Are you searching for the best free keyword research tools to elevate your SEO game? Or perhaps you’re wondering how to find the right keywords that can drive more traffic to your website without spending a fortune? Well, you’re not alone.
Imagine having the perfect content idea but no clue how to get it in front of the right audience. What if you could unlock the exact keywords people are using to search for topics just like yours—without spending a penny? Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned SEO expert, mastering keyword research is the key to driving traffic and ranking higher on Google. But here’s the catch: not all tools give you the same insights. Some uncover hidden gems, while others help you rank fast. Curious to know which free tools can transform your SEO game? Let’s dive into the best free keyword research tools you can start using today.
Best Free Keyword Research Tools
Each tool mentioned below is best suited for specific needs. Here’s a quick overview of what these tools excel at:
| Tool | Best For |
|---|---|
| Keyword Generator | Discovering trending and popular keyword ideas. |
| AnswerThePublic | Uncovering common questions people are searching for. |
| ChatGPT | Generating foundational “seed” keywords to explore further. |
| Ahrefs Webmaster Tools | Identifying keywords where you can achieve quick wins. |
| Google Keyword Planner | Finding related keywords that go beyond your seed terms. |
| Google Search Console | Spotting keywords that are losing traffic or ranking. |
| Google Trends | Finding new and emerging keywords with rising popularity. |
| SERP Checker | Assessing the actual traffic potential of specific keywords. |
| Keyword Difficulty Checker | Estimating how difficult it will be to rank for a particular keyword. |
| Google Gemini | Understanding the search intent behind specific keywords. |
1. Keyword Generator
The Keyword Generator tool is perfect for anyone who wants to quickly find a large number of keyword ideas related to a broad topic. With the ability to generate up to 150 keyword ideas, this tool helps you understand the kinds of searches people are conducting. When you enter a keyword like “bitcoin,” the generator produces a list of the top 100 keywords associated with that term. This is valuable because it draws from a database of over 12 billion keywords, which means you’re getting a diverse range of search terms and ideas.
Another important feature is that it provides the Keyword Difficulty (KD) score for each term. This score helps you determine how competitive it will be to rank for that particular keyword. Keywords with low KD scores are easier to target, making this tool especially useful for newer websites that might not have the authority to compete for highly competitive keywords yet.
You can also use this tool iteratively. For example, after searching for “bitcoin,” you may discover that “bitcoin mining” is a popular keyword. From here, you can input “bitcoin mining” into the generator again to find more niche keywords within that topic. This feature allows you to drill down and get more specific, which is helpful for creating focused content that targets long-tail keywords.
Pro Tip: To make the most of this tool, start with a broad keyword and refine your search based on the results. Keep feeding the most promising keyword back into the tool until you find niche, low-competition keywords that align with your content goals.
2. AnswerThePublic
AnswerThePublic is an innovative tool that excels at uncovering questions people are asking around a particular topic. It’s especially useful for content creators who want to produce question-and-answer style content. This tool gathers data from autocomplete suggestions on search engines, giving you insight into the exact phrases users are typing into Google.
For example, if you search for “bitcoin,” you’ll see hundreds of related keyword ideas categorized by questions (e.g., who, what, where, why, how), prepositions, and comparisons. The data is presented in a visually appealing way, making it easy to identify patterns in search behavior.
The tool doesn’t provide exact search volumes, but it uses colored circles (red, orange, and green) to indicate whether a keyword has high, medium, or low search frequency. This helps you prioritize which questions to focus on when creating content.
While the tool’s visualization is one of its key features, it’s also important to highlight that AnswerThePublic excels at finding long-tail keywords. These are often highly specific search queries that reflect users’ intent more clearly than generic keywords. By targeting these question-based keywords, you can tap into an audience that is looking for detailed, helpful information.
Pro Tip: Use AnswerThePublic in combination with other tools like Ahrefs or Google Keyword Planner to validate the search volume and competition for the keywords you uncover. This will give you a more complete understanding of the keyword’s potential.
3. Ahrefs Webmaster Tools
Ahrefs Webmaster Tools provides a comprehensive look at the keywords your site currently ranks for in Google’s top 100 results. This is especially useful for identifying quick-win opportunities, where you’re ranking just outside the first page (positions 11-20) but could potentially boost your ranking with a bit of optimization.
For example, you might discover that your blog post ranks at position 12 for a keyword with decent search volume. By tweaking the content—adding more relevant information, optimizing for on-page SEO factors, or building a few high-quality backlinks—you could push that post to the first page of search results. Even a small jump in rankings from page two to page one can significantly increase your organic traffic.
The tool’s Organic Keywords report allows you to filter your rankings based on position, search volume, and keyword difficulty. You can focus your efforts on the keywords with the most potential to drive traffic to your site.
Pro Tip: Prioritize keywords with high business potential and moderate search volume that are sitting in positions 11-20. Small improvements to content can often lead to significant traffic gains without much additional effort.
4. Google Keyword Planner
Google Keyword Planner is one of the most popular tools for keyword research, particularly for advertisers using Google Ads. However, it’s also a fantastic tool for finding related keywords for SEO purposes. One of its standout features is its ability to suggest keywords that don’t necessarily include your seed keyword.
For instance, if you search for “crypto,” the tool might return suggestions like “cold wallet” or “blockchain technology,” even though those terms don’t include the word “crypto.” This makes the tool incredibly valuable for discovering related topics that could enrich your content and expand your reach.
The only drawback is that Google Keyword Planner often provides search volume ranges instead of exact numbers. This can be frustrating for SEOs looking for precise data, but it’s still useful for identifying broader trends. You can copy these keyword ideas into other tools, like Ahrefs or Google Trends, to get more detailed search volume data.
Another advantage is the ability to search using a seed website instead of a keyword. For example, if you use a website related to cryptocurrency as your seed, the tool will generate keyword ideas based on the content of that site, helping you find highly specific and relevant keywords.
Pro Tip: Use Google Keyword Planner in conjunction with a paid tool for exact search volumes. Start with a seed website to uncover industry-specific keywords that might not show up with a typical keyword-based search.
5. Google Search Console
Google Search Console (GSC) is not only a tool for monitoring your site’s overall performance but also a powerful keyword research tool. It gives you access to the top 1,000 keywords that your site ranks for, and it’s a goldmine for spotting declining keywords that need attention.
When you compare data over different time periods, you can see which keywords have lost traction and which ones have gained. For example, if you notice that a keyword that previously drove significant traffic has started to decline, you can update and optimize the related content to regain that traffic.
This is especially useful for maintaining consistent traffic growth over time. Often, targeting new keywords is not as beneficial as optimizing for keywords you already rank for but have started to lose traction. Updating old content with fresh information and making it more SEO-friendly can result in a quick traffic boost.
Pro Tip: Use the year-over-year comparison feature to avoid seasonal fluctuations in your data. This will give you a more accurate view of which keywords are truly in decline and need your attention.
6. Google Trends
Google Trends is a valuable tool for identifying trending keywords and understanding how search interest fluctuates over time. It doesn’t just show you keyword popularity but also visualizes it in an easy-to-read graph. This makes it perfect for spotting spikes in interest and identifying potential opportunities for content creation.
For instance, if you search for “AI content,” Google Trends might show a significant increase in interest over the past few months. By scrolling down to the “Related Queries” section, you can also discover rising or breakout keywords that are becoming more popular. These terms may not yet be reflected in traditional keyword research tools, so this gives you an edge over competitors who aren’t yet aware of these trends.
Google Trends also helps with understanding seasonality. For example, if you run a travel blog, you can track search interest for popular destinations throughout the year. This helps you plan content ahead of time for peak seasons, ensuring that your posts are ready when search volume is at its highest.
Pro Tip: Always plug trending or breakout topics back into Google Trends to find more related ideas. This can help you uncover specific terms people are searching for, which might not be visible through other tools.
7. SERP Checker
The SERP Checker tool is designed to give you insights into the top-ranking pages for a particular keyword, including important SEO metrics for those pages. It’s particularly helpful for evaluating the traffic potential of a keyword.
For example, when you search for a term like “best bitcoin mining rig,” SERP Checker will show the average monthly search volume for that keyword. However, the real value of this tool lies in the estimated monthly traffic that the top-ranking pages receive. You’ll often find that top-ranking pages can get much more traffic than the keyword’s search volume alone would suggest. This is because pages tend to rank for multiple keywords, not just the primary one.
This means that using search volume as your only metric for traffic potential can be misleading. With SERP Checker, you can get a clearer idea of the real traffic opportunity for a keyword by seeing how much traffic the top-ranking pages are receiving.
Pro Tip: Always analyze traffic potential rather than just relying on search volume. Some keywords may show low search volume but can drive significant traffic if they rank for multiple related terms.
8. Keyword Difficulty Checker
The Keyword Difficulty Checker estimates how challenging it will be to rank in the top 10 for a given keyword. The tool assigns a Keyword Difficulty (KD) score that ranges from 0 to 100, where higher scores indicate more competition. This tool is particularly valuable for understanding how many backlinks you’ll need to build to compete with the top-ranking pages.
For instance, the keyword “bitcoin” has a KD score of 99/100, meaning it would be extremely difficult to rank for. On the other hand, a term like “gbtc vs bitcoin” may have a KD score of 9/100, indicating that it’s much easier to rank for.
However, it’s important to note that KD is based primarily on backlinks. This means it doesn’t account for other ranking factors such as content quality or user experience. While a low KD score may suggest an easier keyword, you should still consider the overall quality of content and how well it satisfies user intent.
Pro Tip: Always dig deeper into the competition for a keyword, even if it has a low KD score. Evaluate the content quality of the top-ranking pages to determine if you can create something better or more comprehensive.
9. Google Gemini
Google Gemini is Google’s AI assistant, and it’s particularly useful for understanding search intent. Unlike other keyword research tools, Gemini can pull real-time search results from Google and use them to provide answers to your questions. This is crucial when it comes to figuring out what users are really looking for when they type in a specific keyword.
For instance, if you input the keyword “air purifier,” Gemini will analyze the top 10 search results and give you a summary of the search intent. In this case, the tool might tell you that users are researching the best air purifiers to buy and are looking for comparison guides or lists of top products. This insight is essential because it helps you create content that matches the user’s intent, whether it’s an informational blog post or a product review.
Additionally, Gemini allows you to dig deeper by analyzing the top features or topics mentioned in the search results. You can ask it to visit the top 10 pages and summarize the common features they discuss, giving you a blueprint for structuring your own content.
Pro Tip: While Gemini is a powerful free tool, it’s important to manually review the top-ranking pages yourself to get a better understanding of the competition. AI can provide useful insights, but nothing beats human analysis for fully understanding search intent.
10. Google Search Console
Google Search Console (GSC) is a powerful, free tool provided by Google that not only helps you monitor your website’s performance but is also great for keyword research. It shows data for up to 1,000 keywords that your website currently ranks for, making it an excellent resource for discovering how users are finding your site organically.
One of the most useful features of GSC for keyword research is the Search Results report, which provides detailed insights into which queries are driving traffic to your site. This allows you to find declining keywords—queries that used to drive more traffic but have started to fall in ranking or clicks. Once you identify these keywords, you can focus on optimizing or refreshing your content to regain those lost positions.
For example, if you notice a decline in clicks for a high-potential keyword like “Google Keyword Planner,” you can update the content, add more relevant information, or improve your on-page SEO. By doing so, you may be able to recover traffic that you were losing, potentially resulting in a significant traffic boost.
Another way to use GSC is to discover new keyword opportunities. You might find that certain pages are ranking for keywords you hadn’t originally targeted. These “surprise” keywords can be leveraged to create additional content or optimize existing pages to capture even more traffic.
Pro Tip: Always use the year-over-year comparison when looking at keyword performance in GSC to avoid skewed data due to seasonality. This way, you get a more accurate picture of how your keywords are performing over time. If you notice a decline in clicks or impressions for a certain keyword, it might just be due to seasonal changes rather than an actual drop in performance.
FAQs – Best Free Keyword Research Tools
What is the best free keyword research tool for beginners?
The best free keyword research tool for beginners is Google Keyword Planner. It’s user-friendly, allows you to discover a wide range of keyword ideas, and provides essential metrics like search volume and related keywords. While it is primarily designed for advertisers, SEO beginners can easily adapt it for keyword research. Its integration with Google Ads makes it reliable, and the interface is simple enough for those new to SEO.
How can I use AnswerThePublic effectively for content creation?
To use AnswerThePublic effectively, start by entering a broad topic related to your niche. The tool will provide a wide array of questions, prepositions, and comparisons that people are searching for. These insights can help you create content that answers specific user queries. Focus on addressing the most common and relevant questions, as these are likely to attract more organic traffic. You can also use this data to structure FAQs, blog posts, or guide articles that provide real value to your audience.
Is Keyword Difficulty an important metric when choosing keywords?
Yes, Keyword Difficulty (KD) is crucial when selecting keywords, especially if you’re running a new or low-authority website. KD helps estimate how hard it will be to rank for a particular keyword based on factors like the number of backlinks required. It’s a good idea to target keywords with low to medium difficulty when starting out, as these are easier to rank for and can help you build authority over time. However, always balance KD with search volume and relevance to your content.
How can Google Trends help with SEO and content planning?
Google Trends is highly useful for identifying seasonal trends and emerging topics. It visualizes the popularity of search queries over time, helping you understand when interest in a topic is rising or declining. This is particularly helpful for planning time-sensitive content around peak search periods. It also allows you to discover breakout keywords that are gaining popularity, giving you an edge in creating relevant, timely content before competitors.
Can ChatGPT really help with keyword research?
While ChatGPT isn’t a dedicated keyword research tool, it can be a great starting point for finding seed keywords. By asking ChatGPT for terms related to a broad topic, you can generate a list of foundational keywords that you can further explore using specialized tools like Ahrefs or Google Keyword Planner. It’s especially helpful if you’re brainstorming or need a fresh perspective on a topic. However, you should always validate the keyword data using more advanced SEO tools.
Final Thoughts: Which One is Your Favorite Free Keyword Research Tool in 2024?
Free keyword research tools are invaluable for anyone starting with SEO. While they don’t offer the extensive data and advanced features of paid tools, they can still help you discover great keyword ideas and improve your website’s visibility.
As your website grows and your time becomes more valuable, investing in paid tools may be worth considering for their ability to streamline the process and provide more comprehensive insights.