Best Free Keyword Research Tools in 2026

7 Best Free Keyword Research Tools (High Volume, Low Difficulty) Compare 7 options including Google Keyword Planner, Mangools, SE Ranking.

Top Free Keyword Research Tool Picks

#1. Google Keyword Planner - Best for getting direct search volume estimates and CPC data straight from the source.

100% Free / Open Source No Credit Card Required Unlimited Searches

What Is It?

Google Keyword Planner is built directly into Google Ads. It is the gold standard for discovering new keywords and seeing historical search volume data directly from Google.

Free Tier Breakdown

What you get: The tool is completely free to use. You simply need an active Google account and a Google Ads account (you do not have to run active ads).

The catch: If you don't spend money on active ad campaigns, Google will show broad ranges for search volume (e.g., 10K - 100K) instead of exact numbers.
Pros
- Data comes directly from Google
- 100% free to use
- Excellent for commercial intent and CPC data
Cons
- Hides exact search volume without active ad spend
- Lacks organic keyword difficulty metrics
Use Google Keyword Planner
#2. Mangools - Best for bloggers and affiliate marketers looking for an easy-to-use SEO suite.

10-Day Free Trial No Credit Card Required 5 Lookups / Day

What Is It?

Mangools (KWFinder) is beloved for its beautiful, intuitive interface. It simplifies finding low-competition, long-tail keywords for niche websites.

Free Tier Breakdown

What you get: You get a 10-day free trial without a credit card, allowing you 5 keyword lookups and 5 SERP lookups every 24 hours.

The catch: After 10 days, you must upgrade to a paid plan. However, Mangools is one of the most affordable tools on the market.
Pros
- Best UI in the SEO industry
- Highly accurate keyword difficulty scores
- Very affordable paid plans
Cons
- Data for obscure niches can be thin
- Not as robust as Ahrefs for backlink analysis
Start Free Trial on Mangools
#3. SE Ranking - Best for agencies needing an affordable, all-inclusive SEO suite and white-label reports.

14-Day Free Trial (No Credit Card) No Credit Card Required Full Suite Access

What Is It?

SE Ranking is a comprehensive SEO platform offering rank tracking, site audits, and competitor research. It is widely considered the best budget alternative to Semrush.

Free Tier Breakdown

What you get: The 14-day free trial gives you full access to test their robust keyword research tool and track your site's rankings.

The catch: No forever free plan. Their flexible pricing means you pay based on how often you want rankings updated (e.g., daily vs weekly).
Pros
- Incredibly accurate rank tracker
- Very affordable, flexible pricing
- Great white-label reporting features
Cons
- UI can feel a bit sluggish
- Historical data is limited on cheaper plans
Try SE Ranking Free
#4. Ahrefs - Best for serious SEO professionals demanding the deepest, most accurate keyword data.

Freemium (Forever Free Plan) No Credit Card Required Top 100 Keyword Results

What Is It?

Ahrefs offers a free Keyword Generator tool that pulls data from their massive premium database, estimating keyword difficulty and monthly search volumes.

Free Tier Breakdown

What you get: The free web tool lets you enter any seed keyword and instantly see the top 100 related keyword ideas along with their search volumes.

The catch: The free version only shows Keyword Difficulty (KD) scores for the top 10 results, and you cannot export the data.
Pros
- Extremely accurate volume estimates
- Includes YouTube, Amazon, and Bing search data
- Clean, instant results
Cons
- Advanced metrics locked behind an expensive paywall
- Cannot export data from the free tool
Use Ahrefs Keyword Generator
#5. Semrush - Best for comprehensive digital marketing, competitor gap analysis, and PPC data.

Freemium (Forever Free Plan) No Credit Card Required 10 Requests / Day

What Is It?

Semrush is a digital marketing juggernaut. It excels at showing you exactly which keywords your competitors rank for and estimating their organic traffic.

Free Tier Breakdown

What you get: If you skip the trial and sign up for a free account, you can perform 10 free searches per day across their entire suite of tools.

The catch: The free tier only returns the top 10 results per report, restricting your ability to dive deep into long-tail data.
Pros
- Unmatched competitor research capabilities
- Huge database of PPC advertising data
- Includes site auditing tools
Cons
- 10 requests/day goes fast
- Overwhelming UI for beginners
Search on Semrush Free
#6. Ubersuggest - Best for beginners seeking budget-friendly keyword ideas and basic site audits.

Freemium (Forever Free Plan) No Credit Card Required 3 Searches / Day

What Is It?

Ubersuggest, acquired by Neil Patel, is an accessible SEO tool that generates keyword suggestions based on Google Suggest and provides simple competitor overviews.

Free Tier Breakdown

What you get: You can perform up to 3 daily searches for free without an account to see search volume, CPC, and basic keyword difficulty.

The catch: You hit the 3-search paywall very quickly. However, they offer a highly attractive lifetime deal instead of a monthly subscription.
Pros
- Great Chrome extension included
- Offers a cheap lifetime payment option
- Very beginner-friendly UI
Cons
- Data accuracy is notably lower than Ahrefs/Semrush
- 3 daily searches is extremely restrictive
Try Ubersuggest Free
#7. Serpstat - Best for in-house marketing teams focused on Eastern European and global SEO data.

Freemium (Forever Free Plan) No Credit Card Required Basic Lookups with Account

What Is It?

Serpstat is an all-in-one growth hacking tool encompassing keyword research, rank tracking, and site auditing. It is particularly strong in non-US search databases.

Free Tier Breakdown

What you get: By registering a free account, you gain access to limited daily queries to view basic keyword metrics and competitor overviews.

The catch: The free data is heavily truncated, and their paid plans operate on a strict credit-based system that limits api/export usage.
Pros
- Excellent global/regional database
- Features a unique missing keyword tracking tool
- Good API capabilities
Cons
- Interface is somewhat cluttered
- US database not as robust as competitors
Test Serpstat for Free