Rushabh PatelThe keyword research process is evolving every year, as digital marketers increasingly focus on user intent. It’s no longer just about inserting popular words into your content — it’s about understanding how your target audience thinks, searches, and behaves online.
To compete in today’s digital space, your content must use relevant and high-performing keywords. Thankfully, free keyword research tools have made it easier to discover and analyze search terms that can drive traffic and improve SEO rankings.
What Can Keyword Research Tools Do for You?
Using these tools, you can:
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Identify effective keywords based on monthly searches, industry trends, and competition
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Evaluate competition levels to choose the right keyword strategy
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Build a content calendar using a balance of short-tail and long-tail keywords
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Track keyword search volume and seasonal trends
Have a view at the free keyword research tools
Top Free Keyword Research Tools
1. Google Keyword Planner
Still one of the most powerful and trusted tools, Google Keyword Planner remains essential — especially for new websites or small businesses. It is a favorite keyword research tool for many marketers, and we think it is the best choice while building a new website with solid development fundamentals.
You simply enter a keyword, and the tool provides:
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Competition level
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Average monthly searches
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Suggested bid (for Google Ads users)
Pro Tip: It pulls data directly from Google, ensuring accuracy and reliability.
Explore Google Keyword Planner
2. KeywordTool.io
KeywordTool.io continues to grow in popularity for long-tail keyword discovery — something crucial in voice search and conversational query era.
With the free version, you can:
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Find keyword suggestions
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Target different platforms – Google, Bing, YouTube, Amazon, eBay
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Filter results by location, domain, and language
Note: Features like search volume and competition data require a premium account.
Free Keyword Research Tools to help your New Website
3. Google Trends
Google Trends is now more powerful than ever. It helps marketers understand changing user behavior, media influence, and keyword interest over time.
With Google Trends, you can:
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Compare keyword popularity
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Analyze regional search trends
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Identify seasonal spikes
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Refine content strategy with real-time data
4. Soovle
Soovle pulls auto-suggestions from multiple platforms including:
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Google
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Wikipedia
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Amazon
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Bing
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YouTube
This lightweight, free tool is excellent for brainstorming and quickly comparing keyword suggestions across platforms.
✅ Best for quick ideation and blog content planning.
Explore Soovle
5. WordStream Free Keyword Tool
With up to 30 free results, WordStream is ideal for niche keyword exploration.
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Enter a base keyword
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Get targeted keyword suggestions
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Export results via email (optional)
It also integrates with WordStream’s PPC software, offering higher ROI through targeted ad campaigns.
6. LSI Graph
LSI Graph (Latent Semantic Indexing) helps you find semantically related keywords — not just synonyms.
For example, the LSI keywords for “Apple” could be:
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iTunes
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iOS devices
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App Store
The tool calculates a LSV (Latent Semantic Value) score, helping you prioritize words that enhance content depth, relevance, and context.
7. Ubersuggest by Neil Patel
Ubersuggest, now enhanced with AI-powered recommendations, gives a freemium experience that’s ideal for both beginners and professionals.
Free version includes:
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Search volume
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SEO difficulty
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Paid competition
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Cost Per Click (CPC)
Ubersuggest offers daily limits on free searches, but still remains one of the most feature-rich tools available for free.
8. SEMrush (Free Trial Tools)
Though primarily a paid tool, SEMrush offers limited free access and trial versions for several of its premium features.
Key free tools include:
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Keyword Magic Tool – Access a database of 20+ billion keywords
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Keyword Gap Tool – Compare your keywords with competitors
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Keyword Manager – Analyze and manage up to 1000 keywords at once
🎯 Ideal for startups or agencies looking to evaluate SEMrush before full investment.
9. Side-by-Side SEO Comparison Tool
This unique tool allows for direct SEO comparison between two URLs by analyzing how Googlebot sees them.
Get insights into:
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Metadata – meta titles, descriptions, and tags
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Heading tags – use of
<h1>,<h2>etc. -
On-page keyword density
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Anchor text and link structures
✅ Great for auditing your content against competitors or your older versions.
Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Keyword Tools
The right keyword research tools can significantly impact your SEO success. While premium tools offer advanced features, free tools are a great starting point for:
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Small businesses
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Startups
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Freelancers
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Content creators
Tip: Use a combination of tools to cover different aspects — volume, intent, semantic value, and competition.
Remember: In today’s algorithm-driven environment, keyword stuffing is out — smart, intent-driven, and valuable content is in.
If you’re just getting started, try mixing tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, and Google Trends. As your needs grow, consider upgrading to SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Moz Pro.
But even the best keyword strategy won’t perform well without a technically sound and SEO-friendly website. Make sure your development team builds with performance, structure, and scalability in mind.
