Top 7 Keyword Research Tools in 2023 (Free & Paid!)

By:
Declan
April 18, 2023

Are you seeking the best keyword research tools to help optimize your SEO strategy? Look no further. In this blog post, I'll be breaking down the top 7 keyword research tools that will give your ranking a much-needed boost.

From free solutions like Google Trends to paid options like Ahrefs and SEMRush – there's something here for everyone. Whether you're just starting or a seasoned digital marketer, these keyword research tools can elevate your online success.

So let's dive into the details!

3 Free Keyword Research Tools

Did you know many free keyword research tools exist and can help you stay on top of the competition? Let's check out some of them:

Google Keyword Planner

Google Keyword Planner is a powerful and widely used keyword research tool in Google Ads. It provides valuable insights into keyword suggestions, search volume data, and competition analysis, making it an essential tool for any SEO strategy.

Key Features

  • Keyword Suggestions
  • Search Volume Data
  • Competition Analysis

Pro tip - You can also use Google Search Console with the keyword planner for better results.

Ubersuggest

Ubersuggest is a popular keyword tool developed by Neil Patel, a renowned digital marketer. It offers comprehensive keyword insights and competitive analysis to help us identify profitable keywords and outrank our competitors. In my opinion, this is the best free keyword research.

Key Features

  • Keyword Suggestions
  • Monthly Search Volume
  • CPC
  • Keyword Difficulty

AnswerThePublic

AnswerThePublic is a unique and free keyword research tool that focuses on generating keyword ideas based on the questions users ask on the internet. It provides valuable insights into user intent and helps us create content that answers their queries effectively. It also has a paid plan but the free version has enough searches to get you confidently up and running. 

Key Features

  • Visualization of Keyword Data
  • Related keywords
  • Questions & Prepositions
computer screen with plant and keyboard on desk

4 Paid Keyword Research Tools

If you have the budget, you can leverage the power of paid keyword research tools. Here are some of the most popular ones:

SEMrush

SEMrush is a renowned name in the world of SEO tools, known for its comprehensive suite of features that cater to all aspects of SEO. It offers various functionalities, including keyword research, competitor analysis, backlink analysis, site auditing, and more.

Key Features

  • Filtered Keyword Research
  • Competitor Analysis
  • Site Auditing
  • Backlink Analysis

Pricing & Plans:

SEMrush offers three pricing plans: Pro, Guru, and Business.

  • Pro: $119.95/month
  • Guru: $229.95/month
  • Business: $449.95/month

Ahrefs

Ahrefs is another popular keyword research tool used by SEO professionals. It is known for its extensive backlink database and provides many features to help you with keyword research, competitor analysis, and more.

Key Features

  • Filtered Keyword Research
  • Competitor Analysis
  • Backlink Analysis
  • Content Explorer

Pricing & Plans

Ahrefs offers four pricing plans: Lite, Standard, Advanced, and Agency.

  • Lite: $99/month
  • Standard: $179/month
  • Advanced: $399/month
  • Agency: $999/month

Moz Pro

Moz Pro is a comprehensive SEO software suite that offers a wide range of tools to help businesses improve their search engine rankings. It provides in-depth insights and data-driven recommendations to optimize your website for better performance in organic search results. With its user-friendly interface and robust features, Moz Pro is popular among SEO professionals and digital marketers.

Key Features

  • Keyword Explorer
  • Site Crawl
  • Link Explorer
  • On-Page Optimization

Pricing & Plans

Moz Pro offers three pricing plans to cater to different business needs:

  1. Standard Plan: $99/month
  2. Medium Plan: $179/month
  3. Large Plan: $249/month

Long Tail Pro

Long Tail Pro is a powerful keyword research tool specializing in finding long-tail keywords, which are longer and more specific keyword phrases with lower search volume but higher conversion potential. Long Tail Pro is known for its simplicity and ease of use, making it a popular choice among bloggers, content creators, and small businesses.

Key Features

  • Keyword Research
  • Competitor Analysis
  • Rank Tracker
  • Backlink Analysis

Pricing & Plans

Long Tail Pro offers three pricing plans to cater to different business needs:

  1. Monthly Starter Plan: $37/month
  2. Monthly Pro Plan: $67/month
  3. Annual Pro Plan: $537/year

Free Vs. Paid Keyword Research Tools: Which is Better?

Are you wondering whether you should use a free or paid keyword research tool? It all depends on your needs, budget, and level of expertise. Free keyword research tools are great for beginners and have the added benefit of being cost-effective.

However, if you need more in-depth insights and data-driven recommendations to optimize your website, paid keyword research tools are the way to go. They provide more comprehensive features like competitor analysis, backlink analysis, site auditing, and more.

For Example

If you search for a keyword like “keyword research tools” on SEMrush, you can get in-depth data about related keywords, organic search volume, competition level, and more. This is something that free keyword research tools don’t offer.

laptop with work on screen at desk

Factors to Consider Before Choosing a Keyword Research Tool

When selecting a keyword research tool, there are several factors you should consider:

  • Cost - How much is the tool willing to charge for its services? Consider whether the cost fits within your budget.
  • Features - What type of features does the tool offer? Do they provide data-driven recommendations and insights into keyword research, competitor analysis, and more?
  • Usability - How user-friendly is the tool? Is it easy to use or do you need technical expertise to get the most out of it?
  • Support - Does the tool provide customer support? What type of help and guidance are they willing to provide in case you run into any issues while using the tool?

Tips For Using Keyword Research Tools

You've chosen the tool, now what? Here are a few tips to get the most out of your keyword research tool:

  1. Start with broad terms and narrow down - Use more general keywords, then narrow down your search. This will help you uncover new opportunities and find the best keywords for your business.
  2. Use a combination of tools - Take advantage of the different features offered by multiple keyword research tools. This will give you a better understanding of your keywords' performance and provide more comprehensive insights.
  3. Track your progress - Monitor your keyword performance continuously to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
  4. Prioritize high-quality content - Focus on creating keyword-rich content relevant to your target audience. This will help you rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs).

Conclusion

Ultimately, the best choice all boils down to your budget and needs. Each keyword research tool I covered today has its own pros and cons and a slightly different approach to SEO.

Depending on the size and scope of your projects, some of the free solutions might even be enough for you to reach your desired ranking and SEO campaign management goals.

Either way, arm yourself with these top 7 keyword research tools – it could make a huge difference in 2023 and beyond.

Feel free to reach get in touch with our SEO experts today if you need assistance getting your SEO tech stack up and running.

Rank your keyword on the top of search engines!