Keyword research and analysis, or choosing the right keywords to target, is essential to all search engine marketing campaigns.
Whether you’re deciding which keywords to target for a local dentist’s pay-per-click advertising campaign or you’re an inbound marketer utilizing SEO to attract prospects to your website, the quality of your keyword research and analysis will have a say in your campaign’s results.
Fortunately, there isn’t a shortage of quality keyword research or suggestion tools. With prices reaching astronaut status for “premium” tools, free keyword research/suggestion tools have been able to provide quality keyword information.
Below, we’ve put together a list of 26 free keyword research/suggestions tools that could be very useful for search engine marketing campaign(s). For each tool, we’ll provide a short summary detailing its key features.
1. Google’s Keyword Planner
This is probably the best free tool available. Providing keywords suggestions, PPC estimates, comp. analysis along with the option to export data into a well-organized spreadsheet, the keyword planner tool is second to none.
2. Keyword Tool IO
If you’re looking for assistance with locating long-tailed keyword opportunities, Keyword Tool IO is pretty helpful. However, the free version stops there. The paid version gives you access to search volume, CPC, estimate and AdWords competition.
3. Search Combination Tool
Modifiers, in most cases, make the difference in whether a targeted keyword converts or not. The Search Combination tool allows you to pair primary keywords with modifiers, then allowing you the option to copy and paste them into a spreadsheet. To save time, try putting together an organized list of commonly used modifiers which you’ll be able to use for researching keywords across campaigns.
4. Majestic Keyword Checker
Although Majestic Keyword Checker doesn’t suggest related keywords, the tool provides interesting keyword competition data by listing a number of times the keyword was found in domains and URLs (according to Majestic’s index).
5. SEOBook Keyword Tool
As stated on SEOBook’s website, “this tool was built on a custom database we have compiled over the past four years”. Without a publishing date along with knowing the value of an updated database, one has to wonder, “what past 4 years?” None the less, the tool provides keyword suggestions, search volume, and PPC estimates.
6. Ubbersuggest
Ubbersuggest is a very helpful keyword suggestion tool. It actually takes your primary keyword on a ride through the alphabet suggesting long-tailed keyword opportunities for each letter. In addition, it also gives you the option to export your data via copy and paste.
7. Keyword Spy
Keyword Spy suggests keywords, provides search volume, PPC estimates and the ability to export data. Yet, the tool’s competitor analysis metrics takes the cake. Want to know what keywords your competitors are targeting? If so, you’ll appreciate Keyword Spy.
8. SEMRush
SEMRush provides everything you’ll need for quality keyword research and analysis. From keyword suggestion to keyword trend, this tool has it all.
9. SpyFu
In addition to offering primary keyword research metrics for PPC and organic search, Spyfu also offers keyword click-through rate, ranking history, domain strength and tons of other useful metrics.
10. Keyword Eye
Keyword Eye allows you to take advantage of search suggestions provided by Google, Amazon, and YouTube search bar. The tool also allows you to import and export data. Unfortunately, search volume and competitiveness score aren’t offered in the free version.
11. SerpStat
SerpStat is one of the more advanced free keyword research tools providing lots of data to assist you with choosing the right keywords. With a similar layout to SEMRush, you’ll be able to find a number of metrics relative to PPC and SEO campaigns.
12. Soovle
Soovle is a keyword suggestion tool that brings together search engine suggestions from Google, Yahoo, Bing, YouTube, Amazon and Wikipedia. If you’re big on search suggestions, you’ll appreciate having all of this data in one place.
13. KW Finder
Great tool here. KW Finder provides you all the necessary metrics for choosing the right keywords. Not only does it provide you with search volume, PPC estimates, and comp score, it also shows how the keyword performs on the first page of Google.
14. Keyword Tool Dominator
Although you’re limited to 3 searches per day (free version), Keyword Tool Dominator provides great keyword suggestions. In additions, it also allows you to download selected keywords in to an Excel spreadsheet.
15. Keyword Shitter
What a name, right? However, the name is somewhat fitting. Enter a keyword or two and watch how this keyword suggestion tool began compiling a continuous list of keywords.
16. Answer the Public
Looking for solid long tail question-based keywords? If so, these do the job. Insert your keyword and Answer the Public will provide you with an awesome mind map of keywords based around information gathering words such as who, what, and how.
17. Web Seer
Web Seer is a keyword suggestion tool that attempts to finish question-based searches. For example, if you were to insert “are dogs,’ the tool would suggest the keywords like “are dogs color blind,” “are dogs mammals” and various others.
18. Niche Laboratory
Niche Laboratory provides keyword suggestions along with top of the line keyword competition metrics. The tool offers an extensive breakdown of how the keyword performs on the first page of Google by providing keyword related data for each website making the first page.
19. LSI Graph
LSI Graph is nothing more than a keyword suggestion tool. However, it does a great job finding long-tailed keyword opportunities.
20. SEO Chat
SEO Chat provides keyword suggestions pulled from Google, Bing, Amazon and YouTube search results. The tool also allows you to export keywords into a text file.
21. Keyword Revealer
Keyword Revealer is awesome. After witnessing the value of the free version, there’s a good chance that you’ll be convinced to invest in the paid version. Not only does the Keyword Revealer provide standard keyword research metrics, the tool also pulls domain and backlink data from Moz as part of its competitive analysis metrics.
22. KSP Keyword Research
KSP Keyword Research isn’t a suggestion tool. It’s merely a tool for keyword analysis. The tool provides keyword search volume for Google, Yahoo and Bing. It also gives PPC estimates and click-through rates.
23. WebSEO Keyword Research
WebSEO’s keyword research tool’s free version only offers keyword suggestions.
24. Merchant Words
Merchant Words provides you with keyword suggestions, search volume, and categories or niches the keywords appear in. However, like most free tools, it only allows you 3 searches per day.
25. Seed Keywords
Seed Keywords is pretty interesting. It allows you to plant a seed or create a scenario for a search query and then have it to send to contacts of your choosing asking them to type in keywords they would use to solve it. Interesting, right?
26. Keys 4 Up
Keys 4 Up is a keyword suggestion tool that does an outstanding job at finding long-tailed opportunities. It also allows you to export data.