10 Best Free YouTube Keyword Research Tools in 2026 | Complete Guide

Want your YouTube videos to rank #1 in search ? It all starts with keyword research.

The right keywords can transform your channel from zero views to thousands of targeted visitors who actually care about your content.

And the best part ? You don't need expensive tools. There are powerful free options that rival premium software.

In this guide, I'll show you the 10 best free keyword research tools and exactly how to use them to grow your channel.

Why Keyword Research Matters for YouTube

Here's the reality: 70% of what people watch on YouTube comes from recommendations. But for small channels, search is your growth engine.

When you target the right keywords:

• Your videos appear in search results
• Google indexes your videos(double traffic)
• You attract viewers actively looking for your content
• Your watch time increases(viewers who search convert better)
• The algorithm learns who to recommend your content to

Bad keyword strategy: Making videos on topics nobody searches for.

Good keyword strategy: Finding searchable topics with low competition.

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The 10 Best Free YouTube Keyword Research Tools

1. VidIQ(Free Plan)

Best for: Beginners who want real data without paying

What you get for free:

• 3 keyword searches per day
• Search volume estimates
• Competition score(1 - 100)
• Related keywords
• Trending videos for each keyword

How to use it:

• Install the VidIQ browser extension
• Type a keyword in the VidIQ keyword tool
• Look for keywords with:
• Search volume: 1,000 - 10,000 / month(sweet spot)
• Competition score: Below 50(easier to rank)
• Overall score: 60 + (good opportunity)

Pro tip: Use your 3 daily searches wisely.Research broad topics first, then drill down into specific sub - niches.

2. YouTube Autocomplete

Best for: Finding exactly what people type

What it is: YouTube's search bar automatically suggests popular searches as you type.

How to use it:

1. Go to YouTube and type your main keyword(don't press enter)
2. Add a letter after it(a, b, c, etc.)
3. YouTube shows popular searches starting with that letter
4. Record all relevant suggestions
5. Repeat with different starting letters

Example:

• Type: "how to grow youtube"
• Add "a": "how to grow youtube channel as a gaming channel"
• Add "f": "how to grow youtube channel fast 2026"

Pro tip: Use incognito mode to avoid personalized results.

3. Google Trends(YouTube Filter)

Best for: Identifying trending topics and seasonal patterns

What you get:

• Rising search trends
• Seasonal patterns(when searches peak)
• Geographic data(where people search)
• Related queries

How to use it:

1. Go to Google Trends
2. Switch from "Web Search" to "YouTube Search"
3. Enter your keyword
4. Check if the trend is rising, stable, or declining
5. Look at "Related queries" for content ideas

Pro tip: Target "breakout" keywords(marked as + 5000 % growth) for viral potential.

4. TubeBuddy(Free Plan)

Best for: Basic keyword analysis with competitive insights

What you get for free:

• Keyword Explorer tool(limited searches)
• Search volume and competition data
• Weighted score combining multiple factors
• Related searches

How to use it:

• Install TubeBuddy extension
• Use the Keyword Explorer tool
• Look for keywords with:
• "Good" or "Excellent" overall scores
• High search volume, low competition
• Related keywords to build content around

Pro tip: TubeBuddy shows you the keyword difficulty, which helps you avoid impossible - to - rank keywords.

5. YouTube Search Results

Best for: Free competitive analysis

What you can learn:

• How many results exist for a keyword
• What type of content ranks(tutorials, reviews, vlogs)
• Who's ranking (big channels or small ones?)
• How old the top videos are
• View counts and engagement levels

How to use it:

• Search your keyword on YouTube
• Analyze the top 10 results:
• Are they from massive channels(100K + subs) or smaller ones ?
• What's the average view count?
• How long are the videos ?
• What angle do they take ?

Pro tip: If all top results are from channels with 1M + subs, pick a different keyword.Look for keywords where smaller channels rank.

6. Google Keyword Planner

Best for: Finding search volume from Google(people also search YouTube from Google)

How to access it:

1. Create a free Google Ads account(you don't need to run ads)
2. Go to Tools → Keyword Planner
3. Click "Discover new keywords"
4. Enter your topic
5. Filter by video - friendly keywords

What to look for:

• Keywords with "how to," "tutorial," "review," or "guide"
• Keywords that make sense as video content

Pro tip: Google search volume doesn't equal YouTube search volume, but it's a good indicator of overall interest.

7. Answer The Public

Best for: Finding question - based keywords

What it does: Shows questions people ask about your topic(perfect for how - to videos)

How to use it:

1. Go to AnswerThePublic.com(free searches limited)
2. Enter your main keyword
3. Get a visual map of questions: "how," "what," "why," "when," "where"
4. Pick questions with good search intent

Example: Searching "YouTube growth" gives you:

• "How to grow YouTube channel from 0?"
• "Why is my YouTube channel not growing?"
• "When does YouTube channel start growing?"

8. Reddit Search

Best for: Discovering real problems people want solved

How to find keywords:

1. Go to relevant subreddits(e.g., r / YouTube, r / NewTubers)
2. Search for your topic
3. Look for recurring questions and pain points
4. Turn those questions into video keywords

Pro tip: If people are asking the same question repeatedly on Reddit, it's a great keyword opportunity.

9. TubeBuddy Tag Lists

Best for: Spying on competitor tags

How it works:

• TubeBuddy shows you all the tags used in any video
• Analyze what tags your competitors use
• Adopt proven tags for your own videos

How to use it:

1. Install TubeBuddy
2. Watch a competitor's video
3. Scroll down to see their tags displayed by TubeBuddy
4. Copy relevant tags that fit your content

Warning: Don't copy tags exactly. Use them as inspiration for your own tag strategy.

10. ChatGPT(AI Keyword Research)

Best for: Generating long - tail keyword ideas quickly

How to use it:

1. Ask: "Give me 20 long-tail YouTube keyword ideas about [your topic] that small channels can rank for"
2. Ask: "What questions do beginners ask about [topic]?"
3. Ask: "Generate video title ideas targeting low-competition keywords for [niche]"

Pro tip: Verify ChatGPT's suggestions with VidIQ or YouTube Autocomplete. AI can generate ideas, but you need to validate demand.

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How to Do YouTube Keyword Research(Step - by - Step)

Step 1: Brainstorm Seed Keywords

Start with 3 - 5 broad topics in your niche.

Example for a cooking channel:

• "easy dinner recipes"
• "meal prep"
• "budget cooking"

Step 2: Expand with Autocomplete

Type each seed keyword into YouTube Autocomplete and record all suggestions.

Step 3: Analyze with VidIQ or TubeBuddy

Take your expanded keyword list and run them through VidIQ(3 / day) or TubeBuddy to get data.

Step 4: Check Competition

Search each keyword on YouTube and analyze the top 10 results.Can you realistically compete ?

Step 5: Pick Your Winner

Choose keywords that have:

• Enough search volume(1,000 - 10,000 / month for small channels)
• Low competition(small channels ranking in top 10)
• Clear search intent(you know what the viewer wants)

Step 6: Create Content

Make a video optimized for that keyword:

• Put the keyword in your title(naturally)
• Mention it in the first 15 seconds
• Add it to your description(first 2 lines)
• Use related keywords as tags

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best free YouTube keyword research tool?

VidIQ Free is the best free YouTube keyword tool for beginners, offering 3 daily searches with search volume, competition scores, and related keyword suggestions.For unlimited free research, combine YouTube Autocomplete(shows real search suggestions) with Google Trends(identifies trending topics).This combination gives you reliable data without paying for premium tools.

How do I find low - competition YouTube keywords ?

To find low - competition keywords, search your target keyword on YouTube and analyze the top 10 results.Look for keywords where channels with under 50,000 subscribers are ranking.Use VidIQ or TubeBuddy to check competition scores—aim for scores below 50. Long - tail keywords(4 + words) typically have lower competition than broad keywords.Target question - based keywords like "how to [specific task]" which often have less competition.

Do keyword research tools actually help grow YouTube channels ?

Yes, when used correctly.Keyword research tools help you discover searchable topics that your target audience is actively looking for.Videos optimized for the right keywords get discovered through YouTube and Google search, providing consistent traffic even months after upload.However, the tool itself doesn't grow your channel—creating quality content for well-researched keywords does.

How many keywords should I target per YouTube video ?

Focus on ONE primary keyword per video and 3 - 5 related secondary keywords.Your primary keyword should appear in your title, first 15 seconds of your video, and the beginning of your description.Use secondary keywords(variations and related terms) in your description and tags.Trying to target too many unrelated keywords confuses the algorithm and dilutes your video's ranking potential.

Is paid keyword research software worth it for YouTube ?

For beginners(under 1,000 subscribers), free tools are sufficient.Invest your time in creating content rather than expensive tools.Once you're monetized and growing (5,000-10,000+ subs), consider upgrading to VidIQ Pro ($7.50/month) or TubeBuddy Pro ($4.99/month) for unlimited searches, competitor tracking, and AI suggestions. Paid tools save time, but they won't replace good content.

How often should I do keyword research for YouTube ?

Do keyword research BEFORE creating each video.Spend 15 - 30 minutes researching keywords to ensure there's actual search demand for your topic. Additionally, do a deep keyword research session monthly to identify new trending topics and seasonal opportunities in your niche. Build a keyword list of 20-30 video ideas you can create over the next few months.

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Ready to optimize your YouTube content ? Use these free tools:

-YouTube Title Generator – Create SEO - optimized titles

• YouTube Tag Generator – Generate relevant tags from keywords
• YouTube Description Generator – Write keyword - rich descriptions

Remember: The best keyword strategy means nothing without great content.Research keywords, but focus on creating videos people actually want to watch.