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Keyword Tool has a free plan, and its paid pricing is listed from $68. The case for switching is less clear if you only need its free suggestions; it gets stronger if you find the Pro tiers expensive or want a broader research workflow. One Reddit commenter described Google Autocomplete as Keyword Tool’s difference from tools that rely on Keyword Planner. Below, we compare alternatives by fit and listed starting price—not by claiming they return identical data.
01Why people leave Keyword Tool
Paid tiers feel expensive
Keyword Tool is listed from $68. In one r/PPC thread, a commenter called it much more expensive than Longtail Pro.
Suggestions feel too narrow
One user said they had to enter a specific word or phrase to get suggestions and found that limiting for tag research.
You want a second source
A commenter noted that it can be useful to check more than one tool. Others in the thread recommended free alternatives and Moz Keyword Explorer.
02The alternatives, ranked by fit
- Unified SEO research
SemrushSemrushIf you are leaving Keyword Tool because its paid price feels steep for keyword ideas alone, Semrush offers a broader SEO dashboard with keyword and backlink data, according to the published product summary. A Reddit commenter in a Keyword Tool Pro discussion said they kept gravitating toward Semrush. Its listed starting price is $117.33, and a free plan is listed.
Trade-off: The listed starting price is higher, and the product summary flags trial-billing complaints.
5.8/10from
$117.33/mofree plan - Budget-conscious beginners
UbersuggestUbersuggestUbersuggest is a lower-priced option to consider if you want to try another source of keyword ideas without starting at Keyword Tool’s listed $68 price. It starts at $16 and has a free plan listed. Reddit commenters recommended it as an alternative, though the published summary says users also question its data reliability.
Trade-off: Reddit users question its data reliability, so verify estimates before relying on them.
5.3/10from
$16/mofree plan - Google Ads competitor research
SpyFuSpyFuSpyFu makes more sense if your research needs include competitors’ Google Ads activity, not just autocomplete suggestions. It is listed from $29 and is aimed at solo marketers on a budget and teams tracking several competitor sites. The published summary cautions that it is less convincing as a primary SEO keyword tool.
Trade-off: It is a weaker fit if your main need is broad SEO keyword research.
6.5/10from
$29/mo - Question research
AnswerThePublicAnswerThePublicIf Keyword Tool’s Questions feature is what you value most, AnswerThePublic is a relevant alternative to compare. The published summary highlights question research and AI-drafted content, plus Amazon and ChatGPT question data. It starts at $10, but the summary says Reddit users call it overpriced autocomplete, so check whether those extras justify the spend.
Trade-off: The summary flags annual billing and Reddit complaints about its value.
5.2/10from
$10/mo - Quick keyword data
Keywords EverywhereKeywords EverywhereKeywords Everywhere is worth considering if you want quick keyword data rather than another full research suite. It is listed from $7 and has a free plan. The published summary positions it for solo SEOs who want overlay data, but warns that credit top-ups can complicate the real monthly cost.
Trade-off: Credit math is confusing; the $7 starting price may not reflect your spend.
6.4/10from
$7/mofree plan - Multi-tool SEO workflows
Marketing MinerMarketing MinerMarketing Miner is a broader option if you are moving beyond keyword suggestions to multiple SEO research and tracking tools. It starts at $19 and has a free plan listed. The published summary describes support for Google and Seznam and large data lists, but advises checking limits and AI add-on costs before switching.
Trade-off: Check plan limits and AI add-on costs before budgeting for it.
7.0/10from
€19/mofree plan
03Side by side
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Keyword Tool Keyword Tool (current) | 6.0 | $68/mo | Yes | Teams wanting free long-tail keyword ideas |
| Semrush Semrush | 5.8 | $117.33/mo | Yes | Agencies needing AI visibility tracking |
| Ubersuggest Ubersuggest | 5.3 | $16/mo | Yes | First-time site owners wanting cheap tools |
| SpyFu SpyFu | 6.5 | $29/mo | No | Google Ads competitor research |
| AnswerThePublic AnswerThePublic | 5.2 | $10/mo | No | Teams wanting AI-drafted content from research |
| Keywords Everywhere Keywords Everywhere | 6.4 | $7/mo | Yes | Solo SEOs wanting quick overlay data |
| Marketing Miner Marketing Miner | 7.0 | €19/mo | Yes | SEO teams wanting multiple tools |
Questions people ask
Is Keyword Tool worth paying for?
It depends on whether its suggestions justify the listed starting price of $68 for you. One Reddit commenter described Google Autocomplete as its distinction from tools using Google Keyword Planner. If that source matters to your workflow, compare the output you need before switching; if price is the problem, consider lower-priced alternatives.
Why do people look for Keyword Tool alternatives?
In Reddit discussions, users questioned the price of Keyword Tool Pro compared with Longtail Pro, and one person said suggestions felt limited when they had to start with a specific word or phrase. Another commenter recommended checking multiple tools. These are individual opinions, not proof that every user will hit the same limits.
Does Keyword Tool use Google Autocomplete?
A commenter in an r/PPC discussion described Keyword Tool Pro’s main difference as taking keywords from Google Autocomplete, while saying other tools show results pulled from Google Keyword Planner. Treat that as a commenter’s description, not a guarantee that every alternative uses only one data source.