Finding low-competition keywords is one of the smartest strategies for growing a new blog, ranking content faster, and increasing organic traffic without depending on backlinks. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional SEO, choosing the right keyword research tools can transform your content strategy and help you identify profitable opportunities before your competitors do.
This guide breaks down the most reliable tools, including how they work, what they reveal, and how to use them effectively in a clear, practical, and beginner-friendly way.
What Are Keyword Research Tools?
Keyword research tools are designed to assist in discovering what is being searched and searched for on the internet; how difficult it may be to compete for a given keyword; and where your website will rank on the various search engines based on the keywords that you select. The data provided will include:
- Volume of searches
- Difficulty of keywords
- Level of Competition.
- Suggestions of keywords that relate to your business.
- Long Tail Keywords.
- How to identify Trends and intent of Users.
By using a keyword research tool, you will be able to focus your SEO efforts on lower competition words and phrases and optimise your efforts for a higher ranking, especially if you are just starting with a new website or a very small blog.
Keyword Research Tools are especially useful for:
- Blogs
- YouTube Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
- E-commerce Products
- Affiliate Marketing
- Local SEO
- Websites that provide Services.
Why Low-Competition Keywords Matter
Low-competition keywords are the fastest way to get early growth because they attract traffic without needing a strong domain or dozens of backlinks.
Benefits of low-competition keywords:
- You can rank faster
- They attract more targeted traffic
- Perfect for new websites
- Easier to create content around
- Higher chance of appearing in featured snippets
- Ideal for small niches and micro-topics
By using the right keyword research tools, you increase your chances of finding “hidden gems” keywords your competitors haven’t optimized yet.
How to Identify a Low-Competition Keyword
Most beginners only look at search volume, but ranking becomes easier when you understand all key factors.
A good low-competition keyword usually has:
- Low–moderate competition score
- Stable search volume
- Clear user intent
- Weak competitor pages ranking on page one
- Long-tail variations
- Question-based search patterns
Check the SERP for clues:
- Are the ranking pages outdated?
- Do top pages have weak on-page SEO?
- Are forums ranking instead of strong blogs?
- Are titles not optimized?
- Are there no branded websites competing?
If the answer is yes, this is a keyword opportunity.
Top Keyword Research Tools to Find Low-Competition Keywords
Below are the most reliable tools for quickly discovering keywords you can rank for, whether you’re running a blog, YouTube channel, or business website.
1. Google Keyword Planner
Google’s Keyword Planner is the best fit for both beginners and businesses.
It provides:
- a range of search volume
- a list of Keywords
- Long-tail variations
- Competitor-based keyword ideas
This is the best tool to use for Seed Keyword Research, Trending, Broad Keyword Category Research, and finding defensive keywords.
Pro-tip: Use the Refine keywords filter on the keyword planner to search for longer and competitive Keywords.
2. Google Search Console
If you already know the keywords for which you rank, then Google Search Console is the tool for you to discover those keywords, including the low-competition keywords that you can easily increase Rankings for.
With Google Search Console, you can identify:
- Keywords stuck on page 2
- Keywords with High Impressions and Low Clicks
- Easy-to-Improve Opportunities
These keywords are often the highest-value, lowest-effort options for quickly growing traffic.
3. Google Trends
Google Trends will help you see if the Keywords are seeing an increase or decrease in search volume over time, and it shows global Patterns of search.
Why is Google Trends useful?
- It helps you identify Keywords that are trending downward
- It helps identify Keywords that are trending upward
- It helps you identify Global Patterns of search
- It also recommends Related Trending Searches
Google Trends is a Great resource for discovering New Keywords with Low Competition and the Potential for High Growth.
4. Answer The Public
The Answer The Public tool allows users to help identify keyword phrases that are based on questions and most often have lower competition and higher potential for ranking highly than other keyword phrases.
Using Answer The Public, you can find:
- ‘How to’ queries
- ‘Why’ queries
- Long tail variants
- Problem-based keywords
Because these types of keywords usually match the exact intent of the user, they rank much faster than many keyword phrases.
5. Keyword Surfer
Keyword Surfer is a browser extension that provides keyword data found directly within Google Search.
Keyword Surfer can help show:
- Search Volume
- Similar Keyword Searches
- Total Word Count of Each Page
- Estimated Traffic
This extension is a great option when doing research on the fly.
6. Ubersuggest
The Ubersuggest tool helps provide in-depth keyword research and keyword data, as well as:
- Search Volume
- SEO Difficulty
- Content Optimization Ideas
- Question Keyword Phrases
- Competing Keywords
This tool is a very basic and user-friendly platform for new users looking for quick reports.
7. SEMrush Keyword Magic Tool
One of the strongest keyword tools for in-depth keyword clustering and competitor analysis.
It helps you find:
- Topic clusters
- Long-tail keywords
- SERP features
- Keyword intent
- Competitor ranking keywords
Best for: Building complete content strategies and identifying thousands of low-competition phrases.
8. Ahrefs Keywords Explorer
Ahrefs has an excellent reputation in the industry for providing keyword difficulty scores based on actual metrics rather than estimates.
Ahrefs Keywords Explorer can help you find:
- Keywords with low competition.
- Keyword Topics
- Click Potential
- Estimated Search Volume
- Competitor Keywords
Ahrefs is an advanced tool that can help SEO practitioners build a long-term SEO strategy and rankings to maximize their website’s ROI.
9. KWFinder
KWFinder has gained popularity due to its ease of use and intuitive interface.
Some of KWFinder’s features include:
- Finding low competition keywords in your niche.
- Finding local keywords for businesses.
- Finding long-tail keywords.
- Finding keyword variations relating to your topic.
KWFinder is ideal for local businesses and bloggers.
10. YouTube Keyword Tools
With the increase in YouTube SEO, YouTube Keyword tools allow content creators to identify YouTube videos that are easy to rank and have potential for future growth.
These tools include:
- TubeBuddy
- VidIQ
- Google Autosuggest
These YouTube Keyword tools help you identify keywords that have a good volume of searches but very little competition from other YouTube creators.
How to Choose the Right Keyword Research Tool
Not everyone needs the same type of tool. Your choice depends on your goals.
Choose based on your purpose:
- For blogs → SEMrush, Ahrefs, KWFinder
- For YouTube → VidIQ, TubeBuddy
- For beginners → Ubersuggest, Keyword Surfer
- For trend analysis → Google Trends
- For website growth → Search Console
Choose based on keyword type:
- Question keywords → AnswerThePublic
- Long-tail keywords → KWFinder
- Seasonal topics → Google Trends
- Competitor keywords → Ahrefs / SEMrush
The best approach is to combine 2-3 tools to get a complete picture.
How to Use Keyword Research Tools Effectively
Tools alone don’t give results; it’s how you use them that brings success.
1. Start with seed keywords (short terms)
Examples: SEO tips, fitness routine, skincare guide
2. Expand into long-tail keywords
Examples:
- best skincare routine for oily skin
- How to improve cardio endurance
- keyword tools for beginners
3. Analyse keyword difficulty
Avoid extremely competitive terms when starting.
4. Check search intent
Does the keyword represent what the user wants?
5. Check the SERP manually
Even if a keyword looks good, analyse page one results.
6. Create content around real problems
Low-competition, long-tail keywords are often used by people searching for something specific they need.
Examples of Low Competition Long-tail Keywords
To help illustrate the point:
High Competition:
- weight loss
- digital marketing
- SEO tools
Low Competition:
- home morning workout strategies
- beginner social media ideas
- keyword tools for novice bloggers
The above low-competition keywords can be achieved through high-quality content and effective on-page SEO.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the best keyword research tool for beginners?
Ubersuggest, Keyword Surfer, and Google Keyword Planner are ideal for beginners because they are simple and offer clear data.
2. How do I know if a keyword is low competition?
Check keyword difficulty, competitor pages, long-tail variations, and SERP weakness.
3. Which tool is best for finding long-tail keywords?
KWFinder, SEMrush Keyword Magic Tool, and AnswerThePublic are perfect for finding long-tail ideas.
4. Do I need paid tools for keyword research?
Not always. Tools such as Google Trends, Google Search Console, and the Google Keyword Tool also have free versions available for use that are very effective.
5. How many keywords should I use in my blog post?
Focus on one main keyword + 2-4 LSI variations for natural flow.
Final Thoughts
Finding low-competition keywords is significantly easier when you utilize the best keyword analysis tools available and carefully analyze your audience’s search intent. Whether you’re just beginning a new blog or trying to expand an established blog, utilizing keyword research tools can help you find low-competition keywords your competitors may overlook. The combination of keyword difficulty, search volume, and topic relevance allows you to generate content that will rank quickly on search engines and drive targeted traffic, as well as stimulate long-term growth and monetization potential for your blog.
To further enhance your results, begin compiling a list of keywords that will be used in the creation of future articles based on the strategies detailed in this article. If you’re looking for more tips on generating traffic to your blog using effective SEO techniques, keyword research, and creating content that attracts a targeted audience, visit RankWithMahnoor.