Keyword research used to be full of mystery, guesswork, and hoping that you found a hidden opportunity that nobody else had spotted yet. Now we have artificial intelligence (AI) tools for keyword research to make the process easier, faster, and more effective.
In this guide, we’ll explore some of the best AI tools for keyword research out there and make recommendations on which ones you should consider using in 2024.
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhat Should You Look for in an AI Tool for Keyword Research?
AI keyword research tools simplify this time-consuming process, uncover keyword opportunities, and make it easier for you to plan, write, and publish content that’s designed to do well in search rankings.
As you consider different AI keyword research tools, here’s what should be on your mind:
- Functionality: Does this tool assist with keyword research, or is it better for a different part of the content process?
- Data and insights: Does the tool provide you with useful data like search volumes, cost per click (CPC), and keyword difficulty scores?
- Reputation: Is this a well-known tool? Does it have a positive reputation within the SEO community?
- Bonus features: Does the tool do more than just keyword research?
- Ease of use: Is the tool easy to navigate, use, and understand? Could all of your team members use it with confidence?
- Pricing: Is this a free keyword research tool? Is the tool affordable? Is functionality limited in the free version?
Each team and organization will have a slightly different goal, so think about what your main objective is and which metrics matter most to you, and choose a tool that’ll get you there.
Summarize this article for me pleaseThe 10 Best AI Tools for Keyword Research to Use
You know what to look for, but who has time to research, review, and test out hundreds of different AI keyword research tools? We’ve done the hard work for you and put together this list of the best keyword research tools to try.
1. ClickUp
Best for comprehensive SEO project management
ClickUp offers marketing teams something that other tools don’t: an AI-powered assistant that’s tailored to your role, goals, and needs. ClickUp Brain handles a huge variety of tasks throughout the content marketing process, including keyword research.
Use ClickUp Brain within ClickUp Docs to generate related keyword ideas and build keyword clusters. Collaborate with team members within your Docs to discuss ideas and finalize your list, then turn those ideas into action with ClickUp Tasks.
ClickUp does more than surface high-quality keyword ideas. It’s a powerful tool for SEO project management, too. Visualize topic clusters with ClickUp Whiteboards, use ClickUp Custom Fields to customize your database and workflows, and use ClickUp Recurring Checklists to make sure you never miss a step in the SEO process ever again. ✅
ClickUp best features
- Build highly relevant lists of keywords with ClickUp Brain’s keyword list generator
- Turn your keyword clusters into content briefs and outlines
- Create a publishing schedule with versatile content calendar templates
- Collaborate with team members and freelancers in Docs
- Monitor your SEO progress on your custom ClickUp Dashboards
- Use ClickUp as your go-to productivity tool for project management and accountability
- Use the SEO Research and Management Template by ClickUp to stay organized
ClickUp limitations
- ClickUp is an all-in-one platform with a huge range of features and customization options, which may be overwhelming at first
- Although ClickUp Brain generates keyword ideas, it isn’t a traditional keyword research tool with search data included
ClickUp pricing
- Free Forever
- Unlimited: $7/month per user
- Business: $12/month per user
- Enterprise: Contact for pricing
- ClickUp Brain: Available on all paid plans for $5/Workspace member/month
ClickUp ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (9,200+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (3,900+ reviews)
2. Semrush
Best for competitive keyword analysis and mapping content gaps
Semrush is a digital marketing and search engine optimization (SEO) platform with a collection of SEO-focused tools and features, including keyword research and competitive analysis. Semrush’s keyword research tools allow you to spot keyword gaps, research competitor keywords, and build keyword lists in no time.
Semrush best features
- Build lists of thousands of long-tail keywords from one initial seed keyword
- Find competitive keyword opportunities and content gaps with competitor analysis
- Get valuable insights into the search algorithm, keyword rankings, and cross-reference data with Google Analytics
Semrush limitations
- Semrush’s pricing plans may put it out of reach of smaller businesses and agencies
- Some users suggest that the range of features means there’s a learning curve to understand how to use the software effectively
Semrush pricing
- Pro: $129.95/month per user
- Guru: $249.95/month per user
- Business: $499.95/month per user
Semrush ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.5/5 (1,800+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (2,100+ reviews)
3. Google Keyword Planner
Best for businesses targeting Google Ad campaigns
Google Ads Keyword Planner is a must-have tool if you’re running Google Ad campaigns, but it’s also useful by itself. Use the tool to find new keywords, get insights and recommendations, and let that knowledge power your ad campaigns.
Google Keyword Planner best features
- Build your own keyword plan for Google Ads
- See projected search traffic, and how many projected clicks, impressions, or conversions you may get
- Turn your plan into a functional Google Ads campaign in a few clicks
Google Keyword Planner limitations
- As this is a Google keyword explorer tool, you’ll only be able to see projected organic search data for Google search terms
- If you’re not planning to run Google Ad campaigns, another tool with a wider feature set may be beneficial
Google Keyword Planner pricing
- Free
Google Keyword Planner ratings and reviews
The ratings below are for the overall Google Ads platform:
- G2: 4.3/5 (1,900+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (800+ reviews)
4. Surfer
Best for content creation and auditing with SEO optimization
Surfer is a search engine optimization and AI content creation tool that gives teams the ability to not only research keywords but generate content and audit existing content too. As well as an AI-powered copywriting tool, Surfer also offers a free extension for Chrome that lets you research all the keywords you need without leaving Google.
Surfer best features
- Uncover relevant topic clusters based on your niche
- Analyze search intent, see keyword difficulty scores, and check monthly search volumes
- Do keyword research on the fly with the Keyword Surfer extension
Surfer limitations
- Users suggest that you can’t modify topic clusters once they’ve been created
- Some users report that the keyword research functionality is more basic than other alternatives
Surfer pricing
- Essential: $69/month for up to 2 users
- Essential AI: $119/month for up to 2 users
- Advanced: $149/month for up to 5 users
- Advanced AI: $239/month for up to 5 users
- Max: $249/month for up to 10 users
- Max AI: $419/month for up to 10 users
- Enterprise: Contact for pricing
Surfer ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.8/5 (400+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.9/5 (300+ reviews)
5. Twinword Ideas
Best for targeting niche specific keywords and trend analysis
Twinword Ideas is an AI keyword research tool designed to search trends and bring you only the best keywords. Instead of manually reviewing long lists of keywords, use this AI keyword generator to get a more relevant selection of potential phrases to target.
Twinword Ideas best features
- See accurate keyword data, including search volume, organic traffic, and cost per click (CPC)
- Save time building your list of related keywords with automatic keyword grouping
- View keyword scores and build your campaign around your best SEO ranking opportunities
Twinword Ideas limitations
- This is purely a keyword research tool, so teams looking for a platform with other content or SEO features may need to consider an alternative
- The keyword search tool feels more basic compared to some of the other keyword research tools available
Twinword Ideas pricing
- Free
- Plus: $12/month per user
- Pro: $24/month per user
- Agency: $59/month for up to 5 users
Twinword Ideas ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.5/5 (1 review)
- Capterra: n/a
6. ChatGPT
Best for conversational AI-assisted keyword research
ChatGPT is an AI system that gives users access to a large learning model (LLM) that does almost anything—including building a list of relevant keywords for a content or website project.
ChatGPT best features
- Uncover keyword suggestions based on your prompts and input
- Ask the AI chatbot questions in a more natural way
- Use the tool to build keyword lists, marketing plan templates, and content strategies
ChatGPT limitations
- Users who prefer a more traditional research tool without a chatbot-style interface may be better suited to an alternative
- It can be difficult to determine the accuracy of ChatGPT’s output, so teams might prefer to use an additional tool to fact-check before confirming an SEO strategy
ChatGPT pricing
- Free
- ChatGPT Plus: $20/month per user
ChatGPT ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (400+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (30+ reviews)
7. Copy.ai
Best for deploying AI-generated content and keyword research at scale
Copy.ai is an AI marketing tool designed for sales and marketing teams that want to use generative AI to create and deploy content at scale. Like most AI keyword generators, Copy.ai creates a list of potential keywords with the right prompts, so teams have plenty to use in website projects.
Copy.ai best features
- Create keyword clusters and ideas for potential phrases to target
- Brainstorm content ideas and form a content plan
- Use Copy.ai to build a content brief based on your keyword prompts
Copy.ai limitations
- As it’s primarily an AI content writer, some teams may find this tool lacks specific keyword research functionality
- Some users may find purchasing credits for content generation frustrating
Copy.ai pricing
- Free for 1 user (200 credits)
- Pro: $36/month for up to 5 users (500 credits)
- Team: $186/month for up to 20 users (3,000 credits)
- Growth: $1,000/month for up to 75 users (20,000 credits)
- Scale: $3,000/month for up to 200 users (75,000 credits)
Copy.ai ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (100+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (60+ reviews)
8. Jasper
Best for maintaining brand consistency in content creation
Jasper describes itself as an AI copilot for marketing teams in the keyword research process, offering a collection of tools and features that use artificial intelligence to power content creation and brand consistency. Jasper’s AI writing tools streamline the content brief process for teams.
Jasper best features
- Build content briefs and first drafts based on your given keywords
- Analyze your content against competitors in the search engine results pages (SERP)
- Use the Surfer integration to optimize content based on your findings
Jasper limitations
- Although it’s possible to generate ideas with Jasper, it doesn’t have a traditional SEO keyword research tool—so teams that expect search data and insights should consider an alternative
- SEO content optimization isn’t included as a feature—for this, you’ll need a Surfer subscription
Jasper pricing
- Creator: $39/month per user
- Pro: $59/month for up to 5 users
- Business: Contact for pricing
Jasper ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (1,200+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.8/5 (1,800+ reviews)
9. Bramework
Best for aiding writers with first drafts and outlines
Bramework is an AI writing platform that assists writers and content teams with the first draft process. Use it to generate a heading, outline, and the first few paragraphs so you’re not working from a blank page. ✏️
Bramework best features
- Add your keywords and the platform will generate relevant content
- Build out your content brief, outline, or first draft with AI
- Use the Semrush integration to add keyword research functionality
Bramework limitations
- Bramework doesn’t have its own AI SEO tool—users need a separate Semrush subscription for this feature
- Some users report that the user interface (UI) could be improved
Bramework pricing
- Grow: $19/month for up to 2 users
- Pro: $99/month for up to 8 users
Bramework ratings and reviews
- G2: 3.7/5 (3+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.8/5 (10+ reviews)
10. Narrato
Best for SEO content collaboration
Narrato is an AI content collaboration and creation platform designed for marketing teams that want to centralize the content creation process. As part of the platform, Narrato offers additional planning and SEO tools, including keyword research.
Narrato best features
- Build a list of relevant keywords with Narrato’s AI writer
- Input your own keywords to generate relevant suggestions and content
- Use the AI content assistant to turn your keywords into an SEO brief
Narrato limitations
- Narrato outputs keyword research lists as plain text within a document, which may make it harder for teams to export and use them efficiently
- The platform’s focus is on content collaboration and creation rather than SEO keywords
Narrato pricing
- Single User: From $19/month per user
- Pro: $36/month for up to 4 users
- Business: $76/month for up to 4 users
- Custom: Contact for pricing
Narrato ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.8/5 (70+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.9/5 (10+ reviews)
Bonus: How to Use AI for SEO!
Summarize this article for me pleasePower Your SEO Operations with these AI Tools for Keyword Research
In the SEO space, we’re always looking for ways to innovate, move faster, and get better results. One of the best ways to do that is to use AI keyword research tools to streamline your process, discover incredible opportunities, and turn your research into publishable content even faster.
If your goal is not only to find the right keywords but to build and manage a content empire, make ClickUp your go-to platform for keyword research and SEO management. Our customizable platform gives you one place to find ideas, create optimized content, and monitor your progress. Try ClickUp for free today.
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