SEO Tools to Boost Your Website Ranking

Solid keyword research is essential if you’re trying to win on Google’s Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). But with so many SEO tools out there, figuring out which one is right for you can make the difference between utilizing and eating your budget.

In this blog, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of 18 top SEO tools that you can use for keyword research and analysis. We’ve also categorized them into paid and free options to make it easy for you.

18 Top SEO Tools You Should Use for Keyword Research and Analysis

Top Paid SEO Tools for Keyword Research and Analysis

If you’re running a business or managing a growing niche site, investing in a premium tool is the right choice for you. These tools offer richer data and more accurate keyword metrics. You also get better competitor insights, including extras like backlink tracking and site audits.

Here are the 8 top paid SEO tools you can consider:

1. SEMrush

Best for: All-in-one SEO management, agencies, and competitor tracking.

SEMrush is a veteran SEO tool, and for good reasons. Its notorious Keyword Magic Tool lets you explore thousands of keyword variations. You can get question-based queries and broad match or related keywords instantly.

What sets SEMrush apart from every other tool is its ability to tie keyword research into everything else. You can conduct site audits and build backlink profiles. You can also track how well your ads are performing and even monitor your social media strategy.

Here are some standout features in SEMrush:

You can use this feature to compare your site’s keywords against your competitors.
You can see which keywords will trigger richer results on SERPs.
You can get content ideas based on your targeted keywords.
You can see keyword trends over time.

2. Ahrefs

Best for: Data reliability, backlink + keyword analysis, and content marketing teams.

Ahrefs is perfect for those who want accuracy and depth. Its Keyword Explorer gives you thousands of suggestions by analyzing multiple search engines like Google, YouTube, and Bing. The reports also contain click potential, parent topics, and SERP overviews.

But Ahrefs doesn’t just help with keywords; it’s the best choice for backlink analysis. You can use it as a dual powerhouse for keyword and link-building strategies.

Here are some standout features in Ahrefs:

You can get keyword ideas from 10 different platforms.
You can understand how often people click on links targeting a specific keyword.
You see what keywords your competitors are ranking for.
You can see how rankings fluctuate on Google SERPs over time.

3. Moz Pro

Best for: Beginners and content strategists who want simplicity with power.

Moz Pro is an ideal choice if you’re just getting started and don’t want to be overwhelmed by complex dashboards. Its Keyword Explorer shows simple metrics like Priority Score that consider volume, difficulty, and organic CTR. This helps you focus on the keywords that actually matter.

Moz Pro also includes SERP feature tracking to help you understand when you’re competing with snippets, images, or ads.

Learn More: SEO audit

Here are some standout features in Moz Pro:

You get keyword suggestions based on real SERPs.
You can conduct SERP analysis for each keyword.
You can use the “Mozbar” Chrome extension for on-page and keyword data.
You can also use keyword list management and tracking.

4. SE Ranking

Best for: Small businesses, freelancers, and teams on a budget.

SE Ranking delivers a robust SEO toolkit at a fraction of the price. Its Keyword Research tool lets you analyze keyword difficulty, search volume, CPC, and suggested keyword variations. However, SE Ranking is not an ideal choice for a deeper analysis like Ahrefs and SEMrush.

But, it’s more than enough for small teams. You can also pair your targeted keywords with its rank tracker, site audit, and marketing plan tools.

Here are some standout features in SE Ranking:

You can generate keyword suggestions and group them.
You can use its SERP Analyze for the top 100 results.
You get detailed competitor insights.
Agencies can also create white-label reports.

5. Serpstat

Best for: Teams that want advanced tools and a scalable dashboard.

Serpstat combines keyword research, PPC analysis, and competitor auditing in a single tool. It also has Keyword Clustering and Text Analysis tools, which help build topic clusters and content briefs.

Here are some standout features in Serpstat:

You can search for questions and related keywords.
You can conduct regional and language-based keyword analysis.
You can conduct SERP and PPC analysis in multiple markets.
You also get API and batch analysis options.

6. KWFinder (by Mangools)

KWFinder is the right choice if you want to focus on long-tail SEO or niche blogging. It has one of the cleanest interfaces in the SEO tools industry. KWFinder lets you search volume, keyword difficulty, and SERP analysis in one go.

Here are some standout features in KWFinder:

You can find long-tail keywords.
You can filter keyword difficulty from the sidebar.
You can conduct local keyword research by city and region.
You can easily integrate it with other Mangools tools like LinkMiner and SERPChecker.

7. SpyFu

Best for: Reverse-engineering competitors’ SEO and paid keyword strategies.

SpyFu is ideal for businesses that want to focus less on volume and more on strategy. It gives you access to your competitor’s keyword lists and historical ranking data. You can also use SpyFu for paid vs. organic comparisons.

Here are some standout features in SpyFu:

You can conduct competitor keyword tracking (organic and PPC).
You can generate shared keyword opportunities.
You can also conduct domain comparisons and check backlink overlaps.
You can create custom branded reporting.

8. Ubersuggest (Premium)

Best for: Beginners and solopreneurs who want a low-cost starting point.

Ubersuggest has made significant improvements over the years. It was created by Neil Patel and now provides keyword suggestions and content ideas. You can also get domain overviews and conduct basic SEO audits. Ubersuggest is a good entry point if you want to get started with SEO.

Here are some standout features in Ubersuggest:

You can analyze keyword difficulty and seasonal trends.
You can get content ideas based on social and backlink metrics.
You can also track your ranking and competitor domains.
You can use the AI writer integration for quick blog outlines.

9. cognitiveSEO

Best for: SEO professionals focused on advanced keyword and content optimization.

cognitiveSEO is a new powerhouse that offers deep keyword analysis and content optimization. It helps in writing better content using TF-IDF analysis and NLP models. It also incorporates keyword opportunity insights.

Here are some standout features in cognitiveSEO:

You can use the keyword and content optimization assistant.
You can detect unnatural links.
You get access to the SERP visibility index.
You can also use Google penalty recovery tools.

Best Free SEO Tools for Keyword Research and Analysis

Not everyone has the budget to afford a $100+ monthly subscription for SEO tools. If you’re a freelancer or a solo-preneur, here are some free SEO tools that can help you uncover keyword opportunities.

10. Google Keyword Planner

Best for: Getting reliable search volume data straight from Google.

Originally, Google Keyword Planner was built for advertisers. But it’s still a trusted source for SEO keyword ideas. It’s powered by Google’s own search data, which makes it incredibly valuable.

Here are some standout features in Google Keyword Planner:

You can find keyword ideas based on seed terms or URLs.
You can view search volume, competition, and CPC data.
You can group keywords according to their intent or category.

11. Google Search Console

Best for: Tracking how your site performs in organic search.

While Google Search Console doesn’t generate keyword ideas per se, it is a great tool to analyze the keywords your website is already ranking for. It also shows you how users interact with your pages in the search results.

Here are some standout features in Google Search Console:

You can see your impressions, clicks, and CTR for each keyword.
You can identify underperforming pages with high impressions but low clicks.
You can also track keywords and queries over time.

12. Google Trends

Best for: Understanding search behavior over time and spotting trending topics.

If you want to know when and what people are searching, then Google Trends is a perfect starting point for you. It also lets you compare interest in two different terms. You can use Google Trends for seasonal SEO, product launches, and even news jacking.

Here are some standout features in Google Trends:

You can compare keyword popularity in different regions and time frames.
You can discover rising queries and related search terms.
You can also filter by web, image, news, or shopping search.

13. AnswerThePublic

Best for: Finding question-based and long-tail keyword ideas.

AnswerThePublic visualizes the “who, what, when, where, why” of search queries. It taps into Google autocomplete data, this makes it ideal for content marketers and bloggers.

Here are some standout features in AnswerThePublic:

You can discover hundreds of natural-language queries around a topic.
You can visualize keywords as questions, comparisons, and prepositions.
You can also export keyword lists that can be used in other tools.

14. Ubersuggest (Free Version)

Best for: Beginner SEOs and quick keyword checks.

You can get access to basic keyword ideas, competitor domains, and content suggestions with even the free version of Ubersuggest. It’s like a clean, beginner-friendly helper that works well as a secondary tool.

Here are some standout features in Ubersuggest (Free version)

You can get keyword suggestions according to volume and difficulty scores.
You can analyze top-ranking content and backlinks.
You can also audit your site for basic SEO issues.

15. Keyword Surfer (Chrome Extension)

Best for: Instant search volume directly in Google.

This is a browser extension that you can use for real-time keyword validation. As you search on Google, Keyword Surfer shows the search volume, CPC, and related keywords straight on the page.

Here are some standout features in Keyword Surfer (Chrome Extension):

You can see global/local search volume from your browser.
You can view keyword suggestions in the sidebar.
You can also export keyword data directly from Google.

16. AlsoAsked

Best for: Expanding content ideas based on “People Also Ask” queries.

AlsoAsked maps out questions that appear in Google’s People Also Ask boxes. It’s a great tool that can help you target long-tail queries and improve content structure.

Here are some standout features in AlsoAsked:

You can visualize question trees around your topic.
You can discover semantic relationships between questions.
You can also download results for content planning.

17. Moz Keyword Explorer (Free Tier)

Best for: Clean interface and beginner-friendly keyword research.

Moz allows 10 free keyword queries per month. It’s not much, but it’s enough for occasional research or testing ideas. You can get keyword suggestions, volume estimates, and difficulty scores.

Here are some standout features in Moz Keyword Explorer (Free Tier):

You can analyze keyword potential with clear scoring.
You can see SERP analysis and search intent.
You can save keyword lists for future reference.

18. SEO Minion

Best for: On-page keyword analysis and SERP preview.

SEO Minion is a browser extension that acts as a Swiss army knife for on-page SEO and SERP analysis. While it’s not a traditional keyword tool, it’s useful when checking how your content aligns with your keyword’s intent.

Here are some standout features of SEO Minion:

You can highlight internal/external links on a page.
You can analyze meta tags and heading structure.
You can also view Google SERPs for different locations or devices.

Learn more about other web services

Conclusion

No SEO tool, paid or free, will magically grow your traffic. But the real difference is in how you use the tool to discover new ranking opportunities and prioritize content topics. So, start with the tools that make sense for your budget and workflow.

FAQs

What is the best SEO tool for beginners?

For beginners, tools like Ubersuggest, KWFinder, and Moz Keyword Explorer (Free) offer easy-to-use interfaces with helpful keyword data. They’re great starting points for understanding search volume, competition, and related terms without overwhelming you with too much complexity.

Are free SEO tools enough for keyword research?

Free SEO tools can be very effective for small websites or those just starting out. Tools like Google Keyword Planner, AnswerThePublic, and Search Console offer solid insights. However, for deep analysis or competitive research, paid tools provide more comprehensive data and advanced features.

How often should I perform keyword research?

You should do keyword research before creating new content, during quarterly SEO audits, or whenever search trends shift. Regular updates ensure your content strategy stays aligned with what users are actually searching for, especially if you’re targeting seasonal topics or competitive industries.

What’s the difference between keyword volume and difficulty?

Search volume tells you how often a keyword is searched per month, while keyword difficulty estimates how hard it is to rank for that term. Ideally, you want keywords with moderate-to-high volume and low-to-medium difficulty to increase your chances of ranking in organic search.

Can I use multiple SEO tools at once?

Absolutely! Many marketers use a combination of tools to cross-verify data and build a stronger keyword strategy. For example, you might use Google Trends for timing, SEMrush for volume and competition, and Search Console to optimize existing content based on real performance.