Best YouTube Keyword Research Tools for Digital Marketers

With over 2 billion logged-in users monthly, YouTube is the largest search engine after Google. If you're a digital marketer, content creator, or business owner, optimising your content with the right YouTube keyword research strategy is crucial for visibility and growth. The better your keyword targeting, the higher your chances of showing up in YouTube search results, suggested videos, and even Google SERPs. In this blog, we’ll explore the best keyword research tools for YouTube, both free and paid, that can help you find high-performing keywords to grow your channel. We’ll also guide you through how to do keyword research for YouTube, and how these tools align with recent Google and YouTube algorithm updates.

What Is YouTube Keyword Research? 

This means finding the exact words or phrases people type into the YouTube search bar when they're looking for something. By using these keywords in your video’s title, description, and file name, you can help your video show up higher in search results. This can lead to more people watching your video, recognising your brand, and even visiting your website. For example, when we made a video called “SEO for Beginners: How to Rank #1 on Google”, we included keywords that people often search for, like “SEO tutorial,” “Google ranking tips,” and “step-by-step SEO.” These are simple phrases someone might type when they’re just starting to learn SEO. By using them in the title, description, and tags, the video showed up in more search results and reached viewers who were looking for that topic. This helped the video get more views and reach the right audience naturally..

Why Is YouTube Keyword Research So Important?

Keyword research for YouTube works differently from traditional SEO. While Google focuses on text-based content, YouTube relies heavily on video titles, tags, descriptions, and engagement metrics. Effective keyword research allows you to:

• Understand what your target audience is searching for
• Rank higher on YouTube search results
• Boost your video views, watch time, and subscriber growth
• Improve ad targeting and overall ROI

How to Do Keyword Research for YouTube 

Before diving into tools, let’s break down a basic process for how to do YouTube keyword research:

1. Identify Your Niche or Topic: Start by choosing a broad subject related to your channel. This is the foundation of your keyword research.

2. Start with a Seed Keyword: A seed keyword is a simple, general term that describes your topic. For example, if your channel is about cooking, your seed keyword might be “easy recipes” or “healthy meals.” It’s the starting point to help you discover more specific and targeted keyword ideas.

3. Search on YouTube: Type your seed keyword into the YouTube search bar. You’ll notice auto-suggestions appear; these are popular search terms that people are already using. They help you understand what your audience is actually looking for.

4. Analyse Competitor Videos: Look at the top videos that show up for your keyword. Check their titles, descriptions, and tags to see what keywords they’re targeting. This gives you insight into what’s working and what viewers respond to.

5. Use Keyword Research Tools: Use tools to get deeper data, like how many people search for a keyword, how competitive it is, and how engaged the audience is. These tools help you find the best keywords to use for your content.

6. Shortlist the Best Keywords: If your channel is new, focus on keywords with low to medium competition. These are easier to rank for and can help you get noticed faster, even without a big audience

Now that you understand the process, let’s take a look at the top keyword research tools for YouTube that can help you find the right keywords more easily and effectively.

Best YouTube Keyword Research Tools

1. TubeBuddy: Best for Beginners and Pros Alike

TubeBuddy is a browser extension and a certified YouTube partner. It’s widely regarded as one of the best YouTube keyword research tools available.

Key Features:

• Keyword Explorer with search volume and competition score
• SEO Studio for optimising video metadata
• Tag suggestions and rankings
• Competitor analysis

Free Plan: Available with limited features
Why It Stands Out: Its real-time scorecard and integration directly into YouTube make it easy to use.

2. VidIQ: AI-Driven Insights for Video Optimisation

VidIQ is another top-rated YouTube keyword research tool that helps you discover trending topics and improve your video rankings.

Key Features:

• Keyword score based on search volume and competition
• Real-time stats on trending videos
• Channel audits and SEO suggestions
• AI video title recommendations

Free Plan: Yes, with basic keyword data
Best For: Creators looking for AI-assisted content optimisation
Recent Update: Now offers Daily Ideas based on your channel's performance history

3. Google Trends (YouTube Filter): Free and Powerful

If you're looking for the best free keyword research tool for YouTube, Google Trends is an excellent option. It now includes a filter specifically for YouTube search trends.

Key Features:

• Compare keyword popularity over time
• Regional interest and rising topics
• YouTube-specific search filter

Free Plan: 100% free
Why Use It: Ideal for identifying seasonal content or trending topics before creating videos

4. Keyword Tool: Google Alternative for YouTube

Keyword Tool is an online platform that supports multiple search engines, including YouTube.

Key Features:

• Generates keyword suggestions based on YouTube autocomplete
• Shows search volume (in Pro version)
• Supports long-tail keyword discovery

Free Plan: Limited suggestions without volume data
Best For: Finding untapped keyword opportunities
Pro Tip: Pair this with TubeBuddy or VidIQ for deeper analysis

5. Ahrefs YouTube Keyword Tool: Pro-Level SEO Insights

If you’re serious about SEO and want robust analytics, Ahrefs’ YouTube keyword research Tool is worth considering.

Key Features:

• Keyword difficulty estimation
• Click potential based on YouTube SERP features
• In-depth competitor analysis
• Filter by country or language

Free Version: Limited
Best For: Experienced marketers managing multiple channels
Recent Google Alignment: Ahrefs recently updated its YouTube algorithm modeling to match post-2024 Google core updates for SERP syncing.

6. Ubersuggest (Neil Patel): Budget-Friendly with YouTube Support

Ubersuggest offers keyword suggestions, trends, and competition data, now with a YouTube filter option.

Key Features:

• Keyword ideas + difficulty scores
• Monthly search volume trends
• Related keyword suggestions

Free Plan: Limited daily searches
Ideal For: Small businesses and individual creators
Bonus: Works for Google and YouTube, great for integrated SEO planning

7. YouTube Studio (Native Tool): Internal Optimization Insights

While not a keyword research tool in the traditional sense, YouTube Studio offers analytics that help refine your keyword strategy.

Features:

• Traffic source data (YouTube search terms)
• Viewer behavior insights
• Watch time and click-through rates

Free: Yes, built-in with every YouTube channel
Best Use: Measure how your chosen keywords are performing after publishing

How to Choose the Best Keyword Research Tool for YouTube?

When selecting the best YouTube keyword research tool, consider the following:

• Budget: Many tools offer free plans, but advanced features are often paid.
• User Experience: Tools like TubeBuddy and VidIQ are designed with creators in mind.
• Data Accuracy: Prioritise tools that offer real-time data and align with Google’s latest algorithm updates.
• Integration: Tools that work directly inside YouTube (browser extensions) save time and improve workflow.

Bonus Tip: Combine Tools for the Best Results

Don’t rely on just one tool. Use a combination:

• Google Trends for topic validation
• TubeBuddy or VidIQ for SEO suggestions
• KeywordTool.io for long-tail ideas
• YouTube Studio for post-upload analytics

This layered approach ensures your content is data-backed from idea to publication.

If you're serious about growing your YouTube channel or brand through video content, understanding how to use keywords effectively is a must. Mastering this skill doesn't just help on YouTube; it’s a key part of a solid digital marketing strategy. In fact, many professionals sharpen these abilities through comprehensive digital marketing courses, where YouTube SEO is taught alongside tools like Google Ads, social media strategies, and content planning. It’s a smart way to build real-world skills that apply across multiple platforms.

Conclusion

Effective YouTube keyword research is more than just plugging words into a tool, it’s about understanding your audience, trends, and competition. Whether you're just starting or scaling up your video marketing efforts, the right YouTube keyword research tool can make a significant difference. Tools like TubeBuddy, VidIQ, and Google Trends stand out, while Ubersuggest and Keyword Tool offer affordable options for beginners. With recent Google updates focusing more on content relevance and user intent, staying updated with your keyword strategy is essential.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)