Keyword research tools are the foundation of every search marketing campaign. They provide you with the data needed to make informed decisions about how to create, manage and optimize your content for organic search results. The better these tools are at uncovering keywords that searchers use in their online quest for information (and solutions) means more opportunities for you to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).
There are a number of different keyword research tools available, and the best one for your business depends on your specific needs and goals. Here are five of the most popular options:
Top Keyword Research Tools for SEO
There are many keyword research tools available on the internet. However, not all of them are created equal. In order to get the most accurate and up-to-date data, it is important to use the right tool for the job. Here are some of the top keyword research tools for SEO:
Google AdWords Keyword Planner
This free tool from Google is a must-have for any SEOs toolkit. It allows you to find keywords related to your business and see how competitive they are. You can also get estimates for how much traffic each keyword could generate for your site.
SEMrush
SEMrush is a comprehensive SEO tool that offers a wide range of features, including competitor analysis, backlink data, and organic search visibility. You can use it to get monthly estimates of keywords’ traffic, backlinks, and more.
SEOBook Keyword Suggestion Tool
This is a free keyword suggestion tool created by SEO Book. It allows you to find valuable keywords for your website with traffic statistics included. The information about the number of searches per month and the competition level is quite accurate and up-to-date.
Rapid Action Traffic Keyword Research Tool
The Rapid Action Traffic Keyword Research Tool has been developed by Entrepreneur Press owner Greg Meyers. It provides some valuable metrics on keyword popularity that include: estimated search volume, estimated cost per click (CPC), top related phrases, site indexed results, and others. Keep in mind that it isn’t updated on a regular basis.
KeywordTool.io
Keywords Tool is a free keyword suggestion tool with data from Google Autocomplete and other sources. It offers you information about the estimated search volume, cost-per-click, competition levels, as well as related keywords that you can use for your SEO campaigns. You can also submit multiple seed keywords at the same time and get instant results.
Note: The number of monthly searches is not accurate due to the fact that Keyword Tool doesn’t provide any traffic statistics. So you have to take these numbers with a grain of salt – they don’t reflect real user behavior or Google’s search volume index, but are only an approximation.
WordTracker
This powerful keyword research tool provides you with accurate data on search volume, competition level and cost-per-click. It offers advanced features for more experienced SEOs who are looking to go the extra mile. Wordtracker is a paid service that includes many other tools in addition to its main feature – Keyword Research. You can also check out our detailed Wordtracker review here. There is a limited free trial available, but keep in mind that it doesn’t include access to all of the features without getting a paid subscription.
Soovle
If you are not willing to pay for keyword research tools or don’t wish to sign up for anything at all, Soovle may be the right tool for you. It is a free, online keyword research tool that you can use without having to create an account. Soovle pulls data from a variety of sources, including Google, YouTube, Amazon, eBay and more. This makes it a great option if you want to get a wide range of data on potential keywords.
KwFinder
KWFinder is a very useful tool for keyword research. It comes with a free trial that lasts only five days, but after you verify your email address it doesn’t ask for your credit card information. In addition to getting keywords from Google Autocomplete, the tool also pulls data from YouTube and Amazon. Within the free trial period, you can get access to many features that would otherwise require a paid account.
Answer the Public
Answer The Public provides emotionally-driven keywords in an interactive way which makes it easy to understand how people feel when they type in certain queries related to your niche. It is a great source of both long-tail and head terms that will you find new opportunities on search engines.
KeywordTool.io
Keywords Tool is a free keyword suggestion tool with data from Google Autocomplete and other sources. It offers you information about the estimated search volume, cost-per-click, competition levels, as well as related keywords that you can use for your SEO campaigns. You can also submit multiple seed keywords at the same time and get instant results.
Note: The number of monthly searches is not accurate due to the fact that Keyword Tool doesn’t provide any traffic statistics. So you have to take these numbers with a grain of salt – they don’t reflect real user behavior or Google’s search volume index, but are only an approximation.
SerpsList
SerpsList is a free, online keyword research tool that allows you to find long-tail keywords by inserting primary keywords. It is very simple to use, and it only requires four steps to get your new list of relevant long-tail keywords. Simply type in the primary keyword (e.g., “organic dog food”), select the country (if not selected yet), and then choose an appropriate category for your topic (you can group your search according to topics like “Health & Fitness”, “Shopping” etc.) Click on the “Get More Topics!” button and you will see related queries with their monthly search volume within 24 hours.
AnswerThePublic
Answer The Public provides emotionally-driven keywords in an interactive way which makes it easy to understand how people feel when they type in certain queries related to your niche. It is a great source of both long-tail and head terms that will you find new opportunities on search engines.
UberSuggest
Ubersuggest is a free keyword research tool that you can use without having to create an account. It scrapes data from Google Autocomplete, making it a great option if you want to get a wide range of data on potential keywords.
GoogleTrends
Google Trends is not a dedicated keyword research tool, but it can be very useful for getting an idea of the relative popularity (or “trend”) of specific keywords over time. You can use it to compare the results against your other keyword research tools and get a better idea of which keywords will be worth prioritizing.
KeywordTool
Keyword Tool is probably the only tool that instantly provides you with Google AdWords search volume for all keywords within its extensive database (1,000,000 keywords and more). Due to this feature alone, it’s the perfect option if you’re looking to get an initial idea of how much competition or traffic potential a keyword has. You can also use KeywordTool.io as a complete autocomplete solution for Google and Bing where you just have to enter your seed keyword and it automatically generates related terms like “buy”, “what is” etc.
