Price against what you get
Best-value keyword research tools
Going by our grades, Alura, Yandex Wordstat, Pinterest Trends, Google Trends and 2 more give the most for the money among keyword research tools: no tool on this chart scores higher without costing more.
Paid plans start at a middle price of $18 a month across the 36 that charge, from $5.50 (eRank) to $99 (SERP Gap Analyzer). 8 more cost nothing at all. 7 of the 44 score above the category's average while starting at or below its middle price. 10 cost more than the middle price and score below the average.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- Nothing scores higher without costing more
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/charts/keyword-research"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/charts/keyword-research/chart.svg" alt="44 keyword research tools by starting price and by ToolGPA score" width="1200" height="675" style="max-width:100%;height:auto"></a>The best at every price
Each step is the highest score keyword research tools reach at that price or below. Nothing on the chart beats these without costing more.
Free
No paid plan · scores 2.3 of 4
- another keyword toolFreeCBC
- Google Keyword PlannerFreeCCB
- Google TrendsFreeCBC
- Pinterest TrendsFreeCBC
- Yandex WordstatFreeCCB
$7.99
a month to start · scores 3.0 of 4
- Alura$7.99 per month, billed annually ($11.99 billed monthly)ACB
Paying more for less
The keyword research tools that the most others beat on both counts: a higher score and a lower starting price.
- Serp MinerStarts at $29.99 a month and scores 2.0 of 4.26 of 43 score higher for lessCCC
- PinClicksStarts at $29 a month and scores 2.0 of 4.24 of 43 score higher for lessCCC
- GSCdaddyStarts at $15 a month and scores 1.7 of 4.18 of 43 score higher for lessDCC
- MarmaleadStarts at $15.83 a month and scores 2.0 of 4.17 of 43 score higher for lessCCC
- SERP Gap AnalyzerStarts at $99 a month and scores 2.3 of 4.15 of 43 score higher for lessCCB
A high starting price often means a product is sold to companies and has no small plan, and a score is three letters, not the whole product. Read a tool’s own page before ruling it out.
The four quarters
Where the tools fall when the chart is cut at the middle price and the average score.
More for less7
Each scores above the category's average and starts at or below its middle price.
Alura, Treendly, AlsoAsked, KeywordsPeopleUse, Keyword Revealer, Answer Socrates, Wordtracker
Costs more, scores more8
Each scores above the average and starts above the middle price.
AnswerThePublic, EverBee, MerchantWords, kwrds.ai, Allintitle, Topical Map AI, Keyword Insights, KeywordTool.io
Costs less, scores less19
Each scores below the average and starts at or below the middle price.
another keyword tool, Google Keyword Planner, Google Trends, Pinterest Trends, Yandex Wordstat, eRank, RankHero, EHunt and 11 more
Costs more, scores less10
Each scores below the average and starts above the middle price.
HyperSuggest, KeySearch, SECockpit, Keyword Chef, SearchVolume.io, Exploding Topics, Haloscan, SERP Gap Analyzer and 2 more
All 44 on the chart
Highest score first, then lowest price. The last column counts the tools that score higher and start lower.
| # | Tool | Score | Features, ease, platforms | A month | As its listing states it | Score higher for less |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alura | 3.0 | ACB | $7.99 | $7.99 per month, billed annually ($11.99 billed monthly) | None |
| 2 | Treendly | 2.7 | CBB | $8.25 | $99 per year ($29 billed monthly) | 1 |
| 3 | AlsoAsked | 2.7 | CBB | $12 | $12 per month, billed annually ($15 billed monthly), plus tax | 1 |
| 4 | KeywordsPeopleUse | 2.7 | CBB | $12 | $12 per month, billed annually ($15 billed monthly) | 1 |
| 5 | Keyword Revealer | 2.7 | BCB | $12.50 | $12.50 per month, billed annually ($19.97 billed monthly) | 1 |
| 6 | Answer Socrates | 2.7 | CBB | $15.83 | $15.83 per month, billed yearly ($19 billed monthly) | 1 |
| 7 | Wordtracker | 2.7 | BCB | $17 | $17 per month, billed yearly at $195 ($24 billed monthly) | 1 |
| 8 | AnswerThePublic | 2.7 | CBB | $20 | $20 per month, billed monthly ($160 a year billed annually) | 1 |
| 9 | EverBee | 2.7 | BCB | $24.99 | $24.99 per month, billed annually ($39 billed monthly) | 1 |
| 10 | MerchantWords | 2.7 | BBC | $35 | $35 per month for 500 searches, billed monthly | 1 |
| 11 | kwrds.ai | 2.7 | CBB | $39 | $39 per month, billed annually ($49 billed monthly) | 1 |
| 12 | Allintitle | 2.7 | BCB | $49 | $30 one-time for 600 credits, or $49 per month for 30,000 credits | 1 |
| 13 | Topical Map AI | 2.7 | CBB | $56 | $56 per month for 25 credits, billed monthly | 1 |
| 14 | Keyword Insights | 2.7 | BCB | $58 | $58 per month for 10,000 credits, billed monthly | 1 |
| 15 | KeywordTool.io | 2.7 | CBB | $68 | $68 per month, billed annually ($88 billed monthly) | 1 |
| 16 | another keyword tool | 2.3 | CBC | Free | Free | None |
| 17 | Google Keyword Planner | 2.3 | CCB | Free | Free | None |
| 18 | Google Trends | 2.3 | CBC | Free | Free | None |
| 19 | Pinterest Trends | 2.3 | CBC | Free | Free | None |
| 20 | Yandex Wordstat | 2.3 | CCB | Free | Free | None |
Show the other 24
| # | Tool | Score | Features, ease, platforms | A month | As its listing states it | Score higher for less |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | eRank | 2.3 | CCB | $5.50 | $5.50 per month, billed annually ($5.99 billed monthly) | None |
| 22 | RankHero | 2.3 | CCB | $5.99 | $5.99 per month, billed yearly ($7.99 billed monthly) | None |
| 23 | EHunt | 2.3 | CCB | $7.99 | $7.99 per month, billed annually | None |
| 24 | QuestionDB | 2.3 | CBC | $9.99 | $9.99 per month for 100 searches | 2 |
| 25 | Twinword Ideas | 2.3 | CBC | $12 | $12 per month, billed yearly ($18 billed monthly) | 2 |
| 26 | Keyword Catcher | 2.3 | CBC | $15 | $15 per month for 1,500 credits | 5 |
| 27 | Keyword Magic | 2.3 | CBC | $15 | $15 per month for 200 actions, billed monthly | 5 |
| 28 | HyperSuggest | 2.3 | CBC | $19 | $19 per month, billed yearly ($29 billed monthly), plus tax | 7 |
| 29 | KeySearch | 2.3 | BCC | $20 | $20 per month, billed annually ($24 billed monthly) | 7 |
| 30 | SECockpit | 2.3 | BCC | $25 | $25 per month, billed yearly at $299 ($39 billed monthly) | 9 |
| 31 | Keyword Chef | 2.3 | CBC | $29 | $29 per month for 5,000 credits, or $20 once for 1,200 credits | 9 |
| 32 | SearchVolume.io | 2.3 | CBC | $29 | $29 per month for 500 credits | 9 |
| 33 | Exploding Topics | 2.3 | CCB | $39 | $39 per month for 100 tracked trends (billing basis not shown) | 10 |
| 34 | Haloscan | 2.3 | CCB | $55.13 | €49.20 per month, billed annually (€59 billed monthly), excl. VAT | 12 |
| 35 | SERP Gap Analyzer | 2.3 | CCB | $99 | $99 per month | 15 |
| 36 | Keyword.io | 2.0 | DBC | Free | Free | None |
| 37 | Keyword Hero | 2.0 | DCB | $8 | $8 per month, billed annually ($9 billed monthly) | 9 |
| 38 | Keyword Cupid | 2.0 | DCB | $9.99 | $9.99 per month for 500 keyword credits | 10 |
| 39 | Marmalead | 2.0 | CCC | $15.83 | $15.83 per month, billed annually at $190 ($19 billed monthly) | 17 |
| 40 | PinClicks | 2.0 | CCC | $29 | $29 per month | 24 |
| 41 | Serp Miner | 2.0 | CCC | $29.99 | $29.99 per month for 5,000 tokens | 26 |
| 42 | KeywordClustering.net | 1.7 | DCC | Free | Free | None |
| 43 | Seed Keywords | 1.7 | DCC | Free | Free | None |
| 44 | GSCdaddy | 1.7 | DCC | $15 | $15 per month, billed annually ($19 billed monthly) | 18 |
How keyword research tools grade
Every bar is all the keyword research tools we grade, cut by the letter each got on that count.
- Value for moneyaverage 2.7
- Free plan and trialaverage 2.0
- Featuresaverage 2.1
- Ease of useaverage 2.5
- Platforms and integrationsaverage 2.5
An A is worth 4 and an F nothing. C is the ordinary grade. Every keyword research grade in one table
Not on the chart
Sold for a single payment, or with no public price that can be put as dollars a month. They are graded like the rest.
- GlimpseNo public price
- KDSPY$79 one-time, plus tax where it applies
- KeyClusters$19 one-time for 2,500 keyword credits
- Keyword Tool Dominator$9 for 30 days, paid once
- Publisher Rocket$199 one-time, for lifetime access
- Rakko Keyword¥660 per month, billed annually (¥1,320 billed monthly), incl. tax
- SpateNo public price
- WriterZen$135 one-time for lifetime access (Keyword Research package)
Common questions
Which keyword research tools give the most for the money?
Alura, Yandex Wordstat, Pinterest Trends, Google Trends, Google Keyword Planner and another keyword tool. Each is the highest-scoring tool at its price or below: another keyword tool scores 2.3 out of 4 and is free; Google Keyword Planner scores 2.3 out of 4 and is free; Google Trends scores 2.3 out of 4 and is free; Pinterest Trends scores 2.3 out of 4 and is free; Yandex Wordstat scores 2.3 out of 4 and is free; Alura scores 3.0 out of 4 and starts at $7.99 a month. This goes by ToolGPA's own grades for features, ease of use and platforms, averaged out of 4, set against the price each tool's paid plans start at.
Which are the best free keyword research tools?
Of the 8 keyword research tools here with no paid plan at all, another keyword tool, Google Keyword Planner, Google Trends, Pinterest Trends and 1 more score highest, at 2.3 out of 4. 22 more have a free plan beside their paid ones.
Which keyword research tools are best for under $10 a month?
Alura, with a score of 3.0 out of 4: the highest among the 16 that start at $10 a month or less. Alura starts at $7.99 a month.
Which keyword research tools cost the most for what they offer?
On this chart, Serp Miner (starts at $29.99 a month, scores 2.0 out of 4, and 26 tools score higher for less), PinClicks (starts at $29 a month, scores 2.0 out of 4, and 24 tools score higher for less) and GSCdaddy (starts at $15 a month, scores 1.7 out of 4, and 18 tools score higher for less). A high starting price often means a product is sold to companies and has no small plan, so check what the price includes before ruling one out.
How much do keyword research tools cost?
The middle starting price is $18 a month: half of the 36 keyword research tools with a recurring price start below that and half above. 8 of the 52 in this directory have no paid plan, and 22 of those that charge also have a free plan.
How is the score on this chart worked out?
It is the average of three of the five grades ToolGPA gives every tool: features, ease of use, and platforms and integrations, with an A worth 4 and an F worth 0. The other two grades, value for money and the free plan, are about price, so they are left out and price gets an axis of its own. 44 of the 52 keyword research tools are on the chart; 8 are left off because they are sold for a single payment or publish no price that can be put as dollars a month.
How this chart is made
- The score is the average of three of a tool’s five grades: features, ease of use, and platforms and integrations. An A is 4 points and an F none. Value for money and the free plan are left out because they are about price, and price has an axis of its own.
- The price is what paid plans start at, in dollars a month, on the cheapest way of paying the listing names. A yearly price is divided by twelve, and a price in another currency is converted. A price for each person is shown for one person.
- A tool with no paid plan sits in the band marked Free. A tool with a free plan beside paid ones is placed at its paid price and drawn as a filled dot.
- The grades are ToolGPA’s own judgement from each vendor’s pages and from public reviews and our own testing, and no vendor can pay for one. How we grade
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