Why Free Keyword Research Tools Matter
In the digital world, visibility is everything. Whether you’re a blogger, small business owner, content marketer, or eCommerce entrepreneur, attracting the right audience begins with one essential skill: keyword research. However, not everyone can afford expensive SEO software. Thankfully, there are powerful free tools that provide in-depth keyword insights—without asking for a single penny. These tools can help you:
Find low-competition keywords
Understand what your audience is searching for
Generate blog and content ideas
Plan SEO-friendly campaigns
Outrank your competitors organically
Let’s dive deep into the 8 best free keyword research tools that require no paid plan and still deliver top-tier results.
1. Google Keyword Planner: Trusted, Reliable & Comprehensive
Why Use It?
Google Keyword Planner is one of the most trusted free tools for keyword research, especially if you’re looking for accurate search volume data straight from the source—Google itself. Although it’s mainly designed for Google Ads users, it’s equally powerful for SEO professionals looking for organic keyword opportunities.
Key Features Free Keyword Research Tools:
Accurate search volume data
Competitiveness of keywords (low/medium/high)
Keyword suggestions based on your niche
Ability to group keywords by topic
Integration with Google Ads (optional)
Pro Tip For Free Keyword Research Tools:
Use filters to sort by competition or average monthly searches to find hidden keyword gems.
2. Ubersuggest: Versatile, Beginner-Friendly & Insightful
Created by digital marketing expert Neil Patel, Ubersuggest has grown into one of the most user-friendly and visually pleasing keyword research tools for beginners and pros alike.
Key Features Free Keyword Research Tools:
Keyword suggestions and volume
SEO difficulty and paid competition
SERP overview with the top-ranking pages
Backlink data for URLs
Content ideas based on your keyword
Why It Stands Out:
Ubersuggest gives a lot of SEO data for free. While there’s a paid version, the free one still offers a generous number of daily searches with all essential insights.
3. AnswerThePublic: Discover What People Are Asking
If your goal is to create content that directly answers what people are searching for, AnswerThePublic is your best friend. It listens to autocomplete data from search engines and organizes it visually.
Key Features Free Keyword Research Tools:
Question-based keyword research
Follows the W+H format.
Data visualization in wheel or list format
Great for identifying long-tail keywords and blog topics
Why It’s Ideal:
Perfect for bloggers and content marketers who want to align content with audience intent. You can find hidden questions and long-tail queries people are actually typing into Google.
4. Keyword Tool: Long-Tail Goldmine
Keyword Tool (keywordtool.io) is a powerful freemium tool that gives access to hundreds of keyword suggestions from Google Autocomplete. Even in its free version, you can use it across different platforms.
Key Features Free Keyword Research Tools:
Generates up to 750+ keyword suggestions per term
Works with Google, YouTube, Bing, Amazon, eBay, and the App Store.
Great for long-tail keyword discovery
No registration needed
Why Use It:
It’s a smart way to uncover keyword variations and platform-specific trends. Perfect for eCommerce sellers and YouTubers too.
5. Moz Keyword Explorer: Smart Metrics, Simplified SEO
Moz is known for its domain authority and SEO expertise. The Moz Keyword Explorer gives valuable keyword suggestions and SEO metrics like difficulty and click-through rates—even in the free version.
Key Features Free Keyword Research Tools:
Keyword difficulty score
Organic CTR estimate
SERP analysis
Keyword suggestions with relevancy scores
Prioritization metric for easy decision-making
Free Limitations In Free Keyword Research Tools:
You can perform 10 free queries per month without an account, or more if you sign up. For occasional users, this is still a great tool.
6. WordStream Free Keyword Tool: Simple and Efficient
WordStream provides a simplified yet efficient keyword tool, ideal for PPC and SEO newcomers to check search volume, cost-per-click, and competition.
Key Features Free Keyword Research Tools:
Keyword suggestions based on your niche or website
Estimated CPC (Cost-Per-Click)
Competitive scores for each keyword
Export keyword lists in one click
Use Case in Free Keyword Research Tools:
It’s especially handy if you’re launching Google Ads campaigns or want quick keyword snapshots without diving deep into analytics.
7. Soovle: Autocomplete Aggregator Across Platforms
Soovle stands out by collecting live autocomplete keyword suggestions from various search engines. Platforms Supported:
Bing
Yahoo
Amazon
YouTube
Wikipedia
Answers.com
What Makes It Great:
You get real-time keyword ideas from multiple search engines in one place, making it ideal for cross-platform keyword planning.
Ideal For:
eCommerce sellers, content creators, YouTubers, and researchers looking for diverse keyword inspiration.
8. Google Trends: Visualize Keyword Popularity Over Time
Google Trends doesn’t offer keyword volume but reveals the interest over time and regional interest in a topic. It’s perfect for spotting trends before they go mainstream.
Key Features Free Keyword Research Tools:
Visual representation of keyword popularity
Compare up to 5 keywords
Regional keyword interest
Seasonal trends and patterns
Related queries and breakout keywords
Use Cases In Free Keyword Research Tools:
Plan content calendars around rising trends
Discover geographic hotspots for local SEO
Avoid targeting declining search terms
How to Use These Free Keyword Research Tools Together: A Practical Strategy
If you’re serious about driving organic traffic, combine the strengths of these tools. Here’s how:
Start with Google Trends to find seasonal trends or rising topics.
Use AnswerThePublic to extract question-based keywords around that topic.
Plug those ideas into Ubersuggest or Moz to analyze difficulty and SERP data.
Use Keyword Tool or Soovle for long-tail variations across platforms.
Refine and prioritize your final list using Google Keyword Planner and WordStream.
Tips for Choosing the Right Keyword Tool
Recommended Free Keyword Research Tools by Goal:
Blog Post Planning: AnswerThePublic, Google Trends
PPC Research: Google Keyword Planner, WordStream
SEO Competitor Analysis: Moz, Ubersuggest
YouTube or Amazon Keywords: Soovle, Keyword Tool
Content Calendar: Google Trends, Ubersuggest
Local SEO: Google Keyword Planner, Google Trends
Final Thoughts: Unlock the Power of Free SEO Tools
Free doesn’t mean ineffective.
In fact, the 8 keyword research tools we explored offer enough functionality to help any beginner, solopreneur, or small business develop a highly effective SEO strategy. By learning how to use these tools wisely, you can:
Discover untapped content opportunities
Rank higher on Google and other platforms
Understand your audience’s needs better
Create content that drives real, measurable results
You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on expensive SEO suites when these free gems are already at your fingertips.
Next Steps: Build Your SEO Foundation
Choose 2–3 tools from this list and get comfortable using them.
Create a keyword bank in Google Sheets with metrics like search volume and difficulty.
Plan your next 5 blog posts or product pages based on that keyword bank.
Monitor results via Google Search Console and refine your approach monthly.
Keep Evolving: SEO Is a Marathon, Not a Sprint
One important thing to remember is that keyword research isn’t a one-time task—it’s an ongoing process. Search behavior changes, new trends emerge, competitors shift strategies, and Google updates its algorithms regularly. Strategies that were effective six months ago might no longer be successful today.”That’s why staying updated, testing new tools, and analyzing your results frequently is key to long-term success.
Use these free tools not just for generating keywords, but also for learning. With every search, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of search intent, user behavior, and how to tailor your content accordingly.
Bonus Tip For Free Keyword Research Tools : Don’t Chase Keywords—Create Value
While keyword research is crucial for visibility, never let it override the core goal of your content: to help, educate, solve, or entertain. Great content answers real questions and delivers genuine value. Keywords only get users to your page—value is what keeps them there.
So, after finding your keywords, always ask:
Does my content actually solve a problem?
Is it better than what’s already ranking?
Is it engaging and worth sharing?
If the answer is yes, you’re already ahead of many others.
Free Tools, Real Results: It’s Time to Take Action
You now have access to a complete suite of 100% free keyword research tools that can take your blog, brand, or business to the next level. What matters most now is execution.
Here’s what you can do today:
Bookmark this blog for reference.
Choose one tool and experiment with your current niche.
Pick a few low-competition keywords and create content around them.
Track how that content performs in search over the next 4–6 weeks.
Repeat and scale what works.
Success with SEO isn’t about having the best tools—it’s about using the tools you have, consistently and creatively.
Want to Learn More?
Follow Bold Bear Media to level up your digital marketing journey.We regularly share tips on:
SEO and keyword research
Content strategy
Blogging tips
Smart earning techniques
Bold living hacks for digital entrepreneurs
Whether you’re a freelancer, a creator, or a small business owner, you’re not alone.Our mission is to fuel your growth through smart strategies, reliable support, and meaningful results. Now it’s your turn—pick a tool, find a keyword, and create something impactful. Everything you need for success is at your fingertips—absolutely free.