In the ever-evolving landscape of SEO, mining the right keywords is paramount to success. But keyword research doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It would help if you delved into your competitor’s strategies to dominate search engine results pages (SERPs) truly. This is where competitor keyword research tools come into play.
By analyzing your competitor’s keyword choices, you can glean valuable insights into their content strategy, target audience, and overall SEO approach. This empowers you to identify potential blind spots, discover high-performing keywords you might have missed, and craft a more effective SEO strategy.
However, premium competitor keyword research tools often come with hefty price tags. Fear not, SEO warriors! This blog unveils 10 Best free keyword research tools that will equip you to conduct in-depth competitor analysis and propel your website to the top of SERPs.
10 Best Free Keyword Research Tools for Beginners
| Tool | Free/Paid | Key Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moz | Free/Paid | Keyword suggestions, SERP analysis, Difficulty score, Organic CTR data | Comprehensive keyword analysis |
| SEMrush | Free/Paid | Organic search data, Backlink analysis, Competitor insights | Extensive competitor analysis |
| Ahrefs | Free/Paid | Site Explorer, Keyword Explorer, Rank tracking, Backlink analysis | Advanced competitor analysis |
| Google Keyword Planner | Free | Search volume, Competition level, CPC data | Beginners, basic keyword research |
| Keywords Everywhere | Free | Search volume, Competition data, CPC info, Related keywords, Trending keywords | Quick keyword insights directly in search results |
| KeywordTool.io | Free/Paid | Keyword suggestions from multiple platforms, Question-based keyword ideas | Long-tail keyword discovery |
| ChatGPT | Free | AI-generated keyword suggestions, Content creation, Optimization ideas | Creative keyword insights |
| Google Trends | Free | Popularity over time, Geographical data, Related queries, Trending topics | Trend analysis and seasonal keyword insights |
| Ubersuggest | Free/Paid | Keyword suggestions, Search volume, SEO difficulty, CPC data, Competitor analysis | Comprehensive SEO insights |
| KWFinder | Free/Paid | Keyword difficulty score, Search volume, Trend data, SERP analysis | Long-tail keyword research |
While free tools might offer a different level of depth than paid options, they still pack a powerful punch. Here are our top picks to help you dominate competitor keyword research:
1. Moz Keyword Explorer (Free Limited Plan):
Moz, a titan in the SEO realm, offers a free limited plan within its Keyword Explorer tool. This plan allows you to:
- Discover keyword ideas: Enter a seed keyword and unearth a decent list of related terms.
- Analyze search volume and difficulty: Gauge the popularity and competitiveness of each keyword.
- Identify organic click-through rate (CTR): Estimate the likelihood of users clicking on a search result for that keyword.
While the free plan limits searches per month, it’s a solid option for gaining a basic understanding of your competitor’s keyword landscape.
2. SEMrush Free SEO Tools:
SEMrush, another SEO powerhouse, provides a free suite of tools that can be instrumental in competitor analysis. While competitor keyword research isn’t directly available in the free plan, you can leverage features like:
- Organic Research: Analyze your competitor’s top organic keywords and their estimated traffic.
- Domain Overview: Gain insights into your competitor’s website traffic sources and their most linked-to pages.
- Position Tracking: Monitor your and your competitor’s rankings for specific keywords over time.
By combining this data, you can visualize your competitor’s keyword strategy and identify opportunities to outrank them.
3. Ahrefs Free SEO Tools:
Ahrefs, renowned for its backlink analysis capabilities, offers a treasure trove of free SEO tools. While the free plan doesn’t provide dedicated competitor keyword research, you can utilize features like:
- Backlink Checker: Analyze your competitor’s backlinks to discover the keywords they’re ranking for.
- Keyword Difficulty Checker: Assess the competitiveness of keywords you unearth through other methods.
- Top Pages: Identify your competitor’s most popular pages and the potential keywords driving that traffic.
By strategically using these tools, you can assemble your competitor’s keyword puzzle and formulate a winning SEO strategy.
4. Google Keyword Planner (Free for PPC Users):
Even though Google Keyword Planner is primarily designed for pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns, it can still be a valuable asset for free keyword research tool. Here’s what you can achieve:
- Discover new keyword ideas: Enter a seed keyword and generate a list of related terms with an estimated search volume.
- Refine your keyword targeting: Filter keyword suggestions based on search volume and competition level.
- Gain insights into cost-per-click (CPC): While not directly applicable to free keyword research tool, CPC data can indicate a keyword’s potential value.
Important Note: To access full functionality, you must have a Google Ads account, even if you don’t plan on running any PPC campaigns.
5. Keywords Everywhere (Free Chrome Extension):
This free Chrome extension seamlessly integrates with search engines and websites, offering valuable keyword insights. Here’s what it provides:
- Search volume and competition data: You can view estimated search volume and competition level directly on search engine results pages (SERPs) and other websites.
- Related keyword suggestions: Explore many related keyword ideas while browsing the web.
- Long-tail keyword generation: Uncover valuable keywords with lower competition for a more targeted approach.
Keywords Everywhere is a fantastic free tool for staying informed about keyword trends and competitor strategies while browsing the web.
6. Keywordtool.io (Free Limited Plan)
KeywordTool.io offers a free version that is incredibly useful for generating keyword ideas from Google, YouTube, Bing, Amazon, and more. It’s a valuable competitor keyword research tool for discovering long-tail keywords your competitors might be targeting.
- Filter by search intent: Refine your keyword research by filtering suggestions based on informational, commercial, transactional, or navigational intent.
- Discover long-tail keywords: Generate a wealth of long-tail keyword ideas with lower competition for targeted SEO strategies.
The free plan has limitations on monthly searches, but it’s a handy tool for getting started with competitor keyword research.
7. ChatGPT (Limited Free Trial):
While not a traditional keyword research tool, ChatGPT, a large language model from OpenAI, can be surprisingly helpful in competitor analysis. Here’s how:
- Analyze competitor content: Provide ChatGPT with a competitor’s website URL and ask it to identify the main keywords and topics covered.
- Generate content ideas: Based on your competitor’s keyword strategy, instruct ChatGPT to suggest related content ideas to fill any gaps in your strategy.
- Uncover user intent: Ask ChatGPT to analyze competitor content and provide insights into the user intent behind specific keywords.
Important Note: ChatGPT currently operates on a limited free trial basis.
8. Google Trends (Free):
Google Trends is a free tool from Google that provides insights into search trends over time. While not a dedicated competitor keyword research tool, it can be valuable for:
- Identifying seasonal trends: Discover keywords with fluctuating search volume throughout the year to tailor your content strategy accordingly.
- Exploring geographical variations: Analyze search trends in specific regions to target your competitor’s local SEO efforts.
- Uncovering rising keywords: Identify keywords with increasing search volume to capitalize on emerging trends before your competitors.
Google Trends helps you stay ahead of the curve by revealing the ever-evolving search landscape and potential keyword opportunities.
9. Ubersuggest (Free Limited Plan):
Ubersuggest is a freemium keyword research tool offering a valuable set of features in its free plan:
- Keyword suggestions: Enter a seed keyword and generate a comprehensive list of related terms.
- Search volume and competition data: Gauge the popularity and competitiveness of each keyword suggestion.
- Content ideas: Discover content ideas based on your competitor’s top-ranking pages.
Ubersuggest provides a solid foundation for free competitor keyword research, allowing you to identify valuable keywords and formulate a data-driven content strategy.
10. KWFinder (Free Limited Plan):
KWFinder offers a free limited plan that empowers you to:
- Generate long-tail keywords: Uncover a wealth of long-tail keyword suggestions with lower competition for targeted SEO efforts.
- Analyze search difficulty: Assess the competitiveness of keywords to determine the resources needed to rank for them.
- Identify organic traffic potential: Estimate the potential organic traffic you could generate by targeting specific keywords.
The free plan has limitations on monthly searches, but it’s a great option to delve deeper into long-tail keywords and competitor analysis.
Conclusion: Unlocking Your SEO Potential
These free keyword research tools provide a powerful arsenal for conducting competitor analysis tools and crafting a winning SEO strategy. Leverage these tools to discover valuable keywords your competitors might be missing, identify content gaps, and stay ahead of the curve in the ever-changing SEO landscape. Remember, consistency is key! Regularly utilize these tools to refine your keyword strategy and dominate SERPs.
Bonus Tip: While free tools offer a solid foundation, consider investing in a premium best keyword analysis tool or competitor keyword research tool as your SEO needs evolve. These tools provide more in-depth data and functionalities, propelling your SEO efforts to greater heights.
