Best tools for keyword research for SEO newbie

[iamathlete]

Any advice on the best tool to use for keyword research?

[webdew · Accepted solution]

Hi @iamathlete ,

There are a lot of tools you can use for keyword research. I have mentioned my three favourite tools below. 

1. Keyword Planner: It is a free keyword research tool by google. There are two options in this tool. You can either use keywords to find more keyword suggestions or you can directly add URLs to find keywords. Basically every beginner uses this tool. 
2. Keyword Analyzer: Neil Patel's Keyword Analyzer is another excellent keyword research tool. Simply type a keyword and it will provide keyword suggestions. It displays information such as search volume, cost per click (CPC), paid difficulty, and SEO difficulty.
   The free version of Keyword Analyzer displays around 25 to 30 keyword ideas and is limited to three searches each day. However, if you want more ideas, you'll have to upgrade to the premium edition.
   3. Soovle: It is a simple yet useful keyword research tool. This tool combines results from many search engines. If you're stuck for keywords, this application will assist you discover them on several search engines.
   

You can also use google's auto suggest feature to find more related keywords or long tail keywords. 

Hope this helps!

If we were able to answer your query, kindly help the community by marking it as a solution.

Thanks and Regard.

[Fredmurphy]

Absolutely! When starting out in SEO, having a solid keyword research tool is essential for building a strong content strategy and ensuring your efforts are aligned with search demand. Keyword research is the foundation of any effective SEO plan—it helps you understand what your audience is actually searching for, how competitive those terms are, and what type of content will give you the best chance to rank.

Google Keyword Planner: For SEO beginners, tools like Google Keyword Planner are a great free starting point, providing search volume estimates and keyword suggestions directly from Google. However, it’s often limited in terms of competitor analysis and long-tail keyword data.

Ubersuggest: If you're looking for more robust insights, Ubersuggest by Neil Patel is a fantastic user-friendly option with generous free features, including keyword suggestions, traffic estimations, and competitive analysis. AnswerThePublic is also highly recommended for uncovering content ideas based on real user queries, especially if you’re looking to build topic clusters or optimize for featured snippets.

SEMrush and Ahrefs: For those ready to invest in more powerful tools, SEMrush and Ahrefs offer comprehensive keyword research, SERP analysis, content gap analysis, and much more, making them perfect for scaling your strategy as your site grows. No matter which tool you choose, what’s most important is developing a consistent content creation plan based on data-driven keyword selection. That means aligning keywords with user intent, structuring content to answer questions thoroughly, and continuously analyzing your results to refine your approach.

Thanks You!

[Fredmurphy]

Absolutely, diving into keyword research as an SEO newbie can feel overwhelming, but having the right tools makes a world of difference. For beginners, it’s important to start with tools that balance ease of use with robust features. Google Keyword Planner is a great starting point—it’s free and gives you access to search volume data straight from the source.

Ubersuggest: If you're looking for something a bit more intuitive and visual, Ubersuggest by Neil Patel is beginner-friendly and offers insights into keyword difficulty, SERP analysis, and content ideas, all in one place. Answer the Public is another valuable tool that maps out keyword ideas in a question-based format, which is great for targeting long-tail keywords and understanding user intent.

Ahrefs and SEMrush: For a more in-depth experience, Ahrefs and SEMrush are industry leaders, offering comprehensive suites that cover keyword tracking, competitor analysis, and content gap discovery—though they come with a steeper learning curve and cost.

Keywords Everywhere: It's also important not to overlook Keywords Everywhere, a browser extension that overlays keyword data as you browse the web, making learning feel much more natural. As you start building your content strategy, remember that keyword research isn't just about finding high-volume terms—it's about identifying topics your audience genuinely cares about and aligning them with your brand’s value. 

Thanks a lot!

[SaeedKhosravi]

I recommend the following free keyword research tools in no specific order:

• UberSuggest
• Answer The public
• Allintitle (check out its Free KW Explorer and Free Niche Finder)
• Google Keyword Planner (you need an ads account to use this.)
• SpyFu (Freemium)
• Also Asked

The list can go on and on but these were the ones that give the most features or keywords for free and are really easy to use and straight forward. There are for sure premium tools like SemRush, Ahrefs or other tools that fall more on the premium (paid) end of the freemium spectrum.

There were tools like KW Finder that used to be free but no longer are, so I have not mentioned them either.

Among the above list, Allintitle is very generious in terms of how many keywords it provides and features it gives for free. It includes clustering, search volume data, SERP overview and Google/Bing ads keywords, plus auto suggest from multiple sources including Google, Yahoo, Bing, Amazon, etc. Check out the screenshots below:

Allintitle Free KW Explorer

Allintitle Clustering Feature

[dwightbraun]

Hello Hubspot Community,

Thank you for asking! For SEO newbies, there are several great tools to help with keyword research. If you're just starting, I’d recommend trying Google Keyword Planner—it’s free and gives you a solid foundation by showing search volumes and competition levels.

Another beginner-friendly option is Ubersuggest by Neil Patel. It’s user-friendly and provides keyword ideas, search trends, and even content suggestions.

If you’re willing to invest a little, tools like SEMRush or Ahrefs offer more comprehensive insights and can help you grow as you become more advanced in SEO.

Feel free to ask...if you need specific tips on how to use these tools!!!

[JamieIF]

Personally, I recommend Answer Socrates as the best free SEO keyword research tool.

I've used it for 2+ years, and it's completely free to use. It gives you hundreds of keywords from entering your seed term, and includes the People Also Asked questions, Google Trends info, and even recommends social media content ideas from your keyword search.

It includes all the CPC, search volume, and competition estimation for free, and there's also free keyword clustering in there too, and you can download your keyword lists as CSVs to manage this.

[LaghariSEO · Accepted solution]

This thread may be old, but it's still visible on Google, so I’d like to share some expertise.

Google's platforms are incredibly valuable for beginners when it comes to keyword research and general SEO tasks. They provide key metrics and help structure tasks efficiently. I’d also recommend that newcomers start using third-party platforms from the beginning, as most SEO roles will involve working with these tools.

My recommended list includes tools like Google Search Console, Bing Webmaster, and third-party popular platforms such as Ahrefs, Semrush, and SE Ranking for agency-level tasks. For technical SEO, tools like Screaming Frog are invaluable. Everything else is more optional depending on your needs.

[GiantFocal]

Joining this discussion because I haven't seen a good list specifically for newbies yet.

Here is my personal favorite list:

• Google Keyword Planner: This free tool from Google is an excellent starting point for keyword research. Even though its data is limited, it's still valuable for starters. And if you plan to integrate paid ads, then mastering Google Keyword Planner is mandatory. 
• Ubersuggest: A user-friendly tool that offers keyword suggestions, search volume data, and content ideas. It has a free version with limited features.
• Ahrefs Webmaster Tools: Ahrefs, in general, isn't beginner-friendly, but its free version is a perfect one. If you’re working on a small website or project, the free version is more than enough. It allows you to analyze your website's keywords and find "quick win" opportunities.
• Google Search Console: If your website already has traction, it’s best to set up a GSC account. It’s not a keyword research tool per se, but it provides many insights into how your website performs, including ranking data, SEO issues, sitemap issues, etc.

Best regards,

Abraham @ GiantFocal

[BDadwal]

Thanks for this update @iamathlete 

[adamblackwellz]

The thread is from two years ago, but hey, great advice on keyword research is always valuable, right? When it comes to finding the best tools for keyword research, there are a few popular options to consider.
As a newbie, you can start with free tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, and AnswerThePublic. They provide valuable insights into search volume, keyword ideas, and related queries.
For a deeper understanding of conducting an enterprise SEO audit, I recommend checking out https://vikinglinks.com/how-to-do-an-enterprise-seo-audit-the-24-points-to-check-in-your-website/. They provide a wealth of information and tips to help you optimize your website's performance.

[kvlschaefer]

Hi @adamblackwellz,

Thanks for chiming in! It's never too late to offer a recommendation.

Which tools do you recommend?

Best,

Kristen 

[MBabaShope]

The best tools for keyword research for SEO newbies. Here are some options:

1. Google Keyword Planner: This free tool from Google helps identify popular keywords for your niche and provides data on search volume, competition, and more.

2. SEMrush: SEMrush is a popular keyword research tool that offers comprehensive keyword data, including search volume, competition, related keywords, and more. It also provides SEO features like site audit, backlink analysis, and rank tracking.

3. Ahrefs: Ahrefs is another popular tool for keyword research, offering comprehensive keyword data, including search volume, difficulty, and more. It also provides SEO features like site audit, backlink analysis, and rank tracking.

4. Moz Keyword Explorer: Moz Keyword Explorer is a popular tool that provides data on keyword difficulty, search volume, and related keywords. It also offers other SEO features like site audits and rank tracking.

5. Answer the Public: This free tool provides keyword suggestions based on questions people ask online. It can help you identify long-tail keywords and topics for content creation.

Overall, I recommend starting with Google Keyword Planner, as it's free and offers a great starting point for keyword research. Once you're comfortable with that tool, you can explore more advanced options like SEMrush or Ahrefs.

[kvlschaefer]

Thank you for sharing these suggestions, @MBabaShope! 

[Getseowebsite]

Keyword planner is the best tools for keyword research for SEO newbie.

[webdew · Accepted solution]

Hi @iamathlete ,

There are a lot of tools you can use for keyword research. I have mentioned my three favourite tools below. 

1. Keyword Planner: It is a free keyword research tool by google. There are two options in this tool. You can either use keywords to find more keyword suggestions or you can directly add URLs to find keywords. Basically every beginner uses this tool. 
2. Keyword Analyzer: Neil Patel's Keyword Analyzer is another excellent keyword research tool. Simply type a keyword and it will provide keyword suggestions. It displays information such as search volume, cost per click (CPC), paid difficulty, and SEO difficulty.
   The free version of Keyword Analyzer displays around 25 to 30 keyword ideas and is limited to three searches each day. However, if you want more ideas, you'll have to upgrade to the premium edition.
   3. Soovle: It is a simple yet useful keyword research tool. This tool combines results from many search engines. If you're stuck for keywords, this application will assist you discover them on several search engines.
   

You can also use google's auto suggest feature to find more related keywords or long tail keywords. 

Hope this helps!

If we were able to answer your query, kindly help the community by marking it as a solution.

Thanks and Regard.

[MTreamer]

I would also add https://www.kwrds.ai on this list

[Anne1919]

I need this..thanks!

[MBabaShope]

Ahref is the best tool 

[kvlschaefer]

Thanks for the suggestion, @MBabaShope!