🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 53 (from laksa024)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa053.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://zapier.com/blog/best-keyword-research-tool/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://zapier.com/blog/best-keyword-research-tool/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-keyword-research-tool\/","crawl_time":1775343118,"first_indexed_time":1622675035,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,zapier!\/blog\/best-keyword-research-tool\/ s443","src_root_hash":"5649975585208184653","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"The 4 best free keyword research tools | Zapier","meta_descriptions":["We considered over 70 tools for free keyword research. After in-depth testing, here are the 4 best free keyword research tools."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"We independently review every app we recommend in our best apps lists. When you click some of the links on this page, we may earn a commission.\nLearn more\n.\nThere's no shortage of tools purpose-built for keyword research (literally hundreds of them), and they run the gamut from beginner-focused to highly advanced. They also range from totally basic and unhelpful to super valuable.\nWhen done right, the best keyword research tools simplify and streamline your workflow—they make it easier to find the right keywords to target and give you the data you need to actually rank for them. But they shouldn't require you to empty out your bank account and sell your first-born child in order to access that data.\nAfter years of working with multiple clients who use all different tools for keyword research and\nSEO\ncontent optimization, I've seen the best (and the worst) of them—and I know how important it is to choose the right keyword planner tool. To help, I considered nearly 90 tools with a free option for keyword research. After in-depth testing, here are the four best free keyword research tools, including the all-around greats and apps built for more specific use cases.\nThe best free keyword research tools\nGoogle Keyword Planner\nfor researching paid keywords\nSemrush\nfor advanced SEO professionals\nKWFinder\nfor ad hoc keyword research\nUbersuggest\nfor content marketing\nWhat makes the best keyword research tool?\nHow we evaluate and test apps\nOur best apps roundups are written by humans who've spent much of their careers using, testing, and writing about software. Unless explicitly stated, we spend dozens of hours researching and testing apps, using each app as it's intended to be used and evaluating it against the criteria we set for the category. We're never paid for placement in our articles from any app or for links to any site—we value the trust readers put in us to offer authentic evaluations of the categories and apps we review. For more details on our process, read the full rundown of\nhow we select apps to feature on the Zapier blog\n.\nThe features that make for a great keyword research tool are pretty straightforward: you search for a given keyword, and the tool tells you about it. But there are so many different ways to\nuse\nkeyword data, so I wanted to find tools that could handle a variety of use cases, along with a few designed for some of the most popular uses for keyword research.\nDuring testing, I looked primarily at the factors below to determine which apps made the initial list.\nData included.\nThe best keyword research tools give you all the data you need to rank for your chosen keyword. All of the apps I selected include, at minimum, traffic, keyword difficulty, and\ncompetitive SERP analysis\n.\nKeyword optimization guidance.\nYou shouldn't have to be a 10-year SEO industry veteran to use keyword research tools—the best tools offer simple, straightforward suggestions to optimize for your keywords. There are tools (like Ahrefs, Semrush, and Moz) that do complete SEO analysis on your site, checking for everything from site speed and technical details to domain authority and topic clusters. That's not what we're looking for here. We're looking for tools that any business owner or marketer can use to quickly understand their target keyword and optimize their site to rank for it.\nFree plan allowances and upgrades.\nSome tools include super limited results for free and call it a \"free plan.\" Or they put time limits on the free plan, effectively making it more of a trial. I only included tools with evergreen free plans generous enough to actually be useful—and they won't break the bank when it's time to upgrade, either.\nStandalone functionality.\nSince you're looking for something free, your keyword tool should be a one-stop shop—without requiring any additional tools or extensions to work for you, especially not ones you'd have to pay for. And while I didn't consider them for this roundup, there are a number of great\nWordPress SEO plugins\nyou can start using right away if you have a WordPress site.\nTo find the best of the best, I put each tool that checked those boxes to the test by running through an in-depth protocol. Here's what my testing workflow looked like:\nIf needed, I created an account and went through any provided onboarding or guided tutorials (many of these free apps don't require account creation or provide any onboarding).\nI searched for a few different kinds of keywords—e.g., \"free keyword research tools,\" \"chocolate cake,\" and \"white sneakers for women\"—to see the results for different\nsearch intent\n.\nI checked which related keywords, metrics, and other data were offered. I also made note of the source, whether information was pulled from Google, included non-search engine websites (like social media or forums), or was drawn from the tool's own native data.\nI verified allowances for the free plan—whether limited by time, number of results, metrics included, searches per day or month, or something else—and the cost to upgrade to a paid plan if needed.\nWhere available, I tested out additional keyword research tools like competitive\ngap analysis\n, content optimization features, and more.\nAfter spending over a dozen hours with these apps this year, I landed on the four best keyword research tools—each with a manageable free version—below.\nThe best free keyword research tools at a glance\nBest for\nStandout feature\nFree plan\nWebsite\nGoogle Keyword Planner\nResearching paid keywords\nForecasting features and budget planning\nCompletely free (but you get more out of it if you use Google Ads)\nVisit Google Keyword Planner\nSemrush\nAdvanced SEO professionals\nGranular keyword data\n10 Analytics reports per day, 10 tracked keywords\nVisit Semrush\nKWFinder\nAd hoc keyword research\nKeyword opportunities\n5 searches per day\nVisit KWFinder\nUbersuggest\nContent marketing\nRecommended comparison keywords\n3 searches per day\nVisit Ubersuggest\nThe best free keyword research tool for paid keywords\nGoogle Keyword Planner\n(Web)\nGoogle Keyword Planner pros:\nCompletely free forever, even if you don't use Google Ads\nHelpful forecasting features for budgeting if you\ndo\nuse Google Ads\nCan pull keyword suggestions from just your website\nGoogle Keyword Planner cons:\nNot as helpful for organic keyword research\nWhen it comes to\nPPC keyword research\n, Google Keyword Planner is one of the best tools out there. It's completely free (even if you don't buy Google Ads), so you never have to worry about running into limits or expensive upgrades.\nGoogle Keyword Planner includes two main features: one for exploratory keyword research and discovery and another for more in-depth research on search volume and forecasting.\nThe Keyword ideas feature is similar to many of the tools on this list: you search for a seed term, and it generates other keyword ideas, along with details on monthly search volume, change over time, competition, ad impression share, and bid ranges. You can refine your keyword list by brand or non-brand keywords, source website, and more. If you're also using Google Ads, the Forecast feature makes it easier to plan ahead for your paid ads and budget in advance.\nKeyword Planner can inform your organic strategy, too, by showing you where ranking organically may help you save on PPC costs.\nGoogle Keyword Planner pricing:\nFree\nThe best free keyword research tool for advanced SEO\nSemrush\n(Web)\nSemrush pros:\nTons of granular keyword data\nWide range of specialized keyword research tools\nPretty generous free plan\nSemrush cons:\nCan be overwhelming for those less experienced with keyword research\nMost expensive upgrade\nIf you're looking for something more advanced, Semrush shares a ton of keyword data and makes it easy to dig into the details, like SERP features (featured snippet, reviews, site links, image pack, and so on) and granular analysis of current results. Semrush offers a broad range of keyword research tools, too, from the standard traffic and search volume data to content-driven keyword research and competitive keyword gap analysis.\nThat range is what really sets Semrush apart, including the standard Keyword Overview, the Keyword Magic Tool for exploratory keyword research, a Keyword Manager and position tracking, competitive Keyword Gap analysis, keyword cannibalization report, and Organic Traffic Insights, which—when connected with your Google Analytics or Search Console account—can uncover those famously tricky \"not provided\" keywords.\nAs an added bonus, the SEO Content Template tool lets you automatically create a content brief and optimize content as you write by grading your content in real-time for readability, originality, tone of voice, and SEO: it uses a handy bullseye graphic to help you strike the right balance. Plus, the tool visually checks off SEO recommendations (like using your target and related keywords and adding relevant links and images) as you go.\nThe app's\nCopilot AI\nwill even make proactive recommendations: flagging when your rankings drop for tracked keywords, for example, making technical SEO recommendations, and prompting you to add additional information to help fine-tune your data.\nAll of this means that upgrading will cost you a pretty penny—but you can use it for free at low volumes to start.\nYou can do more with Semrush by\nconnecting it with Zapier\n, turning keyword insights into orchestrated workflows across your business. For example, you can automate site edits and re-crawls. At the same time, AI can flag keywords with sudden ranking drops, create prioritized tasks in your project management tool, and update campaign dashboards with real-time data.\nSemrush pricing:\nFree plan\nincludes up to 10 Analytics reports per day and 10 tracked keywords; paid plans\nstart at $139.95\/month\nfor up to 10,000 results per report and 500 tracked keywords.\nThe best free keyword research tool for ad hoc needs\nKWFinder\n(Web)\nKWFinder pros:\nTons of datapoints available free\nUnique data like keyword opportunities\nPart of a broader SEO suite\nKWFinder cons:\nLimited to 5 searches per day\nIf you don't need to do a lot of keyword research in your day-to-day, KWFinder is a strong option. The free plan limits you to 5 searches per day, but each keyword search offers a\nton\nof data. That includes standard metrics like monthly search volume, keyword difficulty, related keywords, and a breakdown of the pages currently ranking for your keyword.\nBut KWFinder also includes a number of unique and super helpful details, like searcher intent for each keyword and the type of content already ranking (e.g. listicle, homepage, blog, or product page).\nMy favorite of these is the keyword opportunities column, which identifies weak points in the top five results and suggests how you can capitalize on those weaknesses and outrank them. For example, it can identify if the top results are outdated (more than six months old) or missing the full keyword in their meta title.\nKWFinder is also part of the broader Mangools suite, which includes a number of other SEO tools, many of which are available for free in some limited way—like the SERP simulator, AI search grader, and SEO content optimizer.\nKWFinder pricing:\nFree plan includes up to 5 keyword searches per day; paid plans start at $29.90\/month for up to 100 lookups per day and additional results.\nAllintitle\nis another sturdy option for infrequent or irregular keyword research needs. You can use the keyword explorer tool without creating an account, and it pulls a ton of datapoints for free—including content optimization suggestions and keyword gap analysis—and offers flexible pay-as-you-go or monthly subscription upgrades.\nThe best free keyword research tool for content marketing\nUbersuggest\n(Web)\nUbersuggest pros:\nLots of data available for free\nRecommended comparison keywords\nUbersuggest cons:\nLimited to 3 keyword searches per day\nNormally, I wouldn't consider a keyword research tool with such a low daily limit (the free plan only includes 3 searches per day), but Ubersuggest offers up so much data within each search that it's worth a look anyway.\nThe Keyword Overview tool includes monthly search volume (broken down by country), SEO and paid difficulty scores, and Content Ideas—pulled from currently ranking results, with data on visits, other keywords, backlinks, and performance on Facebook, Pinterest, and Reddit. Ubersuggest is also the only tool I tested that breaks out comparison keyword ideas, a big category for content marketers.\nBeyond keyword research, Ubersuggest also has features for rank tracking, identifying SEO opportunities based on your site, analyzing your backlinks, and an AI writer tool.\nWhile the free plan is pretty limited, it's workable if you don't do a ton of keyword research all at once—and the upgrade to an Ubersuggest paid plan is pretty reasonable.\nUbersuggest pricing:\nFree plan includes 3 searches per day;\npaid plans\nstart at $29\/month for 150 searches per day and 125 tracked keywords per domain.\nCan you use AI chatbots for keyword research?\nYou can ask\nAI chatbots\nlike\nChatGPT\nand\nGemini\nto do keyword research for you—but should you?\nThe main benefit of going the AI route is simplicity. You can ask for straightforward, simplified results and get a simple, streamlined answer.\nHere's Gemini, for example.\nAnd here's ChatGPT.\nChatGPT was more upfront about the sources it used (at the bottom of the answer, you could click on\nSources\nto see the specific websites the chatbot referenced). But it also offered search volume and keyword difficulty numbers pulled from AdTargeting's keyword research tool.\nGemini, on the other hand, told me it couldn't pull precise monthly search volume numbers (it's not even connected to Google Keyword Planner) and actually suggested I'd be better off using a dedicated SEO tool. Running deep research prompts took a long time and, while it did bring Gemini's response in line with what ChatGPT offered in terms of real numbers for the metrics, it didn't yield any more useful information from either chatbot.\nHere's Gemini's report:\nAnd ChatGPT's.\nBoth ChatGPT and Gemini continue to improve, but to get the kind of information a dedicated keyword research tool offers isn't possible in a chatbot right now. Case in point: I ran the exact same prompt through both ChatGPT and Gemini five minutes later and got completely different sets of keywords.\nIf you're in a bind and need simplified, bottom line-style information on a keyword quickly, an AI chatbot may be of some help. But as of today, I wouldn't recommend using an AI chatbot as your primary keyword research tool—especially given the number of truly helpful dedicated free keyword research tools you can use instead.\nOf course, lots of dedicated SEO tools (though usually not the free ones), will have AI built in—that's the best of both worlds.\nWhen should you upgrade from a free keyword research tool?\nThe short answer is: only when you need to. If you can get all the data you need without going over the allowances of one of the free plans above, there's no reason to upgrade to a paid plan (or switch to a fully paid tool).\nWith that said, here are a few signs it may be time to consider upgrading:\nYou're regularly hitting the monthly or daily search limits of your current solution.\nYou're missing out on features you can't get for free, like content optimization guidance or the ability to track your site's keywords and rankings over time.\nYou need additional SEO features that an upgraded all-in-one tool can provide (like technical SEO, site auditing, etc).\nWhen the time comes, some of the tools on this list can grow right along with you. But if you want to see all your options, here are Zapier's lists of helpful SEO tools to get you started:\nThe best SEO tools\nThe\nbest SEO rank trackers\nThe best SEO audit tools\nThe best WordPress plugins for SEO\nRelated reading:\nHow to find low competition keywords that drive traffic\nHow to do keyword research on a budget with Keywords Everywhere\nThe best SEO content optimization tools\nGenerative engine optimization: How to rank on AI chatbots\nThis article was originally published in June 2021. 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When you click some of the links on this page, we may earn a commission.* [*Learn more*](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/affiliate-commission\/)*.*\n\nThere's no shortage of tools purpose-built for keyword research (literally hundreds of them), and they run the gamut from beginner-focused to highly advanced. They also range from totally basic and unhelpful to super valuable.\n\nWhen done right, the best keyword research tools simplify and streamline your workflow—they make it easier to find the right keywords to target and give you the data you need to actually rank for them. But they shouldn't require you to empty out your bank account and sell your first-born child in order to access that data.\n\nImprove your PPC management and performance\n\n[Automate your campaigns](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/improve-ppc-campaigns\/)\n\nAfter years of working with multiple clients who use all different tools for keyword research and [SEO](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/seo-strategies\/) content optimization, I've seen the best (and the worst) of them—and I know how important it is to choose the right keyword planner tool. To help, I considered nearly 90 tools with a free option for keyword research. After in-depth testing, here are the four best free keyword research tools, including the all-around greats and apps built for more specific use cases.\n\n[Try Zapier](https:\/\/zapier.com\/sign-up?utm_campaign=zpr-gbl-pgv-evr-blogsignupbutton-ctn&utm_medium=blog&utm_source=zapier)\n\n## The best free keyword research tools\n- [Google Keyword Planner](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-keyword-research-tool\/#google) for researching paid keywords\n- [Semrush](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-keyword-research-tool\/#semrush) for advanced SEO professionals\n- [KWFinder](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-keyword-research-tool\/#kwfinder) for ad hoc keyword research\n- [Ubersuggest](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-keyword-research-tool\/#ubersuggest) for content marketing\n## What makes the best keyword research tool?\n##### How we evaluate and test apps\nOur best apps roundups are written by humans who've spent much of their careers using, testing, and writing about software. Unless explicitly stated, we spend dozens of hours researching and testing apps, using each app as it's intended to be used and evaluating it against the criteria we set for the category. We're never paid for placement in our articles from any app or for links to any site—we value the trust readers put in us to offer authentic evaluations of the categories and apps we review. For more details on our process, read the full rundown of [how we select apps to feature on the Zapier blog](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/selecting-apps\/).\n\nThe features that make for a great keyword research tool are pretty straightforward: you search for a given keyword, and the tool tells you about it. But there are so many different ways to *use* keyword data, so I wanted to find tools that could handle a variety of use cases, along with a few designed for some of the most popular uses for keyword research.\n\nDuring testing, I looked primarily at the factors below to determine which apps made the initial list.\n\n- **Data included.** The best keyword research tools give you all the data you need to rank for your chosen keyword. All of the apps I selected include, at minimum, traffic, keyword difficulty, and [competitive SERP analysis](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/weaknesses-that-prevent-top-ranking-in-search-engine-results).\n- **Keyword optimization guidance.** You shouldn't have to be a 10-year SEO industry veteran to use keyword research tools—the best tools offer simple, straightforward suggestions to optimize for your keywords. There are tools (like Ahrefs, Semrush, and Moz) that do complete SEO analysis on your site, checking for everything from site speed and technical details to domain authority and topic clusters. That's not what we're looking for here. We're looking for tools that any business owner or marketer can use to quickly understand their target keyword and optimize their site to rank for it.\n- **Free plan allowances and upgrades.** Some tools include super limited results for free and call it a \"free plan.\" Or they put time limits on the free plan, effectively making it more of a trial. I only included tools with evergreen free plans generous enough to actually be useful—and they won't break the bank when it's time to upgrade, either.\n- **Standalone functionality.** Since you're looking for something free, your keyword tool should be a one-stop shop—without requiring any additional tools or extensions to work for you, especially not ones you'd have to pay for. And while I didn't consider them for this roundup, there are a number of great [WordPress SEO plugins](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-wordpress-seo-plugins\/) you can start using right away if you have a WordPress site.\n\nTo find the best of the best, I put each tool that checked those boxes to the test by running through an in-depth protocol. Here's what my testing workflow looked like:\n\n- If needed, I created an account and went through any provided onboarding or guided tutorials (many of these free apps don't require account creation or provide any onboarding).\n- I searched for a few different kinds of keywords—e.g., \"free keyword research tools,\" \"chocolate cake,\" and \"white sneakers for women\"—to see the results for different [search intent](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/optimize-content-for-search-intent\/).\n- I checked which related keywords, metrics, and other data were offered. I also made note of the source, whether information was pulled from Google, included non-search engine websites (like social media or forums), or was drawn from the tool's own native data.\n- I verified allowances for the free plan—whether limited by time, number of results, metrics included, searches per day or month, or something else—and the cost to upgrade to a paid plan if needed.\n- Where available, I tested out additional keyword research tools like competitive [gap analysis](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/gap-analysis\/), content optimization features, and more.\n\nAfter spending over a dozen hours with these apps this year, I landed on the four best keyword research tools—each with a manageable free version—below.\n\n## The best free keyword research tools at a glance\n|   | **Best for** | **Standout feature** | **Free plan** | **Website** |\n|---|---|---|---|---|\n| [**Google Keyword Planner**](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-keyword-research-tool\/#google) | Researching paid keywords | Forecasting features and budget planning | Completely free (but you get more out of it if you use Google Ads) | [Visit Google Keyword Planner](https:\/\/ads.google.com\/home\/tools\/keyword-planner\/) |\n| [**Semrush**](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-keyword-research-tool\/#semrush) | Advanced SEO professionals | Granular keyword data | 10 Analytics reports per day, 10 tracked keywords | [Visit Semrush](https:\/\/vendors.selectsoftwarereviews.com\/redirect\/1733248202103x435870744995430400?p=1715808885462x244895206427328500) |\n| [**KWFinder**](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-keyword-research-tool\/#kwfinder) | Ad hoc keyword research | Keyword opportunities | 5 searches per day | [Visit KWFinder](https:\/\/vendors.selectsoftwarereviews.com\/redirect\/1751996835312x818348594564431900?p=1715808885462x244895206427328500) |\n| [**Ubersuggest**](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-keyword-research-tool\/#ubersuggest) | Content marketing | Recommended comparison keywords | 3 searches per day | [Visit Ubersuggest](https:\/\/vendors.selectsoftwarereviews.com\/redirect\/1753896403501x123625064253358080?p=1715808885462x244895206427328500) |\n***\n## The best free keyword research tool for paid keywords\n### [**Google Keyword Planner**](https:\/\/ads.google.com\/home\/tools\/keyword-planner\/)(Web)\n![Google Keyword Planner, our pick for the best free keyword research tool for paid keywords](https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/lzny33ho1g45\/cvon3DVr5LWKjgcKy78tx\/5f554c8c150c4a6d2f82d83940f07f1d\/image6.png)\n\n**Google Keyword Planner pros:**\n\n- Completely free forever, even if you don't use Google Ads\n- Helpful forecasting features for budgeting if you *do* use Google Ads\n- Can pull keyword suggestions from just your website\n\n**Google Keyword Planner cons:**\n\n- Not as helpful for organic keyword research\n\nWhen it comes to [PPC keyword research](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/pay-per-click-tools\/), Google Keyword Planner is one of the best tools out there. It's completely free (even if you don't buy Google Ads), so you never have to worry about running into limits or expensive upgrades.\n\nGoogle Keyword Planner includes two main features: one for exploratory keyword research and discovery and another for more in-depth research on search volume and forecasting.\n\nThe Keyword ideas feature is similar to many of the tools on this list: you search for a seed term, and it generates other keyword ideas, along with details on monthly search volume, change over time, competition, ad impression share, and bid ranges. You can refine your keyword list by brand or non-brand keywords, source website, and more. If you're also using Google Ads, the Forecast feature makes it easier to plan ahead for your paid ads and budget in advance.\n\nKeyword Planner can inform your organic strategy, too, by showing you where ranking organically may help you save on PPC costs.\n\n**Google Keyword Planner pricing:** Free\n\n## The best free keyword research tool for advanced SEO\n### [**Semrush**](https:\/\/vendors.selectsoftwarereviews.com\/redirect\/1733248202103x435870744995430400?p=1715808885462x244895206427328500) (Web)\n![Semrush, our pick for the best free keyword research tool for advanced SEOs](https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/lzny33ho1g45\/2bGmoL3xDnN3ANCHerz6Yy\/5d3646a8c8f0200c69658ac8a7320422\/image10.png)\n\n**Semrush pros:**\n\n- Tons of granular keyword data\n- Wide range of specialized keyword research tools\n- Pretty generous free plan\n\n**Semrush cons:**\n\n- Can be overwhelming for those less experienced with keyword research\n- Most expensive upgrade\n\nIf you're looking for something more advanced, Semrush shares a ton of keyword data and makes it easy to dig into the details, like SERP features (featured snippet, reviews, site links, image pack, and so on) and granular analysis of current results. Semrush offers a broad range of keyword research tools, too, from the standard traffic and search volume data to content-driven keyword research and competitive keyword gap analysis.\n\nThat range is what really sets Semrush apart, including the standard Keyword Overview, the Keyword Magic Tool for exploratory keyword research, a Keyword Manager and position tracking, competitive Keyword Gap analysis, keyword cannibalization report, and Organic Traffic Insights, which—when connected with your Google Analytics or Search Console account—can uncover those famously tricky \"not provided\" keywords.\n\nAs an added bonus, the SEO Content Template tool lets you automatically create a content brief and optimize content as you write by grading your content in real-time for readability, originality, tone of voice, and SEO: it uses a handy bullseye graphic to help you strike the right balance. Plus, the tool visually checks off SEO recommendations (like using your target and related keywords and adding relevant links and images) as you go.\n\nThe app's [Copilot AI](https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/blog\/copilot-ai-seo-assistant\/) will even make proactive recommendations: flagging when your rankings drop for tracked keywords, for example, making technical SEO recommendations, and prompting you to add additional information to help fine-tune your data.\n\nAll of this means that upgrading will cost you a pretty penny—but you can use it for free at low volumes to start.\n\nYou can do more with Semrush by [connecting it with Zapier](https:\/\/zapier.com\/apps\/semrush\/integrations), turning keyword insights into orchestrated workflows across your business. For example, you can automate site edits and re-crawls. At the same time, AI can flag keywords with sudden ranking drops, create prioritized tasks in your project management tool, and update campaign dashboards with real-time data.\n\n[Automate Semrush](https:\/\/zapier.com\/apps\/semrush\/integrations)\n\n**Semrush pricing:** [Free plan](https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/blog\/what-can-i-do-with-a-free-account-from-semrush\/) includes up to 10 Analytics reports per day and 10 tracked keywords; paid plans [start at \\$139.95\/month](https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/prices\/) for up to 10,000 results per report and 500 tracked keywords.\n\n## The best free keyword research tool for ad hoc needs\n### [KWFinder](https:\/\/vendors.selectsoftwarereviews.com\/redirect\/1751996835312x818348594564431900?p=1715808885462x244895206427328500) (Web)\n![KWFinder, our pick for the best free keyword research tool for ad hoc needs](https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/lzny33ho1g45\/19zOT2aX091N9PcwF8sDay\/a97b3f1ce19ba3e1b45dd5e0ac7d655b\/image8.png)\n\n**KWFinder pros:**\n\n- Tons of datapoints available free\n- Unique data like keyword opportunities\n- Part of a broader SEO suite\n\n**KWFinder cons:**\n\n- Limited to 5 searches per day\n\nIf you don't need to do a lot of keyword research in your day-to-day, KWFinder is a strong option. The free plan limits you to 5 searches per day, but each keyword search offers a *ton* of data. That includes standard metrics like monthly search volume, keyword difficulty, related keywords, and a breakdown of the pages currently ranking for your keyword.\n\nBut KWFinder also includes a number of unique and super helpful details, like searcher intent for each keyword and the type of content already ranking (e.g. listicle, homepage, blog, or product page).\n\nMy favorite of these is the keyword opportunities column, which identifies weak points in the top five results and suggests how you can capitalize on those weaknesses and outrank them. For example, it can identify if the top results are outdated (more than six months old) or missing the full keyword in their meta title.\n\nKWFinder is also part of the broader Mangools suite, which includes a number of other SEO tools, many of which are available for free in some limited way—like the SERP simulator, AI search grader, and SEO content optimizer.\n\n**KWFinder pricing:** Free plan includes up to 5 keyword searches per day; paid plans start at \\$29.90\/month for up to 100 lookups per day and additional results.\n\n[Allintitle](https:\/\/allintitle.co\/free-keyword-finder\/) is another sturdy option for infrequent or irregular keyword research needs. You can use the keyword explorer tool without creating an account, and it pulls a ton of datapoints for free—including content optimization suggestions and keyword gap analysis—and offers flexible pay-as-you-go or monthly subscription upgrades.\n\n## The best free keyword research tool for content marketing\n### [Ubersuggest](https:\/\/vendors.selectsoftwarereviews.com\/redirect\/1753896403501x123625064253358080?p=1715808885462x244895206427328500) (Web)\n![Ubersuggest, our pick for the best free keyword research tool for content marketing](https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/lzny33ho1g45\/6koPbuPs51i0VUCW5USa8I\/ff012083bbe977213bfa89b9c6276f8f\/image9.png)\n\n**Ubersuggest pros:**\n\n- Lots of data available for free\n- Recommended comparison keywords\n\n**Ubersuggest cons:**\n\n- Limited to 3 keyword searches per day\n\nNormally, I wouldn't consider a keyword research tool with such a low daily limit (the free plan only includes 3 searches per day), but Ubersuggest offers up so much data within each search that it's worth a look anyway.\n\nThe Keyword Overview tool includes monthly search volume (broken down by country), SEO and paid difficulty scores, and Content Ideas—pulled from currently ranking results, with data on visits, other keywords, backlinks, and performance on Facebook, Pinterest, and Reddit. Ubersuggest is also the only tool I tested that breaks out comparison keyword ideas, a big category for content marketers.\n\nBeyond keyword research, Ubersuggest also has features for rank tracking, identifying SEO opportunities based on your site, analyzing your backlinks, and an AI writer tool.\n\nWhile the free plan is pretty limited, it's workable if you don't do a ton of keyword research all at once—and the upgrade to an Ubersuggest paid plan is pretty reasonable.\n\n**Ubersuggest pricing:** Free plan includes 3 searches per day; [paid plans](https:\/\/app.neilpatel.com\/en\/pricing) start at \\$29\/month for 150 searches per day and 125 tracked keywords per domain.\n\n## Can you use AI chatbots for keyword research?\nYou can ask [AI chatbots](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-ai-chatbot\/) like [ChatGPT](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/how-to-use-chatgpt\/) and [Gemini](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/how-to-use-google-bard\/) to do keyword research for you—but should you?\n\nThe main benefit of going the AI route is simplicity. You can ask for straightforward, simplified results and get a simple, streamlined answer.\n\nHere's Gemini, for example.\n\n![Gemini showing search volume, difficulty, and competitor articles](https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/lzny33ho1g45\/5lbzDlpdnBrchYfj8jqWo2\/7e7e9d4fca93a0b111dd7e6ee585dda5\/image7.png)\n\nAnd here's ChatGPT.\n\n![ChatGPT showing monthly search volume, keyword difficulty, and competitor articles](https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/lzny33ho1g45\/pfoUHTNNZn5AaalbEPnej\/bf5ea4f4c968d3fd73629a02a883e15a\/image11.png)\n\nChatGPT was more upfront about the sources it used (at the bottom of the answer, you could click on *Sources* to see the specific websites the chatbot referenced). But it also offered search volume and keyword difficulty numbers pulled from AdTargeting's keyword research tool.\n\nGemini, on the other hand, told me it couldn't pull precise monthly search volume numbers (it's not even connected to Google Keyword Planner) and actually suggested I'd be better off using a dedicated SEO tool. Running deep research prompts took a long time and, while it did bring Gemini's response in line with what ChatGPT offered in terms of real numbers for the metrics, it didn't yield any more useful information from either chatbot.\n\nHere's Gemini's report:\n\n![Gemini's SEO report](https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/lzny33ho1g45\/5H8CofchmjqDfFwJJoDPSt\/b42fc228f174e1157d96690f622b7587\/image2.png)\n\nAnd ChatGPT's.\n\n![ChatGPT's SEO report](https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/lzny33ho1g45\/2XA46kcyxxAOGT4lsAvNqn\/1a59cd332cccc55cdb5b19eb84cc5e4a\/image5.png)\n\nBoth ChatGPT and Gemini continue to improve, but to get the kind of information a dedicated keyword research tool offers isn't possible in a chatbot right now. Case in point: I ran the exact same prompt through both ChatGPT and Gemini five minutes later and got completely different sets of keywords.\n\nIf you're in a bind and need simplified, bottom line-style information on a keyword quickly, an AI chatbot may be of some help. But as of today, I wouldn't recommend using an AI chatbot as your primary keyword research tool—especially given the number of truly helpful dedicated free keyword research tools you can use instead.\n\nOf course, lots of dedicated SEO tools (though usually not the free ones), will have AI built in—that's the best of both worlds.\n\n## When should you upgrade from a free keyword research tool?\nThe short answer is: only when you need to. If you can get all the data you need without going over the allowances of one of the free plans above, there's no reason to upgrade to a paid plan (or switch to a fully paid tool).\n\nWith that said, here are a few signs it may be time to consider upgrading:\n\n- You're regularly hitting the monthly or daily search limits of your current solution.\n- You're missing out on features you can't get for free, like content optimization guidance or the ability to track your site's keywords and rankings over time.\n- You need additional SEO features that an upgraded all-in-one tool can provide (like technical SEO, site auditing, etc).\n\nWhen the time comes, some of the tools on this list can grow right along with you. But if you want to see all your options, here are Zapier's lists of helpful SEO tools to get you started:\n\n- [The best SEO tools](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-seo-tools\/)\n- [The](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-seo-tools\/) [best SEO rank trackers](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-rank-tracker\/#keyword)\n- [The best SEO audit tools](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-seo-audit-tools\/)\n- [The best WordPress plugins for SEO](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-wordpress-seo-plugins\/)\n\n**Related reading:**\n\n- [How to find low competition keywords that drive traffic](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/low-competition-keywords\/)\n- [How to do keyword research on a budget with Keywords Everywhere](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/keywords-everywhere\/)\n- [The best SEO content optimization tools](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-seo-content-optimization-tools\/)\n- [Generative engine optimization: How to rank on AI chatbots](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/generative-engine-optimization)\n\n*This article was originally published in June 2021. The most recent update was in June 2025.*\n\nGet productivity tips delivered straight to your inbox\n\nWe’ll email you 1-3 times per week—and never share your information.\n\n[![Kiera Abbamonte picture](https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/lzny33ho1g45\/4RAg1SjQzXKgDjNDv24n0Y\/a30ef4cfa38eeafa7ea92af3e6ac3999\/21d53750c590cc9b995e3de849fdd975.png) Kiera Abbamonte Kiera’s a content writer who helps SaaS and eCommerce companies connect with customers and reach new audiences. Located in Boston, MA, she loves cinnamon coffee and a good baseball game.](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/author\/kiera-abbamonte)\n\n**tags**\n\n**mentioned apps**\n\n## Related articles\n- [![The SEMrush logo connected to logos for Slack, ClickUp, and Google Sheets against a lime green background.](https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/lzny33ho1g45\/1HX5KtkdcQPxxX7dxQ5Gah\/92efee443cf6ca2b46d887cd4eb13e74\/Automate_SEMrush.jpg?fm=jpg&q=31&fit=thumb&w=896)](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/automate-semrush\/)\n  \n  [Automation inspiration](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/all-articles\/automation-inspiration)\n  \n  [4 ways to automate Semrush4 ways to automate Semrush](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/automate-semrush\/)\n- [![Hero image with the logos of the best SEO content optimization tools](https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/lzny33ho1g45\/3d3CKZnQP2S6tfDe6JFyPe\/a8a3a0788be7afde786bfd20aaabff8b\/best-seo-content-optimization-hero.jpg?fm=jpg&q=31&fit=thumb&w=896)](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-seo-content-optimization-tools\/)\n  \n  [Best apps](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/all-articles\/best-apps)\n  \n  [The 4 best content optimization toolsThe 4 best content optimization tools](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-seo-content-optimization-tools\/)\n- [![A hero image with an icon representing AI search and SEO](https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/lzny33ho1g45\/55zHvlKQBmyjohqfqN6GE8\/1fa246cb9b800c152a7076a4c48fa35e\/ai-search-hero.jpg?fm=jpg&q=31&fit=thumb&w=896)](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/seo-strategies\/)\n  \n  [Marketing tips](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/all-articles\/marketing-tips)\n  \n  [SEO strategies: A guide to people-first ranking in the age of AISEO strategies: A guide to people-first...](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/seo-strategies\/)\n- [![Hero image with the logos of the best WordPress SEO plugins](https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/lzny33ho1g45\/7gIiMCyVv9fQwao8FWQPTV\/5f5d3d874d60775091fd6a4237a367d6\/best-wordpress-seo-plugins.jpg?fm=jpg&q=31&fit=thumb&w=896)](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-wordpress-seo-plugins\/)\n  \n  [Best apps](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/all-articles\/best-apps)\n  \n  [The 6 best WordPress SEO pluginsThe 6 best WordPress SEO plugins](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-wordpress-seo-plugins\/)\n- [![Hero image with logos of the best competitor analysis tools](https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/lzny33ho1g45\/6LFIOTCmJYFPNDD1qumNYr\/c05a7bd75333f4a10a6763669a31e51e\/best-competitor-analysis-tools.jpg?fm=jpg&q=31&fit=thumb&w=896)](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/competitor-analysis-tools\/)\n  \n  [Best apps](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/all-articles\/best-apps)\n  \n  [The 10 best competitor analysis toolsThe 10 best competitor analysis tools](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/competitor-analysis-tools\/)\n- [![Hero image with the Rank Math and Yoast logos](https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/lzny33ho1g45\/Ct89KfZab1CUz8XE27RDU\/d71ff6d6d17114ca7c93a86443173d68\/rank-math-vs-yoast.jpg?fm=jpg&q=31&fit=thumb&w=896)](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/rank-math-vs-yoast\/)\n  \n  [App comparisons](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/all-articles\/app-comparisons)\n  \n  [Rank Math vs. Yoast: Which WordPress SEO plugin should you use?Rank Math vs. Yoast: Which WordPress SEO...](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/rank-math-vs-yoast\/)\n- [![Hero image with an icon of a magnifying glass (search)](https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/lzny33ho1g45\/csBthuM4srZ73JFe7fSUM\/a7f3ea49b723d1079f39ea3687fe07bd\/Group_9899.png?fm=jpg&q=31&fit=thumb&w=896)](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/programmatic-seo\/)\n  \n  [Marketing tips](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/all-articles\/marketing-tips)\n  \n  [Programmatic SEO: How to increase search traffic with no-code toolsProgrammatic SEO: How to increase search...](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/programmatic-seo\/)\n- [![Hero image with the logos of the best SEO audit tools](https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/lzny33ho1g45\/1wDG6qCJNbs01kmNJNYJJm\/7ddf8afb242a096131c77422c9626cd8\/best-seo-audit-tools.jpg?fm=jpg&q=31&fit=thumb&w=896)](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-seo-audit-tools\/)\n  \n  [Best apps](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/all-articles\/best-apps)\n  \n  [The 9 best SEO audit toolsThe 9 best SEO audit tools](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-seo-audit-tools\/)\n\n## Improve your productivity automatically. 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When you click some of the links on this page, we may earn a commission.* [*Learn more*](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/affiliate-commission\/)*.*\n\nThere's no shortage of tools purpose-built for keyword research (literally hundreds of them), and they run the gamut from beginner-focused to highly advanced. They also range from totally basic and unhelpful to super valuable.\n\nWhen done right, the best keyword research tools simplify and streamline your workflow—they make it easier to find the right keywords to target and give you the data you need to actually rank for them. But they shouldn't require you to empty out your bank account and sell your first-born child in order to access that data.\n\nAfter years of working with multiple clients who use all different tools for keyword research and [SEO](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/seo-strategies\/) content optimization, I've seen the best (and the worst) of them—and I know how important it is to choose the right keyword planner tool. To help, I considered nearly 90 tools with a free option for keyword research. After in-depth testing, here are the four best free keyword research tools, including the all-around greats and apps built for more specific use cases.\n\n## The best free keyword research tools\n- [Google Keyword Planner](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-keyword-research-tool\/#google) for researching paid keywords\n- [Semrush](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-keyword-research-tool\/#semrush) for advanced SEO professionals\n- [KWFinder](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-keyword-research-tool\/#kwfinder) for ad hoc keyword research\n- [Ubersuggest](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-keyword-research-tool\/#ubersuggest) for content marketing\n## What makes the best keyword research tool?\n##### How we evaluate and test apps\nOur best apps roundups are written by humans who've spent much of their careers using, testing, and writing about software. Unless explicitly stated, we spend dozens of hours researching and testing apps, using each app as it's intended to be used and evaluating it against the criteria we set for the category. We're never paid for placement in our articles from any app or for links to any site—we value the trust readers put in us to offer authentic evaluations of the categories and apps we review. For more details on our process, read the full rundown of [how we select apps to feature on the Zapier blog](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/selecting-apps\/).\n\nThe features that make for a great keyword research tool are pretty straightforward: you search for a given keyword, and the tool tells you about it. But there are so many different ways to *use* keyword data, so I wanted to find tools that could handle a variety of use cases, along with a few designed for some of the most popular uses for keyword research.\n\nDuring testing, I looked primarily at the factors below to determine which apps made the initial list.\n\n- **Data included.** The best keyword research tools give you all the data you need to rank for your chosen keyword. All of the apps I selected include, at minimum, traffic, keyword difficulty, and [competitive SERP analysis](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/weaknesses-that-prevent-top-ranking-in-search-engine-results).\n- **Keyword optimization guidance.** You shouldn't have to be a 10-year SEO industry veteran to use keyword research tools—the best tools offer simple, straightforward suggestions to optimize for your keywords. There are tools (like Ahrefs, Semrush, and Moz) that do complete SEO analysis on your site, checking for everything from site speed and technical details to domain authority and topic clusters. That's not what we're looking for here. We're looking for tools that any business owner or marketer can use to quickly understand their target keyword and optimize their site to rank for it.\n- **Free plan allowances and upgrades.** Some tools include super limited results for free and call it a \"free plan.\" Or they put time limits on the free plan, effectively making it more of a trial. I only included tools with evergreen free plans generous enough to actually be useful—and they won't break the bank when it's time to upgrade, either.\n- **Standalone functionality.** Since you're looking for something free, your keyword tool should be a one-stop shop—without requiring any additional tools or extensions to work for you, especially not ones you'd have to pay for. And while I didn't consider them for this roundup, there are a number of great [WordPress SEO plugins](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-wordpress-seo-plugins\/) you can start using right away if you have a WordPress site.\n\nTo find the best of the best, I put each tool that checked those boxes to the test by running through an in-depth protocol. Here's what my testing workflow looked like:\n\n- If needed, I created an account and went through any provided onboarding or guided tutorials (many of these free apps don't require account creation or provide any onboarding).\n- I searched for a few different kinds of keywords—e.g., \"free keyword research tools,\" \"chocolate cake,\" and \"white sneakers for women\"—to see the results for different [search intent](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/optimize-content-for-search-intent\/).\n- I checked which related keywords, metrics, and other data were offered. I also made note of the source, whether information was pulled from Google, included non-search engine websites (like social media or forums), or was drawn from the tool's own native data.\n- I verified allowances for the free plan—whether limited by time, number of results, metrics included, searches per day or month, or something else—and the cost to upgrade to a paid plan if needed.\n- Where available, I tested out additional keyword research tools like competitive [gap analysis](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/gap-analysis\/), content optimization features, and more.\n\nAfter spending over a dozen hours with these apps this year, I landed on the four best keyword research tools—each with a manageable free version—below.\n\n## The best free keyword research tools at a glance\n|   | **Best for** | **Standout feature** | **Free plan** | **Website** |\n|---|---|---|---|---|\n| [**Google Keyword Planner**](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-keyword-research-tool\/#google) | Researching paid keywords | Forecasting features and budget planning | Completely free (but you get more out of it if you use Google Ads) | [Visit Google Keyword Planner](https:\/\/ads.google.com\/home\/tools\/keyword-planner\/) |\n| [**Semrush**](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-keyword-research-tool\/#semrush) | Advanced SEO professionals | Granular keyword data | 10 Analytics reports per day, 10 tracked keywords | [Visit Semrush](https:\/\/vendors.selectsoftwarereviews.com\/redirect\/1733248202103x435870744995430400?p=1715808885462x244895206427328500) |\n| [**KWFinder**](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-keyword-research-tool\/#kwfinder) | Ad hoc keyword research | Keyword opportunities | 5 searches per day | [Visit KWFinder](https:\/\/vendors.selectsoftwarereviews.com\/redirect\/1751996835312x818348594564431900?p=1715808885462x244895206427328500) |\n| [**Ubersuggest**](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-keyword-research-tool\/#ubersuggest) | Content marketing | Recommended comparison keywords | 3 searches per day | [Visit Ubersuggest](https:\/\/vendors.selectsoftwarereviews.com\/redirect\/1753896403501x123625064253358080?p=1715808885462x244895206427328500) |\n***\n## The best free keyword research tool for paid keywords\n### [**Google Keyword Planner**](https:\/\/ads.google.com\/home\/tools\/keyword-planner\/)(Web)\n![Google Keyword Planner, our pick for the best free keyword research tool for paid keywords](https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/lzny33ho1g45\/cvon3DVr5LWKjgcKy78tx\/5f554c8c150c4a6d2f82d83940f07f1d\/image6.png)\n\n**Google Keyword Planner pros:**\n\n- Completely free forever, even if you don't use Google Ads\n- Helpful forecasting features for budgeting if you *do* use Google Ads\n- Can pull keyword suggestions from just your website\n\n**Google Keyword Planner cons:**\n\n- Not as helpful for organic keyword research\n\nWhen it comes to [PPC keyword research](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/pay-per-click-tools\/), Google Keyword Planner is one of the best tools out there. It's completely free (even if you don't buy Google Ads), so you never have to worry about running into limits or expensive upgrades.\n\nGoogle Keyword Planner includes two main features: one for exploratory keyword research and discovery and another for more in-depth research on search volume and forecasting.\n\nThe Keyword ideas feature is similar to many of the tools on this list: you search for a seed term, and it generates other keyword ideas, along with details on monthly search volume, change over time, competition, ad impression share, and bid ranges. You can refine your keyword list by brand or non-brand keywords, source website, and more. If you're also using Google Ads, the Forecast feature makes it easier to plan ahead for your paid ads and budget in advance.\n\nKeyword Planner can inform your organic strategy, too, by showing you where ranking organically may help you save on PPC costs.\n\n**Google Keyword Planner pricing:** Free\n\n## The best free keyword research tool for advanced SEO\n### [**Semrush**](https:\/\/vendors.selectsoftwarereviews.com\/redirect\/1733248202103x435870744995430400?p=1715808885462x244895206427328500) (Web)\n![Semrush, our pick for the best free keyword research tool for advanced SEOs](https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/lzny33ho1g45\/2bGmoL3xDnN3ANCHerz6Yy\/5d3646a8c8f0200c69658ac8a7320422\/image10.png)\n\n**Semrush pros:**\n\n- Tons of granular keyword data\n- Wide range of specialized keyword research tools\n- Pretty generous free plan\n\n**Semrush cons:**\n\n- Can be overwhelming for those less experienced with keyword research\n- Most expensive upgrade\n\nIf you're looking for something more advanced, Semrush shares a ton of keyword data and makes it easy to dig into the details, like SERP features (featured snippet, reviews, site links, image pack, and so on) and granular analysis of current results. Semrush offers a broad range of keyword research tools, too, from the standard traffic and search volume data to content-driven keyword research and competitive keyword gap analysis.\n\nThat range is what really sets Semrush apart, including the standard Keyword Overview, the Keyword Magic Tool for exploratory keyword research, a Keyword Manager and position tracking, competitive Keyword Gap analysis, keyword cannibalization report, and Organic Traffic Insights, which—when connected with your Google Analytics or Search Console account—can uncover those famously tricky \"not provided\" keywords.\n\nAs an added bonus, the SEO Content Template tool lets you automatically create a content brief and optimize content as you write by grading your content in real-time for readability, originality, tone of voice, and SEO: it uses a handy bullseye graphic to help you strike the right balance. Plus, the tool visually checks off SEO recommendations (like using your target and related keywords and adding relevant links and images) as you go.\n\nThe app's [Copilot AI](https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/blog\/copilot-ai-seo-assistant\/) will even make proactive recommendations: flagging when your rankings drop for tracked keywords, for example, making technical SEO recommendations, and prompting you to add additional information to help fine-tune your data.\n\nAll of this means that upgrading will cost you a pretty penny—but you can use it for free at low volumes to start.\n\nYou can do more with Semrush by [connecting it with Zapier](https:\/\/zapier.com\/apps\/semrush\/integrations), turning keyword insights into orchestrated workflows across your business. For example, you can automate site edits and re-crawls. At the same time, AI can flag keywords with sudden ranking drops, create prioritized tasks in your project management tool, and update campaign dashboards with real-time data.\n\n**Semrush pricing:** [Free plan](https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/blog\/what-can-i-do-with-a-free-account-from-semrush\/) includes up to 10 Analytics reports per day and 10 tracked keywords; paid plans [start at \\$139.95\/month](https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/prices\/) for up to 10,000 results per report and 500 tracked keywords.\n\n## The best free keyword research tool for ad hoc needs\n### [KWFinder](https:\/\/vendors.selectsoftwarereviews.com\/redirect\/1751996835312x818348594564431900?p=1715808885462x244895206427328500) (Web)\n![KWFinder, our pick for the best free keyword research tool for ad hoc needs](https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/lzny33ho1g45\/19zOT2aX091N9PcwF8sDay\/a97b3f1ce19ba3e1b45dd5e0ac7d655b\/image8.png)\n\n**KWFinder pros:**\n\n- Tons of datapoints available free\n- Unique data like keyword opportunities\n- Part of a broader SEO suite\n\n**KWFinder cons:**\n\n- Limited to 5 searches per day\n\nIf you don't need to do a lot of keyword research in your day-to-day, KWFinder is a strong option. The free plan limits you to 5 searches per day, but each keyword search offers a *ton* of data. That includes standard metrics like monthly search volume, keyword difficulty, related keywords, and a breakdown of the pages currently ranking for your keyword.\n\nBut KWFinder also includes a number of unique and super helpful details, like searcher intent for each keyword and the type of content already ranking (e.g. listicle, homepage, blog, or product page).\n\nMy favorite of these is the keyword opportunities column, which identifies weak points in the top five results and suggests how you can capitalize on those weaknesses and outrank them. For example, it can identify if the top results are outdated (more than six months old) or missing the full keyword in their meta title.\n\nKWFinder is also part of the broader Mangools suite, which includes a number of other SEO tools, many of which are available for free in some limited way—like the SERP simulator, AI search grader, and SEO content optimizer.\n\n**KWFinder pricing:** Free plan includes up to 5 keyword searches per day; paid plans start at \\$29.90\/month for up to 100 lookups per day and additional results.\n\n[Allintitle](https:\/\/allintitle.co\/free-keyword-finder\/) is another sturdy option for infrequent or irregular keyword research needs. You can use the keyword explorer tool without creating an account, and it pulls a ton of datapoints for free—including content optimization suggestions and keyword gap analysis—and offers flexible pay-as-you-go or monthly subscription upgrades.\n\n## The best free keyword research tool for content marketing\n### [Ubersuggest](https:\/\/vendors.selectsoftwarereviews.com\/redirect\/1753896403501x123625064253358080?p=1715808885462x244895206427328500) (Web)\n![Ubersuggest, our pick for the best free keyword research tool for content marketing](https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/lzny33ho1g45\/6koPbuPs51i0VUCW5USa8I\/ff012083bbe977213bfa89b9c6276f8f\/image9.png)\n\n**Ubersuggest pros:**\n\n- Lots of data available for free\n- Recommended comparison keywords\n\n**Ubersuggest cons:**\n\n- Limited to 3 keyword searches per day\n\nNormally, I wouldn't consider a keyword research tool with such a low daily limit (the free plan only includes 3 searches per day), but Ubersuggest offers up so much data within each search that it's worth a look anyway.\n\nThe Keyword Overview tool includes monthly search volume (broken down by country), SEO and paid difficulty scores, and Content Ideas—pulled from currently ranking results, with data on visits, other keywords, backlinks, and performance on Facebook, Pinterest, and Reddit. Ubersuggest is also the only tool I tested that breaks out comparison keyword ideas, a big category for content marketers.\n\nBeyond keyword research, Ubersuggest also has features for rank tracking, identifying SEO opportunities based on your site, analyzing your backlinks, and an AI writer tool.\n\nWhile the free plan is pretty limited, it's workable if you don't do a ton of keyword research all at once—and the upgrade to an Ubersuggest paid plan is pretty reasonable.\n\n**Ubersuggest pricing:** Free plan includes 3 searches per day; [paid plans](https:\/\/app.neilpatel.com\/en\/pricing) start at \\$29\/month for 150 searches per day and 125 tracked keywords per domain.\n\n## Can you use AI chatbots for keyword research?\nYou can ask [AI chatbots](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-ai-chatbot\/) like [ChatGPT](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/how-to-use-chatgpt\/) and [Gemini](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/how-to-use-google-bard\/) to do keyword research for you—but should you?\n\nThe main benefit of going the AI route is simplicity. You can ask for straightforward, simplified results and get a simple, streamlined answer.\n\nHere's Gemini, for example.\n\n![Gemini showing search volume, difficulty, and competitor articles](https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/lzny33ho1g45\/5lbzDlpdnBrchYfj8jqWo2\/7e7e9d4fca93a0b111dd7e6ee585dda5\/image7.png)\n\nAnd here's ChatGPT.\n\n![ChatGPT showing monthly search volume, keyword difficulty, and competitor articles](https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/lzny33ho1g45\/pfoUHTNNZn5AaalbEPnej\/bf5ea4f4c968d3fd73629a02a883e15a\/image11.png)\n\nChatGPT was more upfront about the sources it used (at the bottom of the answer, you could click on *Sources* to see the specific websites the chatbot referenced). But it also offered search volume and keyword difficulty numbers pulled from AdTargeting's keyword research tool.\n\nGemini, on the other hand, told me it couldn't pull precise monthly search volume numbers (it's not even connected to Google Keyword Planner) and actually suggested I'd be better off using a dedicated SEO tool. Running deep research prompts took a long time and, while it did bring Gemini's response in line with what ChatGPT offered in terms of real numbers for the metrics, it didn't yield any more useful information from either chatbot.\n\nHere's Gemini's report:\n\n![Gemini's SEO report](https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/lzny33ho1g45\/5H8CofchmjqDfFwJJoDPSt\/b42fc228f174e1157d96690f622b7587\/image2.png)\n\nAnd ChatGPT's.\n\n![ChatGPT's SEO report](https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/lzny33ho1g45\/2XA46kcyxxAOGT4lsAvNqn\/1a59cd332cccc55cdb5b19eb84cc5e4a\/image5.png)\n\nBoth ChatGPT and Gemini continue to improve, but to get the kind of information a dedicated keyword research tool offers isn't possible in a chatbot right now. Case in point: I ran the exact same prompt through both ChatGPT and Gemini five minutes later and got completely different sets of keywords.\n\nIf you're in a bind and need simplified, bottom line-style information on a keyword quickly, an AI chatbot may be of some help. But as of today, I wouldn't recommend using an AI chatbot as your primary keyword research tool—especially given the number of truly helpful dedicated free keyword research tools you can use instead.\n\nOf course, lots of dedicated SEO tools (though usually not the free ones), will have AI built in—that's the best of both worlds.\n\n## When should you upgrade from a free keyword research tool?\nThe short answer is: only when you need to. If you can get all the data you need without going over the allowances of one of the free plans above, there's no reason to upgrade to a paid plan (or switch to a fully paid tool).\n\nWith that said, here are a few signs it may be time to consider upgrading:\n\n- You're regularly hitting the monthly or daily search limits of your current solution.\n- You're missing out on features you can't get for free, like content optimization guidance or the ability to track your site's keywords and rankings over time.\n- You need additional SEO features that an upgraded all-in-one tool can provide (like technical SEO, site auditing, etc).\n\nWhen the time comes, some of the tools on this list can grow right along with you. But if you want to see all your options, here are Zapier's lists of helpful SEO tools to get you started:\n\n- [The best SEO tools](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-seo-tools\/)\n- [The](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-seo-tools\/) [best SEO rank trackers](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-rank-tracker\/#keyword)\n- [The best SEO audit tools](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-seo-audit-tools\/)\n- [The best WordPress plugins for SEO](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-wordpress-seo-plugins\/)\n\n**Related reading:**\n\n- [How to find low competition keywords that drive traffic](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/low-competition-keywords\/)\n- [How to do keyword research on a budget with Keywords Everywhere](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/keywords-everywhere\/)\n- [The best SEO content optimization tools](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/best-seo-content-optimization-tools\/)\n- [Generative engine optimization: How to rank on AI chatbots](https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/generative-engine-optimization)\n\n*This article was originally published in June 2021. The most recent update was in June 2025.*","meta_canonical":null}

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Boilerpipe Text	We independently review every app we recommend in our best apps lists. When you click some of the links on this page, we may earn a commission. Learn more . There's no shortage of tools purpose-built for keyword research (literally hundreds of them), and they run the gamut from beginner-focused to highly advanced. They also range from totally basic and unhelpful to super valuable. When done right, the best keyword research tools simplify and streamline your workflow—they make it easier to find the right keywords to target and give you the data you need to actually rank for them. But they shouldn't require you to empty out your bank account and sell your first-born child in order to access that data. After years of working with multiple clients who use all different tools for keyword research and SEO content optimization, I've seen the best (and the worst) of them—and I know how important it is to choose the right keyword planner tool. To help, I considered nearly 90 tools with a free option for keyword research. After in-depth testing, here are the four best free keyword research tools, including the all-around greats and apps built for more specific use cases. The best free keyword research tools Google Keyword Planner for researching paid keywords Semrush for advanced SEO professionals KWFinder for ad hoc keyword research Ubersuggest for content marketing What makes the best keyword research tool? How we evaluate and test apps Our best apps roundups are written by humans who've spent much of their careers using, testing, and writing about software. Unless explicitly stated, we spend dozens of hours researching and testing apps, using each app as it's intended to be used and evaluating it against the criteria we set for the category. We're never paid for placement in our articles from any app or for links to any site—we value the trust readers put in us to offer authentic evaluations of the categories and apps we review. For more details on our process, read the full rundown of how we select apps to feature on the Zapier blog . The features that make for a great keyword research tool are pretty straightforward: you search for a given keyword, and the tool tells you about it. But there are so many different ways to use keyword data, so I wanted to find tools that could handle a variety of use cases, along with a few designed for some of the most popular uses for keyword research. During testing, I looked primarily at the factors below to determine which apps made the initial list. Data included. The best keyword research tools give you all the data you need to rank for your chosen keyword. All of the apps I selected include, at minimum, traffic, keyword difficulty, and competitive SERP analysis . Keyword optimization guidance. You shouldn't have to be a 10-year SEO industry veteran to use keyword research tools—the best tools offer simple, straightforward suggestions to optimize for your keywords. There are tools (like Ahrefs, Semrush, and Moz) that do complete SEO analysis on your site, checking for everything from site speed and technical details to domain authority and topic clusters. That's not what we're looking for here. We're looking for tools that any business owner or marketer can use to quickly understand their target keyword and optimize their site to rank for it. Free plan allowances and upgrades. Some tools include super limited results for free and call it a "free plan." Or they put time limits on the free plan, effectively making it more of a trial. I only included tools with evergreen free plans generous enough to actually be useful—and they won't break the bank when it's time to upgrade, either. Standalone functionality. Since you're looking for something free, your keyword tool should be a one-stop shop—without requiring any additional tools or extensions to work for you, especially not ones you'd have to pay for. And while I didn't consider them for this roundup, there are a number of great WordPress SEO plugins you can start using right away if you have a WordPress site. To find the best of the best, I put each tool that checked those boxes to the test by running through an in-depth protocol. Here's what my testing workflow looked like: If needed, I created an account and went through any provided onboarding or guided tutorials (many of these free apps don't require account creation or provide any onboarding). I searched for a few different kinds of keywords—e.g., "free keyword research tools," "chocolate cake," and "white sneakers for women"—to see the results for different search intent . I checked which related keywords, metrics, and other data were offered. I also made note of the source, whether information was pulled from Google, included non-search engine websites (like social media or forums), or was drawn from the tool's own native data. I verified allowances for the free plan—whether limited by time, number of results, metrics included, searches per day or month, or something else—and the cost to upgrade to a paid plan if needed. Where available, I tested out additional keyword research tools like competitive gap analysis , content optimization features, and more. After spending over a dozen hours with these apps this year, I landed on the four best keyword research tools—each with a manageable free version—below. The best free keyword research tools at a glance Best for Standout feature Free plan Website Google Keyword Planner Researching paid keywords Forecasting features and budget planning Completely free (but you get more out of it if you use Google Ads) Visit Google Keyword Planner Semrush Advanced SEO professionals Granular keyword data 10 Analytics reports per day, 10 tracked keywords Visit Semrush KWFinder Ad hoc keyword research Keyword opportunities 5 searches per day Visit KWFinder Ubersuggest Content marketing Recommended comparison keywords 3 searches per day Visit Ubersuggest The best free keyword research tool for paid keywords Google Keyword Planner (Web) Google Keyword Planner pros: Completely free forever, even if you don't use Google Ads Helpful forecasting features for budgeting if you do use Google Ads Can pull keyword suggestions from just your website Google Keyword Planner cons: Not as helpful for organic keyword research When it comes to PPC keyword research , Google Keyword Planner is one of the best tools out there. It's completely free (even if you don't buy Google Ads), so you never have to worry about running into limits or expensive upgrades. Google Keyword Planner includes two main features: one for exploratory keyword research and discovery and another for more in-depth research on search volume and forecasting. The Keyword ideas feature is similar to many of the tools on this list: you search for a seed term, and it generates other keyword ideas, along with details on monthly search volume, change over time, competition, ad impression share, and bid ranges. You can refine your keyword list by brand or non-brand keywords, source website, and more. If you're also using Google Ads, the Forecast feature makes it easier to plan ahead for your paid ads and budget in advance. Keyword Planner can inform your organic strategy, too, by showing you where ranking organically may help you save on PPC costs. Google Keyword Planner pricing: Free The best free keyword research tool for advanced SEO Semrush (Web) Semrush pros: Tons of granular keyword data Wide range of specialized keyword research tools Pretty generous free plan Semrush cons: Can be overwhelming for those less experienced with keyword research Most expensive upgrade If you're looking for something more advanced, Semrush shares a ton of keyword data and makes it easy to dig into the details, like SERP features (featured snippet, reviews, site links, image pack, and so on) and granular analysis of current results. Semrush offers a broad range of keyword research tools, too, from the standard traffic and search volume data to content-driven keyword research and competitive keyword gap analysis. That range is what really sets Semrush apart, including the standard Keyword Overview, the Keyword Magic Tool for exploratory keyword research, a Keyword Manager and position tracking, competitive Keyword Gap analysis, keyword cannibalization report, and Organic Traffic Insights, which—when connected with your Google Analytics or Search Console account—can uncover those famously tricky "not provided" keywords. As an added bonus, the SEO Content Template tool lets you automatically create a content brief and optimize content as you write by grading your content in real-time for readability, originality, tone of voice, and SEO: it uses a handy bullseye graphic to help you strike the right balance. Plus, the tool visually checks off SEO recommendations (like using your target and related keywords and adding relevant links and images) as you go. The app's Copilot AI will even make proactive recommendations: flagging when your rankings drop for tracked keywords, for example, making technical SEO recommendations, and prompting you to add additional information to help fine-tune your data. All of this means that upgrading will cost you a pretty penny—but you can use it for free at low volumes to start. You can do more with Semrush by connecting it with Zapier , turning keyword insights into orchestrated workflows across your business. For example, you can automate site edits and re-crawls. At the same time, AI can flag keywords with sudden ranking drops, create prioritized tasks in your project management tool, and update campaign dashboards with real-time data. Semrush pricing: Free plan includes up to 10 Analytics reports per day and 10 tracked keywords; paid plans start at $139.95/month for up to 10,000 results per report and 500 tracked keywords. The best free keyword research tool for ad hoc needs KWFinder (Web) KWFinder pros: Tons of datapoints available free Unique data like keyword opportunities Part of a broader SEO suite KWFinder cons: Limited to 5 searches per day If you don't need to do a lot of keyword research in your day-to-day, KWFinder is a strong option. The free plan limits you to 5 searches per day, but each keyword search offers a ton of data. That includes standard metrics like monthly search volume, keyword difficulty, related keywords, and a breakdown of the pages currently ranking for your keyword. But KWFinder also includes a number of unique and super helpful details, like searcher intent for each keyword and the type of content already ranking (e.g. listicle, homepage, blog, or product page). My favorite of these is the keyword opportunities column, which identifies weak points in the top five results and suggests how you can capitalize on those weaknesses and outrank them. For example, it can identify if the top results are outdated (more than six months old) or missing the full keyword in their meta title. KWFinder is also part of the broader Mangools suite, which includes a number of other SEO tools, many of which are available for free in some limited way—like the SERP simulator, AI search grader, and SEO content optimizer. KWFinder pricing: Free plan includes up to 5 keyword searches per day; paid plans start at $29.90/month for up to 100 lookups per day and additional results. Allintitle is another sturdy option for infrequent or irregular keyword research needs. You can use the keyword explorer tool without creating an account, and it pulls a ton of datapoints for free—including content optimization suggestions and keyword gap analysis—and offers flexible pay-as-you-go or monthly subscription upgrades. The best free keyword research tool for content marketing Ubersuggest (Web) Ubersuggest pros: Lots of data available for free Recommended comparison keywords Ubersuggest cons: Limited to 3 keyword searches per day Normally, I wouldn't consider a keyword research tool with such a low daily limit (the free plan only includes 3 searches per day), but Ubersuggest offers up so much data within each search that it's worth a look anyway. The Keyword Overview tool includes monthly search volume (broken down by country), SEO and paid difficulty scores, and Content Ideas—pulled from currently ranking results, with data on visits, other keywords, backlinks, and performance on Facebook, Pinterest, and Reddit. Ubersuggest is also the only tool I tested that breaks out comparison keyword ideas, a big category for content marketers. Beyond keyword research, Ubersuggest also has features for rank tracking, identifying SEO opportunities based on your site, analyzing your backlinks, and an AI writer tool. While the free plan is pretty limited, it's workable if you don't do a ton of keyword research all at once—and the upgrade to an Ubersuggest paid plan is pretty reasonable. Ubersuggest pricing: Free plan includes 3 searches per day; paid plans start at $29/month for 150 searches per day and 125 tracked keywords per domain. Can you use AI chatbots for keyword research? You can ask AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini to do keyword research for you—but should you? The main benefit of going the AI route is simplicity. You can ask for straightforward, simplified results and get a simple, streamlined answer. Here's Gemini, for example. And here's ChatGPT. ChatGPT was more upfront about the sources it used (at the bottom of the answer, you could click on Sources to see the specific websites the chatbot referenced). But it also offered search volume and keyword difficulty numbers pulled from AdTargeting's keyword research tool. Gemini, on the other hand, told me it couldn't pull precise monthly search volume numbers (it's not even connected to Google Keyword Planner) and actually suggested I'd be better off using a dedicated SEO tool. Running deep research prompts took a long time and, while it did bring Gemini's response in line with what ChatGPT offered in terms of real numbers for the metrics, it didn't yield any more useful information from either chatbot. Here's Gemini's report: And ChatGPT's. Both ChatGPT and Gemini continue to improve, but to get the kind of information a dedicated keyword research tool offers isn't possible in a chatbot right now. Case in point: I ran the exact same prompt through both ChatGPT and Gemini five minutes later and got completely different sets of keywords. If you're in a bind and need simplified, bottom line-style information on a keyword quickly, an AI chatbot may be of some help. But as of today, I wouldn't recommend using an AI chatbot as your primary keyword research tool—especially given the number of truly helpful dedicated free keyword research tools you can use instead. Of course, lots of dedicated SEO tools (though usually not the free ones), will have AI built in—that's the best of both worlds. When should you upgrade from a free keyword research tool? The short answer is: only when you need to. If you can get all the data you need without going over the allowances of one of the free plans above, there's no reason to upgrade to a paid plan (or switch to a fully paid tool). With that said, here are a few signs it may be time to consider upgrading: You're regularly hitting the monthly or daily search limits of your current solution. You're missing out on features you can't get for free, like content optimization guidance or the ability to track your site's keywords and rankings over time. You need additional SEO features that an upgraded all-in-one tool can provide (like technical SEO, site auditing, etc). When the time comes, some of the tools on this list can grow right along with you. But if you want to see all your options, here are Zapier's lists of helpful SEO tools to get you started: The best SEO tools The best SEO rank trackers The best SEO audit tools The best WordPress plugins for SEO Related reading: How to find low competition keywords that drive traffic How to do keyword research on a budget with Keywords Everywhere The best SEO content optimization tools Generative engine optimization: How to rank on AI chatbots This article was originally published in June 2021. The most recent update was in June 2025.
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When you click some of the links on this page, we may earn a commission. [Learn more](https://zapier.com/blog/affiliate-commission/). There's no shortage of tools purpose-built for keyword research (literally hundreds of them), and they run the gamut from beginner-focused to highly advanced. They also range from totally basic and unhelpful to super valuable. When done right, the best keyword research tools simplify and streamline your workflow—they make it easier to find the right keywords to target and give you the data you need to actually rank for them. But they shouldn't require you to empty out your bank account and sell your first-born child in order to access that data. Improve your PPC management and performance [Automate your campaigns](https://zapier.com/blog/improve-ppc-campaigns/) After years of working with multiple clients who use all different tools for keyword research and [SEO](https://zapier.com/blog/seo-strategies/) content optimization, I've seen the best (and the worst) of them—and I know how important it is to choose the right keyword planner tool. To help, I considered nearly 90 tools with a free option for keyword research. After in-depth testing, here are the four best free keyword research tools, including the all-around greats and apps built for more specific use cases. [Try Zapier](https://zapier.com/sign-up?utm_campaign=zpr-gbl-pgv-evr-blogsignupbutton-ctn&utm_medium=blog&utm_source=zapier) ## The best free keyword research tools - [Google Keyword Planner](https://zapier.com/blog/best-keyword-research-tool/#google) for researching paid keywords - [Semrush](https://zapier.com/blog/best-keyword-research-tool/#semrush) for advanced SEO professionals - [KWFinder](https://zapier.com/blog/best-keyword-research-tool/#kwfinder) for ad hoc keyword research - [Ubersuggest](https://zapier.com/blog/best-keyword-research-tool/#ubersuggest) for content marketing ## What makes the best keyword research tool? ##### How we evaluate and test apps Our best apps roundups are written by humans who've spent much of their careers using, testing, and writing about software. Unless explicitly stated, we spend dozens of hours researching and testing apps, using each app as it's intended to be used and evaluating it against the criteria we set for the category. We're never paid for placement in our articles from any app or for links to any site—we value the trust readers put in us to offer authentic evaluations of the categories and apps we review. For more details on our process, read the full rundown of [how we select apps to feature on the Zapier blog](https://zapier.com/blog/selecting-apps/). The features that make for a great keyword research tool are pretty straightforward: you search for a given keyword, and the tool tells you about it. But there are so many different ways to use keyword data, so I wanted to find tools that could handle a variety of use cases, along with a few designed for some of the most popular uses for keyword research. During testing, I looked primarily at the factors below to determine which apps made the initial list. - Data included. The best keyword research tools give you all the data you need to rank for your chosen keyword. All of the apps I selected include, at minimum, traffic, keyword difficulty, and [competitive SERP analysis](https://zapier.com/blog/weaknesses-that-prevent-top-ranking-in-search-engine-results). - Keyword optimization guidance. You shouldn't have to be a 10-year SEO industry veteran to use keyword research tools—the best tools offer simple, straightforward suggestions to optimize for your keywords. There are tools (like Ahrefs, Semrush, and Moz) that do complete SEO analysis on your site, checking for everything from site speed and technical details to domain authority and topic clusters. That's not what we're looking for here. We're looking for tools that any business owner or marketer can use to quickly understand their target keyword and optimize their site to rank for it. - Free plan allowances and upgrades. Some tools include super limited results for free and call it a "free plan." Or they put time limits on the free plan, effectively making it more of a trial. I only included tools with evergreen free plans generous enough to actually be useful—and they won't break the bank when it's time to upgrade, either. - Standalone functionality. Since you're looking for something free, your keyword tool should be a one-stop shop—without requiring any additional tools or extensions to work for you, especially not ones you'd have to pay for. And while I didn't consider them for this roundup, there are a number of great [WordPress SEO plugins](https://zapier.com/blog/best-wordpress-seo-plugins/) you can start using right away if you have a WordPress site. To find the best of the best, I put each tool that checked those boxes to the test by running through an in-depth protocol. Here's what my testing workflow looked like: - If needed, I created an account and went through any provided onboarding or guided tutorials (many of these free apps don't require account creation or provide any onboarding). - I searched for a few different kinds of keywords—e.g., "free keyword research tools," "chocolate cake," and "white sneakers for women"—to see the results for different [search intent](https://zapier.com/blog/optimize-content-for-search-intent/). - I checked which related keywords, metrics, and other data were offered. I also made note of the source, whether information was pulled from Google, included non-search engine websites (like social media or forums), or was drawn from the tool's own native data. - I verified allowances for the free plan—whether limited by time, number of results, metrics included, searches per day or month, or something else—and the cost to upgrade to a paid plan if needed. - Where available, I tested out additional keyword research tools like competitive [gap analysis](https://zapier.com/blog/gap-analysis/), content optimization features, and more. After spending over a dozen hours with these apps this year, I landed on the four best keyword research tools—each with a manageable free version—below. ## The best free keyword research tools at a glance \| \| Best for \| Standout feature \| Free plan \| Website \| \|---\|---\|---\|---\|---\| \| [Google Keyword Planner](https://zapier.com/blog/best-keyword-research-tool/#google) \| Researching paid keywords \| Forecasting features and budget planning \| Completely free (but you get more out of it if you use Google Ads) \| [Visit Google Keyword Planner](https://ads.google.com/home/tools/keyword-planner/) \| \| [Semrush](https://zapier.com/blog/best-keyword-research-tool/#semrush) \| Advanced SEO professionals \| Granular keyword data \| 10 Analytics reports per day, 10 tracked keywords \| [Visit Semrush](https://vendors.selectsoftwarereviews.com/redirect/1733248202103x435870744995430400?p=1715808885462x244895206427328500) \| \| [KWFinder](https://zapier.com/blog/best-keyword-research-tool/#kwfinder) \| Ad hoc keyword research \| Keyword opportunities \| 5 searches per day \| [Visit KWFinder](https://vendors.selectsoftwarereviews.com/redirect/1751996835312x818348594564431900?p=1715808885462x244895206427328500) \| \| [Ubersuggest](https://zapier.com/blog/best-keyword-research-tool/#ubersuggest) \| Content marketing \| Recommended comparison keywords \| 3 searches per day \| [Visit Ubersuggest](https://vendors.selectsoftwarereviews.com/redirect/1753896403501x123625064253358080?p=1715808885462x244895206427328500) \| * ## The best free keyword research tool for paid keywords ### [Google Keyword Planner](https://ads.google.com/home/tools/keyword-planner/)(Web) ![Google Keyword Planner, our pick for the best free keyword research tool for paid keywords](https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/cvon3DVr5LWKjgcKy78tx/5f554c8c150c4a6d2f82d83940f07f1d/image6.png) Google Keyword Planner pros:** - Completely free forever, even if you don't use Google Ads - Helpful forecasting features for budgeting if you do use Google Ads - Can pull keyword suggestions from just your website Google Keyword Planner cons: - Not as helpful for organic keyword research When it comes to [PPC keyword research](https://zapier.com/blog/pay-per-click-tools/), Google Keyword Planner is one of the best tools out there. It's completely free (even if you don't buy Google Ads), so you never have to worry about running into limits or expensive upgrades. Google Keyword Planner includes two main features: one for exploratory keyword research and discovery and another for more in-depth research on search volume and forecasting. The Keyword ideas feature is similar to many of the tools on this list: you search for a seed term, and it generates other keyword ideas, along with details on monthly search volume, change over time, competition, ad impression share, and bid ranges. You can refine your keyword list by brand or non-brand keywords, source website, and more. If you're also using Google Ads, the Forecast feature makes it easier to plan ahead for your paid ads and budget in advance. Keyword Planner can inform your organic strategy, too, by showing you where ranking organically may help you save on PPC costs. Google Keyword Planner pricing: Free ## The best free keyword research tool for advanced SEO ### [Semrush](https://vendors.selectsoftwarereviews.com/redirect/1733248202103x435870744995430400?p=1715808885462x244895206427328500) (Web) ![Semrush, our pick for the best free keyword research tool for advanced SEOs](https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/2bGmoL3xDnN3ANCHerz6Yy/5d3646a8c8f0200c69658ac8a7320422/image10.png) Semrush pros: - Tons of granular keyword data - Wide range of specialized keyword research tools - Pretty generous free plan Semrush cons: - Can be overwhelming for those less experienced with keyword research - Most expensive upgrade If you're looking for something more advanced, Semrush shares a ton of keyword data and makes it easy to dig into the details, like SERP features (featured snippet, reviews, site links, image pack, and so on) and granular analysis of current results. Semrush offers a broad range of keyword research tools, too, from the standard traffic and search volume data to content-driven keyword research and competitive keyword gap analysis. That range is what really sets Semrush apart, including the standard Keyword Overview, the Keyword Magic Tool for exploratory keyword research, a Keyword Manager and position tracking, competitive Keyword Gap analysis, keyword cannibalization report, and Organic Traffic Insights, which—when connected with your Google Analytics or Search Console account—can uncover those famously tricky "not provided" keywords. As an added bonus, the SEO Content Template tool lets you automatically create a content brief and optimize content as you write by grading your content in real-time for readability, originality, tone of voice, and SEO: it uses a handy bullseye graphic to help you strike the right balance. Plus, the tool visually checks off SEO recommendations (like using your target and related keywords and adding relevant links and images) as you go. The app's [Copilot AI](https://www.semrush.com/blog/copilot-ai-seo-assistant/) will even make proactive recommendations: flagging when your rankings drop for tracked keywords, for example, making technical SEO recommendations, and prompting you to add additional information to help fine-tune your data. All of this means that upgrading will cost you a pretty penny—but you can use it for free at low volumes to start. You can do more with Semrush by [connecting it with Zapier](https://zapier.com/apps/semrush/integrations), turning keyword insights into orchestrated workflows across your business. For example, you can automate site edits and re-crawls. At the same time, AI can flag keywords with sudden ranking drops, create prioritized tasks in your project management tool, and update campaign dashboards with real-time data. [Automate Semrush](https://zapier.com/apps/semrush/integrations) Semrush pricing: [Free plan](https://www.semrush.com/blog/what-can-i-do-with-a-free-account-from-semrush/) includes up to 10 Analytics reports per day and 10 tracked keywords; paid plans [start at \$139.95/month](https://www.semrush.com/prices/) for up to 10,000 results per report and 500 tracked keywords. ## The best free keyword research tool for ad hoc needs ### [KWFinder](https://vendors.selectsoftwarereviews.com/redirect/1751996835312x818348594564431900?p=1715808885462x244895206427328500) (Web) ![KWFinder, our pick for the best free keyword research tool for ad hoc needs](https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/19zOT2aX091N9PcwF8sDay/a97b3f1ce19ba3e1b45dd5e0ac7d655b/image8.png) KWFinder pros: - Tons of datapoints available free - Unique data like keyword opportunities - Part of a broader SEO suite KWFinder cons: - Limited to 5 searches per day If you don't need to do a lot of keyword research in your day-to-day, KWFinder is a strong option. The free plan limits you to 5 searches per day, but each keyword search offers a ton of data. That includes standard metrics like monthly search volume, keyword difficulty, related keywords, and a breakdown of the pages currently ranking for your keyword. But KWFinder also includes a number of unique and super helpful details, like searcher intent for each keyword and the type of content already ranking (e.g. listicle, homepage, blog, or product page). My favorite of these is the keyword opportunities column, which identifies weak points in the top five results and suggests how you can capitalize on those weaknesses and outrank them. For example, it can identify if the top results are outdated (more than six months old) or missing the full keyword in their meta title. KWFinder is also part of the broader Mangools suite, which includes a number of other SEO tools, many of which are available for free in some limited way—like the SERP simulator, AI search grader, and SEO content optimizer. KWFinder pricing: Free plan includes up to 5 keyword searches per day; paid plans start at \$29.90/month for up to 100 lookups per day and additional results. [Allintitle](https://allintitle.co/free-keyword-finder/) is another sturdy option for infrequent or irregular keyword research needs. You can use the keyword explorer tool without creating an account, and it pulls a ton of datapoints for free—including content optimization suggestions and keyword gap analysis—and offers flexible pay-as-you-go or monthly subscription upgrades. ## The best free keyword research tool for content marketing ### [Ubersuggest](https://vendors.selectsoftwarereviews.com/redirect/1753896403501x123625064253358080?p=1715808885462x244895206427328500) (Web) ![Ubersuggest, our pick for the best free keyword research tool for content marketing](https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/6koPbuPs51i0VUCW5USa8I/ff012083bbe977213bfa89b9c6276f8f/image9.png) Ubersuggest pros: - Lots of data available for free - Recommended comparison keywords Ubersuggest cons: - Limited to 3 keyword searches per day Normally, I wouldn't consider a keyword research tool with such a low daily limit (the free plan only includes 3 searches per day), but Ubersuggest offers up so much data within each search that it's worth a look anyway. The Keyword Overview tool includes monthly search volume (broken down by country), SEO and paid difficulty scores, and Content Ideas—pulled from currently ranking results, with data on visits, other keywords, backlinks, and performance on Facebook, Pinterest, and Reddit. Ubersuggest is also the only tool I tested that breaks out comparison keyword ideas, a big category for content marketers. Beyond keyword research, Ubersuggest also has features for rank tracking, identifying SEO opportunities based on your site, analyzing your backlinks, and an AI writer tool. While the free plan is pretty limited, it's workable if you don't do a ton of keyword research all at once—and the upgrade to an Ubersuggest paid plan is pretty reasonable. Ubersuggest pricing: Free plan includes 3 searches per day; [paid plans](https://app.neilpatel.com/en/pricing) start at \$29/month for 150 searches per day and 125 tracked keywords per domain. ## Can you use AI chatbots for keyword research? You can ask [AI chatbots](https://zapier.com/blog/best-ai-chatbot/) like [ChatGPT](https://zapier.com/blog/how-to-use-chatgpt/) and [Gemini](https://zapier.com/blog/how-to-use-google-bard/) to do keyword research for you—but should you? The main benefit of going the AI route is simplicity. You can ask for straightforward, simplified results and get a simple, streamlined answer. Here's Gemini, for example. ![Gemini showing search volume, difficulty, and competitor articles](https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/5lbzDlpdnBrchYfj8jqWo2/7e7e9d4fca93a0b111dd7e6ee585dda5/image7.png) And here's ChatGPT. ![ChatGPT showing monthly search volume, keyword difficulty, and competitor articles](https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/pfoUHTNNZn5AaalbEPnej/bf5ea4f4c968d3fd73629a02a883e15a/image11.png) ChatGPT was more upfront about the sources it used (at the bottom of the answer, you could click on Sources to see the specific websites the chatbot referenced). But it also offered search volume and keyword difficulty numbers pulled from AdTargeting's keyword research tool. Gemini, on the other hand, told me it couldn't pull precise monthly search volume numbers (it's not even connected to Google Keyword Planner) and actually suggested I'd be better off using a dedicated SEO tool. Running deep research prompts took a long time and, while it did bring Gemini's response in line with what ChatGPT offered in terms of real numbers for the metrics, it didn't yield any more useful information from either chatbot. Here's Gemini's report: ![Gemini's SEO report](https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/5H8CofchmjqDfFwJJoDPSt/b42fc228f174e1157d96690f622b7587/image2.png) And ChatGPT's. ![ChatGPT's SEO report](https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/2XA46kcyxxAOGT4lsAvNqn/1a59cd332cccc55cdb5b19eb84cc5e4a/image5.png) Both ChatGPT and Gemini continue to improve, but to get the kind of information a dedicated keyword research tool offers isn't possible in a chatbot right now. Case in point: I ran the exact same prompt through both ChatGPT and Gemini five minutes later and got completely different sets of keywords. If you're in a bind and need simplified, bottom line-style information on a keyword quickly, an AI chatbot may be of some help. But as of today, I wouldn't recommend using an AI chatbot as your primary keyword research tool—especially given the number of truly helpful dedicated free keyword research tools you can use instead. Of course, lots of dedicated SEO tools (though usually not the free ones), will have AI built in—that's the best of both worlds. ## When should you upgrade from a free keyword research tool? The short answer is: only when you need to. If you can get all the data you need without going over the allowances of one of the free plans above, there's no reason to upgrade to a paid plan (or switch to a fully paid tool). With that said, here are a few signs it may be time to consider upgrading: - You're regularly hitting the monthly or daily search limits of your current solution. - You're missing out on features you can't get for free, like content optimization guidance or the ability to track your site's keywords and rankings over time. - You need additional SEO features that an upgraded all-in-one tool can provide (like technical SEO, site auditing, etc). When the time comes, some of the tools on this list can grow right along with you. But if you want to see all your options, here are Zapier's lists of helpful SEO tools to get you started: - [The best SEO tools](https://zapier.com/blog/best-seo-tools/) - [The](https://zapier.com/blog/best-seo-tools/) [best SEO rank trackers](https://zapier.com/blog/best-rank-tracker/#keyword) - [The best SEO audit tools](https://zapier.com/blog/best-seo-audit-tools/) - [The best WordPress plugins for SEO](https://zapier.com/blog/best-wordpress-seo-plugins/) Related reading: - [How to find low competition keywords that drive traffic](https://zapier.com/blog/low-competition-keywords/) - [How to do keyword research on a budget with Keywords Everywhere](https://zapier.com/blog/keywords-everywhere/) - [The best SEO content optimization tools](https://zapier.com/blog/best-seo-content-optimization-tools/) - [Generative engine optimization: How to rank on AI chatbots](https://zapier.com/blog/generative-engine-optimization) This article was originally published in June 2021. The most recent update was in June 2025. Get productivity tips delivered straight to your inbox We’ll email you 1-3 times per week—and never share your information. [![Kiera Abbamonte picture](https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/4RAg1SjQzXKgDjNDv24n0Y/a30ef4cfa38eeafa7ea92af3e6ac3999/21d53750c590cc9b995e3de849fdd975.png) Kiera Abbamonte Kiera’s a content writer who helps SaaS and eCommerce companies connect with customers and reach new audiences. Located in Boston, MA, she loves cinnamon coffee and a good baseball game.](https://zapier.com/blog/author/kiera-abbamonte) tags mentioned apps ## Related articles - [![The SEMrush logo connected to logos for Slack, ClickUp, and Google Sheets against a lime green background.](https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/1HX5KtkdcQPxxX7dxQ5Gah/92efee443cf6ca2b46d887cd4eb13e74/Automate_SEMrush.jpg?fm=jpg&q=31&fit=thumb&w=896)](https://zapier.com/blog/automate-semrush/) [Automation inspiration](https://zapier.com/blog/all-articles/automation-inspiration) [4 ways to automate Semrush4 ways to automate Semrush](https://zapier.com/blog/automate-semrush/) - [![Hero image with the logos of the best SEO content optimization tools](https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/3d3CKZnQP2S6tfDe6JFyPe/a8a3a0788be7afde786bfd20aaabff8b/best-seo-content-optimization-hero.jpg?fm=jpg&q=31&fit=thumb&w=896)](https://zapier.com/blog/best-seo-content-optimization-tools/) [Best apps](https://zapier.com/blog/all-articles/best-apps) [The 4 best content optimization toolsThe 4 best content optimization tools](https://zapier.com/blog/best-seo-content-optimization-tools/) - [![A hero image with an icon representing AI search and SEO](https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/55zHvlKQBmyjohqfqN6GE8/1fa246cb9b800c152a7076a4c48fa35e/ai-search-hero.jpg?fm=jpg&q=31&fit=thumb&w=896)](https://zapier.com/blog/seo-strategies/) [Marketing tips](https://zapier.com/blog/all-articles/marketing-tips) [SEO strategies: A guide to people-first ranking in the age of AISEO strategies: A guide to people-first...](https://zapier.com/blog/seo-strategies/) - [![Hero image with the logos of the best WordPress SEO plugins](https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/7gIiMCyVv9fQwao8FWQPTV/5f5d3d874d60775091fd6a4237a367d6/best-wordpress-seo-plugins.jpg?fm=jpg&q=31&fit=thumb&w=896)](https://zapier.com/blog/best-wordpress-seo-plugins/) [Best apps](https://zapier.com/blog/all-articles/best-apps) [The 6 best WordPress SEO pluginsThe 6 best WordPress SEO plugins](https://zapier.com/blog/best-wordpress-seo-plugins/) - [![Hero image with logos of the best competitor analysis tools](https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/6LFIOTCmJYFPNDD1qumNYr/c05a7bd75333f4a10a6763669a31e51e/best-competitor-analysis-tools.jpg?fm=jpg&q=31&fit=thumb&w=896)](https://zapier.com/blog/competitor-analysis-tools/) [Best apps](https://zapier.com/blog/all-articles/best-apps) [The 10 best competitor analysis toolsThe 10 best competitor analysis tools](https://zapier.com/blog/competitor-analysis-tools/) - [![Hero image with the Rank Math and Yoast logos](https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/Ct89KfZab1CUz8XE27RDU/d71ff6d6d17114ca7c93a86443173d68/rank-math-vs-yoast.jpg?fm=jpg&q=31&fit=thumb&w=896)](https://zapier.com/blog/rank-math-vs-yoast/) [App comparisons](https://zapier.com/blog/all-articles/app-comparisons) [Rank Math vs. Yoast: Which WordPress SEO plugin should you use?Rank Math vs. Yoast: Which WordPress SEO...](https://zapier.com/blog/rank-math-vs-yoast/) - [![Hero image with an icon of a magnifying glass (search)](https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/csBthuM4srZ73JFe7fSUM/a7f3ea49b723d1079f39ea3687fe07bd/Group_9899.png?fm=jpg&q=31&fit=thumb&w=896)](https://zapier.com/blog/programmatic-seo/) [Marketing tips](https://zapier.com/blog/all-articles/marketing-tips) [Programmatic SEO: How to increase search traffic with no-code toolsProgrammatic SEO: How to increase search...](https://zapier.com/blog/programmatic-seo/) - [![Hero image with the logos of the best SEO audit tools](https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/1wDG6qCJNbs01kmNJNYJJm/7ddf8afb242a096131c77422c9626cd8/best-seo-audit-tools.jpg?fm=jpg&q=31&fit=thumb&w=896)](https://zapier.com/blog/best-seo-audit-tools/) [Best apps](https://zapier.com/blog/all-articles/best-apps) [The 9 best SEO audit toolsThe 9 best SEO audit tools](https://zapier.com/blog/best-seo-audit-tools/) ## Improve your productivity automatically. 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Readable Markdown	We independently review every app we recommend in our best apps lists. When you click some of the links on this page, we may earn a commission. [Learn more](https://zapier.com/blog/affiliate-commission/). There's no shortage of tools purpose-built for keyword research (literally hundreds of them), and they run the gamut from beginner-focused to highly advanced. They also range from totally basic and unhelpful to super valuable. When done right, the best keyword research tools simplify and streamline your workflow—they make it easier to find the right keywords to target and give you the data you need to actually rank for them. But they shouldn't require you to empty out your bank account and sell your first-born child in order to access that data. After years of working with multiple clients who use all different tools for keyword research and [SEO](https://zapier.com/blog/seo-strategies/) content optimization, I've seen the best (and the worst) of them—and I know how important it is to choose the right keyword planner tool. To help, I considered nearly 90 tools with a free option for keyword research. After in-depth testing, here are the four best free keyword research tools, including the all-around greats and apps built for more specific use cases. ## The best free keyword research tools - [Google Keyword Planner](https://zapier.com/blog/best-keyword-research-tool/#google) for researching paid keywords - [Semrush](https://zapier.com/blog/best-keyword-research-tool/#semrush) for advanced SEO professionals - [KWFinder](https://zapier.com/blog/best-keyword-research-tool/#kwfinder) for ad hoc keyword research - [Ubersuggest](https://zapier.com/blog/best-keyword-research-tool/#ubersuggest) for content marketing ## What makes the best keyword research tool? ##### How we evaluate and test apps Our best apps roundups are written by humans who've spent much of their careers using, testing, and writing about software. Unless explicitly stated, we spend dozens of hours researching and testing apps, using each app as it's intended to be used and evaluating it against the criteria we set for the category. We're never paid for placement in our articles from any app or for links to any site—we value the trust readers put in us to offer authentic evaluations of the categories and apps we review. For more details on our process, read the full rundown of [how we select apps to feature on the Zapier blog](https://zapier.com/blog/selecting-apps/). The features that make for a great keyword research tool are pretty straightforward: you search for a given keyword, and the tool tells you about it. But there are so many different ways to use keyword data, so I wanted to find tools that could handle a variety of use cases, along with a few designed for some of the most popular uses for keyword research. During testing, I looked primarily at the factors below to determine which apps made the initial list. - Data included. The best keyword research tools give you all the data you need to rank for your chosen keyword. All of the apps I selected include, at minimum, traffic, keyword difficulty, and [competitive SERP analysis](https://zapier.com/blog/weaknesses-that-prevent-top-ranking-in-search-engine-results). - Keyword optimization guidance. You shouldn't have to be a 10-year SEO industry veteran to use keyword research tools—the best tools offer simple, straightforward suggestions to optimize for your keywords. There are tools (like Ahrefs, Semrush, and Moz) that do complete SEO analysis on your site, checking for everything from site speed and technical details to domain authority and topic clusters. That's not what we're looking for here. We're looking for tools that any business owner or marketer can use to quickly understand their target keyword and optimize their site to rank for it. - Free plan allowances and upgrades. Some tools include super limited results for free and call it a "free plan." Or they put time limits on the free plan, effectively making it more of a trial. I only included tools with evergreen free plans generous enough to actually be useful—and they won't break the bank when it's time to upgrade, either. - Standalone functionality. Since you're looking for something free, your keyword tool should be a one-stop shop—without requiring any additional tools or extensions to work for you, especially not ones you'd have to pay for. And while I didn't consider them for this roundup, there are a number of great [WordPress SEO plugins](https://zapier.com/blog/best-wordpress-seo-plugins/) you can start using right away if you have a WordPress site. To find the best of the best, I put each tool that checked those boxes to the test by running through an in-depth protocol. Here's what my testing workflow looked like: - If needed, I created an account and went through any provided onboarding or guided tutorials (many of these free apps don't require account creation or provide any onboarding). - I searched for a few different kinds of keywords—e.g., "free keyword research tools," "chocolate cake," and "white sneakers for women"—to see the results for different [search intent](https://zapier.com/blog/optimize-content-for-search-intent/). - I checked which related keywords, metrics, and other data were offered. I also made note of the source, whether information was pulled from Google, included non-search engine websites (like social media or forums), or was drawn from the tool's own native data. - I verified allowances for the free plan—whether limited by time, number of results, metrics included, searches per day or month, or something else—and the cost to upgrade to a paid plan if needed. - Where available, I tested out additional keyword research tools like competitive [gap analysis](https://zapier.com/blog/gap-analysis/), content optimization features, and more. After spending over a dozen hours with these apps this year, I landed on the four best keyword research tools—each with a manageable free version—below. ## The best free keyword research tools at a glance \| \| Best for \| Standout feature \| Free plan \| Website \| \|---\|---\|---\|---\|---\| \| [Google Keyword Planner](https://zapier.com/blog/best-keyword-research-tool/#google) \| Researching paid keywords \| Forecasting features and budget planning \| Completely free (but you get more out of it if you use Google Ads) \| [Visit Google Keyword Planner](https://ads.google.com/home/tools/keyword-planner/) \| \| [Semrush](https://zapier.com/blog/best-keyword-research-tool/#semrush) \| Advanced SEO professionals \| Granular keyword data \| 10 Analytics reports per day, 10 tracked keywords \| [Visit Semrush](https://vendors.selectsoftwarereviews.com/redirect/1733248202103x435870744995430400?p=1715808885462x244895206427328500) \| \| [KWFinder](https://zapier.com/blog/best-keyword-research-tool/#kwfinder) \| Ad hoc keyword research \| Keyword opportunities \| 5 searches per day \| [Visit KWFinder](https://vendors.selectsoftwarereviews.com/redirect/1751996835312x818348594564431900?p=1715808885462x244895206427328500) \| \| [Ubersuggest](https://zapier.com/blog/best-keyword-research-tool/#ubersuggest) \| Content marketing \| Recommended comparison keywords \| 3 searches per day \| [Visit Ubersuggest](https://vendors.selectsoftwarereviews.com/redirect/1753896403501x123625064253358080?p=1715808885462x244895206427328500) \| * ## The best free keyword research tool for paid keywords ### [Google Keyword Planner](https://ads.google.com/home/tools/keyword-planner/)(Web) ![Google Keyword Planner, our pick for the best free keyword research tool for paid keywords](https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/cvon3DVr5LWKjgcKy78tx/5f554c8c150c4a6d2f82d83940f07f1d/image6.png) Google Keyword Planner pros:** - Completely free forever, even if you don't use Google Ads - Helpful forecasting features for budgeting if you do use Google Ads - Can pull keyword suggestions from just your website Google Keyword Planner cons: - Not as helpful for organic keyword research When it comes to [PPC keyword research](https://zapier.com/blog/pay-per-click-tools/), Google Keyword Planner is one of the best tools out there. It's completely free (even if you don't buy Google Ads), so you never have to worry about running into limits or expensive upgrades. Google Keyword Planner includes two main features: one for exploratory keyword research and discovery and another for more in-depth research on search volume and forecasting. The Keyword ideas feature is similar to many of the tools on this list: you search for a seed term, and it generates other keyword ideas, along with details on monthly search volume, change over time, competition, ad impression share, and bid ranges. You can refine your keyword list by brand or non-brand keywords, source website, and more. If you're also using Google Ads, the Forecast feature makes it easier to plan ahead for your paid ads and budget in advance. Keyword Planner can inform your organic strategy, too, by showing you where ranking organically may help you save on PPC costs. Google Keyword Planner pricing: Free ## The best free keyword research tool for advanced SEO ### [Semrush](https://vendors.selectsoftwarereviews.com/redirect/1733248202103x435870744995430400?p=1715808885462x244895206427328500) (Web) ![Semrush, our pick for the best free keyword research tool for advanced SEOs](https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/2bGmoL3xDnN3ANCHerz6Yy/5d3646a8c8f0200c69658ac8a7320422/image10.png) Semrush pros: - Tons of granular keyword data - Wide range of specialized keyword research tools - Pretty generous free plan Semrush cons: - Can be overwhelming for those less experienced with keyword research - Most expensive upgrade If you're looking for something more advanced, Semrush shares a ton of keyword data and makes it easy to dig into the details, like SERP features (featured snippet, reviews, site links, image pack, and so on) and granular analysis of current results. Semrush offers a broad range of keyword research tools, too, from the standard traffic and search volume data to content-driven keyword research and competitive keyword gap analysis. That range is what really sets Semrush apart, including the standard Keyword Overview, the Keyword Magic Tool for exploratory keyword research, a Keyword Manager and position tracking, competitive Keyword Gap analysis, keyword cannibalization report, and Organic Traffic Insights, which—when connected with your Google Analytics or Search Console account—can uncover those famously tricky "not provided" keywords. As an added bonus, the SEO Content Template tool lets you automatically create a content brief and optimize content as you write by grading your content in real-time for readability, originality, tone of voice, and SEO: it uses a handy bullseye graphic to help you strike the right balance. Plus, the tool visually checks off SEO recommendations (like using your target and related keywords and adding relevant links and images) as you go. The app's [Copilot AI](https://www.semrush.com/blog/copilot-ai-seo-assistant/) will even make proactive recommendations: flagging when your rankings drop for tracked keywords, for example, making technical SEO recommendations, and prompting you to add additional information to help fine-tune your data. All of this means that upgrading will cost you a pretty penny—but you can use it for free at low volumes to start. You can do more with Semrush by [connecting it with Zapier](https://zapier.com/apps/semrush/integrations), turning keyword insights into orchestrated workflows across your business. For example, you can automate site edits and re-crawls. At the same time, AI can flag keywords with sudden ranking drops, create prioritized tasks in your project management tool, and update campaign dashboards with real-time data. Semrush pricing: [Free plan](https://www.semrush.com/blog/what-can-i-do-with-a-free-account-from-semrush/) includes up to 10 Analytics reports per day and 10 tracked keywords; paid plans [start at \$139.95/month](https://www.semrush.com/prices/) for up to 10,000 results per report and 500 tracked keywords. ## The best free keyword research tool for ad hoc needs ### [KWFinder](https://vendors.selectsoftwarereviews.com/redirect/1751996835312x818348594564431900?p=1715808885462x244895206427328500) (Web) ![KWFinder, our pick for the best free keyword research tool for ad hoc needs](https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/19zOT2aX091N9PcwF8sDay/a97b3f1ce19ba3e1b45dd5e0ac7d655b/image8.png) KWFinder pros: - Tons of datapoints available free - Unique data like keyword opportunities - Part of a broader SEO suite KWFinder cons: - Limited to 5 searches per day If you don't need to do a lot of keyword research in your day-to-day, KWFinder is a strong option. The free plan limits you to 5 searches per day, but each keyword search offers a ton of data. That includes standard metrics like monthly search volume, keyword difficulty, related keywords, and a breakdown of the pages currently ranking for your keyword. But KWFinder also includes a number of unique and super helpful details, like searcher intent for each keyword and the type of content already ranking (e.g. listicle, homepage, blog, or product page). My favorite of these is the keyword opportunities column, which identifies weak points in the top five results and suggests how you can capitalize on those weaknesses and outrank them. For example, it can identify if the top results are outdated (more than six months old) or missing the full keyword in their meta title. KWFinder is also part of the broader Mangools suite, which includes a number of other SEO tools, many of which are available for free in some limited way—like the SERP simulator, AI search grader, and SEO content optimizer. KWFinder pricing: Free plan includes up to 5 keyword searches per day; paid plans start at \$29.90/month for up to 100 lookups per day and additional results. [Allintitle](https://allintitle.co/free-keyword-finder/) is another sturdy option for infrequent or irregular keyword research needs. You can use the keyword explorer tool without creating an account, and it pulls a ton of datapoints for free—including content optimization suggestions and keyword gap analysis—and offers flexible pay-as-you-go or monthly subscription upgrades. ## The best free keyword research tool for content marketing ### [Ubersuggest](https://vendors.selectsoftwarereviews.com/redirect/1753896403501x123625064253358080?p=1715808885462x244895206427328500) (Web) ![Ubersuggest, our pick for the best free keyword research tool for content marketing](https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/6koPbuPs51i0VUCW5USa8I/ff012083bbe977213bfa89b9c6276f8f/image9.png) Ubersuggest pros: - Lots of data available for free - Recommended comparison keywords Ubersuggest cons: - Limited to 3 keyword searches per day Normally, I wouldn't consider a keyword research tool with such a low daily limit (the free plan only includes 3 searches per day), but Ubersuggest offers up so much data within each search that it's worth a look anyway. The Keyword Overview tool includes monthly search volume (broken down by country), SEO and paid difficulty scores, and Content Ideas—pulled from currently ranking results, with data on visits, other keywords, backlinks, and performance on Facebook, Pinterest, and Reddit. Ubersuggest is also the only tool I tested that breaks out comparison keyword ideas, a big category for content marketers. Beyond keyword research, Ubersuggest also has features for rank tracking, identifying SEO opportunities based on your site, analyzing your backlinks, and an AI writer tool. While the free plan is pretty limited, it's workable if you don't do a ton of keyword research all at once—and the upgrade to an Ubersuggest paid plan is pretty reasonable. Ubersuggest pricing: Free plan includes 3 searches per day; [paid plans](https://app.neilpatel.com/en/pricing) start at \$29/month for 150 searches per day and 125 tracked keywords per domain. ## Can you use AI chatbots for keyword research? You can ask [AI chatbots](https://zapier.com/blog/best-ai-chatbot/) like [ChatGPT](https://zapier.com/blog/how-to-use-chatgpt/) and [Gemini](https://zapier.com/blog/how-to-use-google-bard/) to do keyword research for you—but should you? The main benefit of going the AI route is simplicity. You can ask for straightforward, simplified results and get a simple, streamlined answer. Here's Gemini, for example. ![Gemini showing search volume, difficulty, and competitor articles](https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/5lbzDlpdnBrchYfj8jqWo2/7e7e9d4fca93a0b111dd7e6ee585dda5/image7.png) And here's ChatGPT. ![ChatGPT showing monthly search volume, keyword difficulty, and competitor articles](https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/pfoUHTNNZn5AaalbEPnej/bf5ea4f4c968d3fd73629a02a883e15a/image11.png) ChatGPT was more upfront about the sources it used (at the bottom of the answer, you could click on Sources to see the specific websites the chatbot referenced). But it also offered search volume and keyword difficulty numbers pulled from AdTargeting's keyword research tool. Gemini, on the other hand, told me it couldn't pull precise monthly search volume numbers (it's not even connected to Google Keyword Planner) and actually suggested I'd be better off using a dedicated SEO tool. Running deep research prompts took a long time and, while it did bring Gemini's response in line with what ChatGPT offered in terms of real numbers for the metrics, it didn't yield any more useful information from either chatbot. Here's Gemini's report: ![Gemini's SEO report](https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/5H8CofchmjqDfFwJJoDPSt/b42fc228f174e1157d96690f622b7587/image2.png) And ChatGPT's. ![ChatGPT's SEO report](https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/2XA46kcyxxAOGT4lsAvNqn/1a59cd332cccc55cdb5b19eb84cc5e4a/image5.png) Both ChatGPT and Gemini continue to improve, but to get the kind of information a dedicated keyword research tool offers isn't possible in a chatbot right now. Case in point: I ran the exact same prompt through both ChatGPT and Gemini five minutes later and got completely different sets of keywords. If you're in a bind and need simplified, bottom line-style information on a keyword quickly, an AI chatbot may be of some help. But as of today, I wouldn't recommend using an AI chatbot as your primary keyword research tool—especially given the number of truly helpful dedicated free keyword research tools you can use instead. Of course, lots of dedicated SEO tools (though usually not the free ones), will have AI built in—that's the best of both worlds. ## When should you upgrade from a free keyword research tool? The short answer is: only when you need to. If you can get all the data you need without going over the allowances of one of the free plans above, there's no reason to upgrade to a paid plan (or switch to a fully paid tool). With that said, here are a few signs it may be time to consider upgrading: - You're regularly hitting the monthly or daily search limits of your current solution. - You're missing out on features you can't get for free, like content optimization guidance or the ability to track your site's keywords and rankings over time. - You need additional SEO features that an upgraded all-in-one tool can provide (like technical SEO, site auditing, etc). When the time comes, some of the tools on this list can grow right along with you. But if you want to see all your options, here are Zapier's lists of helpful SEO tools to get you started: - [The best SEO tools](https://zapier.com/blog/best-seo-tools/) - [The](https://zapier.com/blog/best-seo-tools/) [best SEO rank trackers](https://zapier.com/blog/best-rank-tracker/#keyword) - [The best SEO audit tools](https://zapier.com/blog/best-seo-audit-tools/) - [The best WordPress plugins for SEO](https://zapier.com/blog/best-wordpress-seo-plugins/) Related reading: - [How to find low competition keywords that drive traffic](https://zapier.com/blog/low-competition-keywords/) - [How to do keyword research on a budget with Keywords Everywhere](https://zapier.com/blog/keywords-everywhere/) - [The best SEO content optimization tools](https://zapier.com/blog/best-seo-content-optimization-tools/) - [Generative engine optimization: How to rank on AI chatbots](https://zapier.com/blog/generative-engine-optimization) This article was originally published in June 2021. The most recent update was in June 2025.
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