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Best Free Keyword Research Tools for Beginners
If you’re starting a blog or website, keyword research is one of the first skills you need to learn. Without the right keywords, even the best-written content may not reach readers. The good news is that you don’t need to spend money on expensive SEO software to get started. There are several free keyword research tools that can help beginners find ideas, analyze search volume, and understand what people are looking for online.
In this guide, we’ll cover the best free keyword research tools for beginners in 2025, explain how they work, and show how to use them to grow your blog or website.
Why Keyword Research Matters
Keyword research is the process of finding the exact words and phrases that people type into Google and other search engines.
Here’s why it’s important:
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Brings targeted traffic: You’ll attract readers who are actively searching for your topic.
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Improves SEO: Writing around the right keywords helps your posts rank higher.
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Reveals content ideas: You’ll know what people want to read about.
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Helps monetization: High-traffic keywords can lead to more ad clicks and affiliate sales.
For beginners, using free tools is a smart way to start without investing in premium platforms like Ahrefs or SEMrush.
Best Free Keyword Research Tools for Beginners in 2025
1. Google Keyword Planner
Google Keyword Planner is a free tool from Google Ads. It’s mainly designed for advertisers, but bloggers and website owners can use it for keyword research.
Features:
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Shows monthly search volume ranges.
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Suggests related keywords.
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Provides competition level for ads (low, medium, high).
Best for beginners because it’s free and provides accurate data directly from Google.
2. Google Trends
Google Trends lets you see how interest in a keyword changes over time. It’s great for spotting trending topics and seasonal content.
Features:
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Compare multiple keywords.
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See popularity in different countries.
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Track rising search queries.
👉 Example: If you’re writing about fitness, you might see “home workouts” peak in January but decline later in the year.
3. AnswerThePublic
AnswerThePublic generates keyword ideas in the form of questions and phrases. It’s helpful for creating content that directly answers user queries.
Features:
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Visual keyword maps.
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“What,” “How,” “Why” question-based keywords.
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Limited free searches per day.
👉 Example: Typing “blogging” shows questions like “How do beginners start blogging?” or “What is the best blogging platform?”
4. Ubersuggest (Free Version)
Neil Patel’s Ubersuggest is a beginner-friendly keyword tool that provides a mix of keyword ideas, volume, and difficulty scores.
Features:
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Keyword suggestions.
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Search volume and SEO difficulty.
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Limited daily searches in the free plan.
This tool is simple to use and gives actionable insights for writing blog posts.
5. Keyword Tool.io (Free Version)
Keyword Tool.io pulls keyword suggestions directly from Google Autocomplete. The free version is limited, but it still gives hundreds of long-tail keyword ideas.
Features:
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Generates keyword ideas for Google, YouTube, Bing, Amazon, and more.
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Great for long-tail keywords.
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Paid version shows full search volume and competition.
6. Google Search (Autocomplete + People Also Ask)
One of the simplest free keyword research tools is Google itself.
Ways to use it:
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Start typing a keyword and note the autocomplete suggestions.
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Check the “People Also Ask” section for common questions.
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Scroll to the bottom of search results for related searches.
👉 Example: Searching “start a blog” shows related searches like “start a blog for free” or “how to start a blog and make money.”
7. Ahrefs Free Keyword Generator
Ahrefs offers a free version of its Keyword Generator tool. It provides keyword ideas and difficulty scores for up to 100 keywords.
Features:
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Keyword ideas for Google, YouTube, Bing, and Amazon.
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Keyword Difficulty (KD) score.
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Shows top 100 keywords for free.
A great option if you want a taste of premium-level keyword data without paying.
8. SEMrush Free Account (Limited Access)
SEMrush is a premium tool, but you can create a free account with limited daily searches.
Features:
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Keyword suggestions.
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Competitive analysis.
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Shows related keywords.
Though limited, it’s useful for beginners who want to explore advanced tools before upgrading.
How to Use Free Keyword Tools Effectively
Free tools give you keyword ideas, but you need to know how to use them wisely:
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Look for long-tail keywords – Instead of targeting “fitness,” try “10-minute home workouts for beginners.”
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Check search intent – Make sure the keyword matches what your audience wants (informational, transactional, or navigational).
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Focus on low competition – As a beginner, go after keywords with less competition for higher chances of ranking.
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Create helpful content – Don’t just stuff keywords. Write articles that genuinely answer user questions.
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Mix tools – Use multiple free tools together for better results. For example, combine Google Trends with Ubersuggest.
Final Thoughts
Starting with free keyword research tools is the best way for beginners to grow their blogs without extra costs. Tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, and AnswerThePublic can help you find profitable keywords and create content your audience is already searching for.
Once your blog grows, you can consider investing in premium tools, but until then, these free options are more than enough to get started.
Remember: keyword research is not just about traffic; it’s about finding the right readers and building content that solves their problems.
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