Introduction
Keyword research is the backbone of any successful SEO or content marketing strategy. Finding the right keywords helps improve your website’s ranking, generate more traffic, and create content that resonates with your audience. While there are many paid tools available, several free tools offer valuable insights and data that can help you stay competitive. In this post, we’ll explore the 7 best FREE keyword research tools to use in 2024, and how they can boost your SEO game.
1. AnswerThePublic (Free with Limited Searches)
AnswerThePublic (Free with Limited Searches) stands out because of its unique approach to keyword research, offering a visual map of user queries that goes beyond standard keyword suggestions. It focuses on long-tail keywords by showing real questions, comparisons, and phrases that people are searching for online. This makes it an excellent tool for content ideation, helping marketers and creators develop content that aligns with user intent. The free version allows limited searches per day, but it provides enough valuable insights for small businesses and content marketers looking to create targeted, relevant content. By focusing on what people are genuinely asking, AnswerThePublic helps you craft content that resonates with your audience, making it a top choice for keyword research .
You can explore AnswerThePublic here: AnswerThePublic
Pros
AnswerThePublic is a great tool for generating content ideas based on real user search queries. Its visual representation makes keyword suggestions easy to interpret, even for beginners. The free version allows you to discover long-tail keywords, offering valuable insights into consumer behavior. It’s a quick way to identify questions, comparisons, and trends, giving users an edge in content creation and competitor analysis.
Cons
However, the free version has limitations. You can only perform a few searches per day, and the data provided lacks depth, such as search volume or competition levels. There’s also limited customization, with some queries being repetitive or less useful. Additionally, it does not offer historical data, making it hard to track trends over time.
2. Google Trends (Free)
Google Trends (Free) is a great tool for keyword research because it shows how popular a search term is over time. It lets you compare different keywords, see how interest changes, and find out which regions are searching for specific terms the most. This is especially useful for discovering new trends or finding seasonal topics to focus on. Although it doesn’t provide detailed competition data, it’s completely free and perfect for helping you create timely content based on what’s trending. Google Trends is a valuable tool for improving your content and SEO strategy .
You can explore Google Trends here: Google Trends
Pros
Google Trends is a free tool that provides real-time data on the popularity of search terms. It’s easy to use and offers insights into search volume trends over time, making it valuable for identifying rising topics. You can compare keywords, analyze geographical data, and spot seasonal trends. It’s great for tracking current events, understanding user interest, and tailoring content to match trending topics.
Cons
While Google Trends is useful, it lacks the depth of specific keyword data like search volume numbers or competition analysis. It provides broad insights rather than granular details, which might limit its usefulness for detailed SEO work. The data is also relative rather than absolute, and niche keywords with low search volume may not show significant trends.
3. Ubersuggest (Freemium)
Ubersuggest (Freemium) is a popular keyword research tool that provides a mix of free and paid features. It helps users find keyword ideas, track search volume, and assess SEO difficulty. One of its standout features is the ability to offer content suggestions based on popular topics. The free version allows up to 3 daily searches, which is useful for small businesses and marketers on a budget. Ubersuggest also includes backlink analysis and site audits to help improve your website’s SEO. With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features, Ubersuggest is a great choice for affordable SEO and keyword research .
You can explore Ubersuggest here: Ubersuggest
Pros
Ubersuggest offers a robust keyword research tool with both free and premium features. It provides valuable data like keyword suggestions, search volume, competition, and backlinks, making it ideal for SEO and content strategy. The free version allows access to important metrics, helping users identify profitable keywords and content ideas. It also includes features like site audits and competitor analysis, which are useful for improving website performance.
Cons
The freemium version has limitations on daily searches and the amount of data you can access. Advanced features such as in-depth keyword analysis, more detailed reports, and comprehensive competitor insights are restricted to paid users. Additionally, the tool may sometimes provide less accurate data compared to premium SEO tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush.
4. Google Keyword Planner (Free)
Google Keyword Planner is a free tool that helps businesses and marketers enhance their online presence by identifying relevant keywords for content and advertising. It offers insights into search volume, competition levels, and keyword trends, enabling users to discover new keywords for their products or services and refine their SEO and PPC campaigns. With its intuitive interface, the tool simplifies keyword research, making it accessible even for beginners. Whether aiming to boost organic traffic or optimize advertising efforts, Google Keyword Planner is an essential resource for effective online marketing.
You can explore Google Keyword Planner here: Google Keyword Planner
Pros
Google Keyword Planner is a reliable and widely used tool for keyword research. Since it’s integrated with Google Ads, the data provided is highly accurate and directly sourced from Google’s search engine. It offers essential metrics like search volume, competition, and cost-per-click (CPC) estimates, helping users plan effective keyword strategies. The tool also suggests relevant keyword ideas based on your input, making it useful for discovering new opportunities.
Cons
While it’s free, full access to data may require setting up a Google Ads campaign, even if you don’t intend to spend money on ads. The data is sometimes too broad, especially for organic SEO, focusing more on paid search metrics like CPC. It also lacks advanced SEO features found in other tools, like backlink analysis or content audits. Additionally, it provides aggregated data, which may not reflect niche-specific search trends.
5. Moz Keyword Explorer (Freemium)
Moz Keyword Explorer is a freemium tool that helps marketers and businesses conduct effective keyword research to enhance their SEO strategies. It offers insights into keyword difficulty, search volume, and organic click-through rates, allowing users to identify optimal keywords to target. Users can generate keyword suggestions based on their input, along with a unique “Priority” score to prioritize keywords by potential impact and competition. While basic features are available for free, a subscription unlocks advanced options, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced marketers looking to improve their search engine rankings and increase website traffic.
You can explore Moz Keyword Explorer here: Moz Keyword Explorer
Pros
Moz Keyword Explorer offers a user-friendly interface with detailed insights for keyword research. The tool provides data like search volume, keyword difficulty, organic click-through rate (CTR), and priority scores, helping users find valuable keywords to target. The free version allows users to access essential features, and its keyword suggestions are generally accurate. Moz also offers insights on SERP analysis, which can help users understand how competitive a keyword is on search engine results pages.
Cons
The freemium version has limitations on the number of queries and data you can access per month. Some advanced features, such as in-depth keyword analysis and competitor insights, are restricted to paid plans. It also doesn’t offer as much real-time data as some competitors, like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest. The free version may be too basic for users looking for comprehensive SEO strategies.
6. Ahrefs Keyword (Free with Limited Access)
Ahrefs Keyword Explorer is a robust keyword research tool available for free with limited access, aimed at helping marketers and SEO professionals identify and analyze keywords. It provides insights into search volume, keyword difficulty, and click potential, allowing users to make informed targeting decisions. The tool also offers a variety of keyword suggestions, including related keywords and questions, enhancing content relevance. While the free version has limitations, it remains valuable for improving SEO strategies and optimizing content for better search engine rankings. A paid subscription unlocks additional features, catering to both newcomers and experienced professionals.
You can explore Ahrefs Keyword Explorer here: Ahrefs Keyword Explorer
Pros
Ahrefs Keyword tool offers highly accurate and detailed keyword research data. Even with the free version, users can access essential features like search volume, keyword difficulty, and SERP analysis, which helps assess how hard it is to rank for a keyword. Ahrefs is known for its massive database, providing comprehensive insights on backlinks, organic traffic, and keyword suggestions. It’s great for uncovering valuable keywords and understanding the competitive landscape.
Cons
The free version is limited in terms of the number of searches and data you can access. Many advanced features, like full site audits, in-depth keyword analysis, and backlink insights, are locked behind the paid version. The limited access might not be sufficient for users needing detailed SEO strategies. Additionally, Ahrefs can be more expensive compared to other freemium SEO tools once you need to upgrade to a paid plan.
7. SpyFu (Freemium)
SpyFu is a freemium tool for competitive keyword research, helping marketers analyze competitors’ SEO and PPC strategies. It reveals targeted keywords, estimated ad spend, and performance metrics, while also providing keyword suggestions for enhancing campaigns. With an intuitive interface, it simplifies data analysis and keyword tracking. Basic features are free, but a subscription unlocks advanced options, making it ideal for both beginners and experienced marketers.
You can explore SpyFu here: SpyFu
Pros
SpyFu is a powerful tool for keyword research and competitive analysis. The free version provides valuable insights into competitor strategies, including their top-ranking keywords and ad history. It allows users to discover profitable keywords, monitor rankings, and identify opportunities for both SEO and PPC. SpyFu also offers backlink analysis and domain comparison, making it a useful tool for understanding competitor performance and improving your own strategy.
Cons
The freemium version has limitations in the amount of data available and the number of searches allowed. Many advanced features, like detailed keyword and backlink reports, are restricted to the paid version. Additionally, SpyFu’s data can sometimes lack the depth and precision found in other tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush, making it less suitable for users needing more comprehensive SEO insights. The interface may also feel less intuitive compared to other SEO platforms.
SEMrush
If you’re serious about taking your digital marketing to the next level, investing in SEMrush is a decision you won’t regret. While there may be free options available, they often lack the depth and comprehensive features that SEMrush offers. This powerful tool provides unparalleled insights into keyword research, competitor analysis, backlink tracking, and site audits, making it an invaluable asset for marketers.
With a free trial available, you can experience the extensive capabilities of SEMrush before committing, allowing you to see firsthand how it can transform your marketing strategy. By choosing SEMrush, you gain access to a wealth of data that can help you uncover high-traffic keywords, optimize your content, and effectively manage your PPC campaigns.
The investment in SEMrush is not just about the tool itself; it’s about empowering your marketing strategy with the insights you need to drive real results. Don’t settle for less—unlock the full potential of your marketing efforts with SEMrush today!
You can explore SEMrush here: SEMrush.