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Tools / Free Keyword Research Tool

Free Keyword Research Tool for SEO

Find keywords worth targeting in seconds. Check search volume, keyword difficulty, and search intent, powered by Semrush data.

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How to Use the Free Keyword Research Tool

  • 1Enter a keyword in the field above
  • 2Click "Analyze Keyword" to get a free keyword report
  • 3Pick the best keywords and plan your content

Check Keyword Search Volume and Difficulty

See how often people search for a keyword and how hard it is to rank, with no setup and no signup.

  • See the average monthly searches in the US
  • Get a keyword difficulty score from 0 to 100%
  • See where it lands, from Very Easy to Very Hard
  • Read what it will take to rank, in plain English

For keyword difficulty personalized to your own site, try Keyword Overview.

Understand Search Intent

Know what searchers want before you create content.

  • See the search intent behind any keyword
  • Hover over any label for a quick definition
  • Match your page type to what searchers expect
  • Avoid writing a blog post when people want to buy

Get Keyword Ideas with Search Demand

Turn one keyword into a list of related searches.

  • Get 10 related keywords, sorted by search volume
  • See each idea's volume, difficulty, and cost per click
  • See total volume and average difficulty across all 10
  • Find thousands more in Keyword Magic Tool

See Trends and AI Search Volume in Semrush

See how demand shifts over the year, and how often related topics come up on AI platforms.

  • See the 12-month search trend for your keyword
  • Check Related AI Volume across AI platforms
  • Spot seasonal keywords before you plan content
  • Unlock both in Semrush from your report

Research Any Keyword in Seconds

Enter a keyword to see its volume, difficulty, intent, and 10 related ideas in one free report.

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What Will the Keyword Research Tool Show?

Seven free data points, plus trend and AI data in Semrush

  • Search volume

    The average number of monthly searches for a keyword in the US, based on the last 12 months.

    Free

  • Keyword difficulty

    Semrush's 0-100% estimate of how hard it is to rank in Google's top 10, from Very Easy to Very Hard.

    Free

  • Search intent

    Whether searchers want to learn, find a specific site, compare options, or take action, like buying.

    Free

  • Keyword ideas

    10 related keywords sorted by search volume, each with its own difficulty score and CPC.

    Free

  • Cost per click (CPC)

    What advertisers pay on average for a click on a Google ad. A handy signal of commercial value.

    Free

  • Total volume

    The combined monthly searches across your 10 keyword ideas. Use it to size up a topic.

    Free

  • Average difficulty

    The average keyword difficulty across your 10 keyword ideas, so you can see how tough a topic is.

    Free

  • Trend and AI volume

    The 12-month search trend and Related AI Volume for your keyword, in Semrush.

    In Semrush

Who Should Use the Keyword Research Tool?

Backlinko's free keyword research tool helps anyone find out what people search for before they spend time creating content.

  • Writers and editors: find topics people actually search for
  • Small business owners: see what customers search for
  • PPC advertisers: compare CPC across related keywords
  • Content strategists: size up topics fast for content plans

Building a full keyword strategy? Keyword Strategy Builder turns keyword lists into topic clusters.

How to Do Keyword Research with This Tool

Here's how to do keyword research with your free report, from first idea to final plan.

  • Start with seed keywords

    Brainstorm topics related to your business, in the words your customers use. Google's Related Searches, Reddit threads, niche forums, and YouTube's autocomplete are good places to look. Then check your best ideas against real data in the tool.

  • Check search volume

    There's no magic number. 500 monthly searches might be low in tech but a goldmine in a niche like vintage typewriters, so judge volume against your industry. It's also a 12-month average, so seasonal terms like "gift ideas" can spike above it.

  • Gauge keyword difficulty

    Difficulty shows how hard it is to rank in Google's top 10. The lower the score, the easier it should be, and newer sites usually win faster with easier keywords. To see the pages you're up against, run the keyword through our free Keyword Difficulty Checker.

  • Match search intent

    Search intent is the reason behind a search, and it's one of Google's many ranking factors. "How to make cold brew coffee" calls for a guide, while "buy AirPods Pro" calls for a product page. Check the label, then Google the keyword to see what ranks.

  • Expand with keyword ideas

    Your report lists 10 related keywords, sorted by search volume. Keep the ones that fit your business, since even a high-volume term won't help if it attracts the wrong people. Need more? Semrush's Keyword Magic Tool finds thousands.

  • Look for long-tail keywords

    Long-tail keywords are specific phrases, like "best content marketing tools for freelancers" instead of "content marketing." They get fewer searches but often face less competition and convert better, especially for newer sites.

  • Use CPC as a value signal

    A high CPC means advertisers pay well for that click, which often points to commercial value, even if you never run ads. When two keywords have similar volume and difficulty, the one with the higher CPC is often worth targeting first.

  • Prioritize and plan

    Start with keywords that match what you offer, and give each page one main keyword plus a few close variations so your pages don't compete. Track rankings with Semrush's Position Tracking, and if a keyword starts losing steam, look for rising alternatives.

Go Beyond 10 Keyword Ideas with Semrush

This free tool gives you a fast snapshot. For deeper keyword research, Semrush gives you the full picture.

  • Get thousands of keyword ideas with Keyword Magic Tool
  • Check personal keyword difficulty in Keyword Overview
  • Find competitor keywords you're missing with Keyword Gap
  • Find question keywords to answer in your content
Try Semrush Free

Frequently Asked Questions

How the keyword research tool works, what your numbers mean, and how to pick the right keywords.

Ready to Find Your Next Keyword?

Check any keyword before you write. Free, no signup, three checks a day.

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