Keyword research is a crucial part of any SEO strategy. It helps you identify the right keywords to target and provides the data you need to rank for them. With hundreds of keyword research tools available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one.
In this article, we will explore the four best free keyword research tools that can simplify and streamline your workflow. These tools offer valuable insights without breaking the bank.
The Best Free Keyword Research Tools
- Moz Keyword Explorer: A comprehensive SEO keyword research tool
- Google Keyword Planner: Ideal for researching paid keywords
- Ahrefs: Offers simple SEO tools for various platforms
- Semrush: Advanced SEO tools for professionals
To determine the best keyword research tools, we evaluated over 70 tools with a free option. We considered factors such as data included, data sources, keyword optimization guidance, free plan allowances and upgrades, and standalone functionality.
After thorough testing, we selected the four best free keyword research tools.
Moz Keyword Explorer: The All-Around Solution
Moz Keyword Explorer is a versatile tool that offers comprehensive keyword research features. It provides essential data such as traffic, keyword difficulty, and competitive SERP analysis. With its user-friendly interface, Moz Keyword Explorer simplifies the keyword research process for both beginners and experienced marketers.
One standout feature of Moz Keyword Explorer is the “Priority” score. This score helps you determine the value of a keyword based on its volume, organic clickthrough rate (CTR), and difficulty. You can set your own “My Score” to prioritize keywords based on your business goals. Additionally, Moz’s competitive research tool allows you to identify keywords that your competitors rank for.
Moz Keyword Explorer offers a free plan that includes 10 queries per tool per month, 1,000 keyword suggestions, and 10 SERP analyses per query. For more advanced features, you can upgrade to Moz Pro plans starting at $99/month.
Google Keyword Planner: Researching Paid Keywords
Google Keyword Planner is a powerful tool specifically designed for researching paid keywords. It is completely free, even if you don’t use Google Ads. The tool provides valuable insights and forecasting features to help you plan your budget for paid ads effectively.
With Google Keyword Planner, you can explore keyword ideas and get details on monthly search volume, competition, ad impression share, and bid ranges. You can refine your keyword list based on brand or non-brand keywords and source websites.
While Google Keyword Planner is primarily used for paid keyword research, it can also inform your organic strategy by showing where ranking organically may help you save on PPC costs.
Google Keyword Planner is a free tool that doesn’t require any upgrades or paid plans.
Ahrefs: Free SEO Tools for Various Platforms
Ahrefs offers a range of free SEO tools that cover various use cases. While you can’t access the full suite of Ahrefs tools for free, the free tools provide valuable insights for keyword research. Ahrefs’ free suite includes a Free Keyword Generator, Keyword Difficulty Checker, Keyword Rank Checker, and keyword research for YouTube, Amazon, and Bing.
The Free Keyword Generator provides up to 150 keyword ideas, along with data on monthly search volume and keyword difficulty for the top 10 results.
The Keyword Difficulty Checker offers a difficulty score, estimated number of backlinks needed to rank, and SERP analysis. Ahrefs also provides keyword research tools for non-search engines like YouTube, Amazon, and Bing.
Ahrefs’ free tools offer a breadth of features that can meet the needs of basic SEO operations. If you require more data, you can upgrade to Ahrefs’ paid plans starting at $99/month.
Semrush: Advanced SEO Tools for Professionals
Semrush is an advanced SEO tool that offers a wealth of granular keyword data. It caters to the needs of experienced SEO professionals and provides specialized keyword research tools. Semrush offers features such as Keyword Overview, Keyword Magic Tool, Keyword Manager, competitive Keyword Gap analysis, and Organic Traffic Insights.
With Semrush, you can dig into the details of keyword analysis, including SERP features and analysis of current results. The tool provides comprehensive keyword data and allows you to track your rankings and competitor keywords. Semrush also offers content optimization features, including a real-time SEO content template that helps optimize content as you write.
Semrush offers a free plan that includes 10 Analytics reports per day and 10 tracked keywords. Paid plans start at $119.95/month for additional data and more extensive features.
Final Thoughts – Free Keyword Explorer Tools
Choosing the right keyword research tool is essential for optimizing your SEO strategy. The four best free keyword research tools mentioned above offer valuable insights and simplify the keyword research process.
Whether you need a comprehensive solution like Moz Keyword Explorer, a tool for researching paid keywords like Google Keyword Planner, simple SEO tools like Ahrefs, or advanced features for professionals like Semrush, these tools have you covered.
Remember to choose a tool that aligns with your specific needs and offers a free plan that allows you to access useful features. With the right keyword research tool, you can streamline your workflow, find the right keywords to target, and improve your website’s ranking.