Are you trying to make your website more visible online?
Do you want more people to find your business through search engines?
It can be tough to know what words people actually search for.
This makes it hard to get your content seen.
But what if there were a way to find exactly what your audience is looking for?
Good keyword research tools can help you do just that.
This article will show you the 9 best keyword research tools out there.
We’ll help you pick the right one to boost your SEO success in 2025!
What Are the Best Keyword Research Tools?
Finding the right keywords is crucial for your website to appear in search results.
But with so many tools out there, how do you pick the best one?
We’ve done the hard work for you.
Here’s our list of the top 9 tools to help you succeed.
1. Semrush (⭐️4.50)
Semrush is like a Swiss Army knife for SEO.
It helps you find keywords, check out what your competitors are doing, and even audit your website for problems.
It’s great for getting a full picture of your online marketing.
Unlock its potential with our Semrush tutorial.
Key Benefits
- A very broad range of marketing tools.
- Offers excellent competitive analysis.
- Provides a holistic approach to SEO.
- Extensive keyword research.
- Detailed site audit capabilities.
Pricing
All the plans will be billed annually.
- Pro Plan ($117.33/month): Competitor analysis, keyword research, and website audit.
- Guru Plan ($208.33/month): Content Marketing Toolkit and historical data.
- Business Plan ($416.66/month): Share of Voice, extended limits, API access, PLA, and analytics.
Pros
Cons
2. Surfer SEO (⭐️4.25)
Surfer SEO helps you write content that Google will love.
It analyzes what’s already ranking high and tells you what keywords to use.
It also suggests how long your content should be.
Unlock its potential with our Surfer SEO tutorial.
Key Benefits
- Focuses on on-page SEO.
- Provides real-time content suggestions.
- Offers data-driven recommendations.
- Content Editor for live optimization.
- Audit tool for existing content.
Pricing
All the plans are annually billed.
- Essential: $79/month
- Scale: $175/month
- Enterprise: Contact them for pricing.
Pros
Cons
3. Ahrefs (⭐️4.00)
Ahrefs is super strong when it comes to checking out backlinks.
It helps you find what keywords your audience is searching for.
You can also see what content is doing well for others.
Unlock its potential with our Ahrefs tutorial.
Key Benefits
- Industry-leading backlink data.
- The second most active web crawler after Google.
- Offers deep competitor insights.
- Site Explorer for competitive analysis.
- Keyword Explorer with traffic values.
Pricing
All the plans will be billed annually.
- Lite: $108/month. You get 5 projects and 750 tracked keywords. This is for small businesses.
- Standard: $208/month. You get 20 projects and 2,000 tracked keywords. This is great for growing websites.
- Advanced: $374/month. This plan offers 50 projects and 5,000 tracked keywords. It’s for bigger teams.
Pros
Cons
4. Ubersuggest (⭐️3.75)
Ubersuggest is a good tool for getting new keyword ideas.
It shows you how many people search for a term and how hard it might be to rank.
It’s pretty easy to use, even for beginners.
Unlock its potential with our Ubersuggest tutorial.
Key Benefits
- Very user-friendly interface.
- One-time payment options are available.
- Offers comprehensive keyword data.
- Robust keyword research.
- Website audit for quick fixes.
Pricing
- Individual ($120/Lifetime)
- Business ($200/Lifetime)
- Enterprise ($400/Lifetime)
Pros
Cons
5. Moz (⭐️3.75)
Moz helps you explore keywords and see how hard it is to rank for them.
It also shows you what words your site already ranks for.
Plus, it gives you tips to make your content better.
Unlock its potential with our Moz tutorial.
Our Take
Boost your SEO! Over 500,000 marketers trust Moz. Users like Tinuiti saw a 1,143% increase in keyword rankings. Ready to use Moz like an expert? Click to start improving your SEO today!
Key Benefits
- Industry-standard Domain Authority.
- Strong focus on link analysis.
- Offers detailed site crawl reports.
- Keyword Explorer for insights.
- Link Explorer for backlink data.
Pricing
All the plans will be billed annually.
- Starter ($39/month)
- Standard ($79/month)
- Medium ($143/month)
- Large ($239/month)
Pros
Cons
6. Content Raptor (⭐️3.50)
Content Raptor helps you make your existing content better for SEO.
It gives you tips on what to add to your articles.
It also connects with Google Search Console for real-time insights.
Unlock its potential with our Content Raptor tutorial.
Key Benefits
- Excellent for content optimization.
- Integrates with Google Search Console.
- Provides unique entity coverage score.
- Content optimization engine.
- Daily keyword rank tracking.
Pricing
- Free ($0)
- Pro ($47/month)
- Enterprise (Contact them for custom pricing)
Pros
Cons
7. SE Ranking (⭐️3.50)
SE Ranking is an all-in-one SEO tool.
It helps you track your keyword rankings and see what your competitors are up to.
It’s also great for checking your backlinks and making sure your website is healthy.
Unlock its potential with our SE Ranking tutorial.
Key Benefits
- Precise keyword rank tracking.
- Strong competitive research features.
- Offers white-label reporting.
- Comprehensive website audits.
- Backlink monitoring and analysis.
Pricing
SE Ranking offers a variety of pricing plans to suit your needs & budget (Billed Annually)
- Essential: $52.00/month. 1 manager seat, 5 projects, Rank Tracker.
- Pro: $95.20/month. 3 Manager seats, 30 projects, On-page and SERP analysis, Share of voice metric.
- Business: $207.20/month. 5 Manager seats, unlimited projects, Maximize data reach, Team Training, Data Insights.
Pros
Cons
8. Ranktracker (⭐️3.50)
Ranktracker focuses on showing you where your website ranks in search results.
You can track your keywords over time and see how your competitors are doing.
It’s good for seeing your progress.
Unlock its potential with our Ranktracker tutorial.
Key Benefits
- Precise keyword position tracking.
- Monitors 43K+ cities for local SEO.
- Offers AI-suggested keywords.
- Daily keyword rank updates.
- SERP feature tracking (snippets, videos).
Pricing
All the plans will be billed annually.
- Starter: $14.00/month
- Double Data: $34.41/month
- Quad Data: $63.58/month
- Hex Data: $121.91/month
Pros
Cons
9. Raven Tools (⭐️3.25)
Raven Tools is an all-around marketing platform.
It helps with SEO audits, tracking rankings, and finding keywords.
It can also help you keep an eye on your competitors and manage social media.
Unlock its potential with our Raven Tools tutorial.
Key Benefits
- Strong focus on customizable reports.
- Integrates many marketing channels.
- Offers a real-time social stream.
- SEO auditing and analysis.
- Backlink analysis (Majestic data).
Pricing
- Small Biz ($39/month)
- Start ($79/month)
- Grow ($139/month)
- Thrive ($249/month)
- Lead ($399/month)
Pros
Cons
What to Look for When Choosing a Keyword Research Tool?
- Accurate Search Volume: Shows how many people search each month.
- Keyword Difficulty Score: Tells you how tough it is to rank.
- Search Intent Analysis: Helps understand why people search for specific terms.
- Competitor Insights: Reveals keywords your rivals are using.
- Long-Tail Keyword Ideas: Find less competitive, specific phrases.
- SERP Features Data: Shows if featured snippets are possible.
- Filtering Options: Easily narrow down your results.
- User-Friendly Interface: The tool features a clear & intuitive interface, making it very easy to navigate and understand.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Fits your budget, whether you’re looking for free or paid options.
- Regular Data Updates: Ensures you’re working with current information.
How Can Keyword Research Tools Boost Your SEO?
Keyword research tools are your secret weapon for getting more people to visit your website.
They help you find great keyword suggestions and related keywords that real people are searching for.
This means you can create content that truly matches what your audience wants.
These seo tools show you important key metrics like monthly search volume.
This tells you how many times a month people search for a certain phrase.
By finding target keywords with good search volume and lower competition, you can improve your website’s chances of ranking higher.
Tools like a keyword explorer tool or a free keyword tool can help you generate keyword ideas.
Even for google ads campaigns, understanding keyword research data is key.
This helps you build a strong keyword strategy, whether you use a free keyword tool or a paid one, and even if you link your google ads account.
Buyers Guide
We wanted to find the best tools out there. Here’s how we looked at each one:
When doing our research to find the best product, we determined using these factors:
- Pricing: How much did each product cost, including details on any free keyword research tool options or free plan limitations.
- Features: What were the best features of each platform or software? We looked at how well they generated keyword suggestions, provided related keywords, offered a keyword magic tool, connected to google keyword planner or the google ads platform for paid search campaigns, provided keyword search volume and exact search volumes, helped identify keyword opportunities, allowed for building a keyword list, showed search volume data, supported organic keyword research, included serp analysis, found long tail keyword variations, assessed keyword competition, helped identify seed keyword options, showed average monthly searches, allowed unlimited searches, and assisted with more in depth research for content marketing and paid search. We also checked for keyword data, key metrics, and how they handled high volume keywords, niche keywords, relevant keywords, and the most relevant keywords.
- Negatives: What was missing or difficult to use in each product?
- Support or refund: Do they offer a community, support, or refund policy? We also considered how well they helped analyze competitors rank and group keywords, and if they provided insights into transactional keywords for a broader seo strategy for a given keyword or website url. We also checked for integration with google trends.
Wrapping Up
So, there you have it! We’ve talked about the top 9 best keyword research tools out there.
We also looked at what makes a good tool and how they can help your SEO.
These tools offer important keyword metrics and access to the largest keyword database to help you.
You can even find options for free searches to get started.
Understanding which keywords have high search volume is key to getting more eyes on your content.
We’ve gone through all the details to help you make a smart choice.
Our goal is to help you get more visitors to your site and grow your online presence.
Trust our guide to help you pick the perfect tool for your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is keyword research?
Keyword research is finding words and phrases people type into search engines. It helps you understand what the audience wants. This way, you can create content that appears when they search, attracting more visitors to your website.
Why is keyword research important for SEO?
It’s extremely important for SEO because it enables you to target the right audience. By knowing what people search for, you can make content that answers their questions. This allows the website to rank higher in search results, driving more organic traffic.
How do I choose the best keyword research tool?
Look for tools that show accurate search volume and keyword difficulty. Additionally, verify if they provide competitor insights and assistance with long-tail keywords. A user-friendly interface and a good support system are also key factors to consider.
Can I do keyword research for free?
Yes, you can start with some free tools like Google Keyword Planner. While paid tools offer more in-depth data and features, free options are great for beginners. They help you get a basic understanding of keywords and start your SEO journey.
How often should I do keyword research?
Keyword research isn’t a one-time thing. Search trends change, so it’s essential to revisit your keywords regularly. Doing it every few months or when planning new content helps you stay updated and maintain a strong SEO.
