Note (September 2026): Google Correlate (No. 5) was shut down by Google on December 15, 2019, and the Wordtracker Scout Chrome extension (No. 8) has been replaced by Wordtracker Inspect; the entries below now say so.
The best free keyword research tools are Google Keyword Planner (search volume and cost estimates inside a Google Ads account), Google Trends (relative interest over time), the Semrush free plan (10 reports per day as of September 2026), Ubersuggest, Soovle, and WordStream’s Free Keyword Tool. Google Correlate no longer exists; it closed in December 2019.
Key Takeaways
- Google Keyword Planner is free to use but sits inside a Google Ads account; Google’s help pages say billing information must be completed before features such as “Get ideas for new keywords” work.
- Google Trends shows relative interest on a 0 to 100 scale, not raw search counts, so pair it with a volume tool.
- Semrush (owned by Adobe since April 28, 2026) offers a free plan with 1 demo project and 10 reports per day, according to its knowledge base as of September 2026.
- Three of the ten original entries have changed: Google Correlate shut down in 2019, Wordtracker Scout became Wordtracker Inspect, and keywordin.com now redirects to SEO Scout.
- Free tools cover idea generation well; exact volumes and difficulty scores usually need a paid plan.
Workings of any business have changed due to the internet. Marketing tools too have evolved to benefit the manufacturers. It is one of the best times to turn entrepreneur, thanks to the internet. People focus on the product and leave the creation of the website to professionals.
Free Online Keyword Research Tools for SEO
It is, however, important to understand that despite having an exceptional user interface, ease of navigation in the website, and excellent content to promote an outstanding product, you might not get traffic on your website. Without traffic on your site, there is a bleak chance of your project taking off and providing you return on investment.
While writing content for the website, it is important to choose appropriate keywords. SEO writing is preferred to direct traffic to your website, otherwise, it will be extremely difficult for users to look for your website.
People use keyword research tools to generate keyword for dedicated content which causes your website to feature prominently on search engine research pages. There is no dearth of keyword research tools available, however, these are Top 10 Free Keyword Research Tools.
1] Google Keyword Planner
It is one of the preferred choices for any new site. The best benefit is that it is easy, you can directly use information from Google. The keyword list apart, you can also find average monthly searches, competition and suggested bids. Google retired the AdWords brand in 2018, so Keyword Planner now lives inside a Google Ads account; Google’s help pages say billing information must be completed before features such as “Get ideas for new keywords” become available.
Get keyword data from the source, along with statistics including average monthly searches, the average cost per click, competition level (low, medium or high), etc.
2] SEMrush
You can start the search by just entering your or a competitor’s URL to get keywords ranking for the site. You can use these keywords to edge out your competition and emerge on top. The free version of Semrush provides limited ability to pull data: according to Semrush’s knowledge base as of September 2026, the Free plan includes 1 demo project and 10 reports per day across its main tools, with no credit card required. Semrush, founded in 2008 and based in Boston, has been owned by Adobe since the acquisition closed on April 28, 2026.
3] Google Trends
Search trends change with time. What was prevalent a couple of months back might not generate the same buzz later. It is therefore important to keep abreast with the latest trend and Google Trends does the same for you. It is not limited to the past 5 years: users choose the time range, and related queries suggest alternative keywords. Google Trends shows relative interest scaled from 0 to 100 rather than raw search counts, according to Google’s Trends help pages, so it shows direction and seasonality, not volume.
4] AdWord & SEO Keyword Permutation Generator
Despite knowing the top keyword in your specific field, you might not know how to create further content to popularise your website. You can use this tool to generate alternate keywords using a permutation generator tool to get creative keywords which line up with your marketing strategy. The original generator, built by developer Dan Zambonini, could not be reached when checked in September 2026; free keyword combiner tools, such as the Keyword Combiner offered by SEO Scout, do the same job of mixing lists of seed words.
5] Google Correlate
Google Correlate provided a list of search terms whose search patterns moved together. Google shut the tool down on December 15, 2019, citing low usage, so it is no longer available. This correlation along with your keyword can be used to create content to attract potential users to the site. Making use of search patterns on Google along with real-world trends, this tool provided keyword options while it was live; today the related-queries report in Google Trends is the free Google option for similar exploration.
6] Soovle
Use a root keyword and Soovle will show autocomplete suggestions related to yours from several sites at once, including Google, Amazon, Bing, YouTube and Wikipedia. As of September 2026, Soovle is owned by SEO.com (powered by WebFX), soovle.com redirects there, and the tool is still free. With this, you get a list of potential keywords which can be used to create content.
7] Ubersuggest
If you want to find many keyword ideas for a root keyword, Ubersuggest, from marketer Neil Patel, is a useful tool. Ubersuggest provides a long list of options, with alphabet and number variations. The free version offers limited features; full access requires a paid plan, which Neil Patel’s site describes as a one-time payment for lifetime access. Prices change, so check the current offer. This is like a treasure trove of potential keywords.
8] Wordtracker Scout
Wordtracker Scout was a free Chrome extension that picked the most relevant keywords on a web page and displayed them in a word cloud. According to an update Wordtracker added to its Scout blog post in March 2021, Scout has been folded into the Wordtracker keyword tool as Wordtracker Inspect, which offers a limited number of free daily searches, and the Scout extension is no longer available from the Chrome Web Store. You can either surf through your competitors’ website for relevant keywords, Wordtracker does it efficiently and in less time. Thanks to high-level keyword performance metrics, you get to know the best keywords.
9] Wordstream Free Keyword tool
WordStream’s Free Keyword Tool, still offered as of September 2026, is dedicated to finding related keywords with further suggestions regarding the competition. WordStream says the tool draws on a database of more than a trillion unique search queries. You can group the keywords based on a common theme to generate highly targeted traffic to your website.
10] Keyword In
You might have come up with some keywords related to your product, but don’t want to use the same in all your content. Keyword In let you modify them by creating a list of potential keywords through mixing and matching. As of September 2026, the keywordin.com address redirects to Scout Suggest, a free keyword suggestion tool from SEO Scout, which also offers a free Keyword Combiner for the same mix-and-match job.
You may also like.
- Google Keyword Planner Alternatives.
- Keyword Guide for SEO.
- The Ever-Growing Importance of Keywords.
Which Free Keyword Research Tools Still Work?
The status of each tool below was checked in September 2026. Free limits change often, so treat them as a snapshot.
| Tool | Status (September 2026) | What the free version gives you | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Keyword Planner | Active, inside Google Ads | Keyword ideas, monthly search estimates, competition and bid estimates | Volume and cost checks |
| Semrush | Active, owned by Adobe | 1 demo project, 10 reports per day | Competitor keywords |
| Google Trends | Active | Relative interest (0 to 100), related queries | Seasonality and rising topics |
| Keyword Permutation Generator | Original site unreachable | Alternatives: free keyword combiners | Mixing seed word lists |
| Google Correlate | Shut down December 15, 2019 | Not available | Use Google Trends instead |
| Soovle | Active, now on SEO.com | Autocomplete suggestions from several sites | Quick idea generation |
| Ubersuggest | Active | Limited free features | Keyword ideas with metrics |
| Wordtracker Scout | Replaced by Wordtracker Inspect | Limited free daily searches | Keywords on competitor pages |
| WordStream Free Keyword Tool | Active | Keyword suggestions | PPC and SEO idea lists |
| Keyword In | Redirects to SEO Scout | Scout Suggest and Keyword Combiner | Long-tail and combined terms |
What Is Keyword Research?
Keyword research is the process of finding the words and phrases people type into search engines, then judging which of them a page can realistically rank for. It shapes page titles, headings and content so that a page answers the query behind each search.
Good keyword research weighs three things: how often a term is searched, how hard it is to rank for, and what the searcher wants (search intent). A free tool usually handles the first step well, idea generation, and gives rougher numbers for the other two. For how organic keywords differ from paid ones, see this guide to the difference between SEO and SEM.
How to Do Keyword Research With Free Tools
- List seed topics. Write down five to ten words that describe your product, service or subject.
- Expand the list. Run each seed through Soovle, Ubersuggest or WordStream’s Free Keyword Tool to collect autocomplete phrases and related ideas.
- Check demand. Paste the best ideas into Google Keyword Planner for monthly search estimates, and into Google Trends to see whether interest is rising, falling or seasonal.
- Check competition. Use the Semrush free reports to see which keywords competing sites rank for, and search each term yourself to see what type of page ranks.
- Match intent. Group keywords by what the searcher wants (to learn, compare or buy) and assign one main group to each page.
- Write and optimize. Use the main keyword naturally in the title, first paragraph and one heading, following standard on-page SEO practice, and use a free word counter to keep titles and descriptions to length.
Free vs. Paid Keyword Tools
Free keyword tools are strong at generating ideas and spotting trends. Their limits usually show up in three places:
- Search volume precision: Google Trends shows only relative interest, and free plans elsewhere cap how many reports you can run each day.
- Daily quotas: the Semrush Free plan, for example, allows 10 reports per day as of September 2026.
- Depth: full keyword lists, difficulty scores and rank tracking usually sit behind paid plans.
For a small site, a mix of free tools is often enough. Larger sites that track hundreds of keywords may find a paid plan saves time; plan prices change, so compare current offers on each vendor’s own pricing page. This round-up of SEO tools for organic traffic covers broader options.
Common Keyword Research Mistakes
- Chasing volume only: a high-volume term with the wrong intent brings visitors who leave.
- Ignoring long-tail phrases: longer, specific searches are often easier to rank for and closer to a decision.
- Relying on discontinued tools: guides that still recommend Google Correlate or the Wordtracker Scout extension are out of date.
- Targeting one keyword on many pages: pages end up competing with each other; give each page its own main topic.
- Treating paid-search costs as fixed: bid estimates in Keyword Planner move with competition; see how to cut costs on expensive keywords.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free keyword research tool?
Google Keyword Planner is the most widely used free keyword research tool because its estimates come from Google’s own data, but it requires a Google Ads account. For quick ideas without an account, Soovle and WordStream’s Free Keyword Tool are simpler starting points.
Is Google Keyword Planner really free?
Google Keyword Planner has no separate fee, but it runs inside Google Ads. Google’s help pages say you must complete account setup, including billing information, to use features such as “Get ideas for new keywords.”
Does Semrush have a free plan?
Yes. According to Semrush’s knowledge base as of September 2026, the Semrush Free plan needs no credit card and includes 1 demo project and 10 reports per day across its main tools.
What happened to Google Correlate?
Google Correlate was shut down on December 15, 2019, because of low usage. Google Trends, including its related-queries report, is the free Google tool still available for exploring connected searches.
Can Google Trends show exact search volume?
No. Google Trends scales search interest from 0 to 100 relative to the peak in the chosen time and place, according to Google’s Trends help pages. Use Google Keyword Planner or another volume tool for search estimates.
Is Wordtracker Scout still available?
No, not as a Chrome extension. Wordtracker says Scout was folded into its keyword tool as Wordtracker Inspect in March 2021, with a limited number of free daily searches.
