Independently tested ranking
Best Keyword Research Tools in 2026
We compared the 10 best keyword research tools on keyword data, difficulty scores, competitor research, ease of use and price, from free tools to full SEO suites.
- Tools compared
- 10
- With a free plan
- 5 of 10
- Median entry price
- $39/mo
- Average rating
- 4.4
On this page
Which keyword research tool is best?
The best keyword research tools in 2026 are Semrush for deep keyword research, Ahrefs for competitor and content research, SE Ranking for the best value suite, Mangools (KWFinder) for beginners finding long-tail keywords, and Google Keyword Planner as the best free tool for CPC and ads planning. Paid plans start at $29 a month for Ahrefs Starter and Ubersuggest, while Semrush's SEO plan costs $117.33 a month billed annually.
Our top picks
Best overall
Semrush
The Keyword Magic Tool, intent labels and Keyword Gap give the most complete keyword research workflow in one plan.
Paid plans from $117.33/mo annual
See why we picked itBest value
SE Ranking
Keyword research, keyword clustering and 2,000 daily-tracked keywords for $103.20 a month billed annually.
Paid plans from $103.20/mo annual
See why we picked itBest for beginners
Mangools (KWFinder)
KWFinder shows volume, difficulty and the top results in one view, so you can spot easy long-tail keywords fast.
Paid plans from $37.70/mo annual
See why we picked itKey takeaways
- Semrush and Ahrefs have the deepest keyword and competitor data, but serious use costs $117 to $129 a month or more.
- SE Ranking and Serpstat cover most keyword research jobs, including keyword clustering, for less than the two leaders.
- Beginners get the most from Mangools (KWFinder), which shows volume, difficulty and the top results for a keyword in one view.
- Google Keyword Planner is free, but its competition score measures ad competition, not how hard a keyword is to rank for organically.
- Search volumes and difficulty scores are estimates that differ between tools. Pick one tool and compare keywords within it, rather than mixing numbers from several.
What is a keyword research tool?
A keyword research tool is software that finds the words and phrases people type into search engines, and the best keyword research tools show how often each one is searched, how hard it is to rank for, and who ranks for it today. They also show search intent, CPC and the keywords your competitors already rank for.
In practice, a keyword research tool needs to do three jobs. It should expand one seed keyword into a long list of ideas, including long-tail keywords. It should help you judge each keyword with a difficulty score and a look at the current results. And it should help you organize the list, with keyword clustering, filters and exports, so it turns into a content or PPC plan.
Best keyword research tools compared
| # | Tool | Best for | Free plan | Paid plans from | Our rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Semrush |
Deep keyword research | Yes (10 reports/day) | $117.33/mo annual | ★4.6 |
| 2 |  Ahrefs |
Competitor keyword research | Yes (own verified sites) | $29/mo (Starter) | ★4.7 |
| 3 | SE Ranking |
Value keyword research suite | No (14-day trial) | $103.20/mo annual | ★4.4 |
| 4 | Mangools (KWFinder) |
Beginners and long-tail keywords | Free account (limited) | $37.70/mo annual | ★4.5 |
| 5 |  Moz Pro |
Keyword prioritization | No (free tools and MozBar only) | $39/mo annual | ★4.3 |
| 6 |  Serpstat |
Budget suite with clustering | No (7-day trial) | $50/mo annual | ★4.3 |
| 7 | Google Keyword Planner | Free CPC and ads planning | Yes (Google Ads account) | Free | Not yet reviewed |
| 8 |  Keywords Everywhere |
Keyword data while browsing | Yes (limited) | Credit-based plans | ★4.6 |
| 9 |  SpyFu |
Competitor SEO and PPC keywords | Limited free searches | Paid plans from Basic | ★4.3 |
| 10 |  Ubersuggest |
Budget and lifetime plans | Limited free account | $29/mo | ★4.0 |
Ratings are MakeSuccessOnline's. Prices are the cheapest paid plan, billed monthly unless marked annual, checked November 2026.
The 10 best keyword research tools in 2026
Every tool below can find keyword ideas. They differ in how much data they have, how they help you choose between keywords, and what they cost. Each one leads a specific job.
#1Best overall keyword research tool
Semrush
An all-in-one toolkit for finding, grouping and prioritizing keywords, with competitor keyword data built in.
- Paid plans from
- $117.33/mo annual
- Free plan
- Yes (10 reports/day)
- Best for
- Freelancers, small businesses, in-house marketing teams and agencies
- Works on
- Web
Semrush is the most complete keyword research tool on this list. Its Keyword Magic Tool turns one seed keyword into a long list of related terms with search volume, keyword difficulty and search intent, grouped by topic. That makes it the fastest way to plan a whole site section or content cluster, not just find one keyword to write about.
Its other strength is competitor keyword research. Organic Research shows the keywords any domain ranks for, and Keyword Gap lists the terms your rivals rank for that you don't. Rank tracking, site audits and backlink data sit in the same plan. The trade-off is price: the SEO plan costs $117.33 a month billed annually, and the free plan allows only 10 reports a day.
Key features
- Keyword Magic ToolExpands a seed keyword into a large list of related terms with volume, difficulty and intent, grouped by topic. You can build a keyword plan for a new site or section in one session.
- Organic Research and Domain OverviewShows the keywords any domain ranks for, its top pages and estimated traffic, so you can see which topics already bring competitors visitors before you write.
- Keyword GapCompares your domain with several competitors and lists the keywords they rank for and you don't. It is one of the quickest ways to find missing content.
- Position TrackingTracks daily rankings for the keywords you chose, from 500 on the SEO plan, so you can see whether your keyword research is paying off.
- Advertising Research (Advertising toolkit)Shows the keywords and search ads competitors run. It is part of the separate Advertising toolkit, which starts at $99/mo, and suits teams planning paid search too.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1 demo project and 10 reports per day across the main tools |
| SEO | $117.33/mo annual ($139 monthly) | 5 websites, 500 keywords tracked daily, Position Tracking, Site Audit and AI search tracking |
| Starter | $165.17/mo annual ($199 monthly) | Everything in SEO plus 50 AI prompts tracked daily, AI-ready Site Audit and MCP access |
| Pro+ | $248.17/mo annual ($299 monthly) | 15 websites, 1,500 keywords tracked daily, historical data, content optimization and keyword cannibalization analysis |
| Advanced | Custom | 40+ websites, 5,000+ tracked keywords, SEO share of voice and API data integration |
List prices as of November 2026; plans change often, so check the vendor's pricing page before you buy. 7-day free trial. Extra users from $45/mo each; the Local and Advertising toolkits cost extra.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Keyword Magic Tool shows volume, difficulty and intent in one list
- Strong competitor keyword and Keyword Gap reports
- Keyword research, rank tracking, audits and backlinks in one tool
- Free plan for occasional lookups
Cons
- Expensive, and extra users and toolkits cost more
- Plan names are confusing: Starter costs more than SEO
- So many tools that beginners can feel lost
Is it right for you?
Choose Semrush ifYou do keyword research every week, plan content at the cluster level, and want competitor keyword data and rank tracking in the same tool.
Look elsewhere ifYou only need a handful of keyword ideas a month, where Mangools, Ubersuggest or Google Keyword Planner cost far less.
#2Best for competitor and content-led keyword research
Ahrefs
Keywords Explorer and Site Explorer make it easy to see what competitors rank for and which keywords are worth chasing.
- Paid plans from
- $29/mo (Starter)
- Free plan
- Yes (own verified sites)
- Best for
- SEO specialists, content marketers, in-house teams and agencies
- Works on
- Web, browser extension (SEO Toolbar)
Ahrefs is the main alternative to Semrush for serious keyword research. Keywords Explorer gives search volume, keyword difficulty, related terms and a SERP overview for each keyword across many countries, so you can judge in one screen whether a term is worth targeting and who you would have to beat.
Where Ahrefs shines is reverse-engineering competitors. Site Explorer shows the organic keywords and top pages of any domain, and Content Explorer, on Standard and above, finds published pages that earned traffic on a topic. The $29 Starter plan includes Keywords Explorer, but with 200 credits a month, 250 rows per report and no exports, most keyword researchers will want Lite at $129.
Key features
- Keywords ExplorerShows volume, keyword difficulty, related terms and a SERP overview for each keyword across many countries, which covers the core of most keyword research.
- Site ExplorerLists the organic keywords and top pages of any domain. Enter a competitor and you get a ready-made list of keywords that already work in your niche.
- Content ExplorerSearches a large index of published pages by topic to find content that earned links and traffic. Useful for picking topics, on Standard ($249/mo) and above.
- GSC InsightsPulls your Google Search Console data into Ahrefs, so you can spot keywords you already get impressions for and could rank higher on.
- Rank TrackerTracks your positions against competitors, from 50 keywords on Starter to 750 on Lite and 5,000 on Advanced.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Ahrefs Free | $0 | Ahrefs data and Site Audit for sites you own and verify |
| Starter | $29/mo | Site Explorer, Keywords Explorer, Site Audit and Rank Tracker (50 keywords); 200 credits/mo, 250 rows per report, no exports |
| Lite | $129/mo | 5 projects, 750 tracked keywords, 6 months of history, 1,000 credits per user, API and MCP |
| Standard | $249/mo | 20 projects, 2,000 tracked keywords, 2 years of history, unlimited credits, Content Explorer and Batch Analysis |
| Advanced | $449/mo | 50 projects, 5,000 tracked keywords, 5 years of history and Looker Studio integration |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom limits, unlimited history and uncapped API access |
List prices as of November 2026; plans change often, so check the vendor's pricing page before you buy. Monthly prices shown; annual billing saves up to 17%. Extra users cost $40 to $80/mo each depending on the plan.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Clear keyword difficulty and SERP overview for each term
- Excellent competitor keyword and top pages reports
- Free tier for sites you own
- Clear limits listed for each plan
Cons
- Starter is very limited: 250 rows per report and no exports
- Extra users cost $40 to $80/mo each
- Content Explorer needs the $249 Standard plan
Is it right for you?
Choose Ahrefs ifYou build content plans by studying what competitors rank for and want clear difficulty and SERP data for each keyword.
Look elsewhere ifYou need many users on a small budget, or you only want occasional keyword ideas.
#3Best value all-in-one for keyword research
SE Ranking
Keyword research, keyword clustering and competitor data at a lower price than Semrush or Ahrefs.
- Paid plans from
- $103.20/mo annual
- Free plan
- No (14-day trial)
- Best for
- Agencies, freelancers, small businesses and in-house SEO teams
- Works on
- Web, iOS, Android (SE Ranking Pro app)
SE Ranking gives you most of what you would use Semrush or Ahrefs for in keyword research, for much less money. Its Keyword Suggestion Tool shows search volume, keyword difficulty and related keywords across 188 country databases, and Competitive Research shows the organic and paid keywords any domain gets traffic from.
It also helps you turn a keyword list into a site plan. Keyword Grouper clusters keywords by SERP similarity, so you know which terms one page can target. The Core plan, at $103.20 a month billed annually, includes 2,000 keywords tracked daily, which is generous next to its rivals. The databases are smaller than the largest suites, which matters most for very niche or low-volume topics.
Key features
- Keyword Suggestion ToolShows volumes, difficulty and related keywords across 188 country databases, enough for most local and international keyword research.
- Competitive ResearchShows the organic and paid keywords and traffic of any domain, so you can build a keyword list from what already works for competitors.
- Keyword GrouperClusters keyword lists by SERP similarity, so you can plan one page per topic and avoid two pages competing for the same search.
- Rank TrackerChecks rankings daily and tracks competitors; Core includes 2,000 daily-tracked keywords, so you can follow every keyword you research.
- Content Marketing ToolBriefs, an optimization editor and an AI writer that turn chosen keywords into content; Core includes 25 articles a month.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Core | $103.20/mo annual ($129 monthly) | 1 seat, 10 projects, 2,000 keywords tracked daily, 6 months of history, 25 content articles |
| Growth | $223.20/mo annual ($279 monthly) | 3 seats, 30 projects, 5,000 keywords tracked daily, all-time history, 50 content articles |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom limits and full API |
| Agency Pack (add-on) | +$69/mo (annual only) | White label, 30 client seats, AI summaries and Lead Generator |
List prices as of November 2026; plans change often, so check the vendor's pricing page before you buy. 14-day free trial, no credit card required. Annual billing saves 20%.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Much cheaper than Semrush or Ahrefs for similar coverage
- Keyword Grouper clusters keywords by SERP
- 2,000 daily-tracked keywords on the cheapest plan
- 14-day trial with no card
Cons
- Smaller keyword and backlink databases than the largest suites
- Core has only 1 user seat and 6 months of history
- No free plan
Is it right for you?
Choose SE Ranking ifYou want solid keyword research, clustering and daily rank tracking without paying Semrush or Ahrefs prices.
Look elsewhere ifYou research very niche topics where the largest keyword database matters, or you only need free lookups.
#4Best keyword research tool for beginners
Mangools (KWFinder)
KWFinder makes it simple to find low-difficulty, long-tail keywords and see who ranks for them.
- Paid plans from
- $37.70/mo annual
- Free plan
- Free account (limited)
- Best for
- Bloggers, small businesses, freelancers and small agencies
- Works on
- Web, browser extension
Mangools is built around KWFinder, the easiest keyword research tool here to learn. Type a keyword and you get search volume, keyword difficulty, a trend chart and the current top results in one view. That layout makes it simple for bloggers and small businesses to spot long-tail keywords that a small site can realistically rank for.
It is also good for local keyword research, with search volumes for specific countries, regions and cities. SERPChecker breaks down the pages that rank for a term, so you can judge the competition before you write. The limits are the catch: Basic allows 100 keyword lookups per 24 hours, and there is no site audit tool.
Key features
- KWFinderShows search volume, keyword difficulty, trends and the top results for each keyword in one view, so you can decide quickly whether a term is worth targeting.
- Local keyword dataGives search volumes for specific countries, regions and cities, which helps local businesses find the terms nearby customers use.
- SERPCheckerBreaks down the top-ranking pages for a keyword with SERP features and 49 metrics, so you can see how strong the competition is.
- SERPWatcherTracks the keywords you chose, with weekly updates on Basic and Premium and daily updates on Agency.
- SEO browser extensionShows Mangools metrics while you browse search results and websites, handy for quick checks without opening the app.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free account | $0 | Free sign-up with limited lookups and free mini tools such as SERP Simulator |
| Basic | $37.70/mo annual ($61 monthly) | 1 user, 100 keyword and 100 SERP lookups per 24h, 200 tracked keywords (weekly), AI Search Watcher Pro |
| Premium | $52.70/mo annual ($81 monthly) | 3 sub-users, 500 keyword and SERP lookups per 24h, 700 tracked keywords (weekly) |
| Agency | $97.70/mo annual ($141 monthly) | 5 sub-users, 1,200 keyword and SERP lookups per 24h, 1,500 tracked keywords with daily updates |
List prices as of November 2026; plans change often, so check the vendor's pricing page before you buy. Prices can vary by region. 48-hour full refund if you are not satisfied.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Very easy to learn
- KWFinder makes keyword difficulty clear in one view
- Good local keyword data
- API and MCP access included in every plan
Cons
- Tight daily lookup limits on Basic
- No site audit tool
- Rank updates are weekly unless you pay for Agency
Is it right for you?
Choose Mangools (KWFinder) ifYou are new to SEO or run a blog or small business site and want an easy way to find long-tail keywords you can rank for.
Look elsewhere ifYou research hundreds of keywords a day or need technical audits and deep competitor data.
#5Best for prioritizing which keywords to target
Moz Pro
Keyword Explorer adds a Priority score and SERP analysis that help you decide which keywords to go after first.
- Paid plans from
- $39/mo annual
- Free plan
- No (free tools and MozBar only)
- Best for
- In-house marketers, small businesses, beginners and smaller agencies
- Works on
- Web, Chrome extension (MozBar)
Moz Pro suits marketers who find long keyword lists hard to act on. Keyword Explorer shows volume, difficulty and a Priority score for each keyword, plus suggestions and SERP analysis. The Priority score rolls those signals into one number, which makes it easier to decide which keywords to target first when time and budget are limited.
Around keyword research, Moz Pro adds rank tracking, an On-Page Grader that scores a page against its target keyword, and its Domain Authority metric for judging how strong ranking sites are. Its keyword and link databases are smaller than Semrush or Ahrefs, and Starter limits are tight, but it is easier to learn than the larger suites.
Key features
- Keyword ExplorerShows volume, difficulty, suggestions and SERP analysis for each keyword, so you can research and judge competition in one place.
- Priority scoreCombines a keyword's signals into a single score that helps you rank your list and pick the terms to target first.
- On-Page GraderScores a page against a target keyword and lists specific on-page fixes, which turns keyword research into page changes.
- Rank trackingTracks positions over time for your site and competitors, with regular reports on movement.
- Domain Authority and MozBarDomain Authority estimates a site's ranking strength, and the free MozBar shows it as you browse search results, useful for sizing up who ranks.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $39/mo annual | 1 user, core Moz Pro tools with low limits, suited to one site |
| Standard | Higher | More tracked keywords, sites and queries |
| Medium | Higher | Higher limits and multiple users for growing teams |
| Large | Higher | The highest limits, for agencies and larger teams |
List prices as of November 2026; plans change often, so check the vendor's pricing page before you buy. Monthly billing costs more than annual. A free Moz account includes MozBar and a small number of Keyword Explorer queries.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Priority score makes keyword choices simple
- Easier to learn than larger suites
- Domain Authority is a widely recognized metric
- Excellent free learning resources
Cons
- Smaller keyword database than Semrush or Ahrefs
- Starter limits are tight
- No PPC or advertising research
Is it right for you?
Choose Moz Pro ifYou want a clear way to rank a keyword list by priority and like Moz's metrics and learning resources.
Look elsewhere ifYou need the largest keyword database or paid search keyword research.
#6Best affordable suite with keyword clustering
Serpstat
An affordable all-in-one SEO platform with keyword clustering and keyword data for 230 Google country databases.
- Paid plans from
- $50/mo annual
- Free plan
- No (7-day trial)
- Best for
- Freelancers, in-house teams, small and mid-size agencies
- Works on
- Web, browser extension, API
Serpstat is a low-cost all-in-one SEO platform with strong keyword tools. Its keyword research covers 230 Google country databases and shows search volume, keyword difficulty and CPC, so you can plan both SEO and PPC keywords. That regional coverage makes it a good fit for sites targeting several countries or smaller markets.
Keyword Clustering groups keywords by SERP similarity, which saves hours when you turn a big list into a page plan. Competitor analysis shows any domain's organic and paid keywords, and daily rank tracking is included. The Individual plan starts at $50 a month billed annually, but it is single-user and leaves out the API, AI tools and MCP access.
Key features
- Keyword ResearchKeyword ideas with search volume, keyword difficulty and CPC across 230 Google country databases, for both SEO and PPC planning.
- Keyword ClusteringGroups keywords by SERP similarity so you can see which terms belong on the same page before you write.
- Competitor AnalysisShows a domain's organic and paid keywords, traffic and ads, so you can find the keywords your real search competitors win.
- Rank TrackerDaily desktop and mobile position tracking for organic and paid results, with competitor rankings.
- API and MCP integrationFrom the Team plan, connects Serpstat keyword data to your own tools and to ChatGPT and Claude.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | $50/mo annual ($69 monthly) | 1 user, 5 projects, 100 searches/day, 10,000 position checks/mo; no API, AI tools or MCP |
| Team | $100/mo annual ($129 monthly) | 3 users, unlimited projects, 500 searches/day, API, AI tools, MCP and AI Visibility |
| Team x2 | $169/mo annual ($209 monthly) | 6 users, 1,000 searches/day, 100,000 position checks/mo |
| Agency | $410/mo annual ($499 monthly) | 30 users, 5,000 searches/day, white-label reports and phone support |
List prices as of November 2026; plans change often, so check the vendor's pricing page before you buy. 7-day free trial of Individual or Team; card verification charges $1 (refunded) and the plan auto-renews unless you cancel.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Keyword data for 230 Google country databases
- Keyword clustering built in
- Annual pricing well below Semrush and Ahrefs
- API and MCP included from the Team plan
Cons
- Individual plan is single-user and lacks API and AI tools
- Big gap between monthly and annual prices
- Trial requires a card and auto-renews
Is it right for you?
Choose Serpstat ifYou want keyword research, clustering and rank tracking for several countries on a tight budget.
Look elsewhere ifYou only need a free tool, or you want the largest databases on the market.
#7Best free keyword research tool for PPC planning
Google Keyword Planner
Google's own free keyword tool inside Google Ads, with search volumes, forecasts and bid estimates.
- Paid plans from
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes (Google Ads account)
- Best for
- Advertisers planning Google Ads campaigns, and SEO beginners on a zero budget
- Works on
- Web (inside Google Ads)
Google Keyword Planner is the free keyword research tool inside Google Ads. It generates keyword ideas from seed words or a website URL and shows average monthly searches, trends and top-of-page bid estimates. Because the data comes straight from Google, it is the standard starting point for planning search ad budgets and checking CPC.
For SEO it is useful but limited. Its competition score measures advertiser competition, not how hard a keyword is to rank for organically, and accounts without active ad spend usually see volumes as broad ranges. Use it alongside a paid tool or a free tier for difficulty and competitor data.
Key features
- Discover new keywordsGenerates keyword ideas from seed words or a website URL, giving you a list of terms people actually search on Google.
- Search volume and forecastsShows average monthly searches and trends, plus forecasts of clicks and costs for a set of keywords.
- Top-of-page bid estimatesShows low and high bid ranges for the top of the results page, which helps set Google Ads budgets and judge a keyword's commercial value.
- Location and language targetingFilters volumes and ideas by country, region, city and language, useful for local keyword research.
- Add to campaignSends chosen keywords straight into a Google Ads campaign or plan, so research turns into ads in one step.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Keyword Planner | $0 | Keyword ideas, search volume, forecasts and bid estimates with a Google Ads account |
Free to use with a Google Ads account. Accounts without active ad spend usually see search volumes as ranges.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Completely free
- Data comes straight from Google
- Bid estimates help plan ad budgets
- Good location targeting
Cons
- Volumes shown as broad ranges without active ad spend
- Competition score is for ads, not organic difficulty
- No competitor or rank tracking data
Is it right for you?
Choose Google Keyword Planner ifYou plan Google Ads campaigns or need free keyword ideas and CPC estimates from Google's own data.
Look elsewhere ifYou need SEO keyword difficulty, competitor keywords or exact volumes without running ads.
#8Best browser extension for keyword data
Keywords Everywhere
A low-cost browser extension that shows search volume, CPC and related keywords right on Google, YouTube and Amazon.
- Paid plans from
- Credit-based plans
- Free plan
- Yes (limited)
- Best for
- Bloggers, content writers, small businesses and beginners
- Works on
- Chrome and Firefox extensions
Keywords Everywhere puts keyword data where you already search. Once installed, it shows search volume, CPC and competition next to your Google searches, plus related keywords and People Also Search For terms in a sidebar. Writers can size a topic and collect subtopic ideas without opening a separate keyword research tool.
It also works on YouTube and Amazon, which helps video creators and ecommerce sellers. Paid plans run on credits, so you pay for the lookups you use, and it costs much less than a full SEO suite. It is not a suite, though: there is no site audit, rank tracking or deep competitor research.
Key features
- On-SERP keyword metricsShows search volume, CPC and competition next to your Google searches, so you can size a keyword without leaving the results page.
- Related keywords and People Also Search ForLists related terms in a sidebar on Google results, giving quick ideas for subtopics and headings.
- Keyword data on YouTube and AmazonAdds keyword metrics on YouTube and Amazon, useful for video and product keyword research.
- Trend chartsShows historical search trend charts for the keyword you searched, so you can spot seasonal or fading topics.
- Bulk keyword importPaste a list of keywords to get metrics for all of them at once, then export the results.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Related and People Also Search For keywords, without volume, CPC or competition data |
| Paid plans | Higher | Search volume, CPC, competition and trend data, paid with credits per keyword lookup |
List prices as of November 2026; plans change often, so check the vendor's pricing page before you buy. Paid plans work on credits, and each keyword lookup uses credits.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Very low cost compared with full SEO suites
- Keyword data appears right inside Google
- Works on YouTube and Amazon too
- Easy for beginners
Cons
- Volume, CPC and competition need a paid plan
- Credits can run out with heavy use
- No site audit, rank tracking or deep competitor data
Is it right for you?
Choose Keywords Everywhere ifYou want quick keyword numbers while you browse Google, YouTube or Amazon, without paying for a full suite.
Look elsewhere ifYou need difficulty scores, competitor keyword lists or rank tracking.
#9Best for competitor organic and PPC keywords
SpyFu
Shows the keywords any domain ranks for and buys in Google Ads, with long ad and ranking history.
- Paid plans from
- Paid plans from Basic
- Free plan
- Limited free searches
- Best for
- PPC managers, SEO marketers and small agencies
- Works on
- Web
SpyFu is built for one job: seeing a competitor's keywords. Enter any domain and it shows the organic keywords the site ranks for and the keywords it bids on in Google Ads. Its PPC ad history shows which keywords a competitor kept paying for over the years, a strong hint at which terms actually convert.
Kombat compares several competitors to find shared keywords and the ones you are missing, and it also covers standard keyword research with volume, difficulty and CPC. Its data is strongest for the US and a few other markets, and its backlink and technical SEO tools are basic, so pair it with another tool for full SEO work.
Key features
- Competitor keyword researchEnter any domain to see the organic keywords it ranks for and the keywords it bids on in Google Ads.
- PPC ad historyShows the ads a competitor has run over the years and which keywords they kept paying for, which hints at what converts.
- Kombat (competitor overlap)Compares several competitors to find keywords they share and the ones you are missing.
- Keyword researchGives search volume, difficulty, CPC and related keyword ideas for any term.
- SEO ranking historyShows how a domain's rankings for a keyword changed over time, so you can see who holds a keyword steadily.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Limited search results; full data and exports need a subscription |
| Basic | Higher | Competitor SEO and PPC research with set limits on results and tracked keywords |
| Professional | Higher | Higher limits, more tracked keywords and API access |
List prices as of November 2026; plans change often, so check the vendor's pricing page before you buy. Monthly and annual billing are available.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Strong PPC competitor and ad history data
- Long history on keywords and ads
- Simple interface
- Lower cost than large SEO suites
Cons
- Data is strongest for the US and a few other markets
- Backlink and technical SEO tools are basic
- Interface feels dated in places
Is it right for you?
Choose SpyFu ifYou want to find the organic and paid keywords competitors rely on, especially for Google Ads planning in the US.
Look elsewhere ifYou target markets outside SpyFu's main countries or need a full SEO suite.
#10Best low-cost lifetime option
Ubersuggest
A simple, budget keyword research tool from Neil Patel, with a one-time lifetime plan option.
- Paid plans from
- $29/mo
- Free plan
- Limited free account
- Best for
- Small businesses, bloggers, beginners and small agencies
- Works on
- Web
Ubersuggest is a simple, low-cost keyword research tool aimed at people doing their own SEO. Keyword Ideas suggests related keywords with volume and difficulty, Content Ideas shows the top-performing pages for a topic, and Traffic Overview estimates a competitor's top keywords and pages. The interface is built for non-experts and beginners.
Its standout is pricing. The Individual plan costs $29 a month, $192 a year or $290 one time for lifetime access, which suits small sites that dislike recurring fees. Limits are low, with 1 project and 125 tracked keywords updated weekly, the data is shallower than the leading suites, and lifetime purchases are non-refundable.
Key features
- Keyword IdeasSuggests related keywords with volume and difficulty, giving beginners a quick list of topics to target.
- Content IdeasShows top-performing pages for a topic, so you can see what content already earns traffic for a keyword.
- Traffic Overview and Top PagesEstimates a competitor's organic traffic, top keywords and top pages.
- Keyword Bulk AnalysisAnalyzes 50 to 1,000 keywords at once depending on plan, handy for checking a list from a brainstorm.
- Rank TrackingWeekly desktop and mobile rank tracking for 125 to 300 keywords per project.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free account | $0 | Limited free use |
| Individual | $29/mo, $192/yr or $290 lifetime | 1 user, 1 project, 150 reports/day, 125 tracked keywords (weekly), site audit up to 1,000 pages |
| Business | $49/mo, $326/yr or $490 lifetime | 2 users, 7 projects, 300 reports/day, 150 tracked keywords per project |
| Enterprise/Agency | $99/mo, $657/yr or $990 lifetime | 5 users, 15 projects, 900 reports/day, 300 tracked keywords per project |
List prices as of November 2026; plans change often, so check the vendor's pricing page before you buy. One-time 7-day free trial on monthly subscriptions only. Lifetime purchases are final and non-refundable.
Pros and cons
Pros
- One-time lifetime plans avoid recurring fees
- Very low entry price
- Simple interface for non-experts
- Includes SEO training videos
Cons
- Low limits on the entry plan
- Rank tracking updates weekly, not daily
- Shallower data than the leading suites
Is it right for you?
Choose Ubersuggest ifYou run a small site, want simple keyword ideas and prefer a one-time payment to a monthly bill.
Look elsewhere ifYou need deep keyword data, daily rank tracking or an API.
Best keyword research tool by need
- Deep keyword research and planningSemrush
- Studying what competitors rank forAhrefs
- A full suite on a mid-range budgetSE Ranking
- Beginners and long-tail keywordsMangools (KWFinder)
- Deciding which keywords to target firstMoz Pro
- Keyword clustering across many countriesSerpstat
- Free data for Google Ads planningGoogle Keyword Planner
- Keyword data while you browseKeywords Everywhere
- Competitors' PPC keywordsSpyFu
What to look for in a keyword research tool
- Database size and country coverageA bigger database finds more long-tail and niche keywords. If you target more than one country or a local market, check that the tool has data for those locations.
- Keyword difficulty you can trustA keyword difficulty checker should show the pages that rank today, not just a number. Use it to compare keywords against each other inside one tool.
- Search intent and SERP analysisIntent labels and a SERP overview show whether searchers want a guide, a product or a local result, so you write the right type of page.
- Competitor keyword researchEntering a competitor's domain and seeing every keyword it ranks for is often faster than brainstorming. Keyword gap reports show what you are missing.
- Keyword clustering and listsA keyword clustering tool groups terms that can share one page. Saved lists and exports turn research into a content plan.
- CPC and PPC dataIf you run ads, look for CPC, bid estimates and competitors' paid keywords. For keyword research for PPC, Google Keyword Planner and SpyFu are the specialists.
How much do keyword research tools cost in 2026?
Keyword research tools cost from $0 to several hundred dollars a month. Most small sites need $29 to $69 a month; agencies and in-house SEO teams usually pay $100 to $300.
| Tier | Typical price | Tools at this level | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs Free (own sites), Semrush Free (10 reports/day), Keywords Everywhere free extension, Mangools free account | Beginners and occasional lookups |
| Budget | $29 to $69/mo | Ubersuggest, Ahrefs Starter, Mangools Basic, Moz Pro Starter, Serpstat Individual | Bloggers, small businesses and freelancers |
| Mid-range | $100 to $140/mo | SE Ranking Core, Serpstat Team, Semrush SEO, Ahrefs Lite | In-house marketers and freelancers doing regular keyword research |
| Agency and advanced | $199 to $499+/mo | Semrush Starter and Pro+, Ahrefs Standard and Advanced, SE Ranking Growth, Serpstat Agency | Agencies and teams with many sites, users or clients |
Entry prices from vendor pricing information, November 2026. Annual billing is cheaper on most tools.
Start with free keyword research tools such as Google Keyword Planner and Semrush's free plan, and pay only when you hit their limits. When you do upgrade, check the limits that matter for keyword research, such as daily lookups, rows per report and exports, because cheap plans like Ahrefs Starter and Mangools Basic cap them. Annual billing saves roughly 15% to 40% on most of these tools, but test monthly first.
How we chose the best keyword research tools
We started with the keyword research and SEO tools in the MakeSuccessOnline directory and added well-known tools we have not yet reviewed, such as Google Keyword Planner. We ran the same seed keywords through each tool, compared the ideas, difficulty scores and competitor data they returned, and scored them on the criteria below. Vendor documentation and pricing were checked in November 2026.
- Keyword dataDatabase size, country coverage and the quality of volume, difficulty and intent data.30%
- Competitor researchHow well the tool shows the organic and paid keywords other sites win.20%
- Ease of useHow quickly a marketer gets from a seed keyword to a usable list.15%
- Pricing and valueFree plans, entry prices and the limits you get for the money.15%
- Planning featuresKeyword clustering, lists, filters, exports and SERP analysis.10%
- ExtrasRank tracking, content tools and integrations that support keyword work.10%
How to choose a keyword research tool
- Decide what the research is forSEO content, PPC campaigns and local pages need different data. Pick a tool that leads in your main job.
- Start freeUse Google Keyword Planner, Semrush Free or Ahrefs Free first. You will learn which limits you actually hit.
- Check data for your marketRun keywords from your niche and country. Small or non-US markets expose gaps in some databases fast.
- Compare difficulty with real resultsLook at the pages that rank for a few keywords and see whether each tool's difficulty score matches what you see.
- Count the limitsDaily lookups, rows per report, exports and users decide the real cost of a keyword research tool, not the headline price.
- Test the workflowTry building one content cluster from seed keyword to grouped list. The best tool for you is the one you will use every week.
Check during the free trial
- Does it find long-tail keywords in your niche and country?
- Do difficulty scores match the pages that actually rank?
- Can you see the keywords your competitors rank for?
- How many lookups, rows and exports do you get each day?
- Can you group keywords and export a list for your content plan?
Red flags
- Exact search volumes presented as facts rather than estimates
- Daily lookup limits too low for one research session
- No way to see the results that rank for a keyword
- Exports locked on the plan you can afford
- Lifetime deals with no refund and no recent updates
Keyword research tools FAQ
What are the best keyword research tools?
The best keyword research tools in 2026 are Semrush for deep keyword research, Ahrefs for competitor research, SE Ranking for value, Mangools (KWFinder) for beginners and Google Keyword Planner as the best free option for PPC. Moz Pro, Serpstat, Keywords Everywhere, SpyFu and Ubersuggest each lead a narrower job, such as prioritizing keywords, clustering or competitor PPC research.
What is the best free keyword research tool?
Google Keyword Planner is the best free keyword research tool for ideas and CPC data, because it uses Google's own numbers. For SEO, Semrush's free plan gives 10 reports a day with difficulty and intent, and Ahrefs Free shows data for sites you own. The Keywords Everywhere free extension adds related keywords to Google results.
How much do keyword research tools cost?
Keyword research tools cost $0 to over $400 a month. Budget tools like Ubersuggest and Ahrefs Starter start at $29 a month, Mangools Basic costs $37.70 a month billed annually, and mid-range suites like SE Ranking and Semrush cost about $103 to $139 a month. Agency plans run from about $199 to $499.
Semrush vs Ahrefs: which is better for keyword research?
Semrush is slightly better for building keyword plans, thanks to the Keyword Magic Tool's intent labels and topic groups. Ahrefs is better for studying competitors, with clear Site Explorer and SERP overview reports. Both are expensive: Semrush's SEO plan costs $117.33 a month annually, and Ahrefs Lite costs $129 a month.
Is Google Keyword Planner good for SEO?
Google Keyword Planner is useful for SEO keyword ideas and search volumes, but it was built for ads. Its competition score measures advertiser competition, not organic difficulty, and accounts without active ad spend usually see volumes as ranges. Pair it with a tool that has SEO difficulty and competitor data.
What is the best keyword research tool for beginners?
Mangools (KWFinder) is the best keyword research tool for beginners. It shows search volume, keyword difficulty and the top-ranking pages in one view, which makes long-tail keywords easy to spot. Ubersuggest is a simpler, cheaper option, and Moz Pro's Priority score helps beginners decide which keywords to target first.
How do I choose a keyword research tool?
Choose a keyword research tool by matching it to your main job, then testing it with your own keywords. Check that it covers your country, that difficulty scores match the pages that rank, and that daily lookup and export limits fit how much research you do. Start on a free plan or trial before paying.
Are keyword search volumes accurate?
Search volumes in every keyword research tool are estimates, and different tools often show different numbers for the same keyword. Use them to compare keywords against each other rather than as exact traffic forecasts. Google Keyword Planner uses Google's own data but shows ranges unless you run ads.
About the reviewer
Editor & Reviewer, MakeSuccessOnline
William Harrison is an editor and reviewer at MakeSuccessOnline. He reviews each tools ranking before it goes live, checking plans, prices, free tiers and features against the tool's own documentation, and keeps rankings current as tools change.