Best Keyword Research Tools to Find Easy Ranking Keywords
If you’re searching for the best keyword research tools to find easy ranking keywords, you’re probably in the same spot many bloggers hit: posting “good” content and still watching Google ignore it like it’s a group chat from 2013. The fix usually isn’t “write more.” It’s finding keywords you can actually win—long-tail, clear intent, low competition—and using tools that don’t lie to your face (or at least lie less).
This guide is the workflow I wish I had when I started: which tools are worth paying for, which free tools punch above their weight, how to spot “fake-easy” keywords, and how to build a list you can publish from for months without burning out.
What “easy ranking” really means
“Easy ranking” doesn’t mean “low search volume” or “no competition.” It means you have a realistic path to page 1 based on what’s already ranking and what your site can compete with. Tools help, but the real skill is interpreting the SERP like a human.
Here’s the practical definition used in this post:
- The current top results are weak in a specific way (thin content, outdated info, low topical coverage, generic answers).
- The query has clear intent (you know what the searcher wants).
- You can create something noticeably better without writing a 7,000-word dissertation.
- You can compete with your current authority level (or with one or two decent backlinks).
Some tools estimate ranking difficulty using backlinks to the top-ranking pages (Ahrefs explicitly says its KD is calculated based on the average number of backlinks to the top-ranking pages).
The Tired-But-Effective Keyword Framework (That Actually Saves You Time)
When the brain is fried and the content calendar is judging you, this framework keeps keyword research simple:
Step 1: Start with intent, not volume
You’re not just looking for “keywords.” You’re looking for:
- Problems people want solved (informational)
- Decisions people are about to make (commercial)
- Products/services they’re ready to buy (transactional)
Step 2: Find long-tail phrases (3+ words)
Long-tail keywords tend to be easier because they’re more specific and usually have fewer perfectly-matching pages competing for them.
Step 3: Validate in the SERP (the “reality check”)
Tools can say “KD 9” and Google can still serve you a results page full of monsters. SERP review is non-negotiable.
Step 4: Build clusters, not one-offs
If you publish one lonely article and walk away, it’s harder to rank. If you publish a cluster (one main topic + supporting articles), Google has an easier time trusting you.
Ahrefs highlights instant keyword clustering as a feature inside Keywords Explorer, which is useful for building clusters faster (and not manually grouping 200 phrases in a spreadsheet like a Victorian factory worker).
Best keyword research tools (honest picks)
Not every tool is “best.” Some are best for beginners, some for affiliate bloggers, and some for people who enjoy spreadsheets a little too much.
Ahrefs (best for SERP reality + difficulty sanity checks)
Ahrefs Keywords Explorer is strong for scaling keyword ideas and quickly seeing how hard ranking might be, and it emphasizes keyword difficulty based on backlinks to top pages.
It also notes a very large keyword database (“28.7B keywords filtered from 110B discovered”), which matters when you’re digging for weird long-tails that other tools miss.
Use Ahrefs when:
- You want fast, reliable competitor-led keyword discovery
- You need to sanity-check difficulty based on backlink reality
- You want clustering support without extra tools
Trade-offs:
- Costs more than beginner tools
- It’s easy to over-research and never publish (ask how I know)
Semrush (best all-in-one for content + competitor workflows)
If you want one platform that does keyword research plus competitive insights and content planning, Semrush is commonly positioned as an all-in-one SEO suite for keyword research.
It’s also frequently recommended for “advanced SEO professionals” in lists of top keyword tools.
Use Semrush when:
- You’re balancing SEO with content marketing and competitive research
- You want a broad toolkit without stacking 6 subscriptions
Trade-offs:
- Can feel overwhelming at first
- Like all tools, metrics are estimates—SERP check still wins
Google Keyword Planner (best “straight from Google” volume + PPC intent signals)
Google Keyword Planner is still useful because it’s plugged into Google Ads data and provides keyword ideas plus historical metrics like average monthly searches and advertiser competition.
It also includes forecasting features that estimate clicks, cost, impressions, and CTR based on factors like bid, budget, seasonality, and historical ad quality.
Use Keyword Planner when:
- You want keyword ideas and rough demand directly from Google
- You care about commercial intent and CPC/bid ranges
Trade-offs (important):
- Access requires completing account setup and entering billing info for basic features like “Get ideas for new keywords.”
- SEO difficulty isn’t the same as advertiser competition
Google Trends (best for timing + “is this dying?” checks)
Google Trends won’t give you a neat KD score, but it’s excellent for:
- Seasonal topics
- Brand vs brand comparisons
- Avoiding content that peaked 3 years ago
Pair it with another tool for actual keyword lists.
Keywords Everywhere (best lightweight, affordable “browse and collect” tool)
Keywords Everywhere is popular because it’s fast for collecting ideas while you browse Google, YouTube, Amazon, and competitor pages, and it’s often recommended as an affordable keyword research option.
It’s especially handy when you’re building a long-tail list from real SERP language (People Also Ask, related searches, etc.).
Trade-offs:
- It’s not a full SEO suite
- Still need SERP analysis and content planning elsewhere
Ubersuggest (best budget-friendly tool for beginners)
Ubersuggest is widely positioned as an affordable alternative that provides keyword suggestions, content ideas, and competitor features, and it’s often recommended for content marketing workflows.
It’s also frequently mentioned as beginner-friendly, which matters if you don’t want to feel like you need an SEO PhD to find one keyword.
Trade-offs:
- Data depth can feel lighter than enterprise tools
- You may outgrow it if you’re scaling heavily
Search Console (best “you’re already ranking” keyword goldmine)
Google Search Console is one of the best places to find easy wins because it shows real queries where you already get impressions/clicks. It’s often recommended specifically for monitoring keyword performance data.
Use it for:
- Finding keywords where you rank positions 8–20 (prime “update this post” territory)
- Discovering unexpected long-tail queries you’d never research manually
The workflow: how to find easy keywords (step-by-step)
This is the process that consistently finds publishable keywords without spiraling into “research forever.”
Step 1: Pick a seed topic (from real life)
Start from:
- Customer questions
- Reddit/forum threads
- Comments/emails
- Your own “I wish someone told me” moments
Example seed topics:
- “budget backpacking gear”
- “high protein breakfast”
- “how to start investing”
- “best hiking socks for blisters”
Step 2: Pull long-tail keyword ideas (tool phase)
Use one primary tool (Ahrefs/Semrush/Ubersuggest) and one supporting tool (Keyword Planner/Trends/Keywords Everywhere).
What to export/save:
- 3+ word phrases
- Question keywords
- “Best” / “vs” / “for” modifiers
- Location modifiers (US states/cities) when relevant
Ahrefs specifically positions Keywords Explorer as a way to generate thousands of keyword ideas and cluster them quickly.
Step 3: Do the “SERP weakness test” (manual, quick, ruthless)
Open the top results and ask:
- Are the ranking pages actually answering the query?
- Is the content outdated?
- Is it thin (no examples, no steps, no real experience)?
- Is the SERP filled with huge brands (and is that brand presence total, or just partial)?
If the results look beatable, keep it. If it’s all heavyweight sites with perfect coverage, move on. No shame. The internet is large.
Step 4: Choose one primary keyword + 6–15 supporting keywords
This is how posts rank faster without stuffing:
- One main keyword (title, H1, URL, meta)
- Supporting long-tails used naturally as H2/H3s and within sections
Step 5: Build a small cluster (publish smarter, not harder)
Example cluster for “easy ranking keywords” topic:
- Main: best keyword research tools to find easy ranking keywords
- Supporting:
- how to find low competition keywords
- keyword difficulty vs competition
- long-tail keyword research tips
- keyword research for affiliate blogs
- how to use Google Keyword Planner for SEO
Google Keyword Planner’s historical metrics and bid range stats can help identify commercial intent keywords to monetize responsibly.
Which tool should you pick? (quick match guide)
- New blogger on a budget: Ubersuggest + Google Trends + Search Console (once you have data).
- Affiliate content marketer who wants low-competition opportunities: Ahrefs (SERP + KD reality) + Keywords Everywhere (collect fast).
- Content team / serious scaling: Semrush (all-in-one) + Search Console for validation.
- Paid ads + SEO combo: Google Keyword Planner + a dedicated SEO suite for difficulty/competition.
Mini case note: the “KD said easy, Google said no” lesson
One of the most annoying things in keyword research is when a tool suggests a keyword is easy… and then the SERP is basically a fortress.
What usually happened (in hindsight):
- The tool’s difficulty metric focused on backlinks (which is useful), but the SERP was dominated by strong topical authority sites anyway. Ahrefs, for example, states KD is based solely on the average number of backlinks to the top-ranking pages—so it’s not measuring every ranking factor.
- The intent was mismatched: I wrote “best X” but the SERP wanted a tutorial (or the other way around).
- The query was quietly “brand-biased” (Google preferred known publishers).
Fix: treat difficulty as a filter, not a verdict. SERP intent and content quality still decide the real fight.
Affiliate-ready tool recommendations (ethical + contextual)
If you like having a physical notebook setup (yes, some of us still write things down like it’s 2006), these are genuinely helpful for staying organized during keyword research sprints:
- A simple keyword research notebook for planning clusters and outlines: Amazon search for “keyword research notebook”
- A desk whiteboard for mapping topic clusters (surprisingly effective when your brain is tired): Amazon search for “desktop whiteboard”
- Blue-light blocking glasses (if you’re doing late-night SERP audits): Amazon search for “blue light blocking glasses”
Trade-off honesty: none of these will “make you rank.” They just reduce friction so you actually publish.
Advanced tips most people miss
- Use Google Keyword Planner for commercial intent clues: “Top of page bid” ranges can hint which keywords advertisers value, even if you’re doing SEO.
- Don’t obsess over precision in search volume: Google notes historical stats like average monthly searches are rounded and influenced by seasonality and events.
- Treat forecasts as directional, not truth: Keyword Planner forecasts factor in bid, budget, seasonality, and historical ad quality, so it’s not the same as organic traffic prediction.
- Cluster faster: if a tool supports clustering, use it to group long-tails into one page vs ten tiny pages. Ahrefs describes instant clustering as a time-saver.
Conclusion (ethical CTA)
Easy ranking keywords aren’t magic—they’re just specific queries where your site can create the best answer on the internet for that moment. Use one solid keyword tool, validate in the SERP, publish in clusters, and let Search Console guide your updates over time. If there’s one move worth making this week: pick a tool you’ll actually use consistently, export 50 long-tail ideas, and publish the first post before you “perfect” the plan.
What kind of site are you building (affiliate niche, local service, or personal blog)? And what’s your current biggest keyword research headache?
Frequently Asked Questions about Best Keyword Research Tools to Find Easy Ranking Keywords
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What is the best keyword research tool for beginners?
Ubersuggest is often seen as beginner-friendly and budget-friendly, while still offering keyword ideas and content features.
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Is Google Keyword Planner good for SEO?
Yes, it can generate keyword ideas and show historical metrics like average monthly searches and competition, but it’s built for ads and doesn’t measure SEO difficulty directly.
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Do I need to pay for Ahrefs to find easy ranking keywords?
Ahrefs is powerful for scaling keyword ideas and evaluating difficulty signals like backlinks, but it’s not mandatory if budget is tight.
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What does keyword difficulty mean in Ahrefs?
Ahrefs states its KD score is calculated based solely on the average number of backlinks to the top-ranking pages.
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Why do keyword tools show different search volumes?
Different tools use different data sources and modeling; even Google’s own Keyword Planner notes search volume stats are rounded and affected by seasonality/events.
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How do I find long-tail keywords that rank faster?
Start with a seed topic, pull 3+ word phrases in a keyword tool, then manually confirm the SERP is beatable with better content.
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What’s the fastest way to find “easy” keywords on my existing site?
Use Google Search Console queries where pages rank around positions 8–20, then improve content to match intent and depth (Search Console is recommended for monitoring keyword performance).
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Are free keyword research tools enough?
They can be, especially when paired with SERP analysis, Google Trends, and Search Console; paid tools mainly speed up scale and competitive insights.
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How many keywords should one blog post target?
One primary keyword plus several supporting long-tail variations usually works better than trying to force 30 unrelated keywords into one post.
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What keyword intent is best for affiliate sites?
Commercial investigation keywords (like “best,” “vs,” “review,” “for beginners”) tend to convert well when the content is honest and specific.
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Can Keyword Planner forecasts predict SEO traffic?
Not directly—Keyword Planner forecasts estimate ad performance and factor in bids, budgets, seasonality, and historical ad quality.
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How do I know if a keyword is too competitive?
If the SERP is dominated by high-authority sites with perfectly-matched content and strong link profiles, it’s usually too competitive right now.
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Should I choose high volume or low competition keywords first?
For newer sites, low competition and clear intent usually beats chasing high-volume head terms.
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What’s better: Semrush or Ahrefs for keyword research?
Semrush is often positioned as an all-in-one suite, while Ahrefs is strong for keyword scaling and backlink-based difficulty signals; either can work depending on workflow.
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What’s the biggest keyword research mistake bloggers make?
Trusting tool metrics without reading the SERP and matching search intent.