In 2025, several free tools remain available for SEO practitioners and content creators to find valuable keywords without breaking the bank.
Google's Free Tools
Google Keyword Planner continues to be a go-to resource for keyword research. While it requires a Google Ads account, it's free to use and provides valuable data on search volume and competition. Google Search Console also offers insights into the keywords your site already ranks for, helping you identify opportunities for improvement.
Popular Free Keyword Research Tools
Ubersuggest
Neil Patel's Ubersuggest offers a free version that provides keyword ideas, search volume data, and keyword difficulty scores. It's particularly useful for generating long-tail keyword ideas.
AnswerThePublic
This tool excels at finding question-based keywords, which are excellent for creating content that addresses user queries directly. It presents results in a visually appealing diagram format.
Keyword Generator by Ahrefs
Ahrefs' free Keyword Generator tool can provide up to 150 keyword ideas based on a single seed keyword. It's a great starting point for expanding your keyword list.
Keyword Surfer
This free Chrome extension offers search volume data directly in Google search results, making it easy to identify potential keywords as you browse.
Lookkle Keyword Research Tool
Lookkle's free tool allows you to perform a complete analysis of a chosen keyword, displaying a list of up to a thousand related keywords. It provides information on monthly searches, cost per click (CPC), and competition level for each keyword. This tool is particularly useful for finding low-competition keywords with high search volumes, which is crucial for optimizing marketing campaigns.
Other Noteworthy Options
- Keywordtool.io: Offers a free version that generates keyword ideas based on Google Autocomplete suggestions.
- SEMrush: While primarily a paid tool, it offers limited free daily searches that can still provide valuable insights.
- Moz Keyword Explorer: Provides 10 free queries per month, offering data on search volume, difficulty, and organic click-through rates.
Leveraging Search Engines
Don't overlook the power of search engines themselves. Google's autocomplete feature and the "People Also Ask" section can provide valuable keyword ideas at no cost.
