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Updated November 6, 2026

Google Keyword Planner alternatives in 2026: 8 tools compared

Google Keyword Planner: Google's own keyword ideas and search volume ranges. People look for alternatives when they need a lower price, a free plan or a better fit for a specific job.

These 8 tools cover similar ground. Each entry explains who it suits, how pricing works and what to watch out for.

Key takeaways

  • Ahrefs: link building, competitor research and agencies that need reliable backlink data.
  • AnswerThePublic: content ideas and FAQ research.
  • Bing Webmaster Tools: getting extra free audit and link data, and visibility in Bing.
  • Frase: writers who want fast research and briefs.
  • Google Trends: spotting seasonality and rising topics.
  • Mangools: bloggers and small businesses who want easy keyword research.
  • Moz Pro: beginners and small teams who value clear explanations and simple reports.
  • SE Ranking: freelancers and agencies who need solid features at a lower price.

Quick comparison

ToolBest forPricingFree plan
AhrefsLink building, competitor research and agencies that need reliable backlink dataPaidNo
AnswerThePublicContent ideas and FAQ researchFreemiumYes
Bing Webmaster ToolsGetting extra free audit and link data, and visibility in BingFreeYes
FraseWriters who want fast research and briefsFree trialNo
Google TrendsSpotting seasonality and rising topicsFreeYes
MangoolsBloggers and small businesses who want easy keyword researchFree trialNo
Moz ProBeginners and small teams who value clear explanations and simple reportsFree trialNo
SE RankingFreelancers and agencies who need solid features at a lower priceFree trialNo

The best Google Keyword Planner alternatives

1.

Ahrefs

Best for: Link building, competitor research and agencies that need reliable backlink data

Visit ahrefs.com

Ahrefs combines a backlink database, keyword research, site audits, rank tracking and content research. It is one of the two most widely used SEO suites, and its link data is a common reference point in the industry.

Paid

Paid plans. Free Ahrefs Webmaster Tools for sites you own.

Who it suits: Link building, competitor research and agencies that need reliable backlink data.

What we like

  • Very large, frequently updated backlink index
  • Clean, fast interface
  • Strong competitor research

Watch out for

  • Expensive for solo users
  • Usage limits on lower plans
Full Ahrefs review

2.

AnswerThePublic

Best for: Content ideas and FAQ research

Visit answerthepublic.com

AnswerThePublic turns search autocomplete data into maps of questions, prepositions and comparisons around a topic. It is a quick way to find content ideas and FAQ topics.

Freemium

Limited free searches per day. Paid plans for more.

Who it suits: Content ideas and FAQ research.

What we like

  • Great for content ideas
  • Visual and fast
  • Free searches available

Watch out for

  • Limited search volume data
  • Free searches are capped
Full AnswerThePublic review

3.

Bing Webmaster Tools

Best for: Getting extra free audit and link data, and visibility in Bing

Visit bing.com

Bing Webmaster Tools reports how your site performs in Bing and gives you a free site scan, keyword research and backlink data. It can import your sites from Google Search Console in a few clicks.

Free

Free from Microsoft.

Who it suits: Getting extra free audit and link data, and visibility in Bing.

What we like

  • Free
  • Includes a site audit and backlink data
  • Quick import from GSC

Watch out for

  • Bing data only
Full Bing Webmaster Tools review

4.

Frase

Best for: Writers who want fast research and briefs

Visit frase.io

Frase pulls the top search results for a keyword, summarises their headings and questions, and helps you build a content brief and optimise the draft. It is a lower-cost option for content optimization.

Free trial

Paid plans with a trial.

Who it suits: Writers who want fast research and briefs.

What we like

  • Fast content briefs
  • Affordable
  • Good question research

Watch out for

  • Optimization less refined than Clearscope
Full Frase review

6.

Mangools

Best for: Bloggers and small businesses who want easy keyword research

Visit mangools.com

Mangools bundles KWFinder (keywords), SERPChecker, SERPWatcher (rank tracking), LinkMiner (backlinks) and SiteProfiler. It is known for being easy to use and is a favourite of bloggers and small site owners.

Free trial

Paid plans with a free trial.

Who it suits: Bloggers and small businesses who want easy keyword research.

What we like

  • Very easy to use
  • Clear keyword difficulty score
  • Affordable

Watch out for

  • No full site audit
  • Lower limits than big suites
Full Mangools review

7.

Moz Pro

Best for: Beginners and small teams who value clear explanations and simple reports

Visit moz.com

Moz Pro offers keyword research, link analysis, site crawls and rank tracking. Moz created the Domain Authority metric, which is still widely used to compare websites, and its learning resources are some of the best in SEO.

Free trial

Paid plans with a free trial. Free MozBar extension and limited free tools.

Who it suits: Beginners and small teams who value clear explanations and simple reports.

What we like

  • Beginner friendly
  • Domain Authority is an industry standard
  • Excellent education content

Watch out for

  • Smaller data sets than the biggest suites
  • Fewer advanced features
Full Moz Pro review

8.

SE Ranking

Best for: Freelancers and agencies who need solid features at a lower price

Visit seranking.com

SE Ranking started as a rank tracker and grew into a full suite with audits, keyword research, backlinks and white-label reporting. It is a popular lower-cost alternative to the biggest suites, especially for agencies and freelancers.

Free trial

Paid plans with a free trial.

Who it suits: Freelancers and agencies who need solid features at a lower price.

What we like

  • Good value for money
  • Accurate rank tracking
  • White-label reporting

Watch out for

  • Smaller backlink index than Ahrefs or Semrush
  • Some data thinner in smaller markets
Full SE Ranking review

How we chose

  • Every tool on this list does the core job of keyword research tools, so it can replace Google Keyword Planner for most people.
  • We weighed pricing and free plans, ease of use, and the trade-offs you take on when switching.
  • Pricing comes from each vendor’s public pricing page and changes often, so confirm before you buy.

Buying guide: what to check before you switch

Keyword research tools show what people type into search engines, how often, and how competitive each term is. Use them to plan content, find quick wins and understand what your competitors already rank for.

  • Search volume data for the countries you target
  • A keyword difficulty score you can trust
  • Question and long-tail suggestions
  • Competitor keyword gap reports

Prices and features change often. Check each vendor’s website for current plans before you buy.