Alternatives · Keyword Research
Google Keyword Planner alternatives
As of Oct 23, 2026, the highest-graded Google Keyword Planner alternative is another keyword tool (3.0 GPA). It's also the best free one.
Google Keyword Planner compared with 11 alternatives: Semrush, Ahrefs, Ubersuggest, KeywordTool.io, Mangools and 6 more.
Google Keyword Planner is free to use. 10 of the 11 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
Listings checked up to Oct 23, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Keyword PlannerThis tool | Free | Free | Web |
| Semrush | Free plan · from $117.33/mo | Yes | Web |
| Ahrefs | Free plan · from $29/mo | Yes | Web, Browser extension |
| Ubersuggest | Free plan · from $29/mo | Yes | Web, Browser extension |
| KeywordTool.io | Free plan · from $68/mo | Yes | Web |
| Mangools | Free plan · from $37.70/mo | Yes | Web, Browser extension |
| another keyword tool | Free | Free | Web |
| Google Trends | Free | Free | Web |
| SearchVolume.io | Free plan · from $29/mo | Yes | Web |
| Seed Keywords | Free | Free | Web |
| Yandex Wordstat | Free | Free | Web |
| Keyword Tool API | From $68/mo | No | Web |
Price against what you get
Google Keyword Planner has no paid plan and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 6 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.
KeywordTool.io scores higher without starting lower.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Google Keyword Planner
Semrush
SEO suite for keyword research, rank tracking and AI search visibility
- Semrush starts at $117.33 per month, billed annually ($139 billed monthly).
- Semrush also covers reports, rank tracking, site audit and backlink analysis.
Suits: Freelancers and in-house marketers who want research, tracking and audits in one account
Ahrefs
SEO toolset for backlinks, keyword research, audits and rank tracking
- Ahrefs starts at $29 per month, billed monthly.
- Ahrefs also lists a browser extension.
- Ahrefs also covers rank tracking, site audit and backlink analysis.
Suits: SEOs who spend most of their time on backlinks and competitor research
Ubersuggest
Low-cost SEO tool for keyword ideas, site audits and rank tracking
- Ubersuggest starts at $29 per month, billed monthly.
- Ubersuggest also lists a browser extension.
- Ubersuggest also covers rank tracking, site audit and backlink analysis.
Suits: Small business owners doing SEO on their own site on a tight budget
KeywordTool.io
Autocomplete keyword ideas from Google and 16 other search platforms
- KeywordTool.io starts at $68 per month, billed annually ($88 billed monthly).
- KeywordTool.io also covers app store optimization and youTube SEO.
Suits: Writers and SEOs hunting long-tail and question keywords
Mangools
Bundle of five SEO tools led by the KWFinder keyword research app
- Mangools starts at $37.70 per month, billed annually ($61 billed monthly).
- Mangools also lists a browser extension.
- Mangools also covers rank tracking and backlink analysis.
Suits: Bloggers and small-site owners who mainly need keyword research
another keyword tool
Free keyword generator with live Google Keyword Planner data
- another keyword tool is free.
- another keyword tool also covers reports.
Suits: Quick, free keyword ideas with Google search volumes
Google Trends
Free charts of relative Google search interest by time and place
- Google Trends is free.
- Google Trends also covers research.
Suits: Checking whether interest in a topic is rising, falling or seasonal
SearchVolume.io
Free bulk search volume checker with a paid AI keyword platform
- SearchVolume.io starts at $29 per month for 500 credits.
Suits: Checking volumes for a keyword list without a Google Ads account
Seed Keywords
Free tool that collects keyword ideas by asking your contacts
- Seed Keywords is free.
- Seed Keywords also covers surveys.
Suits: Starting keyword research in a niche where tools show little search data
Yandex Wordstat
Free search query statistics for the Yandex search engine
- Yandex Wordstat is free.
Suits: Sites and advertisers targeting searchers in Russia and nearby countries
Keyword Tool API
Keyword suggestion and search volume API across 17 search platforms
- Keyword Tool API starts at $68 per month for 50 requests a day, billed annually ($88 billed monthly).
- Keyword Tool API has no free plan, unlike Google Keyword Planner.
Suits: Pulling Google and Bing volumes into your own tools or data warehouse
Limits worth knowing in Google Keyword Planner
- Needs a Google Ads account with billing details entered and setup complete, and accounts in Smart Mode must switch to Expert Mode.
- Built for ad planning: it shows bid estimates and ad forecasts, not organic difficulty scores or competitor rankings.
- Keywords with very low volume or in sensitive areas such as health or finance may return no results.
- Each keyword is limited to 80 characters and 10 words.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Google Keyword Planner?
The alternatives to Google Keyword Planner in this directory are Semrush, Ahrefs, Ubersuggest, KeywordTool.io, Mangools, another keyword tool, Google Trends, SearchVolume.io, Seed Keywords, Yandex Wordstat and Keyword Tool API. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Google Keyword Planner.
Is there a free alternative to Google Keyword Planner?
Yes. another keyword tool, Google Trends, Seed Keywords and Yandex Wordstat are free to use. Semrush, Ahrefs, Ubersuggest, KeywordTool.io, Mangools and SearchVolume.io have a free plan alongside paid ones.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 17, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.