Best Free Keyword Research Tools

Free keyword research tools facilitate your SEO planning in multiple ways. Expanding your research into specialised keywords reveals critical information about your immediate target and competitors. Unless you invest sufficient time and effort in determining your target consumers, market, and rivals, your SEO efforts will be fruitless. This is where the best free keyword research tools come in handy.

For webmasters, Search engine optimisation is a significant factor to manage. Each element of an SEO plan needs undivided attention. To be sure, they must be checked regularly regardless of being off-page elements or on-page. And, of course, this cannot be accomplished manually.

To better understand your outperforming and underperforming keywords, you may use the following SEO keyword research tools. Both premium and trial versions of these tools are available. This should be a fundamental step before undertaking seo services.

The 12 Most Effective Free Keyword Research Tools

Keyword research tools may assist you in gaining better knowledge of how your potential clients find goods and services online. Being free does not imply that the instruments will sacrifice their worth. Even their free trials can monitor the most profitable keywords for your sector and frequent or monthly searches, as well as keyword competitiveness and rivals.

The tools will ultimately assist you in achieving a better SERP ranking for your web pages. Let’s take a look at these keyword overview research tools in more detail.

It’s critical to dig deeper into how Google perceives your site, which can only be accomplished with the assistance of some excellent SEO tools. These tools assist you in coordinating your SEO efforts. The more in tune with your website’s metrics, the more effectively you can manage your SEO efforts.

The following tools are critical to any organic search strategy since they assist you in concentrating your efforts on those website components that Google considers vital. We’ve compiled a list of 12 such tools that may help marketers evaluate their websites like pros.

1) Moz Keyword Explorer

Moz Keyword Explorer is unquestionably the best free keyword research tool available. You can do a comprehensive SERP study using its keyword finder. Additionally, the application provides nearby keyword recommendations that may be useful while taking down information for various measures.

Additionally, this keyword research tool enables marketers to discover and prioritise all relevant keywords necessary to rocket their search ranks. With its unmatched competition keyword analysis, you can understand your competitors’ keywords as well as ranking tactics. The tool is offered in two different ways: a free trial version and a premium version.2.

Moz Pro is an all-in-one solution that combines various tools to assist companies in improving their Google search results. Moz’s research tools provide subscribers with the information necessary to discover SEO possibilities, monitor growth, create reports, and improve their SEO operations.

It’s an incredible tool that assists companies in identifying crawling issues, duplicate content, and redirects that negatively impact their SEO performance.

2) Google Keyword Planner

Google created the Google Keywords Planner. It’s a free keyword tool and provides valuable insight into the search volume for each term or phrase on Google’s platform.

This Google keyword research tool is a free keyword generator that offers recommendations to help you anticipate new and underused phrases. The Google Keyword Planner interface enables you to compare keyword trends and develop a comprehensive strategy targeting particular keywords and related keywords.

Additionally, the tool allows you to prioritise the right keywords that you should target and identify new or popular keywords that you may have overlooked.

3) Google Search Console

This was known as Google Webmaster Tools. The tool enables web admins to get a better understanding of how Google views their website. The Google Search Console includes a variety of simple-to-understand materials that teach the basics of Google search.

For example, Google’s Fetch as Google feature enables webmasters to examine how Google views a specific URL. Troubleshooting via the google search console enables the measurement of SEO performance and provides insight into what needs to be done to improve results.

Webmasters may use the tool to monitor their website and see different reports detailing their website’s visibility in SERPs. You must realise that GSC is not a must for Google to index and rank your website. Rather than that, the tool is a convenient method to learn how Google and its users perceive your website.

4) SEMRush

Our next contender in the category of the top free keyword research tools due to the breadth of its features. SEMRush is the best keyword research tool for many. The tool can produce a list of the top 10 keywords your rivals use to drive paid and organic traffic.

The tool assists you in identifying all the keywords that will help your SEO and PPC campaigns succeed. Additionally, you may amass a wealth of information on phrase matches, similar keywords, and long-tail keywords. Additionally, this program is available in a trial version and a paid version.

SEMrush keyword magic tool is another reliable keyword monitoring and research tool that provides in-depth data on domains’ performance and pages. Among the other critical toolkits offered by the program, the SEMrush SEO toolkit is the most popular.

After inputting a URL, the tool provides detailed information on various metrics, including the website’s keywords, the page’s rank for that term, and the keyword’s monthly search traffic.

The tool conducts a variety of keyword-related tasks and displays the keyword rankings for any website on the web. Enter the desired term, and the tool populates it with detailed information. The report details a keyword’s rank in search engine results pages (SERPs), the URLs it directs visitors, and the traffic patterns over the last 12 months.

5) HubSpot Website Grader

This free keyword research tool was launched in 2007. Website Grader provided companies with options to maximise their search engine optimization efforts.

Because the search business has developed significantly since then, a new enhanced version of the tool is already in place. The tool provides insight into the size, requests, and speed of a website’s pages and other critical SEO data. Additionally, tools determine if a website is mobile-friendly, SEO-friendly, and hack-proof.

6) BuzzStream

BuzzStream assists companies in managing inbound connections to their website. The BuzzStream tool makes it very simple to do inbound link research, find keyword ideas, and identify company websites that may approve your link request.

This tool assists you in identifying prospects based on their sector and degree of involvement across several social media platforms. Using the program, you may learn about the appropriate individuals who will reply to your backlink request.

BuzzStream enables companies to manage their website’s inbound connections. The BuzzStream tool makes it very simple to do inbound link research, generate relevant messages, and identify company websites that may approve your link request. BuzzStream assists you in identifying prospects based on their sector and degree of involvement across several social media platforms. Using the program, you may learn about the appropriate individuals who will reply to your backlink request.

7) Bing Keyword Research

This is one of the best keyword research tools. The advantage of the Bing keyword research tool is that its data is derived entirely from organic search. This is ideally beneficial for marketers looking for the most natural keyword suggestions. You may create keyword ideas in various languages using the Bing keyword research tool.

8) Ubersuggest

UberSuggest, our subsequent keyword research tool, allows you to sort keywords by nation or location of discovery. The program collects data from users through a word cloud and trend data to create precise term suggestions.

The tool enables marketers to discover keywords and their associated top-ranking SERPs. The tool generates suggestions for short- to long-tail keywords, assisting you in determining the most appropriate key phrases for your website.

9) Wordtracker

With Wordtracker SEO competition analytics and SERP comparison tool, you can do a comprehensive SEO study. This tool compiles a complete profile of important keyword information for each place where your company operates. This product is available for a free seven-day trial, with monthly subscriptions beginning at $27.

Factors to consider when choosing the Best Free Keyword Research Tools

You may get essential insights and remain current on the market, algorithm, and competitor developments by selecting the appropriate keyword tools. Many tools are available, including Semrush, Wordtracker, Ubersuggest, and other keyword research tools.

With so many choices on the market and new tools being released regularly, there are many aspects to consider when choosing the best decision. Let’s look at what the majority of SEO tools have to offer and why it matters to you.

Keyword research

Keyword tools may be standalone applications or integrated into a broader platform. If you’re searching for target keyword insights, there are many essential components that most solutions provide. For instance, it is critical to evaluate the platform’s long-term adaptability and scalability when selecting a platform.

Identify your intended audience.

Before choosing an SEO tool, ensure that they understand your customers’ needs and are knowledgeable about your goods and services. Once you have a thorough knowledge of your client’s requirements, it will help you choose the appropriate tools to meet those objectives.

Having a firm understanding of these basics enables the company to carry out its mission effectively. The most efficient SEO tool is conversant with the specific needs and commercial expectations of the customer.

Rank tracking

Tracking keyword rankings are often the earliest indicator of changes affecting your site, traffic, and conversions. Whether you observe a sharp decline, a stratospheric increase, or a gradual ascent, the data may provide insight into the success of your content and areas for development.

Rank monitoring software may give daily, weekly, or monthly reports on the success of your content on the SERPs. Daily rank monitoring, or at the very least thrice weekly tracking, is our suggestion regardless of the amount being tracked. Daily rank monitoring provides 30 data points each month, rather than four or one. Several more features that we like about daily rank monitoring include the following:

• It notifies you immediately of the effect of algorithm modifications or testing.
• You can determine if a ranking increase or fall is temporary and returns to “normal” within a day or two – rather than waiting another week or month for an update.
• You may monitor rival material’s rank daily to see how their freshly produced content and optimisations have affected your position and traffic.
• Daily keyword rank monitoring enables you to more effectively monitor the impact of improvements on your content’s traffic and conversions.

When selecting a tool, keep in mind how often it monitors SERPs and if it monitors your rivals. Additionally, you want to verify that you are tracking the maximum number of search engines and devices possible within your budget.

Devices, locations, and search engines

You’re monitoring terms, but which search engines are you tracking? How many devices are there? In certain locations? If you’re considering purchasing a tool or already own many, are you receiving the most value for your money?

While search engine specifications for small businesses operating locally often focus only on Google, bigger enterprises and e-commerce may need more. These enterprises may need Google and its many localised versions, such as Google UK. Additionally, it is often necessary to monitor utterly different search engines, such as Baidu, Sogou, Qihoo 360, Yandex, Daum, or Naver.

Another possibility is a more hyper-local strategy. For instance, if you’re targeting the Atlanta region differently than Nashville, you’ll need to understand why the two areas need unique content. You may also be interested in the Atlanta region and the performance of Buckhead, Marietta, and Alpharetta as suburbs of the larger metro area.

Don’t forget to include monitoring at the device level as well. You should be able to segment performance by search engine and location. Tools such as DemandRankings enable you to target iPhone, iPad, and Android devices to get a more detailed understanding of customer behaviour.

Groups and keyword components

Additionally, the ability to arrange your keywords into groups is a handy tool. Segmenting your keywords (and content) enables you to get comprehensive reports on some aspects of your marketing, target audiences, and so on. Additionally, you may combine segments to determine the effect of other factors such as message strategies on product lines, new campaign sites, and more.

Competitor monitoring

Once you’ve identified your rivals, you’ll need to monitor their activities and movements. Choosing a tool that identifies them only necessitates the addition of another to watch them – or you may pick a tool that does both from the start. If you’re using different tools, seek ones that provide an API or other means of quickly adding newly found rivals to a monitoring system.

The monitoring tool should allow for the addition of numerous rivals per category and validate their market significance. The ability to change them daily or weekly enables you to evaluate rival criteria on the go.

Site Health, optimisations, and opportunities

The magic occurs when all of the data collected by your technology is transformed into actionable next actions. Whether you, a team, or an outside organisation is responsible for technological optimisation, content updates, and the general health of your on- and off-site material, this section is critical.

Site health and audits

Your website is made up of technical information and “soft content” elements that affect ranking. On the technical side, factors such as page speed affect whether or not your carefully crafted information is ever accessed. Technical health is a continuous element of marketing, which means audits cannot be performed once a year or worse.

Choosing a keyword tool that keeps you informed of problems affecting the capacity of search engines to index your material or the ability of people to engage with it is critical.

Integrating Google Tools for Enhanced Keyword Research

Google offers a powerful suite of tools that can significantly elevate your organic keyword research strategy. By integrating Google Ads Keyword Planner, Google Trends, and Google Analytics, you can gain deeper insights into keyword performance, ensuring your SEO efforts are well-informed and targeted. Here’s how to make the most of these tools:

Google Ads Keyword Planner

Google Ads Keyword Planner is an essential tool for discovering new keywords and understanding their potential impact. Originally designed for paid campaigns, it’s equally effective for organic SEO. By entering a seed keyword, you can explore related terms, analyse accurate search volume data, and gauge the competitiveness of keywords.

This tool allows you to uncover your average monthly search volume, helping you prioritise keywords based on their potential to drive traffic. Connecting this tool to your Google Ads account provides even more refined insights, allowing you to tailor your strategy to target the most promising keywords.

Google Trends

Google Trends offers a unique perspective on keyword research by showing the popularity of search terms over time. This tool allows you to track search volume ranges, identify emerging trends, and understand seasonal variations in search behavior.

By leveraging Google Trends, you can align your content strategy with current interests and search intent, ensuring your site remains relevant and timely. This tool also highlights related queries, providing opportunities to expand your keyword list with terms that are gaining traction.

Google Analytics

Google Analytics is not just for tracking website performance—it’s also a vital resource for refining your keyword strategy. By analysing organic search data, you can determine which keywords are already driving traffic to your site and identify areas for improvement.

It helps you monitor the effectiveness of your chosen keywords over time, providing insights into user engagement, conversion rates, and overall SEO performance. By integrating Google Analytics into your keyword research process, you can make data-driven decisions that enhance your site’s visibility and effectiveness.

Bringing It All Together

By integrating these Google tools, you can create a comprehensive keyword research strategy. Start by using Google ads platform and keyword planner to identify potential keywords and assess their average monthly search volumes.

Then, cross-reference these findings with Google Trends to understand their popularity over time and ensure they align with current search intent. Finally, track the performance of these keywords in Google Analytics to continually refine your approach, ensuring your SEO efforts are both strategic and data-driven.

Bridging the Gap: Using Paid and Free Tools Together

When it comes to keyword research, the debate between using a free and paid keyword research tool is ongoing. However, the most effective strategy often involves using both in tandem, leveraging the strengths of each to cover all bases.

By combining free tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest with paid keyword research tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs, you can gain a more comprehensive understanding of your SEO landscape.

The Strengths of Paid Tools

Paid tools like SEMrush and Ahrefs offer robust features that free tools often lack. These tools provide in-depth keyword data, including metrics such as keyword difficulty, competitor analysis, and backlink profiles.

They also offer advanced features like the keyword gap tool, which allows you to compare your site’s performance against competitors and uncover related queries or seed keywords that you might be missing. This ability to see where competitors are ranking—and where you have opportunities—can significantly enhance your search engine optimisation efforts.

The Role of Free Tools

On the other hand, free tools are invaluable for initial research and broad exploration. Tools like Google Trends and Keyword Planner provide search volume data and highlight search intent trends over time, helping you understand what users are looking for. These tools are particularly useful for identifying average monthly search volumes and basic keyword opportunities without incurring costs.

Maximising SEO with a Blended Approach

By combining both paid and free tools, you can cover all aspects of keyword research, from identifying broad topics to drilling down into specific, high-value keywords.

Start with free tools to generate a list of potential keywords and gain insights into keyword search volumes. Then, use paid tools to refine this list, focusing on keywords with manageable keyword difficulty and high potential for impact.

For instance, you might use Google Keyword Planner to find keywords with significant search volume ranges, then switch to Ahrefs or SEMrush to assess the competition for those keywords. The keyword gap tool in paid platforms can then help you identify related queries that your competitors are ranking for but you aren’t, revealing new opportunities for content creation and optimisation.