As a blogger and affiliate marketer, I’m constantly researching keywords. It’s become second nature to me. I can’t imagine writing anything, from a quick social media post to a long-form blog post, without first figuring out what people are actually searching for.
But I know that for agency owners, when you’re managing multiple campaigns for clients, keyword research can quickly become a frustrating time sink.
As an agency owner, you’re not just “juggling” clients – you’re managing a million other tasks, plus expectations, deadlines, and results. The last thing you need is a keyword research tool that slows you down or fails to deliver actionable data.
So, I’ve put together this guide on the top seven keyword research tools that can streamline your workflow and give you valuable insights into your target audience’s search behavior.
These tools will help you identify high-potential keywords, analyze competitor strategies, and ultimately drive more organic traffic to your clients’ websites.
Best Keyword Research Tools For Agencies
How I Chose These Tools
When choosing the tools for this list, I focused on what matters most to agencies – accuracy of data and easiness of use.
These tools had to provide reliable data, cover a wide range of features beyond basic keyword suggestions, and handle the demands of multiple client campaigns.
I also considered ease of use because a tool that’s too complex or time-consuming defeats the purpose.
Pricing was not that much of a factor because, as you will see down the road, there are both cheap and “expensive” tools for keyword research.
Finally, I prioritized tools with excellent support and regular updates.
1. Semrush – Best Overall
Semrush is an extensive digital marketing platform trusted by agencies worldwide for its robust SEO, keyword research, and competitor analysis capabilities. It offers access to over 20 billion keywords across 142 geo databases, making it a powerful tool for agencies looking to optimize their clients’ online presence.
Semrush provides advanced features like the Keyword Magic Tool, which generates extensive keyword ideas and allows filtering by Keyword Difficulty, Intent Analysis, and Long-Tail Keywords to refine your strategies.
Agencies benefit from Semrush’s automation capabilities, which streamline tasks like keyword research, competitor analysis, and SEO audits, saving valuable time. The platform integrates seamlessly with project management tools like Asana and Trello, enhancing collaboration and workflow efficiency.
Customizable reporting and white-label options enable agencies to deliver professional, data-driven pitches and transparent client updates.
Semrush also includes agency-specific tools such as lead generation features, competitive intelligence data, and gap analysis, helping agencies identify growth opportunities and deliver thorough SEO solutions.
Its ability to automate repetitive tasks, provide actionable insights, and support client management makes it one of the best keyword research tools for agencies aiming to scale their operations and deliver measurable results.
Standout features
- Largest Keyword Database: Semrush offers the largest keyword database in the industry, with access to over 25 billion keywords, making it a top choice for keyword research.
- Keyword Magic Tool: Uses AI to suggest keywords and estimate how difficult they’re to rank for, helping you target the right ones.
- Keyword Gap: Compares your performance with competitors to show where you can improve.
- Intent-Based Filtering: Lets you filter keywords based on what users are searching for, ensuring more relevant results.
- SERP Insights: Analyzes the top search results to give you actionable tips for improving your rankings.
- Long-Tail Identification: Helps you find specific, less competitive keywords with high potential.
- Google Analytics Integration: The platform integrates smoothly with Google Analytics and has a user-friendly interface, making it easy to stay in control.
- Exporting: Its export and sharing features also make teamwork simple. Semrush is a reliable tool for data-driven keyword research.
Pricing
Semrush offers pricing plans that work for businesses of all sizes, making it easy to find the right fit.
| Plan | Monthly Price | Yearly Price /mo | Projects | Keywords | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pro Plan | $139.95 | $117.33 | 5 | 500 | Great for small businesses |
| Guru Plan | $249.95 | $208.32 | 15 | 1,500 | Good for midsize agencies |
| Business Plan | $499.95 | $416.66 | 40 | 5,000 | Designed for larger businesses |
(Try Semrush risk-free before making a decision).
2. Ahrefs – Runner up
Second to the ranks is Ahrefs. Ahrefs is a thorough SEO tool that excels in keyword research, making it a top choice for agencies.
Its Keyword Explorer provides in-depth SEO metrics, including traffic potential, clicks per search, and cost per click. The tool supports global and country-specific metrics, allowing agencies to tailor their content strategies according to each country.
Ahrefs generates keyword ideas through matching terms, related terms, and search suggestions, while its six extensive reports – such as Terms Match, Phrase Match, and Questions – offer lots of actionable insights.
With a database of over 25 billion keywords, Ahrefs enables agencies to filter keywords by difficulty and intent, analyze competitors’ target keywords, and identify SERP features like Featured Snippets and Related Questions. It also explores parent topics of individual keywords and estimates paid and organic clicks, providing a holistic view of keyword performance.
Ahrefs stands out for its user-friendly interface, topic clustering capabilities, and intent analysis, which help agencies uncover popular questions and trends related to seed keywords. Its pricing starts at $119/month, making it accessible even for small agencies.
Standout features
- Huge Keyword Database: Offers millions of keyword ideas, making it easy to find what you need.
- Keyword Difficulty and Traffic Potential: Shows metrics like search volume and cost-per-click to help you focus on the best opportunities.
- Related Topics and Questions: Quickly finds connected topics and popular questions people are searching for.
- Advanced Filters: Lets you narrow down results by location, search intent, or specific metrics.
- SERP Insights: Gives you a clear view of competitors and features that impact search rankings.
Pricing
| Plan | Monthly Price | Yearly Price (per month) | Projects | History | Users Included | Tracked Keywords | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lite | $119 | $99 | 5 | 6 months | 1 | 750 | Essential tools for small projects, up to 2 extra users at $37.4/mo each |
| Standard | $229 | $191 | 20 | 2 years | 1 | 2,000 | Advanced tools for professionals, up to 5 extra users at $56.1/mo each |
| Advanced | $419 | $349.17 | 50 | 5 years | 1 | 5,000 | More data and tools for growing businesses, up to 10 extra users at $74.8/mo each |
| Enterprise | – | $13,940 | 100 | ∞ | 3 | 10,000 | Custom solutions for large agencies, unlimited extra users at $930/yr each |
3. Serpstat – Best Value for Money
Serpstat is another all-in-one SEO platform made in Ukraine, designed to streamline keyword research, domain analysis, backlink analysis, and rank tracking. It offers a thorough suite of tools that cater to agencies looking to optimize their clients’ search engine performance.
With an extensive database, Serpstat enables users to identify high-volume, low-competition keywords, analyze competitors’ strategies, and uncover link-building opportunities. Its features include keyword suggestion, filtering, and management, as well as site auditing and rank tracking.
Serpstat provides detailed metrics such as search volume, keyword difficulty, PPC competitiveness, and average CPC. It allows users to filter keywords by difficulty, volume, CPC, and SERP features, making it easier to pinpoint the most valuable keywords.
The platform also supports API integration, enabling seamless integration with other tools and in-house systems.
Serpstat’s ability to provide actionable insights, combined with its competitive pricing, makes it one of the best keyword research tools for agencies. It helps agency owners save time, improve client outcomes, and stay ahead in the competitive SEO landscape.
Standout features
- Large Keyword Database: Get access to data like search volume, competition, and difficulty for millions of keywords.
- Competitor Insights: Discover the keywords your competitors are ranking for and their backlink strategies.
- SERP Opportunities: Find chances to appear in features like People Also Ask or Featured Snippets.
- Long-Tail Keywords: Create specific, low-competition keyword ideas to target niche audiences.
- Batch Analysis: Evaluate thousands of keywords at once for faster campaign planning.
- API: API integrations and bulk export options make it a great fit for agencies handling large SEO projects with ease.
Pricing
| PLAN | MONTHLY PRICE | YEARLY PRICE | PROJECTS | KEY FEATURES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | $59 | $50 | 5 | SEO tools for freelancers, analyze competitors, 100 searches/day, 2,000 results/report, 10,000 position checks/month, 30,000 audit pages, 16 business hours support |
| Team | $119 | $100 | 10 | AI tools, Batch Analysis, 500 searches/day, 10,000 results/report, 50,000 position checks/month, 150,000 audit pages, team management, priority support |
| Agency | $479 | $410 | 100 | Extensive data, White label, 5,000 searches/day, 100,000 results/report, 500,000 position checks/month, 1.5M audit pages, unlimited team members, priority support |
Compared to Semrush ($139/month) and ahrefs ($99/month), Serpstat is more affordable and still offers powerful features like keyword grouping, competitor research, and AI content tools. The daily search limits are reasonable, and you can easily change plans as your needs grow. For agencies looking for flexibility and scalability, Serpstat’s pricing is a solid option.
4. KWFinder – Best for easiness of use
KWFinder is a keyword research tool designed to simplify the process of finding profitable keywords for SEO and PPC campaigns. It is part of the Mangools SEO toolkit that offers SEO tools suitable for both individuals and digital agencies alike.
KWFinder – which the keyword research tol of the suite – offers a clean, intuitive interface that allows its users to search for keywords, analyze their difficulty, and evaluate metrics like search volume, CPC, and competition.
This keyword tool also features a Keyword Difficulty (KD) score, that gives an average difficulty level for each keyword. It does that by evaluating the competition and domain authority of top-ranking pages for the specific keyword you are looking to rank for. It also pulls accurate data from Google Keyword Planner and combines it with proprietary insights for precise keyword analysis.
KWFinder is particularly effective for agencies due to its beginner-friendly design and advanced functionality. Agency employees can learn the tool very easily, minimizing the learning curve that usually occurs when a new tool is introduced to the SEO team.
Another important thing to mention is that it supports localized keyword research, enabling agencies to filter results by location for region-specific SEO strategies.
Additionally, KWFinder offers competitor analysis, allowing agencies to identify keywords that competitors are ranking for and refine their strategies accordingly.
Its focus on ease of use, reliable data, and local SEO capabilities makes it a top choice for agencies aiming to deliver measurable results.
Standout features
KWFinder stands out because it’s incredibly easy to use, making it a favorite for agencies that want to save time on keyword research. Its “clean” and straightforward interface ensures quick searches and smooth filtering, whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience.
Here’s what makes it special:
- Simple Dashboard: The layout is easy to navigate, so organizing keywords is a breeze.
- Keyword Difficulty Scores: You can quickly see how competitive a keyword is with clear, easy-to-understand metrics.
- Accurate Data: It combines Google Keyword Planner data with its own insights to provide reliable search volumes and trends.
- Localized Research: You can filter keywords by over 65,000 locations, which is perfect for targeting specific areas.
- Customizable Lists: Exporting data is simple, allowing you to create strategies tailored to your needs.
Pricing
Agencies benefit from KWFinder’s cost-effective pricing plans, which cater to both small teams and larger organizations.
| PLAN | MONTHLY PRICE | YEARLY PRICE | PROJECTS | KEY FEATURES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mangools Basic | €49.00/month | €29.90/month (€358.80 billed yearly) | 100 | 100 keyword lookups/24h, 200 suggestions/search, 200 imports. 25 competitor keywords/search, 100 SERP lookups/24h. 200 tracked keywords, unlimited domains, 100K backlinks/month. No extra seats. |
| Mangools Premium | €69.00/month | €44.90/month (€538.80 billed yearly) | 500 | 500 keyword lookups/24h, unlimited suggestions/search, 700 imports. 500 SERP lookups/24h, 700 tracked keywords, unlimited domains, 500K backlinks/month. 3 extra seats, €19/month (€12 yearly) per extra seat. |
| Mangools Agency | €129.00/month | €89.90/month (€1,078.80 billed yearly) | 1,200 | 1,200 keyword lookups/24h, unlimited suggestions/search, 700 imports. 1,200 SERP lookups/24h, 1,500 tracked keywords, unlimited domains, 1.2M backlinks/month. 5 extra seats, €19/month (€12 yearly) per extra seat. |
The tool’s free trial option allows agencies to test its capabilities before committing to a subscription. With features like SERP analysis, exact search volumes, and keyword filtering, KWFinder provides a thorough solution for agencies looking to optimize their clients’ SEO efforts.
Compared to tools like Semrush or Ahrefs, KWFinder is more affordable while still being powerful. Its pricing works for agencies of any size, so you only pay for what you actually need.
5. Keywordtool.io – Best For Non English KW Terms
Keywordtool.io is a another powerful keyword research tool designed to generate up to 750 related search items for any given keyword. It supports keyword research across multiple platforms, including Google, Bing, YouTube, Amazon, eBay, Pinterest, Etsy, App Store, TikTok and even the Google Play Store.
The tool offers advanced filtering options, allowing users to refine results by language, location, and Google country domain. It provides detailed keyword analysis, including search volume, CPC, and competition data, and supports bulk search volume analysis for efficient keyword evaluation.
Keywordtool.io is particularly effective for non-English keyword terms, offering multilingual support and geo-targeting capabilities. This makes it ideal for international SEO campaigns, enabling users to find long-tail keywords and analyze competitor keywords to identify market gaps.
Its intuitive user interface simplifies the keyword research process, making it accessible even for non-English terms.
Professionals recommend it for finding profitable keywords with high search volume and low competition. Its extensive data, including search volume, trend, Google Ads competition, and CPC, makes it a reliable tool for long-term use.
For agency owners, Keywordtool.io is invaluable for expanding SEO programs internationally and conducting efficient keyword research across multiple languages and regions.
Its ability to provide detailed keyword analysis and bulk search volume analysis helps agencies optimize their campaigns and identify high-potential keywords, ultimately driving better results for their clients.
Standout features
Keywordtool.io is a great choice for agencies working with international markets because it handles non-English keyword research really well.
Here’s what makes it stand out:
- Works in many languages: It can suggest keywords in over 190 languages, which is perfect for global campaigns.
- Uses native alphabets: It searches using the local writing system, helping you find keywords that fit the culture.
- Location-based results: It adjusts keyword data to match specific regions, so you can target the right audience.
- Handles lots of keywords at once: You can analyze multiple keywords together, saving time on big projects.
- Easy to export: You can download results as a CSV file, making it simple to use in your SEO work.
- Easy to use design: With its easy-to-use design and helpful filters, it’s a must-have tool for finding the best keywords in different markets.
It’s especially useful for agencies looking to grow their international SEO efforts.
Pricing
KeywordTool.io plans are flexible and can grow with your needs. Here’s a breakdown:
| PLAN | MONTHLY PRICE | YEARLY PRICE | USERS | KEY FEATURES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pro Basic | $89/month | $69/month ($828 billed yearly) | 1 | Search volume data, more keywords, bulk search volume analysis. |
| Pro Plus | $99/month | $79/month ($948 billed yearly) | 5 | Search volume, CPC & competition data, more keywords, bulk analysis. |
| Pro Business | $199/month | $159/month ($1,908 billed yearly) | 10 | All Pro Plus features + 50 API requests/day. |
When compared to tools like Semrush ($139.95/month) KeywordTool.io offers a good mix of affordability and useful features.
The Pro Business plan is especially helpful for agencies that need to analyze large amounts of keywords. The free trial is a great way to test how well it works for non-English keywords before committing.
If you’re looking for a tool that’s both flexible and cost-effective, KeywordTool.io is worth considering.
6. Answer The Public – Best for uncovering long tail keywords
Answer The Public is a free long-tail keyword tool that aggregates Google autocomplete suggestions to provide keyword ideas. It identifies questions and phrases related to a specific topic, creating word clouds to visualize related queries.
It was acquired by Neil Patel – a very popular SEO and Digital Marketer – a couple of years ago, who revamped its aesthetics and introduced paid plans.
This tool is particularly useful for content ideation and strategy, offering accurate questions and key phrases used by target audiences. It’s simple to use, requiring only a keyword input to generate a list of long-tail keywords.
Answer The Public reduces guesswork by providing data directly from Google, ensuring high accuracy in keyword suggestions. It’s free to use, making it accessible for agencies looking to improve their SEO strategy.
By identifying specific questions and phrases users ask, it helps create more targeted and relevant content.
Agency owners benefit from Answer The Public by gaining insights into the specific queries and concerns of their target audience. This allows for the creation of content that directly addresses user needs, improving engagement and search engine rankings.
Standout features
Answer The Public stands out for its ability to turn broad topics into specific, actionable insights.
Here’s what makes it special:
- Clear Visuals: It shows data in easy-to-understand visuals, like questions, prepositions, and comparisons.
- Wide Range of Keywords: It covers variations like “how,” “why,” “with,” and “versus” to give deeper insights.
- Google Data Integration: It uses Google’s auto-suggest and related searches to ensure accurate results.
- Tool Compatibility: It works well with other tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush for more advanced analysis.
- Easy to Use: The interface is simple and straightforward, making it great for users of all experience levels.
Pricing
Answer The Public offers options for both beginners and experienced users. The free version includes basic features like keyword suggestions based on Google autocomplete, for 3 searches per day.
| PLAN | MONTHLY PRICE | LIFETIME PRICE | USERS | KEY FEATURES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | €11/month | €119 one-time | 1 | 100 searches/day, CPC & search volume data, organize results with tags. |
| Pro | €99/month | €990 one-time | Up to 3 | Unlimited searches, CPC & search volume data, organize results with tags. |
| Expert | €199/month | €1,990 one-time | Unlimited | Unlimited searches, CPC & search volume data, organize results with tags. |
7. Also Asked – Best SEO tool for finding “fresh” questions
Also Asked is a specialized SEO tool designed to extract data from the “People Also Ask” (PAA) section of Google Search results. It focuses on uncovering fresh questions and related queries that users are searching for, making it an invaluable resource for agencies looking to refine their content and SEO strategies.
The tool generates zero-volume searches, providing a list of niche queries that can be used to expand content reach and target specific audience needs. It also offers difficulty analysis through standard and deep search options, allowing users to assess the competitiveness of these queries.
Key stats and features include real-time data extraction, multiple export options (CSV and PNG), and visual data analysis through table, card, and tree views. These features enable agencies to create content that directly answers user questions, optimize existing content, and identify emerging trends.
The tool’s ability to uncover missed content opportunities by competitors further improves its utility for competitive analysis.
For agency owners, it’s a great addition in their SEO arsenal.
Standout features
One of the best things about Also Asked is how it helps you understand exactly what your audience is looking for. It creates detailed lists of questions by pulling information from forums, Q&A sites, and social media. This gives you a clear idea of what people are curious about.
Here’s why it’s so useful:
- Wide range of questions: It gathers questions from many different places, so you get a variety of relevant topics.
- Focus on specific phrases: It helps you find less competitive but highly relevant search terms.
- Better content planning: It shows you topics that are often overlooked, helping you fill gaps in your content.
- Improved search rankings: By answering the exact questions people are asking, your content performs better in search results.
- Works well with other tools: It pairs nicely with tools like Semrush to give you even deeper insights.
Pricing
Also Asked has a free plan if you want to test it out. When you’re ready to upgrade, here’s what to expect.
| PLAN | MONTHLY PRICE | YEARLY PRICE | USERS | KEY FEATURES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $15/month | $12/month ($144 billed yearly) | ∞ | 100 credits/month, all regions & languages, PNG export, 24hr search history. |
| Lite | $29/month | $23/month ($276 billed yearly) | ∞ | 300 credits/month, deep search, 1-month history, CSV export, historic timeline. |
| Pro | $59/month | $47/month ($564 billed yearly) | ∞ | 1,000 credits/month, 1-year history, deep search, CSV export, bulk searches, API access, unlimited PAYG credits. |
Bottom Line
Choosing the right keyword research tool is critical for maximizing SEO performance. Based on my analysis, Semrush excels as the top all-around option, while Ahrefs offers robust competitor insights.
For budget-friendly value, Serpstat stands out, and KWFinder simplifies usability.
Keywordtool.io is ideal for non-English terms, Answer The Public uncovers long-tail opportunities, and Also Asked delivers fresh, question-based insights.
Each tool provides unique strengths to refine keyword strategies and drive targeted traffic effectively. The question remains – which one are you going to start testing out?
What Keyword tools are you using in your agency and why?
In the meantime, feel free to check more SEO articles here.
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