Keyword research is a fundamental part of blogging in the ever-changing world of digital marketing. It helps you understand what people are searching for online and tailor your content to their needs. As keyword trends can shift over time, regularly researching keywords helps you stay updated and keeps your blog relevant and competitive. That is where keyword research tools come in handy.
Keyword research tools help automate tasks, find relevant keywords, analyze their popularity, and even show how tough the competition is. Keyword research is also very helpful for increasing organic traffic and search engine exposure because search engines like Google use keywords to understand and rank websites. Plus, they offer insights like related keywords and trending topics that you might miss on your own.
With that in mind and another year in the books, this detailed guide will look at the best keyword research tools available today, focusing on unique features, how well they generally work, how much they cost, and whether they’re good options for all users.
(NOTE: Since this is a long read, please feel free to jump around if necessary.)
Semrush
Semrush is a powerful tool for anyone interested in SEO to spend money on. Its large library and advanced features make it great for researching competitors and strategically targeting keywords.
Pros:
Cons:
Who’s it for:
Semrush is great for digital marketing professionals and agencies seeking in-depth competitor analysis and keyword insights.
Pricing:
Below is a pricing breakdown for Semrush.
| Plans | Pricing | Best Target |
| Pro Plan | $129.95 | Newbies and small teams |
| Guru Plan | $249.95 | Agencies and small businesses |
| Business Plan | $499.95 | Large agencies and enterprises |
Semrush offers three main pricing plans to fit your business needs. The Pro plan, at $129.95 per month, is ideal for beginners and small teams. It allows you to track up to five projects and 500 keywords and analyze 10,000 results per report. This plan includes essential SEO and PPC tools like competitor analysis, keyword research, and website audits.
For agencies and mid-sized businesses, the Guru plan offers increased capacity for $249.95 per month. This plan allows you to manage 15 projects, track 1,500 keywords, and analyze 30,000 results per report. It includes all Pro features plus additional functionalities like content marketing tools, historical data, and multi-location tracking.
If you’re a large agency or enterprise, the Business plan provides the most extensive features for $499.95 per month. It allows you to manage 40 projects, track 5,000 keywords, and analyze 50,000 results per report. This plan includes everything in the Guru plan, with additional features like competitor share of voice analysis, API access, and free migration from other SEO tools.
Remember, these are just the base plans. Semrush offers various add-on features, including local listings management, social media analytics, and content marketing tools, to further enhance your SEO and marketing efforts. Keep in mind that pricing is subject to change, so visit the Semrush website for the latest information.
Final thoughts on the Semrush keyword research tool
Semrush has everything you need to dominate search engines, from in-depth competitor analysis to strategic keyword targeting. Their tiered plans cater to businesses of all sizes, with the Pro plan offering a budget-friendly entry point for beginners. Packed with essential features like competitor and keyword research, it’s a huge yes for us!
Semrush is one of our favorites!
Semrush is one of our favorites!Free Keyword Tool by Backlinko
Backlinko’s free keyword tool is a quick and easy way to start researching keywords for people new to SEO or working with a limited budget. Free Keyword Tool by Backlinko
Pros:
Cons:
Who’s it for:
Beginners and those on a tight budget seeking quick keyword insights.
Pricing:
Free
Final thoughts on the Backlinko free keyword tool
Backlinko itself isn’t a traditional keyword research tool, but it’s a valuable resource for SEO and content marketing, which informs keyword research. Backlinko offers a free keyword research tool powered by Semrush’s data, allowing you to discover keywords with search volume and identify potential content topics. Their extensive guides on SEO and keyword research help you understand searcher intent and craft content that attracts the right audience.
Backlinko is of the best out there!
Backlinko is of the best out there!Soovle
Soovle is a great option for people who want to look at a lot of keyword ideas from different sources in one place. Because it is simple and flexible, it can be used by both new and experienced marketers.
Pros:
Cons:
Pricing:
Free
Who’s it for:
Soovle is for users looking for a free and versatile keyword research tool with suggestions from various sources.
Final thoughts on Soovle as a keyword research tool
Soovle is a free keyword research tool that stands out because it can gather suggestions from various platforms like Google, YouTube, Amazon, and Wikipedia. This ability gives Soovle a broader perspective on how people search for your target topic, helping you discover new keyword variations and potential content ideas that might be missed by focusing solely on traditional search engines. This one is a gem for keywords!
Soolve is pretty good for finding keywords!
Soolve is pretty good for finding keywords!TopicRanker
TopicRanker focuses on identifying winnable keywords by analyzing search results (SERPs). It goes beyond just search volume, helping you find topics where existing content has weaknesses. This allows you to create content that addresses those gaps and has a higher chance of ranking well on search engines.
Pros:
Cons:
Who’s it for:
TopicRanker is good for marketers and content creators looking for easy-to-rank keywords with actionable insights.
Pricing:
TopicRanker offers three pricing plans to fit your SEO needs. The Starter Plan, at $9 per month, is ideal for beginners. It allows you to analyze one domain at a time and generate 3 reports with 3 suggested keywords each.
You’ll also get access to AI-assisted writing tools, helpful exports, and support from their team to choose the right keywords. Plus, they provide resources on PR and SEO outreach.
As your needs grow, you can upgrade to the Basic Plan for $59 per month. This plan offers 3x the analysis reports and suggested keywords, allowing you to analyze up to 3 domains. You’ll also receive more exports and all the same benefits of the Starter Plan.
For those managing multiple domains and requiring in-depth analysis, the Premium Plan at $129 per month is the most suitable option. It grants unlimited domain analysis, 30 reports per month with 12 suggested keywords each, and unlimited exports.
You’ll also get a dedicated call with their team for a keyword strategy review on top of all the features included in the lower tiers. All plans come with the option to switch to annual billing for a 20% discount.
Final thoughts on TopicRanker as a keyword research tool
TopicRanker goes beyond basic keyword research. It analyzes search results to find “winnable” topics with weaknesses in the existing content. This lets you target high-potential keywords where you can create content that fills the gaps and ranks well, giving you a strategic edge in attracting organic traffic.
TopicRanker is good for beginners!
TopicRanker is good for beginners!Jaaxy
Jaaxy is a keyword research tool designed specifically for affiliate marketers by affiliate marketers. It helps you find keywords with good search volume but low competition, along with analyzing your competitor’s ranking strategies to give you an edge in creating content that attracts users and ultimately increases your traffic.
Pros:
Cons:
Who’s it for:
Jaaxy is for users seeking a straightforward, affordable keyword research tool with robust features.
Pricing:
Jaaxy offers three membership options to cater to different needs.
The free Starter Trial option allows you to test the waters with 30 keyword searches. It provides basic features like competition data, website analysis, and affiliate program discovery, so it’s a good starting point to see if Jaaxy works for you.
For $49 per month, the Jaaxy Pro plan unlocks the full potential of Jaaxy’s core features. You get unlimited search history, advanced search analysis tools, and the ability to manually search for Quality Score (QS) and domains. This plan is good for those needing regular keyword research and competitor analysis.
Their top-tier Enterprise plan offers everything in Pro, but on steroids. For $99 per month, you get significantly faster search speeds, automated QS and domain searches, and the ability to manage much larger keyword lists. The Enterprise plan is best for power users who need to handle large volumes of keyword research and competitor analysis.
Final thoughts on Jaaxy as a keyword research tool
Jaaxy is great for small businesses on a budget because it is simple to use and does a good job. The Starter Trial allows people new to Jaaxy or those who want to test it out to see some of its best features for free. While not as strong as the paid tools, it’s simple and inexpensive, making it a good choice for reading up on a subject.
Jaaxy is simple and inexpensive!
Jaaxy is simple and inexpensive!Google Search Console
Google Search Console is a free SEO tool that lets you see what terms people use to find your site in Google searches. This gives valuable insight into existing traffic and helps you identify new keywords to target by showing what queries your content ranks for, even if you weren’t specifically optimized for those terms.
Pros:
Cons:
Who’s it for:
Google Search Console is useful for website owners and SEO professionals seeking insights into their website’s Google performance.
Pricing:
Free
Final thoughts on Google Search Console as a keyword research tool:
Google Search Console is a useful tool for finding “Opportunity Keywords” and providing detailed keyword data for your website. It can help you improve current content and find new keyword opportunities.
GSC is good to use from time to time!
GSC is good to use from time to time!Ahrefs Keywords Explorer
Pros:
Cons:
Who’s it for:
Ahrefs Keywords Explorer is good for marketers who are looking for comprehensive keyword data alongside other SEO metrics.
Pricing:
Ahrefs Keywords Explorer offers pricing plans for different needs. Here’s a quick rundown:
| Plans | Pricing | Best Target |
| Lite Plan | Starts at $99/month | Best for beginners or small projects |
| Standard Plan | Starts at $179 per month | Best for freelancers and consultants |
| Advanced Plan | Starting at $399 per month | Best for small in-house marketing teams |
| Enterprise Plan | Pricing is not available. Contact Ahrefs for more | Best for agencies and large businesses. |
The Lite plan is a good option for beginners or small projects. It starts at $99/month and provides essential SEO tools like Keywords Explorer and Site Explorer but with limitations. You get 500 credits per month to use these tools and can only manage 5 projects at a time. The report size is also capped at 2,500 rows.
The Standard plan, which starts at $179 per month, is ideal for freelancers and consultants. It includes everything in the Lite plan, with additional benefits like Content Explorer and a higher credit allowance (600 credits per user per month). You can manage unlimited projects (unverified ownership) and generate reports up to 30,000 rows.
The Advanced plan, starting at $399 per month, is best for small in-house marketing teams. It offers all Standard features plus advanced functionalities like API access and an AI content grader. The credit limit increases to $750 per user per month (yikes), with unlimited projects and reports reaching a maximum of 75,000 rows.
Lastly, there is the enterprise or custom pricing option. This plan is tailored for agencies and large businesses. It allows you to completely customize features, limits, and pricing to fit your specific needs. You can add users for $50 per month each, purchase additional shared credits, and scale API usage up to 2 million monthly units.
Final thoughts on Ahrefs Keywords Explorer as a keyword research tool
Ahrefs Keywords Explorer is a good keyword research tool that provides a lot of information about term difficulty and competition. It is also known for analyzing backlinks. Ahrefs Keywords Explorer is better for SEO because it works with other Ahref tools. It gives you access to important information for small businesses and personal projects, has advanced features that freelance SEO and marketing experts can use and offers custom options for businesses and government agencies that want to grow.
Ahrefs is great if you need tons of data!
Ahrefs is great if you need tons of data!SECockpit
SECockpit is a fast and powerful cloud-based keyword research tool designed for SEOs. It analyzes hundreds of keywords per minute, offering in-depth data on competition, traffic estimates, and even their presence on YouTube or Amazon. This comprehensive tool goes beyond suggestions, providing insights to craft targeted SEO strategies and includes competitor analysis, website audits, and advertising tools โ all in one place.
Pros:
- Offers a comprehensive range of keyword research features.
- Provides in-depth analysis of search trends, competition, and traffic estimates.
- Ideal for SEO professionals seeking advanced keyword insights.
Cons:
- The steeper learning curve for beginners.
- Clunky interface compared to more intuitive tools.
Who’s it for:
- SEO professionals and advanced marketers require detailed keyword analysis and trend tracking.
Pricing:
| Plans | Pricing | Best Target |
| Personal Plan | $39/month | Best for beginners or small projects |
| Pro Plan | $59 per month | Best for freelancers and consultants |
| Agency Plan | $99 per month | Best for small in-house marketing teams |
SECockpit offers tiered pricing plans with monthly and yearly options. Prices range from $39/month for the Personal plan to $99/month for the Agency plan. Yearly subscriptions offer a discount of up to 35%.
Final thoughts on the SECockpit keyword research tool
SECockpit has many tools that SEO professionals can use to get deep keyword insights and trend analysis. Its design might be hard for new users to get used to but its many features make it useful for experienced marketers. It’s great for people or small companies that want to improve their keyword research and tracking without spending a lot of money because it comes with RankTracker, branded PDF reports, and email notifications.
SECockpit is okay. Better alternatives out there…
SECockpit is okay. Better alternatives out there…Google Keyword Planner
Google Keyword Planner is a free tool that helps you discover new keywords related to your business, see how many times they’re searched for each month, and estimate the cost of targeting them in ads. This makes it a valuable resource for SEO and PPC campaigns, letting you find relevant terms with enough search volume to be worthwhile without blowing your budget on super competitive keywords.
Pros:
Cons:
Who’s it for:
Advertisers and marketers are looking for keyword data for Google Ads campaigns.
Pricing:
Free
Final thoughts on the Google Keyword Planner keyword research tool
Google Keyword Planner is still a reliable source of keyword data, especially for advertisers with Google Ads ads. It may not have many features that are good for SEO, but it is reliable and works well with Google Ads, so it is a good tool for pay-per-click ads. You just have to know how to use and build off the data that you find.
Insightful but limited…
Insightful but limited…KeywordTool.io
Pros:
Cons:
Who’s it for:
KeywordTool.io is perfect for marketers seeking a comprehensive keyword research tool with competitor analysis capabilities.
Pricing:
The Basic plan for KeywordTool.io is $89 per month, following a per-user pricing model. It offers essential features for users who require basic keyword research capabilities.
Final thoughts on the KeywordTool IO keyword research tool
KeywordTool.io is a great tool for marketers who want to find untapped keyword opportunities because it has a large database of keyword ideas and features for analyzing competitors. Its free plan might have some restrictions, but its paid plans have a lot of features for thorough keyword research.
Keyword IO is surprisingly good!
Keyword IO is surprisingly good!In Conclusion…
Well, there you have it. It’s important to consider what you need, the costs, its features, and how easy it is to use first. With many tools out there, such as Semrush, Ahrefs, TopicRanker, and QuestionDB, it’s easy to fall into a sea of options.
So whether you’re a seasoned SEO pro or a beginner looking for detailed data and simple options, choose the one that best fits your needs. If you apply it well, you will be surprised at how well you can do it, especially in today’s landscape.
But what do you guys think? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
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