7 Unlimited Free Keyword Research Tools Every blogger Should Know About
Let’s be real—one of the most frustrating experiences as a blogger or content writer is falling in love with a free SEO tool, only to watch it skyrocket in popularity and suddenly a price tag is slap on it. Locking away the most valuable features and limiting free usage? Frustrating, right?
So determined to solve this, I embarked on a quest to find free keyword research tools that come without a price tag and have no limitations on their usage.
After thorough exploration and digging I found seven tools that stand out and deserve a mention.
Let’s dive into them, but first, let’s understand why keyword research is essential in the first place.
The Importance of Keyword Research
Keyword research forms the foundation of effective content creation. If no one is searching for a particular keyword, investing your time, energy, and resources into crafting content around it serves little purpose.
Imagine you pour your heart and soul into crafting a piece of content. You’re excited to share it, but then… crickets. No one is searching for the keyword you wrote about. It’s like throwing a party with no invites sent out.
Equally important is understanding your competition. If your target keyword puts you against authoritative websites while your site is still gaining traction, the chances of ranking higher are slim to none.
For example, if you’re targeting a keyword that’s super competitive that industry giants with high domain authority are ranking for, your chances of ranking is pretty slim especially if your site is still growing.
And that’s why keyword research is essential. For newer sites, the sweet spot is finding keywords with:
- At least 100 monthly searches (so there’s decent traffic potential).
- Low to medium competition (so you have a shot at ranking).
Therefore by strategically targeting such keywords, you increase your likelihood of ranking well and driving traffic to your site.
So now let’s dive into these 7 free keyword research tools that can help you achieve just that—without having to pay a monthly subscription.
The Best Free Keyword Research Tools with No Usage Limits
1. Ryan Robinson’s Keyword Tool
Website: ryrob.com/keyword-tool/
Let’s kick things off with Ryan Robinson’s tool. Ryan Robinson’s free keyword tool is a user-friendly option for generating keyword ideas. It’s super simple to use. Simply just input or type in a keyword and hit submit.
The tool shows you search volume, keyword difficulty, and even tosses in related keyword ideas. But here’s the catch: don’t rely solely on its keyword difficulty score, especially if your site is new.
Pro tip: Use the Ubersuggest Chrome extension alongside this tool. This way, you can check the domain authority (DA) of the top-ranking pages on Google. If the top 10 results all have a DA over 40, it might be a sign to move on to less competitive keywords and the keyword is likely too competitive for a new site. Instead, aim for keywords where at least some top-ranking pages have a DA below 40.
If your site is more established (think 300+ articles), your focus should shift to building topical authority—covering a wide range of topics within your niche. Either way, Ryan Robinson’s tool is great for sparking new keyword ideas.
This tool is perfect for generating keyword ideas and identifying opportunities you might have overlooked.
2. The HOTH’s Keyword Planner
Website: The HOTH’s Free Keyword Tool
The HOTH’s free keyword research tool is powered by Semrush—one of the most popular (and expensive) SEO tools out there.
The HOTH’s keyword research tool offers a glimpse into premium data. It provides search volume, cost-per-click (CPC), and competition metrics. While the competition level primarily pertains to paid ads, the tool remains useful for initial keyword exploration.
One standout feature is its display of keyword intent—whether the searcher is looking to learn, purchase, or explore options.
Understanding intent is crucial, as it helps tailor your content to meet your audience’s needs. Combine this tool with manual competition analysis on Google for the best results.
3. Ahrefs Keyword Generator
Website: Ahrefs Keyword Generator
Ahrefs is a well-known premium tool, but its free keyword generator offers exceptional value.
Beyond Google, it supports keyword research for Bing, YouTube, and Amazon. By selecting a specific country, you can conduct localized research.
Ahrefs’ approach differs slightly: it mimics the Alphabet Soup method, (you know, where you type a keyword into Google followed by A, B, C, etc., to see what pops up). It generates keyword suggestions based on what users commonly search for.
Additionally, Ahrefs also gives you a Keyword Difficulty (KD) score:
- 0–10 = Easy
- 11–30 = Medium
- 30+ = Challenging
This makes it super clear whether a keyword is worth pursuing based on your site’s current authority.
4. Keyword Surfer
Website: Chrome Extension (Keyword Surfer)
This one’s a bit different—it’s a Chrome extension. Once installed, it integrates directly into your Google searches. You can also toggle data for specific countries, making it a versatile tool for location-specific research.
While it lacks domain authority metrics, it compensates by showing estimated monthly traffic for domains and keyword usage frequency on pages. This lightweight extension is perfect for quick, on-the-go research.
5. WordStream’s Free Keyword Tool
Website: WordStream Keyword Tool
WordStream’s free keyword tool is another excellent resource.
In addition to entering keywords, you can input a URL to uncover the keywords that a specific website is ranking for.
While you can only view the first page of results without an account, it’s still a valuable feature for competitive analysis.
For example, analyzing a competitor’s site can reveal opportunities you might have overlooked.
What’s also unique? You can input a URL instead of just a keyword. This lets you see all the keywords a specific site is ranking for.
The only limitation? You’ll need an account to unlock results beyond the first page.
6. SearchVolume.io
Website: SearchVolume.io
This simple yet effective tool provides average monthly search volume for your target keywords.
Enter multiple keywords separated by line breaks, select a country, and receive precise search volume data.
Though it lacks advanced features like keyword suggestions or competition metrics, it’s an excellent supplementary tool for verifying search volume , a quick way to gauge interest in a topic..
7. Google Keyword Planner
Website: Google Keyword Planner
Google Keyword Planner remains a gold standard for keyword research. As the source of most keyword data, it’s reliable and entirely free. All you need is a Google account to access it.
It’s the source of truth for keyword data, and it’s completely free as long as you have a Google account. So with Google Keyword Planner you can:
- Discover new keywords.
- Filter by location or even view worldwide data.
- Analyze keywords a specific website or page is ranking for.
If you want more detailed data, running a low-budget Google Ads campaign (think $1/day) can unlock additional insights.
Conclusion
Keyword research is vital for driving organic traffic and creating impactful content. By leveraging these free tools, you can uncover valuable keywords without breaking the bank.
keep in mind that they are just one piece of the puzzle. Keyword research should always be complemented by thoughtful content planning, a deep understanding of your audience, and consistent efforts to produce high-quality, engaging content.
So whether you’re just starting out or managing an established site, these resources provide the insights you need to stay ahead of the competition.
So experiment with these different tools.
Keyword research doesn’t have to be expensive or overwhelming. With these seven free tools, you can uncover valuable keywords, understand search intent, and create content that not only ranks but connects with your audience.
Have fun experimenting, and remember: the key to SEO success is consistency, creativity, and staying curious. Let’s keep growing together!
