SEO has become crucial for businesses to stay ahead of their competition. One fundamental aspect of SEO is keyword research, which helps you understand what your target audience is searching for and how to optimize your content accordingly. That’s where keyword research tools come into play, maximizing your chances of ranking higher in search engine results.
In this comprehensive guide, we will delve deep into the best keyword research tools available in 2024 and explore how they can elevate your SEO strategy.
So, buckle up and join me on this journey to discover free and paid tools that will empower you to identify high-volume, low-competition keywords, long-tail keywords, and much more.
TL;DR
- Keyword research is a fundamental aspect of SEO to understand what your target audience is searching for.
- Keyword research tools provide valuable information such as monthly search volume, competition level, related keywords, and long-tail keyword suggestions.
- Keyword tools start by analyzing a seed keyword, which is the main term or phrase related to your topic.
- Search volume refers to the average number of times a specific keyword is searched for within a certain timeframe.
- Competitive analysis is an important aspect of keyword research tools that helps identify high-volume, low-competition keywords.
- They also provide various metrics and filters to help refine your keyword list.
- Many keyword research tools offer seamless integration with other SEO tools such as rank trackers, backlink analysis tools, and content optimization solutions.
- Keyword research tools can be categorized into two main types: paid and free.
- Paid tools offer more comprehensive data sets, advanced filtering, and other features. The best paid keyword research tools are Semrush, Ahrefs, Majestic, SEOwind, KWFinder, GrowthBar, Long Tail Pro, Serpstat, Jaaxy, SECockpit, and SE Ranking.
- Free keyword research tools provide a basic level of functionality and can be useful for beginners. The best free keyword research tools are Google Keyword Planner, Google Trends, Google Search Console, KeywordTool.io, Keyword.io, and Moz Keyword Explorer.
What is a Keyword Research Tool?
A keyword research tool is an essential software application for digital marketers, SEO professionals, and content creators, as it helps them identify words and phrases that users are searching for on search engines. By understanding the most popular and relevant keywords related to their industry or topic, these professionals can optimize their content and digital marketing strategies to rank higher on search engine result pages (SERPs) and ultimately drive more organic traffic to their websites.
Keyword research tools typically provide valuable information such as monthly search volume, competition level, related keywords, and long-tail keyword suggestions. These insights help marketers formulate data-driven decisions on which keywords to target in their content, ensuring that they reach the right audience and achieve better visibility online.
How Does Keyword Research Tool Work?
Keyword research tools are designed to help you discover the most relevant and popular keywords for your content, products, or services. By understanding how they work, you can leverage their capabilities to optimize your website’s performance in search engine results pages (SERPs).
In this section, I will explain the inner workings of the keyword research process and how software provides valuable insights to improve your online presence. So let’s dive into keyword research features.
Keyword Discovery
Keyword tools typically start by analyzing a seed keyword, which is the main term or phrase related to your topic. They then generate a list of related keywords based on various factors such as search volume, competition, and relevance. These tools use data from search engines like Google and Bing, as well as other sources such as social media platforms and competitor websites.
Some of the most advanced keyword research tools employ natural language processing (NLP) algorithms to identify semantic relationships between keywords. This allows them to provide more accurate and diverse suggestions, helping you uncover hidden opportunities and stay ahead of the competition.
Average Monthly Search Volume
One of the key metrics is search volume. This refers to the average number of times a specific keyword is searched for within a certain timeframe, usually monthly. To estimate search volume, these tools rely on historical data from search engines combined with current trends and seasonal variations.
Keep in mind that search volume data may differ between keyword research tools due to different data sources or estimation methodologies. However, this metric remains a valuable indicator of a keyword’s popularity and potential traffic.
Competitive Analysis
Another important aspect of keyword research tools is their ability to analyze the competition. This helps you determine how difficult it would be to rank for a particular keyword considering the existing websites and content that already target it. Some common factors used in the competitive analysis include:
- Domain Authority (DA)
- Page Authority (PA)
- Backlinks
- Social signals (e.g., shares, likes, comments)
Keyword research tools often provide a keyword difficulty metric. You can treat it as a competitive score or difficulty rating, making it easier to identify high-volume, low-competition keywords that can generate better results for your SEO efforts.
Keyword Metrics and Filtering
In addition to the aforementioned features, keyword research tools also provide various metrics and filters to help you refine your keyword list. Some of these include:
- Cost Per Click (CPC): An estimate of the average cost advertisers pay for each click on their ads targeting a specific keyword.
- Click-Through Rate (CTR): The percentage of searchers who click on a search result for a particular keyword.
- Keyword Intent: An indication of the searcher’s purpose based on the keyword (e.g., informational, navigational, transactional).
- Keyword Trend: The change in search volume and popularity of a keyword over time.
By utilizing these metrics and filters, you can further refine your keyword list to focus on the most relevant, high-performing terms that align with your goals and target audience. This will ultimately help you create more effective and targeted content, boosting your website’s visibility and traffic.
Integration with Other SEO Tools
Many keyword research tools offer seamless integration with other SEO tools such as rank trackers, backlink analysis tools, and content optimization solutions. This allows you to streamline your SEO workflow by managing all aspects of your online presence in one place. For instance, you can use the data gathered from your keyword research tool to optimize your on-page SEO elements like meta tags, headings, and internal links.
Understanding how keyword tools work is essential for leveraging their full potential to improve your website’s search engine rankings and visibility. By discovering relevant keywords, estimating search volume, analyzing competition, and using various metrics and filters, these powerful tools can help you create a successful SEO strategy tailored to your specific goals and target audience.
Types of Keyword Research Tools
As you venture into the world of keyword research, you’ll find that there are numerous tools available to help you optimize your SEO strategy. These keyword research tools can be categorized into two main types: paid and free. In this section, we’ll discuss the key differences between these two categories and explore some popular options for each.
Paid Keyword Research Tools
Paid keyword research tools often come with a vast array of features and functionalities that can help streamline your SEO efforts. These tools typically offer more comprehensive data sets, advanced filtering options, and in-depth competitor analysis capabilities. Some popular paid keyword research tools include Ahrefs, Semrush, SEOwind, Majestic, and KWFinder.
Investing in a paid keyword research tool can be an excellent choice for businesses and individuals who require more advanced features to stay ahead of the competition.
Free Keyword Research Tools
For those on a tight budget or just starting their SEO journey, free keyword tools can still provide valuable insights and help you get started with optimizing your content. While these tools may not offer as many features as their paid counterparts, they can still be quite effective when used correctly. Some popular free keyword tools include Google Keyword Planner, Ubbersuggest, Keyword.io, or Answer The Public.
Although they may have limitations in terms of features, they can still be incredibly useful for beginners or those with limited budgets. By leveraging the insights gained from these tools, you can optimize your content strategy and improve your website’s search engine visibility.
As you explore the various keyword research tools available, remember that finding the right tool for your needs is essential. Consider factors such as your budget, goals, and target audience when selecting a tool that will best serve your SEO efforts. Whether you choose a paid or free option, utilizing a keyword research tool effectively can significantly enhance your content strategy and drive results.
Benefits of Using Keyword Research Tools
Keyword research tools are essential for businesses and marketers aiming to improve their online presence, as they provide valuable insights and data to optimize content strategies and drive organic traffic. When used effectively, these tools offer several advantages that can significantly impact your website’s performance. Let’s discuss three key benefits of using keyword research tools.
Find High Volume and Low Competition Keywords
One of the primary benefits of using keyword research tools is the ability to find high-volume and low-competition keywords. These keywords are searched frequently by users but aren’t heavily targeted by competitors, making them an ideal opportunity for your website to rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs).
- High volume: Keywords with a high search volume indicate that a large number of users are searching for related information or products. Targeting these keywords in your content can potentially attract more visitors to your website.
- Low competition: Low-competition keywords have fewer websites targeting them, which means there’s a higher likelihood of ranking higher in SERPs when optimizing for these terms.
By focusing on high-volume and low-competition keywords, you can increase your website’s visibility, attract more organic traffic, and ultimately drive conversions.
Identify Long Tail Keywords
Long tail keywords are longer, more specific phrases that users search for when they’re closer to making a purchase or seeking specific information. These keywords often have lower search volumes but higher conversion rates since they target a more focused audience.
Using keyword research tools helps you identify relevant long-tail keywords for your niche, allowing you to create highly targeted content that directly addresses the needs and interests of your audience.
Some benefits of targeting long-tail keywords include:
- Higher conversion rates: Due to their specificity, long tail keywords often lead to better-qualified leads who are more likely to convert.
- Less competition: Longer, more specific phrases are less competitive, making it easier to rank higher on SERPs.
- Improved user experience: By addressing specific needs and interests, long tail keywords enable you to create content that provides valuable information to your audience and improves their experience on your website.
Uncover Related Keywords
Keyword research tools also empower you to uncover related keywords, which are terms that are semantically connected to your primary keyword. These related keywords can help you expand your content strategy and improve the overall relevance of your website.
Integrating related keywords into your content offers several benefits:
- Enhancing content relevance: Including related keywords in your content can improve its relevance to both users and search engines, leading to better rankings and increased organic traffic.
- Content diversification: By identifying related keywords, you can create a diverse range of content that thoroughly covers your subject matter, providing your audience with comprehensive information.
- Semantic SEO: Search engines are increasingly focusing on understanding the context and meaning behind search queries. Incorporating related keywords into your content allows for better semantic optimization, helping search engines understand the purpose of your content and improving its visibility.
Leveraging keyword research tools can significantly benefit your online marketing efforts by finding high-volume and low-competition keywords, identifying long-tail keywords, and uncovering related keywords. By utilizing these tools effectively, you can create high-quality, relevant content that resonates with your target audience and improves your website’s search engine performance.
How to Use a Keyword Tool Effectively
To make the most out of your chosen keyword research tool, it is essential to follow a structured approach. Below are four crucial steps to use a keyword research tool effectively.
Step 1: Define Your Goals
Before diving into keyword research, it is crucial to have clear goals in mind. Are you looking to improve your website’s organic search ranking? Increase conversions? Drive more traffic to your site? Having specific goals will help you focus your efforts and select the right keywords to target.
Some common objectives include:
- Boosting organic search rankings
- Enhancing brand visibility
- Driving more targeted traffic
- Increasing conversions and sales
Step 2: Identify Your Target Audience
Understanding your target audience is a vital aspect of effective keyword research. By knowing your audience’s demographics, preferences, and pain points, you can identify relevant keywords that resonate with them. This information will guide you in crafting content that appeals to their needs and interests.
Consider the following factors when identifying your target audience:
- Age group
- Gender
- Geographic location
- Interests and preferences
- Online behavior patterns
Step 3: Gather Relevant Data
Once you have defined your goals and identified your target audience, it’s time to collect data using your chosen keyword research tool. Most tools provide a wealth of information, including search volume, competition level, and related keywords. Make sure to explore various options like free keyword research tools, SEO keyword analysis tools, and paid keyword research tools depending on your needs and budget.
When gathering data, consider the following:
- Focus on high-volume, low-competition keywords for optimal results
- Explore long-tail keywords for better targeting and lower competition
- Don’t forget about local search terms if you have a location-specific business
- Utilize related keywords to diversify your content and reach a broader audience
Step 4: Analyze Your Results
After gathering data, it’s essential to analyze your findings to discover valuable insights. Examine the search volume, competition, and relevance of each keyword to determine their potential impact on your goals. Additionally, consider using keyword analysis software or SEO tools to find keywords that align with your objectives.
When analyzing your results, take note of the following:
- Identify top-performing keywords that can drive significant traffic
- Spot underperforming keywords that might require optimization or removal
- Discover new content ideas based on popular search queries
- Monitor keyword performance over time to adjust your strategy as needed
By following these four steps, you can effectively harness the power of keyword research tools to improve your website’s search engine performance, drive targeted traffic, and ultimately achieve your online goals. Remember that keyword research is an ongoing process, so make sure to regularly update and refine your strategy based on data-driven insights.
Best Paid Keyword Research Tools for 2024
SEOwind
Overview
SEOwind is a handy keyword research tool to identify the secondary keyword ideas you would like to go after. It presents what other keywords top SERPs are ranking for in a transparent way. Content that ranks usually covers dozens or even hundreds of keywords. This way you can know what topics and angles to cover in order to stand a chance of ranking.
Key features
With SEOwind users get the keywords that have more than 10 monthly searches and the pages rank within the top 30 positions. This way you can be sure that Google finds the content relevant to put it into top positions.
You can browse through the keywords and add them directly to your outline. What’s more, these keywords will be already clustered so that it is easy for you to use them across your content.
Best for
SEOwind is best for companies that would like to boost their traffic and rankings in a smart way. It saves time and lets you concentrate on what matters.
Pricing
- Basic:$49 monthly
- Pro: $99 monthly
- Agency: $299 monthly
SEMrush
Overview
SEMrush is the largest keyword database on the market, with more than 23 billion keywords spread across 140 international databases. This structure has created an ecosystem wherein a variety of tools deliver a seamless keyword research workflow.
Key features
SEMrush’s Keyword Overview offers users a detailed overview of any keyword found in its databases. These reports contain key metrics, related keywords and questions, and SERP analysis.
The Keyword Magic Tool helps users find keywords of interest. With the entry of an initial word or phrase and a preferred location, SEMrush delivers keyword recommendations.
Finally, Keyword Gap helps users analyze their competitors. This tool reveals how many keywords your business shares with competitors and the areas in which you can improve.
Best for
SEMrush is ideal for businesses looking to jumpstart their keyword research and understand their competition.
Lauren Murdock, Marketing Strategist, Raka Health
Semrush’s suite of tools allows you to paint a full picture of your current SEO performance, understand the competitive landscape, and identify potential opportunities for keyword ranking.
The two most useful tools in Semrush for our team include the keyword gap tool and the magic keyword tool. The keyword gap tool allows you to input competitor domains and identify keywords that they rank for but you do not. The magic keyword tool allows you to input words or phrases and delivers relevant keywords to consider for ranking.
Pricing
- Pro: $119.95 monthly
- Guru: $229.95 monthly
- Business: $449.95 monthly
Ahrefs Keywords Explorer
Overview
Ahrefs is a high-powered keyword research tool that utilizes clickstream data to deliver reports with specialized data.
Key features
Ahrefs delves into a variety of key information related to keywords, including difficulty scores and click metrics. The tool performs a thorough review of SERP data, can provide more than 1,000 keyword ideas, and is supported in over 171 countries.
Best for
This tool is a good fit for companies who are already familiar with SEO and want to take the next step with unique, comprehensive keyword data.
Pricing
- Lite: starts at $99 monthly
- Standard: starts at $199 monthly
- Advanced: starts at $399 monthly
- Enterprise: starts at $999 monthly
Majestic
Overview
Majestic offers a tool that helps track your website’s performance. It specializes in web-based link investigation to know who is linking to your pages and how they perform.
Key features
Majestic Trust Flow analyzes the quality of links that point to a given URL while Citation Flow summarizes the frequency. The various metrics are summarized in a Flow Metric score that breaks down your overall performance.
Best for
This solution is best suited to bloggers or small businesses looking for a low-cost SEO tool. In addition, Majestic fits businesses looking to analyze and optimize existing content.
Pricing
- Lite: $46.99 monthly
- Pro: $94.99 monthly
- API: $379.99 monthly
KWFinder
Overview
Mangools’ KWFinder places a premium on providing an intuitive interface for anyone researching keywords. In particular, the tool specializes in identifying keyword difficulty, ensuring that its users are keenly aware of low-hanging fruit.
Key features
Every keyword reviewed by KWFinder comes with an automatic difficulty score. This is made easier to read and understand by the solution’s uniquely easy-to-use interface. In this way, SEO beginners and experts can get access to in-depth data to guide decision-making.
Best for
KWFinder provides particular value for companies looking to scope out the competition when it comes to keyword ranking.
Pricing
- Mangools Basic: $29.90 monthly or $358.80 yearly
- Mangools Premium: $44.90 monthly or $538.80 yearly
- Mangools Agency: $89.90 monthly or $1,078.80 yearly
GrowthBar
Overview
When it comes to comprehensive SEO tools, GrowthBar packs quite the punch. In addition to allowing users to research keywords, including difficulty ratings and suggestions, it can generate content outlines.
Key features
GrowthBar gets your SEO strategy up and running quickly with its writing and research assistance. An AI brief generator saves time and guides copywriting alongside in-depth keyword data. Thai includes difficulty, long-tail suggestions, and recommended word count, all of which can be exported. Meanwhile, a seven-day money-back guarantee gives businesses a chance to test the solution before making a commitment.
Best for
This option works best for marketers looking to streamline SEO processes, including research and writing. These users will maximize the value of its search tools and content outline generation.
Pricing
- Standard: $48 monthly/$29 monthly on a yearly plan
- Pro: $99 monthly/$79 monthly on a yearly plan
- Agency: $199 monthly/$129 monthly on a yearly plan
Long Tail Pro
Overview
As its name implies, Long Tail Pro emphasizes the identification of long-tail keyword alternatives. In doing so, it helps users find unique ways of competing for audience attention.
Key features
In looking for different ways to attract traffic, Long Tail Pro helps smaller organizations drive up conversions. The solution simplifies the search for long-tail keywords so that those businesses save time while developing highly-competitive strategies. With more than 2,500 SERP reviews available per day and detailed metrics, Long Tail Pro delivers everything needed for businesses to punch above their weight in terms of SEO.
Best for
This solution works best when supporting smaller businesses without substantial brand recognition needed to compete for high-profile keywords.
Pricing
- Starter: $59.99 monthly/$539.99 annually
- Pro: $89.99 monthly/$809.99 annually
- Agency: $299.99 monthly/$2,699.99 annually
Serpstat
Overview
Serpstat delivers a comprehensive keyword research tool that sheds light on the competition and important trends. A potent combination of different analytics allows this solution to guide new content and optimize what already exists.
Key features
In addition to supporting keyword research, Serpstat delivers website analytics and SERP analysis. Additional features include link review, rank tracking, and website audits. Together, this provides users with a view of ongoing keyword trends and competitor activity. The solution also offers a seven-day free trial to see if it suits your business.
Best for
Serpstat is a great option for any business that is focused on gaining visibility into SEO statistics. This solution delivers a variety of data that will help guide strategic decisions.
Pricing
- Lite: $69 monthly/$55 monthly on a yearly plan
- Standard: $149 monthly/$119 monthly on a yearly plan
- Advanced: $299 monthly/$239 monthly on a yearly plan
- Enterprise: $499 monthly/$399 monthly on a yearly plan
Jaaxy
Overview
Specializing in reviewing the current state of keyword activity, Jaaxy paints a picture of the existing SEO landscape. It looks into search volumes and competitor activity for a large number of different suggested keywords. In doing so, the solution guides well-informed SEO processes.
Key features
Most notable is the Quoted Search Result feature, which indicates how many websites have attempted to rank for a keyword. Of course, as with other tools, Jaaxy also provides data on search volume, potential traffic, and competitor activity.
Best for
Jaazy suits those businesses that are looking to understand the volume of competition for certain keywords. In addition, the cost lends itself to smaller organizations that want high-quality SEO on a lower budget.
Pricing
- Starter: free trial
- Pro: $49 monthly
- Enterprise: $99 monthly
SECockpit
Overview
SECockpit offers a flexible, wide-reaching keyword research tool. With a vast amount of data provided and a large number of possible filters, it helps businesses narrow their focus. This solution covers the whole gamut of scale, from broad searches to narrower research fields.
Key features
While SECockpit provides a wide breadth of information related to keywords, it offers additional depth for search trends, organic competition, and traffic estimates. The tool also summarizes a great deal of information through its “Niche bar,” This indicates the viability of a keyword for your organization.
Best for
Experienced SEO professionals will get the most out of SECockpit while newcomers might feel overwhelmed. The sheer volume of data can seem daunting without the proper knowledge, but it paints a detailed picture.
Pricing
- Personal: $39 monthly/$25 monthly on a yearly plan
- Pro: $59 monthly/$42 monthly on a yearly plan
- Agency: $99 monthly/$75 monthly on a yearly plan
SE Ranking
Overview
With a substantial keyword database and an intuitive interface, SE Ranking is a generalist tool that fits various users. It generates reports complete with comprehensive data as well as alternate keyword ideas based on traffic data.
Key features
SE Ranking supports a large number of different features, such as traffic analysis, backlink review, and website auditing. Of particular note is the solution’s ability to review thousands of keywords simultaneously and produce downloadable reports for high-profile terms.
Best for
Marketers looking for the widest possible view of keyword data will love this tool. Though more experienced marketers might note a lack of granular information, businesses get plenty of bang for their buck.
Pricing
- Essential: €39 monthly/€31.20 monthly on yearly plan
- Pro: €89 monthly/€71.20 monthly on yearly plan
- Business: €189 monthly/€151.20 monthly on yearly plan
Best Free Keyword Research Tools for 2024
Google Keyword Planner
Overview
This free keyword research tool is fairly basic in terms of the features it provides, it is an effective keyword research tool. More importantly, it provides data drawn directly from Google, which has clear value for anyone planning SEO activity. As a result, that information is incredibly accurate.
Key features
Google Keyword Planner reveals the cost-per-click for the keywords you research, as well as the highest bid for ad space. This offers detailed insight into cost-per-click and organic search values, which can guide the choice of which keywords to target.
Georgi Todorov, Founder, ThriveMyWay
Some features that make Google Keyword Planner helpful include keyword ideas, which help users explore relevant keywords they might not have considered initially. It also provides search volume trends, helping users understand the popularity and seasonality of keywords over time. This information is crucial for planning content and marketing campaigns.
Google Keyword Planner provides insights into keyword competitiveness, which indicates how challenging it may be to rank for specific keywords. This helps users identify less competitive keywords or niches to target.
For users interested in running Google Ads campaigns, Google Keyword Planner provides estimated CPC data. This helps advertisers understand the potential costs associated.
Pricing
This solution is entirely free to use.
Google Trends
Overview
As the title indicates, this tool gives you a look at current keyword trends that indicate audience interest. This helps guide the choice between different keywords based on search volume and similar data.
Key features
When you search for a keyword, Google Trends delivers a related queries section, which highlights changes in popularity. In addition, the tool tracks audience interest over time so that users can visualize engagement with different keywords. This also includes searches done on Youtube to offer additional coverage.
Pricing
Like Google Keyword Planner, Google Trends is completely free.
Google Search Console
Overview
Sticking with Google SEO tools, the Google Search Console helps marketers identify opportunities to improve their keyword rankings. It also combines with Google Analytics to produce detailed keyword data that breaks down your current performance. As a result, users can more effectively adjust their SEO strategies on the fly.
Key features
Google Search Console specializes in highlighting ways to improve SEO performance. By identifying “Opportunity Keywords,” the tool reveals search phrases for which you rank 8-20, meaning you can climb.
Pricing
As with the other Google tools covered here, Google Search Console is entirely free.
KeywordTool.io
Overview
For the moment, let’s leave Google tools behind and look elsewhere. Keyword Tool focuses on identifying new keywords for businesses to pursue that fit their SEO objectives. When you search for a word or phrase, the solution can share thousands of alternatives that are related.
Key features
Keyword Tool also includes a competitor analysis feature that breaks down the keywords used by other websites. This is another way to find other keywords that are related to your current SEO activity. Unexpected keywords that your competitors use can offer guidance for expanding marketing.
Pricing
This tool is free to use.
Keyword.io
Overview
While many of the free tools we’ve covered focus on Google, Keyword.io draws from a variety of search engines. This includes Google, Amazon, eBay, Bing, Wikipedia, Alibaba, Youtube, Yandex, and Fiverr. Keyword.io uses autocomplete APIs to pull this data and form a complete image of keyword activity across these sites.
Key features
This variety of basic information enables users to meet niche needs connected to smaller search engines. Keyword.io also provides a Question/Intent Generator, an interactive topic explorer, and other features that create an easy user experience.
Pricing
- Free
- Personal: $29 monthly
- Pro: $49 monthly
Moz Keyword Explorer
Overview
As part of an all-in-one suite of SEO tools, the Moz Keyword Explorer offers a focus on keyword research. This complements the rest of the features delivered by the entire package. But the keyword tool can also be used on its own for users with more limited needs.
Key features
Moz’s keyword research tool allows companies to perform in-depth keyword and SERP analysis. Of particular note are the organic click-through rates and predictive metrics.
Best for
With a free trial and a comprehensive suite of tools to go with it, Moz fits many circumstances. However, it best suits businesses looking for an all-encompassing solution for SEO processes.
Pricing
- Free (limited keyword searches)
- MazPro Standard: $99 monthly/$79 monthly on a yearly plan
- MazPro Medium: $179 monthly/$143 monthly on a yearly plan
- MazPro Large: $299 monthly/$239 monthly on a yearly plan
- MazPro Premium: $599 monthly/$479 monthly on a yearly plan
Keyword research tools for finding question-based keywords
QuestionDB
Overview
Rather than placing the emphasis on keywords, QuestionDB identifies questions people ask online. That means that the tool delves to the heart of what your audience is actually looking to learn by searching. QuestionDB takes general information and returns specific information.
Key features
Once you enter a query, the solution provides a list of related questions. At that point, users have the option to be directed to the source material in order to learn more about a specific question. This way, QuestionDB delivers important context that guides ideation and ensures your content is tailored to your audience.
Pricing
- Free
- Pro: $15 monthly
- Agency: $50 monthly
AlsoAsked
Overview
The AlsoAsked tool focuses on the People Also Ask section on Google, which reveals related topics and questions. By going down this path, the tool not only provides you with insight into what users are looking for but access to a chain of related topics that represent new SEO opportunities.
Key features
AlsoAsked organizes all of this information in a flowchart that displays branches of related topics. As a result, you can follow the connections between questions and the thought process of users as they investigate topics on Google.
Pricing
- Basic: $15 monthly
- Lite: $29 monthly
- Pro: $59 monthly
AnswerThePublic
Overview
With AnswerThePublic, marketers can find a tool to help them track down long-tail keywords through Google and Bing. This solution also sorts keywords alphabetically and by the preposition, review search phrase comparisons, and perform related searches.
Key features
Any time a keyword is searched in AnswerThePublic, it generates a word cloud to organize keyword information. The tool groups the results by question words and popularity. Clicking on one of those results takes you to the live search results on Google.
Pricing
- Individual: $9 monthly
- Pro: $99 monthly
- Expert: $199 monthly
Keyword research tools Chrome extensions
Keywords Everywhere
Overview
Keywords Everywhere is a pay-as-you-go that displays keyword information over the top of 10 different websites.
This key feature means that you can perform SEO research without flipping back and forth between pages. As a result, Keywords Everywhere provides data as part of a simple and convenient experience.
Key features
In addition to its overlay style interface, Keywords Everywhere also includes a People Also Ask option. This ensures you can understand what users search for that is related to your chosen topic or your business. As such, ideation and new marketing become easier to plan.
Pricing
- 100,000 credits: $10
- 500,000 credits: $50
- 1,000,000 credits: $100
Keyword Surfer Extension
Overview
This tool is a Google Chrome expansion that, like Keywords Everywhere, functions directly on major websites. While you’re using a search engine, this solution produces SERP analysis related to the top-ranking pages. This data includes estimated monthly traffic, the number of words, the number of times the search phrase appears on the page, and recognition of Google changing the title.
Key features
While searching with Google, Keywords Everywhere shows related keywords. The tool indicates to what degree they overlap with the original query as well as their search volume.
Pricing
Keyword Surfer is free as a Google Chrome expansion.
TubeBuddy
Overview
Unlike the other browser extensions in this list, TubeBuddy is built around Youtube optimization. It helps video content creators to optimize, publish, promote, and optimize their channels. This occurs with assistance for finding long-tail keywords and rich topics to cover.
Key features
TubeBuddy operates within your browser once you download it and give it access to your Youtube channel. The tool provides a score for analyzed keywords that summarizes the amount of competition and the optimization quality of the top videos.
Pricing
- Pro: $3 monthly/$2.40 monthly on a yearly plan
- Legend: $24.49 monthly/$19.60 monthly on a yearly plan
- Enterprise: bundle pricing
Frequently Asked Questions on Keyword Research Tools
The Top Alternative to Keyword Planner for Keyword Searches
If you’re looking for the most comprehensive alternative to Google’s Keyword Planner is Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer or Semrush. Those powerful tools offer extensive information on keyword search volume, competition, and click-through rates. They also provide data on related keywords and long-tail keywords, which can help expand your content strategy and improve your website’s SEO performance.
If you’re looking for a more practical and hands-on approach to keywords then SEOwind can be a great Keyword Planner Alternative. It allows you to identify what keywords top-performing pages rank for. This way you can quickly make a decision on what keywords and topics to include when creating or updating your content.
Which keyword research tool is free?
There are several free keyword tools available in the market. Some popular options include:
1. Ubersuggest: Offers keyword suggestions, search volume data, and competition analysis.
2. AnswerThePublic: Provides a visual representation of questions and phrases related to your target keyword.
3. Google Trends: This allows you to analyze the popularity of a keyword over time and compare it with other keywords.
While these free tools can provide valuable insights, they may not have the same level of detail and functionality as paid tools.
Which keyword research tool is most accurate?
Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer and Semrush are considered the most accurate keyword research tools in the industry, as they use clickstream data from millions of users to provide precise search volume estimations. Additionally, Ahrefs regularly updates its database, ensuring that you receive up-to-date information on keyword trends and competitive metrics.
Which are the best SEO tools for keyword research today?
The best SEO tools for keyword research in 2024 include:
- Ahrefs: Offers comprehensive keyword data, including search volume, competition analysis, and related keywords.
- SEMrush: Provides extensive information on organic and paid search data, along with competitor analysis features.
- SEOwind: Provides practical information on keyword top SERPs rank for, along with its keyword difficulty and search volume.
- Moz Pro: Includes a Keyword Explorer tool that offers insight into search volumes, difficulty scores, and organic click-through rates.
- Long Tail Pro: Specializes in finding long-tail keywords with low competition and high search volume potential.
These tools offer a variety of features that can help you optimize your content strategy and improve your website’s search engine visibility.
Which is the best tool for keyword research for SEO in 2024?
The best tool for keyword research for SEO in 2024 largely depends on your specific needs and budget. Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer and Semrush are top choices for many professionals due to their accuracy, extensive features, and user-friendly interface. However, other tools like SEOwind, Moz Pro, and Long Tail Pro offer unique features that cater to different aspects of keyword research and SEO strategy. It’s important to evaluate each tool’s features, pricing, and capabilities to determine which one best meets your requirements and aligns with your SEO goals.
