15 Best Keyword Research Tools (Free + Paid)

If you wish to discover beneficial key phrases, you must use key phrase analysis instruments.

On this publish, we’ll take a look at 15 paid and free key phrase instruments that will help you carry out efficient key phrase analysis.

Let’s begin.

Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool is a strong key phrase analysis instrument. 

It has the biggest key phrase database available on the market—over 24 billion key phrases throughout 142 worldwide databases.

Right here’s how you should use it:

Open the instrument, enter your seed key phrase (a broad time period associated to your small business), choose your most well-liked database location, and click on “Search.” 

You’ll see 1000’s (or hundreds of thousands) of key phrase concepts in seconds.

Right here’s an instance:

Wish to slim down your outcomes? 

No downside. You’ll be able to apply the next (and extra) filters:

• Questions: To see key phrase concepts within the type of questions
• Broad Match, Phrase Match, Precise Match, and Associated: To see totally different variations of your seed key phrase
• Languages: To search for key phrases in several languages
• Quantity: To seek for key phrases that fall below particular search volume vary, like 101-1000, 1001-10000, and many others.
• KD %: To see key phrases which have a particular key phrase problem degree for rating, like “Straightforward,” “Exhausting,” “Very laborious,” and many others.
• Intent: To see key phrases that replicate a particular search intent, like “Informational,” “Navigational,” “Business,” or “Transactional”

Choose the filters you’re thinking about, and your outcomes will routinely slim in accordance with the brand new standards.

Like this:

Professional tip: Learn our detailed keyword research guide to discover ways to discover the perfect key phrases with the Key phrase Magic Software.

Worth: The Key phrase Magic Software is part of Semrush’s search engine optimisation toolkit. You’ll be able to sign up without spending a dime and carry out 10 key phrase searches per day. However the obtainable knowledge might be restricted.

To make use of the Key phrase Magic Software to its fullest potential, subscribe to one of many paid plans.

The pricing begins at $99.95 per thirty days paid yearly or $119.95 per thirty days paid month-to-month.

2. Key phrase Overview

Keyword Overview is a part of Semrush’s ecosystem of key phrase analysis instruments for search engine optimisation.

It supplies an in depth overview of any key phrase within the Semrush database. And generates different associated key phrase concepts.

To make use of this instrument, enter the key phrase(s) you wish to analyze, choose the database nation, select a extra particular location if you want, and click on “Search.”

The instrument will generate an outline report in your key phrase.

The report consists of three primary sections.

The primary part offers you a fast snapshot of key metrics, like:

• Quantity: The typical variety of month-to-month searches within the chosen database (and metrics like “International Quantity” and search quantity “Pattern”)
• Key phrase Issue: The estimation of how laborious it’s to rank within the high 10 natural outcomes (on a scale from 1 to 100)
• Intent: The aim (or the “why?”) behind the search

Right here’s what that part appears to be like like:

The second part provides you with an outline of different related key phrases. Together with “Key phrase Variations,” “Questions,” and “Associated Key phrases”:

You’ll be able to click on the “View all X,XXX key phrases” buttons to see all of the key phrase concepts associated to your primary key phrase for every of the classes.

Lastly, the “SERP Evaluation” part reveals you the present top-ranking pages for the analyzed key phrase.

Right here’s what it appears to be like like within the instrument:

Worth: The Key phrase Overview instrument comes with Semrush’s search engine optimisation toolkit. You’ll be able to sign up without spending a dime and analyze 10 key phrases per day. 

If you wish to analyze extra key phrases, subscribe to the Pro plan for $99.95 per thirty days billed yearly or $119.95 per thirty days billed month-to-month.

3. Google Traits

Google Trends is a free key phrase instrument that allows you to see which matters are trending in areas throughout the globe. In different phrases, standard key phrases individuals are looking for.

Simply enter your key phrase into the search bar and click on “Discover.”

You’ll see whether or not the curiosity for that key phrase is rising, declining, or remaining regular.

The instrument may even present you associated queries and matters primarily based in your primary key phrase.

You’ll be able to even evaluate two or extra key phrases in opposition to one another to see which key phrase is hottest.

For instance, if we evaluate “automotive insurance coverage” with “auto insurance coverage,” we see extra individuals are looking for “automotive insurance coverage.”

That doesn’t make “auto insurance coverage” a nasty key phrase to focus on. It’s simply one thing to pay attention to. You’ll be able to goal each the key phrases in the event that they’re related to your small business.

Worth: Google Traits is free.

4. Key phrase Supervisor

Keyword Manager is a key phrase instrument from Semrush that helps you create and preserve your key phrases checklist.

When you establish a listing of key phrases which are related in your web site, you should use Key phrase Supervisor to handle and monitor all of them.

For instance, in case you used the Key phrase Magic Software to search out key phrase concepts, you may ship your chosen key phrases on to Key phrase Supervisor. 

Within the Key phrase Magic Software, examine the bins on the left-hand aspect and click on “+ Add to key phrase checklist.”

Then, present a reputation in your checklist and click on the examine mark. 

Click on “+ Add to key phrase checklist” once more and click on to open the checklist.

You’ll now be taken to the Key phrase Supervisor instrument.

From right here, you are able to do so much. For instance, you may manage your key phrases into clusters.

Keyword clustering is a well known search engine optimisation approach the place you manage related key phrases primarily based on search intent. The concept is to create one web page for every cluster, focusing on all of the associated key phrases in a cluster.

This helps you optimize a web page for various variations of the key phrase to rank for extra key phrases. And get extra site visitors.

To create key phrase clusters, navigate to the “Clusters” tab and click on “Cluster checklist.”

The instrument will group your key phrases into totally different clusters. Like this:

Click on on a specific cluster, and also you’ll see all of the key phrases which are a part of that group.

Attempt to use all these key phrases when creating content material. So you may rank for all of them.

Worth: Key phrase Supervisor is a paid instrument. It’s essential to be subscribed to considered one of Semrush’s paid plans to make use of it.

Subscriptions begin at $99.95 per thirty days (paid yearly) and go as much as $374.95 (paid yearly), relying on the plan you go for.

5. QuestionDB

QuestionDB reveals you the questions folks ask on discussion board websites like Reddit and Stack Change. In different phrases, question-based key phrases.

Its large query database offers you extra particular perception into what your viewers actually desires to know. 

You’ll be able to leverage this perception to create extra helpful content material that solutions these questions.

First, provide you with a listing of associated seed key phrases.

Then, enter considered one of them into QuestionDB. 

For instance, listed here are just a few outcomes for the seed key phrase “content material creation”:

Repeat this course of for the remainder of your seed key phrase checklist to generate much more key phrase concepts. 

Worth: Free customers can view roughly 50 outcomes for his or her searches.

The most basic plan prices $15 per thirty days and affords 100 searches per thirty days with limitless outcomes for every search.

6. Natural Analysis

Semrush’s Organic Research instrument helps you unlock details about your opponents’ key phrase knowledge.

It’s very troublesome to search out these key phrases with no instrument like Natural Analysis.

Allow us to present you use it.

Open the instrument, enter a competitor’s area, and click on “Search.” 

You’ll see a number of totally different knowledge factors.

Go to the “High Key phrases” part and click on the “View all X,XXX key phrases” button.

You’ll see all of the key phrases that competitor ranks for in Google’s high 100 outcomes.

If the checklist is very large and also you need one thing extra manageable, apply a number of of the next filters:

Like this:

You may as well export this knowledge into an Excel sheet. Simply click on on the “Export” button within the right-side nook on the high of the desk.

This characteristic is tremendous helpful once you’re in a rush and wish to analyze these key phrases later. 

Worth: Natural Analysis is a freemium instrument. Sign up without spending a dime to get 10 free searches per day. However the obtainable key phrase knowledge might be restricted.

With the paid plan, you may unlock extra knowledge. Pricing begins at $99.95 per thirty days paid yearly or $119.95 per thirty days paid month-to-month.

7. AlsoAsked

AlsoAsked aggregates questions from Google’s Folks Additionally Ask (PAA) bins, that are gold mines for question-based key phrases surrounding your primary matter. 

The instrument reveals all of the query key phrases on a branching diagram that illustrates the connection between them.

For instance, listed here are the questions AlsoAsked finds in case you search “content material creation” in the USA: 

Looking for “content material creation” generates 4 main questions: 

• What is supposed by content material creation?
• How can I begin content material creation?
• What are the 4 pillars of content material creation?
• What does a content material creator do?

These questions have their very own PAA outcomes. These new questions show further branches. 

Should you click on on one of many branches, you may view a brand new diagram ranging from that time.

This doesn’t simply present matters you possibly can cowl. It additionally reveals you the relationships between these questions. Which can assist you construction your articles. 

This manner, you’re protecting all a very powerful questions within the order they’re more likely to get requested. 

You may as well export this knowledge as a CSV (for Lite and Professional plans) or a picture to make use of for evaluation or displays. 

Worth: AlsoAsked is a free key phrase analysis instrument, however there are additionally paid choices. 

A free account means that you can carry out 10 searches each month. The paid plans begin at $15 per thirty days, supplying you with 100 searches per thirty days.

8. Key phrase Surfer

Keyword Surfer is a free key phrase analysis instrument within the type of a Google Chrome extension. It means that you can see key phrase solutions immediately within the SERPs (search engine outcomes pages). 

Upon set up, the instrument will routinely present key phrase solutions in a panel on the proper aspect of the SERP.

It reveals associated key phrases, their overlap with the unique search question (the proportion of search outcomes shared with the unique search question), and their search quantity. 

In addition to the key phrase concepts, it additionally reveals helpful details about each search consequence. 

Particularly:

• Estimated month-to-month site visitors
• The variety of phrases on the web page
• What number of occasions the precise search phrase seems on a web page
• A “TITLE CHANGED” badge in case Google has modified the unique title tag

To sum up:

Key phrase Surfer means that you can enrich your search outcomes with helpful knowledge concerning the rating pages. And shortly discover new key phrase alternatives primarily based in your search question.

Worth: Key phrase Surfer is a freemium instrument. The price of their most basic plan (called “LITE”) is $19 per thirty days (billed yearly).

9. Key phrase Hole

The Keyword Gap instrument helps you dig by means of your opponents’ key phrase profiles to see what number of key phrases you share along with your opponents (i.e., frequent key phrases). In addition to key phrases they rank for, however you don’t (i.e., lacking key phrases).

The lacking key phrases are principally new key phrase alternatives in your web site.

First, open the instrument, enter your area and as much as 4 opponents, and click on “Examine.”

The instrument will generate a complete report for you.

The “Key phrase Overlap” part of the report reveals you the relative measurement of every area’s key phrase profile and the way a lot they overlap.

Under, you may analyze your present key phrase profile in opposition to your competitors.

Concentrate on the “Lacking” and “Weak” tabs to search out key phrases you haven’t focused but. Or these you possibly can carry out higher for.

Click on on key phrases you’d wish to study extra about. Or ship them to Keyword Manager so you may reference them later.

Worth: Key phrase Hole is a freemium instrument. You’ll be able to carry out 10 comparisons per day without spending a dime. 

For extra, you’ll have to subscribe to a paid plan. Pricing begins at $99.95 per thirty days paid yearly or $119.95 per thirty days paid month-to-month.

10. AnswerThePublic

AnswerThePublic is a key phrase analysis instrument that makes use of autocomplete solutions from serps like Google to search out questions individuals are looking for. 

On this instance, we’ll use “content material creation” as our seed key phrase and take a look at the search knowledge from the USA.

The instrument will shortly present all of the queries it finds associated to “content material creation,” grouped in a visually interesting means like this:

The search phrases marked with a darker shade of orange are extra standard.

You may as well view the identical knowledge specified by lists: 

All these questions assist you to perceive what your viewers desires to know. And you may present solutions in your content material to rank for these key phrases.

Along with questions, you may as well discover: 

• Search phrases by a preposition (e.g., “content material creation for social media”)
• Comparisons (e.g., “content material creation vs. advertising”)
• Alphabeticals (e.g., “content material creation apps” could be grouped below “A”)
• Associated searches

Worth: You should use AnswerThePublic without spending a dime, however the variety of searches you may run is restricted. 

Their paid plans begin at $5 per thirty days, supplying you with 100 searches per day. Which is greater than sufficient for rookies.

11. TubeBuddy

TubeBuddy is a browser extension that helps you carry out YouTube-specific key phrase analysis. To optimize and develop your YouTube channel.

It makes use of its Key phrase Explorer characteristic to try this.

To make use of it, enter a key phrase you’re thinking about, and click on “EXPLORE.”

Within the “Abstract” tab, you’ll discover a rating in your key phrase out of 100. 

This rating considers the quantity of competitors you could have and the way effectively optimized the top-ranking movies are.

The upper the rating, the extra competitors you could have. The decrease the rating, the much less competitors you could have for a key phrase.

Right here, you’ll additionally discover a breakdown of curiosity over time for that key phrase on YouTube and Google, in addition to associated video matters and tags.

Click on the “Outcomes” tab for a snapshot of the present YouTube outcomes for that key phrase, together with the top-ranking movies and channels. 

You should use this data for aggressive analysis.

Should you click on by means of to look at a kind of movies, you’ll discover a “Videolytics” panel. It reveals efficiency knowledge, search engine optimisation, greatest practices, and even video tags: 

Worth: With a free account, you may carry out 25 searches in Key phrase Explorer per day.

There are a number of paid tiers (together with an enterprise possibility), however the most well-liked is the “Legend” account for $29.99 per thirty days paid month-to-month or $23.99 per thirty days paid yearly. Which supplies you limitless entry.

Keyword Tool makes use of autocomplete knowledge from varied serps and websites—together with Google, Bing, YouTube, Amazon, Instagram, eBay, and Play Retailer—that will help you discover key phrase concepts and standard hashtags.

First, choose the search engine and nation you wish to view knowledge for. Then, enter your seed key phrase and hit the search icon.

The instrument will generate a listing of autocomplete solutions, questions, and prepositions out of your chosen supply (which is Google within the instance beneath).

Choose all of the key phrases you wish to goal and click on the export icon to obtain them as a CSV or Excel file.

Pricing: You should use the free model of Key phrase Software with out even creating an account. The free instrument generates as much as 750 solutions for every seed key phrase searched. 

However you don’t get beneficial key phrase metrics like search quantity and key phrase competitors with a free account.

So, you may think about subscribing to a “Professional Primary” plan at $69 per thirty days billed yearly or $89 per thirty days billed month-to-month to unlock these metrics.

13. Google Key phrase Planner

Google Keyword Planner is a Google key phrase analysis instrument.

Though it’s primarily meant for advertisers who put money into pay-per-click (PPC) promoting with Google Adverts, you may as well use it to search out key phrases for search engine optimisation.

To entry Key phrase Planner, you’ll want a Google Adverts account. Should you’re unsure set that up, comply with the directions in our blog post on using Google Keyword Planner.

You should use Key phrase Planner to do two issues: 

• Discover new key phrases
• Discover historic knowledge about key phrases

To seek out new key phrases, click on “Uncover new key phrases.” Then enter your seed key phrase and click on “Get outcomes.” 

You’ll see a bunch of key phrase concepts in seconds.

To seek out month-to-month search quantity knowledge for a listing of key phrases, click on “Get search quantity and forecasts.” Then, you may sort, copy and paste, or add your checklist of key phrases. And click on “Get began.”

Right here, you’ll discover historic knowledge in your batch of key phrases. You should use this instrument to trace key phrases you’re already focusing on.

Worth: Whereas Key phrase Planner is technically free, you may solely entry it by way of a Google Adverts account (which asks for billing data). 

It’s greatest to entry this instrument utilizing an account that spends cash on Google Adverts, as this can assist you entry higher knowledge.

14. Natural Site visitors Insights

The Organic Traffic Insights instrument reveals all of the key phrases you at present rank for on Google. It additionally contains key phrase knowledge from Google Analytics and Google Search Console. 

And means that you can retrieve key phrases that have been beforehand hid below the “not offered” class in Google Analytics.

Begin by setting up a project in the tool.

As soon as that’s full, you’ll see a report with a number of knowledge factors:

Go to the “Key phrases” part of the report.

Now use this report to search out your underperforming key phrases. These are any key phrases for which you rank in place 11 and past.

Should you’re not rating within the high 10, you’re virtually invisible to go looking engine customers. You gained’t get a lot site visitors.

So, it’s essential to search out your underperforming key phrases and optimize for them.

To seek out underperforming key phrases, set the place filter to solely present key phrases the place you rank in web page 11 and past.

These are all of the key phrases for which your web site doesn’t rank effectively.

So, think about optimizing for them to extend your rating place and natural site visitors.

Additional studying: 6 optimization tips on optimize a web page for key phrases.

Pricing: Natural Site visitors Insights comes as a part of Semrush’s search engine optimisation toolkit. A free account offers you restricted entry to key phrase knowledge.

To unlock extra knowledge, subscribe to a paid plan for $99.95 per thirty days billed yearly or $119.95 per thirty days billed month-to-month.

15. Soovle

Soovle is a free key phrase analysis instrument that aggregates search solutions throughout a number of serps and web sites. Together with Google, Bing, Wikipedia, Amazon, eBay, and YouTube. 

Use the search bar within the heart of the display to enter your seed key phrase. The solutions will routinely populate over their respective search engine logos.

You should use your proper arrow key to maneuver by means of every search engine and click on on any key phrase to view its dwell search outcomes web page. 

To avoid wasting a key phrase to reference later, drag it to the e book icon within the high left nook. 

Worth: Soovle is free.

Semrush has a set of key phrase analysis instruments that assist you to discover, analyze, and handle key phrases in your web site.

Wish to check them out earlier than committing to a paid plan?

No downside! You’ll be able to join a free trial.

And if you wish to study extra about key phrase analysis generally, right here’s what you need to learn subsequent: