Keyword research tools
Find what people search for. 6 tools we track, checked .
Short answer page: What's the best keyword research tool?
Ranked by fit for solo businesses: tools we profile in depth first, then those used in our research notes, then the rest. Affiliate status never changes the order.
- 1
Semrush
Pick this if you want full-scale SEO research.
SEO and marketing suite: keywords, backlinks, audits and rank tracking.
Paid plans only · Free plan: Trial only · Difficulty 3/5
- 2
Ahrefs
Pick this if you want backlink and competitor research.
SEO toolset known for its backlink index and keyword data.
Paid plans only · Free plan: No · Difficulty 3/5
- 3
Ubersuggest
Pick this if you want cheap keyword ideas.
Budget keyword and SEO tool with a limited free tier.
Free plan + paid plans · Free plan: Yes
- 4
Google Keyword Planner
Pick this if you want free search volume estimates.
Free keyword tool inside Google Ads with search volume ranges.
Free · Free plan: Yes
- 5
AnswerThePublic
Pick this if you want finding question-style topics.
Shows the questions people search around a topic.
Free plan + paid plans · Free plan: Yes
- 6
Keywords Everywhere
Pick this if you want keyword data while you browse.
Browser extension that shows keyword data on search results.
Paid plans only · Free plan: No
Side-by-side
| Tool | Pricing model | Free plan | Starting price | Difficulty | Output rights | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semrush | Paid plans only | Trial only | See official site | 3/5 | – | Full-scale SEO research |
| Ahrefs | Paid plans only | No | See official site | 3/5 | – | Backlink and competitor research |
| Ubersuggest | Free plan + paid plans | Yes | See official site | – | – | Cheap keyword ideas |
| Google Keyword Planner | Free | Yes | Free | – | – | Free search volume estimates |
| AnswerThePublic | Free plan + paid plans | Yes | See official site | – | – | Finding question-style topics |
| Keywords Everywhere | Paid plans only | No | See official site | – | – | Keyword data while you browse |
"Starting price" is shown only for tools we profile in depth, where we read the official pricing page on . For the others, check the official site.