Best Keyword Research Tool 2018: Top Tools for SEO Success
Best Keyword Research Tool in 2018: Which One Should You Choose?
Choosing the right keyword research tool can make a real difference to an SEO campaign. In 2018, businesses and website owners had plenty of options, from free tools provided by Google to specialist platforms offering keyword difficulty scores, competitor data and search-volume estimates.
There was no single tool that suited everyone. The best choice depended on your budget, experience and the kind of research you needed to do. This guide looks at some of the leading keyword research tools available in 2018 and explains what each one did well.
What makes a good keyword research tool?
A useful keyword research tool should help you discover the phrases people search for and assess whether those phrases are worth targeting. Depending on the platform, it may also provide:
- Estimated monthly search volumes
- Keyword difficulty or competition metrics
- Related keywords and questions
- Competitor keyword data
- Historical trends or seasonal patterns
- Information about paid search activity
Search-volume figures and difficulty scores are estimates, not guarantees. They are best used to compare opportunities and guide your research, rather than as exact predictions of traffic or ranking potential.
Google Keyword Planner: a useful free starting point
Google Keyword Planner was a popular starting point in 2018, particularly for people who wanted to research keywords without paying for a dedicated SEO platform. It provided keyword ideas, estimated search volumes and information about competition in Google Ads.
Its main limitation was that the competition metric was designed for paid advertising, so it did not directly show how difficult it would be to rank organically. Search-volume information could also be presented in broad ranges, depending on the account. Even so, it was a practical way to generate ideas and understand how people searched for a product or service.
Best for: Beginners, small businesses and advertisers seeking a free starting point.
SEMrush: a strong all-round option
SEMrush was one of the best-known marketing platforms in 2018. Its keyword research features helped users find keyword ideas, review search volumes and examine the search terms used by competing websites. This competitor research could be especially useful when planning content or looking for gaps in an existing SEO strategy.
SEMrush offered much more than keyword research, including tools for competitor analysis and paid search research. That breadth made it a strong all-round choice, although its range of features and subscription cost could be more than a casual user needed.
Best for: SEO professionals, agencies and businesses that want keyword and competitor research in one platform.
Ahrefs Keywords Explorer: detailed keyword analysis
Ahrefs was widely used by SEO professionals in 2018, with Keywords Explorer providing keyword suggestions and a range of metrics to help assess opportunities. The platform was also known for its backlink analysis, making it useful for users who wanted to connect keyword research with broader competitor and link research.
As with other commercial tools, its metrics were estimates and required interpretation. Ahrefs was generally better suited to people who would make regular use of its wider SEO toolkit than to someone looking for an occasional list of keywords.
Best for: Experienced SEO users who need keyword, competitor and backlink research.
KWFinder: accessible research for long-tail keywords
KWFinder attracted users who wanted a straightforward interface and a focus on long-tail keyword ideas. Longer, more specific phrases can sometimes reveal a clearer search intent than broad terms, though their search volumes are often lower.
The tool’s difficulty estimates could help users compare potential targets, particularly when working on a newer website. Those scores should still be treated as a guide: the strength of the current search results, the quality of your content and the authority of your site all matter.
Best for: Bloggers, smaller businesses and users looking for a simple way to explore long-tail keywords.
Moz Keyword Explorer: useful metrics and suggestions
Moz Keyword Explorer combined keyword suggestions with metrics intended to help users assess search volume and ranking difficulty. It was a good option for people who wanted a dedicated keyword research experience and who were already familiar with Moz’s SEO tools.
Its suggested keywords could help expand an initial list, but no tool could decide on its own which terms were the right fit for a particular audience or business.
Best for: Marketers who want keyword discovery and SEO metrics in a dedicated platform.
AnswerThePublic: discover questions people ask
AnswerThePublic took a different approach from traditional keyword platforms. It organised search suggestions into questions and related phrases, helping content creators explore what people might want to know about a topic.
It was particularly useful during the early stages of content planning. Rather than treating every suggestion as a keyword target, users could use the results to identify themes, questions and potential article ideas.
Best for: Content creators looking for question-based ideas and topic inspiration.
So, what was the best keyword research tool in 2018?
For an all-round paid platform, SEMrush was a compelling choice in 2018 because it combined keyword discovery with competitor research and other marketing features. Ahrefs was another strong option, particularly for users who wanted to connect keyword research with backlink analysis.
For a free starting point, Google Keyword Planner was a sensible choice. For more accessible long-tail research, KWFinder was worth considering, while AnswerThePublic was useful for finding content questions and topic ideas.
The best tool was ultimately the one that matched your goals and helped you make better decisions. A keyword with a high search volume is not automatically valuable. Before targeting a phrase, consider its relevance to your audience, the intent behind the search, the pages already ranking and whether your website can provide a genuinely useful answer.
How to use keyword research effectively
- Start with your audience. Think about the questions, needs and language of the people you want to reach.
- Build a broad list. Use one or more tools to find related phrases, questions and long-tail variations.
- Check search intent. Review the results for a keyword to understand whether searchers want information, a product, a service or a particular website.
- Assess the competition. Look at the pages already ranking and consider whether you can create something more helpful or relevant.
- Organise keywords by topic. Group closely related phrases rather than creating a separate page for every minor variation.
- Review performance over time. Rankings and search behaviour can change, so revisit your research as your site and market develop.
In 2018, keyword research tools made it easier to find opportunities, but they could not replace sound judgement. The strongest results came from combining useful data with a clear understanding of search intent and high-quality content.
Exploring the Top Keyword Research Tools of 2018: Answers to Common Questions
- What was the best keyword research tool in 2018?
- Which keyword research tools were free to use in 2018?
- Was Google Keyword Planner good for SEO keyword research in 2018?
- How did SEMrush compare with Ahrefs for keyword research in 2018?
- Which keyword research tool was best for beginners in 2018?
- What was the best keyword research tool for finding long-tail keywords in 2018?
- How accurate were keyword search-volume estimates in 2018?
- Could keyword research tools show how difficult it was to rank for a keyword in 2018?
- How could I choose the right keyword research tool for my website in 2018?
What was the best keyword research tool in 2018?
In 2018, SEMrush was a strong all-round choice for keyword research, thanks to its keyword suggestions, search-volume estimates and competitor analysis. Ahrefs was also popular, particularly with SEO professionals who wanted to combine keyword research with backlink analysis. For a free starting point, Google Keyword Planner was a practical option, while KWFinder and AnswerThePublic helped users find long-tail keywords and content ideas. The best tool depended on your needs and budget, as all search-volume and difficulty figures were estimates rather than guarantees.
Which keyword research tools were free to use in 2018?
In 2018, several keyword research tools offered free options. Google Keyword Planner was a popular choice for finding keyword ideas and estimated search volumes, although some data was shown in broad ranges and its competition metric related to paid advertising rather than organic rankings. Google Trends helped compare interest over time, while AnswerThePublic offered question-based topic ideas. Some paid platforms, including Ubersuggest, also provided limited free keyword research features. Free tools could be useful for getting started, but their data and features were often more restricted than those of paid services.
Was Google Keyword Planner good for SEO keyword research in 2018?
Yes, Google Keyword Planner was a useful free starting point for SEO keyword research in 2018. It could suggest related terms and provide estimated search volumes, helping you understand how people searched for a topic. However, its competition metric was designed for Google Ads, not organic rankings, and search-volume figures could be broad ranges. It was best used to generate ideas and compare demand, alongside an assessment of search intent and the pages already ranking in Google.
How did SEMrush compare with Ahrefs for keyword research in 2018?
In 2018, SEMrush and Ahrefs were both leading options for keyword research, but they offered slightly different strengths. SEMrush stood out for its broad marketing toolkit and competitor keyword analysis, making it useful for discovering the terms rival websites ranked for and combining SEO research with paid-search insights. Ahrefs offered detailed keyword suggestions and was particularly attractive to users who wanted to connect keyword research with its well-regarded backlink and competitor analysis tools. Neither was universally better: SEMrush suited marketers seeking an all-round platform, while Ahrefs appealed to SEO professionals focused on organic search and link research.
Which keyword research tool was best for beginners in 2018?
For beginners in 2018, Google Keyword Planner was a practical choice because it was free and helped users find keyword ideas and estimated search volumes. Its competition figures related mainly to paid advertising, however, so they did not show organic SEO difficulty. Those wanting a simpler, more focused experience could consider KWFinder, which offered an accessible interface and keyword difficulty estimates.
What was the best keyword research tool for finding long-tail keywords in 2018?
In 2018, KWFinder was a popular choice for discovering long-tail keywords, thanks to its straightforward interface, keyword suggestions and difficulty estimates. AnswerThePublic was also useful for finding question-based phrases and content ideas. The best option depended on your needs, but it’s worth treating search-volume and difficulty figures as estimates and checking that each keyword matches your audience’s search intent.
How accurate were keyword search-volume estimates in 2018?
In 2018, keyword search-volume estimates were useful for comparing the relative popularity of search terms, but they were not exact counts. Figures could vary between tools because each used different data sources, time periods and calculation methods; Google Keyword Planner could also show search volumes in broad ranges, particularly for some accounts. Treat estimates as a guide, check trends across more than one source where possible, and consider search intent and competition alongside volume.
Could keyword research tools show how difficult it was to rank for a keyword in 2018?
Yes. In 2018, several keyword research tools, including Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz Keyword Explorer and KWFinder, provided keyword difficulty scores to estimate how challenging it might be to rank in organic search results. These scores were based on each tool’s own data and calculations, so they were useful for comparing keywords but not a guarantee of ranking success. It was still important to review the pages already ranking, assess their authority and relevance, and consider your website’s own strengths before choosing a target keyword.
How could I choose the right keyword research tool for my website in 2018?
To choose the right keyword research tool for your website in 2018, consider your budget, experience and SEO goals. If you were just starting out, Google Keyword Planner offered a useful free way to find keyword ideas, while tools such as SEMrush and Ahrefs provided more detailed keyword and competitor analysis for professional campaigns. For long-tail suggestions or content inspiration, KWFinder and AnswerThePublic were also worth considering. Compare the features you genuinely need, and treat search-volume and difficulty scores as estimates: the best tool is the one that helps you understand your audience and choose relevant keywords you can realistically target.