Keywords are the building blocks of SEO. By targeting the right keywords, you can improve your website’s ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs) and reach more potential customers.
But with so many different keyword research tools available, it can be tough to know which one is right for you.
In this guide, we’ll review 7 of the best keyword research tools for any budget and business needs.
We’ll also cover the importance of keyword research and how to use these tools to find the right keywords for your website.
Why is keyword research important?
Keyword research is important because it helps you to:
- Understand what people are searching for online
- Identify relevant keywords to target with your content
- Measure the success of your SEO efforts
By using keyword research tools, you can learn more about the search intent of your target audience and find keywords that are likely to drive traffic to your website.
Top 7 Keyword Research Tools
Semrush
Semrush is a powerful all-in-one SEO and digital marketing platform that offers a wide range of features, including keyword research, competitive analysis, site audit, rank tracking, backlink analysis, and more.
It is one of the most popular keyword research tools on the market, and it is used by businesses of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises.
Semrush’s keyword research tool allows you to find relevant keywords, their search volume, keyword difficulty, and other important metrics.
You can also use it to track your keyword rankings over time and see how your website is performing compared to your competitors.
Semrush also offers a number of other useful features, such as:
- Competitive analysis: Semrush can help you to identify your competitors and analyze their SEO strategies. This information can be used to improve your own SEO strategy and gain a competitive advantage.
- Site audit: Semrush can scan your website for errors and issues that are impacting your SEO performance.
- Rank tracking: Semrush can track your keyword rankings over time and provide insights into how your website is performing in search results.
- Backlink analysis: Semrush can help you to identify your backlinks and analyze their quality. This information can be used to build more high-quality backlinks and improve your website’s authority.
Pricing:
Pro: $129.95 per month
Guru: $249.95 per month
Business: $499.95 per month
Ahrefs Keywords Explorer
Ahrefs Keywords Explorer is a keyword research tool that helps you find the right keywords to target for your website.
It has a large database of over 8 billion keywords, and it provides a variety of metrics to help you assess the keywords, such as search volume, keyword difficulty, and competition.
Ahrefs Keywords Explorer is a popular tool for SEO professionals, and it is known for its accurate data and comprehensive features. It is also relatively easy to use, even for beginners.
Key features of Ahrefs Keywords Explorer:
- Keyword suggestions: Ahrefs Keywords Explorer can generate a large list of keyword suggestions based on a seed keyword. You can also filter the suggestions by search volume, keyword difficulty, and other metrics.
- Keyword metrics: Ahrefs Keywords Explorer provides a variety of metrics for each keyword, such as search volume, keyword difficulty, competition, click-through rate (CTR), and cost per click (CPC).
This information can help you assess the keywords and choose the ones that are most relevant to your business and that you have a good chance of ranking for. - Keyword groups: Ahrefs Keywords Explorer allows you to group keywords together into campaigns. This can help you organize your keyword research and track your progress over time.
- Keyword rank tracking: Ahrefs Keywords Explorer allows you to track your keyword rankings over time. This information can help you see how your SEO efforts are paying off and identify areas where you can improve.
Ahrefs Keywords Explorer is a paid tool, but it offers a Free trial.
Pricing:
Lite: $99 per month
Standard: $179 per month
Advanced: $399 per month
Enterprise: $999 per month
Google Keyword Planner
Google Keyword Planner is a free keyword research tool that helps you discover new keywords, get search volume forecasts, and see competition data.
It’s a great tool for businesses of all sizes, as it’s easy to use and provides valuable insights.
To use Google Keyword Planner, you’ll need a Google Ads account. Once you’re logged in, you can start by entering a seed keyword or phrase.
The tool will then generate a list of related keywords, along with metrics such as search volume, competition, and suggested bid.
You can also use Google Keyword Planner to get forecasts for your keywords. This can help you to estimate how much traffic you can expect to receive if you rank for those keywords.
Pricing:
Google Keyword Planner is Free to use.
Also read: SEO tools for beginners (2023)
Serpstat
Serpstat is a comprehensive SEO platform that offers a wide range of tools for keyword research, competitive analysis, rank tracking, and backlink analysis. It is a good option for businesses of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises.
Its keyword research tools allow you to find relevant keywords for your website, identify long-tail keywords, and track your keyword rankings over time.
You can also use Serpstat to analyze your competitors’ keyword strategies and identify opportunities to improve your own.
It compare your website to your competitors in terms of keyword rankings, organic traffic, and backlink profiles. And identify your competitors’ content gaps and create content that targets those gaps.
If you want to track your keyword rankings over time and see how your website is performing in search results. You can also use Serpstat to receive alerts when your keyword rankings change.
Pricing:
Individual: $69 per month
Team: $119 per month
Agency: $479 per month
KeywordTool.io
KeywordTool.io is a keyword research tool that provides a free version with limited features and a paid version with more advanced features.
The free version allows you to generate keyword suggestions, but does not provide data on search volume, keyword difficulty, or competition.
The paid version provides all of this data, as well as the ability to export your results and track your keyword rankings over time.
KeywordTool.io is a popular keyword research tool because it is easy to use and provides a wide range of features.
It is also one of the more affordable keyword research tools available.
Features:
- Generate keyword suggestions
- Get search volume data
- Get keyword difficulty scores
- Get competition data
- Export your results
- Track your keyword rankings
Pricing:
Free version: Limited features
Paid version: Starts at $89 per month
Ubersuggest
Ubersuggest is a free keyword research tool created by SEO expert Neil Patel.
It allows you to generate keyword ideas, analyze keyword search volume and competition, and get insights into your competitors’ SEO strategies.
One of the best things about Ubersuggest is that it’s very easy to use. Simply enter a seed keyword and Ubersuggest will generate a list of related keywords, along with metrics such as search volume, keyword difficulty, and competition. You can also use Ubersuggest to analyze keyword trends and seasonality.
Another great feature of Ubersuggest is its ability to generate content ideas. Simply enter a keyword and Ubersuggest will provide you with a list of related topics and questions that you can write about.
This can be a great way to come up with new blog post ideas or to identify topics that your target audience is interested in.
AnswerThePublic is another sub tool of Ubersuggest that helps you to find questions that people are asking about your target keywords. It can be a great way to identify new content ideas and to create content that is more likely to rank well in search results.
To use AnswerThePublic, simply enter a keyword and the tool will generate a list of related questions. You can also filter the results by question type (e.g., who, what, where, when, why, how) and by search volume.
Pricing:
Individual: $12 per month
Business: $20 per month
Enterprise: $40 per month
LongTailPro
LongTailPro is a keyword research tool designed for beginners and experienced users alike.
It is known for its ease of use and its ability to generate long-tail keywords, which are more specific and less competitive than short-tail keywords.
This means that they are easier to rank for and can be more effective in driving targeted traffic to your website.
One of the things that makes LongTailPro so popular is its keyword competitiveness score.
This score tells you how difficult it will be to rank for a particular keyword.
It is calculated based on a number of factors, including the number of websites that are targeting the keyword, the quality of those websites, and the number of backlinks that those websites have.
Pricing:
Starter: $59.99 per month
Pro: $89.99 per month
Agency: $299.99 per month
Conclusion
Keyword research is an essential part of any SEO strategy. By using keyword research tools, you can identify the keywords that are most relevant to your business and that you have a good chance of ranking for.
This information can then be used to create content and optimize your website to improve your search engine ranking and attract more visitors.
The 7 keyword research tools reviewed in this guide are some of the best available on the market. They offer a variety of features and pricing options, so you can choose the tool that is right for your needs and budget.
If you are new to keyword research, I recommend starting with a free tool like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest, or If you want to learn proper SEO fundamentals from beginning then feel free to contact us to join SEO Program.