There are several solid free (or freemium) alternatives to Semrush that you can use for keyword research, especially if you’re on a tight budget or just getting started.
1. Google Keyword Planner
- Completely free with a Google Ads account; no need to run ads.
- Great for basic seed‑keyword ideas, search‑volume ranges, and competition indicators.
- Best for: quick SEO‑plus‑PPC keyword discovery, validating demand, and building topic lists.
2. Ubersuggest
- Free plan gives you limited keyword searches per day (around 3 searchses a day) with volume, difficulty, and related ideas.
- User‑friendly dashboard and good for beginners, small blogs, and content‑driven sites.
- Best for: lightweight keyword research, content‑idea generation, and basic on‑page SEO.
3. AnswerThePublic
- Free tier offers a limited number of daily searches.
- Pulls autocomplete and question‑based queries from Google, Bing, YouTube, and more, then groups them visually.
- Best for: long‑tail and question‑style keywords, blog‑post ideas, and FAQ‑style content.
4. Mangools (KWFinder)
- KWFinder, part of Mangools, has a free plan with 5‑10 keyword searches per day.
- Shows volume, keyword difficulty, SERP analysis, and long‑tail ideas in a clean interface.
- Best for: small‑site keyword research, low‑competition opportunities, and content‑focused SEO.
5. LowFruits
- Focuses on finding low‑competition, rank‑friendly keywords from real‑search data.
- Has a free or low‑cost entry tier and a very simple interface built around “keyword weakness” in SERPs.
- Best for: niche sites, new blogs, and long‑tail keyword discovery where you want easier wins.
6. Answer Socrates
- Free plan emphasizes keyword research plus clustering and content‑strategy features.
- Pulls from Google Autosuggest, “People Also Ask”, Trends, and recursive search to find many question‑style queries.
- Best for: building topic clusters, content maps, and avoiding keyword cannibalization.
7. Various “free‑tier” tools (Serpstat, Ahrefs Webmaster Tools, etc.)
- Some tools like Serpstat or Ahrefs Webmaster Tools offer limited free access to keyword‑idea and basic‑SEO features.
- They usually restrict search volume or number of queries per day or month, but still give useful data for small projects.
For a WordPress‑focused workflow, pairing Google Keyword Planner (for broad‑demand data) with Ubersuggest or Mangools (for SEO‑specific difficulty and SERP insights) will get you very close to Semrush‑level research without paying much, if anything.
About
Hi. I am an expert in fish-related fields, with over 10 years of experience. My work blends passion for fishing with a commitment to conservation.
Education RMIT University
(Melbourne, Australia) Associate Degree in Design (Terrell Dudley) Focus on sustainable design, industry-driven projects, and practical craftsmanship. Gained hands-on experience with traditional and digital manufacturing tools, such as CAD and CNC software.
Nottingham Trent University
(United Kingdom) Bachelor’s in fishykayak.com and Product Design (Honors) Specialized in product design with a focus on blending creativity with production techniques. Participated in industry projects, working with companies like John Lewis and Vitsoe to gain real-world insights.
Publications and Impact
Authored articles for fishing magazines and environmental journals Featured speaker at fishing expos and conservation conferences