant keyword data on Google search.

Using a combination of these tools can help you find the best keywords for your content strategy. Start with one that fits your needs and experiment with others for a broader keyword research approach.

Conclusion

Keyword research is crucial for SEO success. Free tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, AnswerThePublic, and Keyword Surfer provide valuable insights without any cost. By using these tools, you can discover high-ranking keywords, improve your content strategy, and boost your website’s visibility in search results.