Unlock the potential of your SEO campaigns with our 2024 guide to the best keyword research tools. Discover tools that match every need and budget.
If you're looking to boost your website's traffic in 2024, you need to use the right keyword research tools. These tools help you find the best keywords to target so more people can find your site on Google. I've put together a list of the top 10 keyword research tools along with some other helpful info. Let's dive in and find the perfect tools for you!
Before we get to the tools, let's talk about why keyword research is so important. When you use the right keywords:
So basically, keyword research is a must if you want your website to succeed. The tools in this list will help you do it the right way.
There are tons of keyword tools out there, so how did we choose the top 10? We looked at a bunch of factors:
We carefully scored each tool on these criteria to pick the best ones. So you can trust our list to steer you in the right direction.
If you want to save a bunch of time on content research and planning, Swiftbrief is your new best friend. It automates the whole process of finding keywords, grouping them into topics, and creating detailed content briefs.
Here's how it works:
So instead of spending hours doing keyword research yourself, you get an AI-powered brief to guide your content in just a few minutes. Pretty sweet, right?
SEO and content pros love how much time Swiftbrief saves them on research. They say the briefs it generates are super high-quality and helpful for planning relevant content.
Some people wish there was more transparency about where the keyword data comes from. But overall, experts agree it's an innovative tool that solves a big pain point.
The pricing for Swiftbrief isn't clearly listed on their site. It likely depends on factors like how many briefs you generate. You'll need to contact them for a custom quote.
You can learn more about Swiftbrief at Swiftbrief.com
Semrush is like the godfather of SEO tools. And their Keyword Magic Tool is a major reason why. It has a massive database of over 24 billion keywords across 142 countries. That's a lot of keywords!
With Keyword Magic Tool, you can:
Basically, if you want to leave no stone unturned with keyword research, this tool has your back. It'll help you find high-potential keywords your competitors don't know about yet.
SEOs rave about how reliable Semrush's keyword data is. They love being able to pull in a ton of ideas and slice the lists with filters.
Some folks say it can be pricey, especially for a small biz or solo operation. But most agree the depth of data is worth it if you're serious about SEO.
Semrush packages start from $108.33/month if you pay yearly or $129.95/month if you pay monthly. The Keyword Magic Tool is part of the monthly packages.
Head to SEMRUSH to learn more about Semrush and the Keyword Magic Tool.
Ahrefs is another power player in the SEO world. And their Keyword Explorer is scary good at uncovering keyword gems. It doesn't just show search volume and difficulty. It goes way deeper.
For each keyword, you get data like:
In a nutshell, it's the Swiss army knife of keyword research. You can see how valuable and realistic a keyword is to target. So you can prioritize the lowest-hanging fruit.
SEO nerds go gaga for all the juicy data in Ahrefs. They love being able to see metrics like traffic potential and how many links you'll need to rank.
The main complaint is that it can be a bit complex for total beginners. But pros say it's 100% worth learning the tool if you want to be an SEO boss.
Ahrefs plans start at $99/month if you want access to the core keyword research features. Agency plans with higher limits are available too.
To see everything Ahrefs has to offer, check out ahrefs.com.
Google Keyword Planner is a free tool that's part of Google Ads. But it's not just for PPC folks. It's also handy for SEO keyword research. The best part? The data comes straight from the world's biggest search engine.
With Keyword Planner, you can:
Since the data is coming from Google itself, you know it's legit. It's a solid starting point for any keyword research project. And you can't beat the price tag of $0!
SEOs dig that Keyword Planner data comes right from the source. You know you're getting the real deal search volumes.
But a lot of folks say it's too basic for advanced SEO. It lacks metrics and features that other tools have. So it's best used along with other keyword research software.
Google Keyword Planner is totally free. But you'll need a Google Ads account to access it (you don't have to run any ads though). And the data can be limited if you're not spending money on ads.
To use Keyword Planner, set up an account at ads.google.comand navigate to the Tools & Settings menu.
AnswerThePublic listens to autocomplete data from search engines like Google then quickly spits out every useful phrase and question people are asking around your keyword.
It's a goldmine of consumer insight you can use to create fresh, ultra-useful content, products and services. The kind your customers really want.
AnswerThePublic is most famous for visualizing search questions and suggested autocomplete searches in an image called a search cloud. It looks super cool and provides an overview of the main topics around a seed keyword.
The search clouds are a handy way to see clusters of topics to go after. Then you can dig into the alphabetical lists of questions, prepositions, and comparisons to get specific content ideas.
Content marketers love AnswerThePublic for cooking up awesome blog post ideas based on what people are actually searching for.
SEOs use it to find juicy long tail keywords to go after. But most say you need to pair it with another tool to see metrics and competition levels for the keywords.
You can get a limited number of free searches per day with AnswerThePublic. Paid plans with unlimited searches start from just $5/month, so it's super affordable.
Cruise over to answerthepublic.com to try AnswerThePublic for yourself!
Moz is a big name in the SEO space. Their Keyword Explorer tool is part of a larger SEO software suite. So it plays nice with their other tools for site audits, rank tracking, and link research.
With Keyword Explorer, you can:
The keyword suggestions are pretty solid. And the SERP analysis gives you a quick look at what you're up against to rank. But the real standout feature is the scoring system for prioritizing keywords.
Moz fans dig Keyword Explorer for finding solid keyword ideas and checking search volume. The SERP analysis and scoring features also get a thumbs up.
Some folks wish it had more robust keyword suggestions and filtering options like other tools, though. And smaller teams can have a hard time swinging the higher price tag.
Moz's pricing packages start at $99/month for their "Standard" plan which includes Keyword Explorer. It can be a bit steep if you're on a tight budget. But you get all their other SEO tools rolled in too.
To see the full scoop on Moz's tools, head over to moz.com.
Keywords Everywhere is a nifty browser extension that shows you keyword data on the websites you already visit. It's like having an SEO dashboard right in your browser!
Once you install the extension, you'll see data on your favorite sites like:
You can quickly see search volume, cost-per-click, and competition for keywords without opening another tool. The extension also gives you related keyword ideas as you browse.
Fans of Keywords Everywhere love how quick and simple it makes basic keyword research. It's a big hit with content writers who like seeing data right on the pages they're working on.
More advanced SEOs say it's a handy companion tool to use alongside a full keyword research platform. But on its own, it's a bit limited for comprehensive keyword analysis.
Keywords Everywhere has affordable plans starting at just $19.92 paid annually. So it won't break the bank to add it to your keyword research toolkit.
To get Keywords Everywhere for Chrome or Firefox, swing by keywordseverywhere.com.
.webp)
Ubersuggest is an SEO and keyword research tool created by digital marketing guru Neil Patel. It's known for having a solid free version that gives you quite a bit of data.
On the keyword research side, Ubersuggest lets you:
One thing that makes Ubersuggest stand out is the "Content Ideas" feature. It shows you popular blog posts and articles related to your keyword. Super helpful for planning content that has a shot at ranking!
The SEO community digs Ubersuggest for being a solid free/low-cost alternative to pricier tools. Beginners especially like how easy it is to use.
Power users sometimes wish it had more robust features and data. But for the price, most say you get a good bang for your buck.
You can use a limited version of Ubersuggest for free. Paid plans start at just $29/month for more keywords, data, and features. Overall it's one of the most affordable tools out there.
Head to neilpatel.com/ubersuggest to try out Ubersuggest for yourself.
.webp)
Keyword Snatcher is a desktop application built for one thing: generating a ton of long tail keyword ideas FAST.
Just give it a seed keyword and it will scan Google Autocomplete, Google Keyword Planner, and other sources to "snatch" up relevant phrases. It's not uncommon to get 2000+ keywords from a single search!
Keyword Snatcher is a great tool for finding obscure "long tail" keywords that your competitors might not know about. It uncovers queries and phrases people are searching for related to your niche.
SEOs like Keyword Snatcher for uncovering unique keyword ideas they wouldn't find in other tools. They say it's a great way to unearth low-competition keywords in your niche.
The main drawback is that it doesn't give you search volume or competitive analysis for the keywords. So you have to export them to another tool to see that data.
Keyword Snatcher is a one-time purchase, not a monthly subscription. But the pricing isn't clearly listed on the website. It's likely under $100 for a lifetime license though.
Check out keywordsnatcher.com for more info on Keyword Snatcher.
.webp)
Google Trends is a free tool that lets you see the popularity of a search term over time. It gives you a bird's eye view of whether a keyword is trending up or down.
While it's not a traditional keyword research tool, it has some handy features for SEO like:
Google Trends is a great way to gauge overall interest in a topic. That can help you decide if it's worth targeting a particular keyword or content idea.
The SEO community sees Google Trends as more of an "add-on" tool than a primary keyword research platform. They like it for uncovering rising keyword trends and spotting seasonal patterns.
But it's not a replacement for traditional keyword tools. Marketers say it's best used along with other software that can show search volumes, competition levels, etc.
Google Trends is 100% free to use for anyone. No paid plans or upgrades required.
Go to trends.google.com to start exploring the wonderful world of Google Trends!
While our top 10 tools are the cream of the keyword research crop, there are a few other tools worth mentioning:
Keyword Tool is a straightforward site for generating keyword ideas from multiple sources like Google Autocomplete. It doesn't have a ton of bells and whistles. But it's great for getting a quick list of keyword suggestions to explore further in other tools.
Soovle is similar to Keyword Tool but it pulls suggestions from even more sources like Wikipedia, Amazon, and YouTube. It's another easy way to get keyword ideas from multiple places without doing all the searches yourself.
Keyword Surfer is a free Chrome extension that shows estimated search volume right on Google search pages. It also generates related keyword ideas. While not super advanced, it's a handy way to get quick keyword data as you search Google.
Got burning questions about keyword research? We've got answers!
Keyword research is the process of finding and analyzing search terms that people enter into search engines. The goal is to use that data to optimize your content around those terms.
It's important because ranking for the right keywords can make or break your traffic. By researching keywords for their popularity, search volume, and general intent, you can tackle queries that your target audience is searching for.
This really depends on your needs and budget. But if we had to pick a few of the top dogs:
There are a handful of free keyword tools that can get the job done. Google Keyword Planner is the go-to free tool since the data comes straight from Google. But tools like Google Trends, Ubersuggest, Answer the Public, and Keywords Everywhere also have generous free plans.
Focus on keywords that are relevant to your niche, have decent search volume, and are realistic to rank for. Look for keywords with high relevance, high volume, and low competition. Prioritize keywords that match what your target customers are really searching for.
Long tail keywords are longer and more specific keyword phrases that visitors are more likely to use when they're closer to a point-of-purchase or when they're using voice search. They're a little bit counter-intuitive, at least when it comes to SEO. But they can be hugely valuable if you know how to use them.
Keyword research is hands-down one of the most important parts of SEO. It's how you find out what your target audience is searching for and optimize your content to match.
Remember, search engines are answer machines. They scour the web for content that matches search queries. Your mission is to create that content - and keyword research tells you what to create.
The right keyword research tool makes the job a whole lot easier. The tools on this list can help you:
My advice? Try a few tools to see which you like best. Many have free trials so you can get a feel for how they work.
Whether you go for a free Google tool or spring for a full-featured keyword research platform, it's all about finding those money-making keywords to boost your rankings and traffic. So get out there and start researching!
Phew, we covered a lot of ground in this keyword research tool breakdown! I hope you found it helpful and learned a thing or two.
At the end of the day, there's no "magic bullet" keyword research tool. It's about finding the tool (or tools) that fit your workflow and goals.
My biggest tips for getting the most out of any keyword tool:
Above all, remember that keyword research is just one part of SEO. It tells you what topics to go after. But you still need to create awesome, user-focused content that deserves to rank.
As the old saying goes, "It's not the keyword research that ranks. It's the content you create with it." (Ok, I totally made that up. But it's true!)
Whether you're a solopreneur blogger or an SEO pro, I wish you all the best in your keyword research adventures. May the search volume be ever in your favor!
This piece was created with a professional brief
In content marketing, being intentional pays. That's why we always share the behind the scenes of our pieces.
Delegate content at scale
Swiftbrief makes it easy to create and manage all your content briefs in one place
NewNewNew
New
Test
TestTestTestTest
This is a test question
This is a test answerThis is a test answerThis is a test answerThis is a test answerThis is a test answerThis is a test answerThis is a test answerThis is a test answerThis is a test answerThis is a test answerThis is a test answer
