Keyword research tools help businesses identify the most relevant keywords for search engine optimisation (SEO) and content creation. They provide data on search volume, competition, and related keywords, aiding in the optimisation of website content for search engines. This, in turn, can improve website visibility and drive organic traffic.

There are lots of tools for finding good keywords (words people use to search online), like hundreds of them. Some are easy for beginners, and some are super complicated. They can be as simple as a rock or super helpful.

The good ones make your work easier by helping you find the right keywords and the information you need to rank well on search engines. But they shouldn't be so expensive that you have to spend all your money or do crazy things to get them.

Here are four awesome keyword research tools that won't cost you a penny. Some are great for everything, while others are perfect for certain jobs.

Four Best Free Keyword Research Tools

Moz

Moz's SEO platform has lots of helpful tools for finding the right keywords. Unlike some other big and complex SEO tools, Moz keeps it simple, which is great if you're not a pro at this stuff. You still get all the important info you need.

One cool tool is called "Keyword Explorer." You type in a keyword you like, and it shows you how often people search for it, how hard it is to rank for, and how likely people are to click on search results with that keyword. It also shows you what other words are similar.

What's neat is that Moz gives each keyword a "Priority" score to make things easy. It tells you if a keyword is worth focusing on. The score comes from the keyword's popularity, how often people click on it, and how tough it is to rank for. You can also set your "My Score" to say how important a keyword is for your business based on what you know.

There's also a "Keyword Gap" feature that helps you see what keywords your competitors use that you don't. It's handy for finding new ideas.

When it comes to finding keywords for PPC (pay-per-click) advertising, Google Keyword Planner is one of the best tools around. The best part? It's totally free, even if you don't spend money on Google Ads. So you don't have to worry about limits or extra costs.

You can use Moz for keyword research for free but with some limits. You get up to 10 queries per tool each month, and for each query, you can get up to 1,000 keyword suggestions and check ten search results pages.

If you need more, you can go for Moz Pro, which starts at $99 per month. With this plan, you'll get more flexibility, like 150 keyword queries each month.

Google Keyword Planner

Google Keyword Planner has two main features. One helps you discover new keywords, and the other digs deeper into things like search volume and predictions.

With the "Keyword ideas" feature, you type in a word, and it gives you other keyword ideas. It also tells you how often people search for them, how competition changes, and how much you might have to pay for ads. You can narrow down your list by using filters like brand or non-brand keywords.

If you're using Google Ads, there's a "Forecast" feature that helps you plan and budget for your ads in advance.

Here's a cool trick: Even if you're not doing ads, you can use Keyword Planner to figure out which keywords might be good for your regular website. It can help you save money by showing you where you might not need to pay for ads.

The best part? It's all free!

Ahrefs

Ahrefs has a bunch of really useful free SEO tools, even though you can't access their full range for free. These tools are great for simple keyword research. Here's what you get for free:

• Free Keyword Generator: This gives you up to 150 keyword ideas for free. You get 100 related keywords and 50 questions people ask. It also tells you how often people search for each word and how hard it is to rank for them.

• Keyword Difficulty Checker: This tool helps you understand how tough it is to rank for a keyword. It gives you a difficulty score, tells you how many backlinks you might need to rank well, and shows you the top 10 results on search engines.

They also offer keyword research tools for YouTube, Amazon, and Bing, among others. These free tools won't give you as much info as the paid ones, but they cover a lot of ground. You can do keyword research, build links, check your website, monitor your rankings and traffic, and more.

If your budget allows, you can later upgrade to their paid plans, which provide even more data and start at $99 per month. So, Ahrefs have you covered for free, and if you need more later, they've got you there, too.

Semrush

If you want to get really fancy with your keyword research, Semrush is a top choice. They give you a ton of data, and you can dive deep into all the details, like the special things that show up in search results (like featured snippets, reviews, and more). Semrush offers a wide range of tools for keyword research, including:

• Keyword Overview: This gives you a general look at a keyword, like how many people search for it and how competitive it is.

• Keyword Magic Tool: This helps you explore keywords and find new ideas.

• Keyword Manager and Position Tracking: You can keep an eye on how well your website is doing for specific keywords.

• Competitive Keyword Gap Analysis: This lets you see what keywords your competitors are using that you're not.

• Organic Traffic Insights: When you link it to your Google Analytics or Search Console, it can uncover those tricky "not provided" keywords.

As a bonus, they have the "SEO Content Template" tool, which helps you create content. It grades your content as you write, checking for things like readability and SEO, and it shows you recommendations (like using the right keywords and adding links and images).

The thing is, all this cool stuff comes at a cost if you want to use it a lot. But don't worry, you can start with it for free, just with some limits on how much you can do.

Conclusion

Keyword research tools are essential for businesses, particularly startups and aspiring entrepreneurs, looking to boost their online presence and attract organic traffic. This article introduces four great options for different needs, from the user-friendly Moz to the free Google Keyword Planner, versatile Ahrefs, and advanced Semrush. Whether you're on a tight budget or ready to invest, there's a tool here to help you succeed in the digital landscape.